Georgia Revolutionary War Figures and Events October 2010 Shively/Turner

Prosperity, then Decisions  Georgia Colony received Europeans from many countries, many classes. It grew and prospered under Royal Rule. Slavery flourished as well.  Georgia did not send representatives to the first Continental Congress.  They gathered in Savannah in a Provincial Congress on whether to join the northern colonies in rebellion.  May 11, 1775: Sons of Liberty break in to the powder magazine in Savannah and divided the powder with South Carolina revolutionaries.  The Provincial Congress met July 4, 1775 and adopted the ban on trade with Britain. Georgia political power was given to artisans and farmers – deemed by Royal Governor James Wright as the “wrong sort” to be allowed in government.  The Provincial Congress was adjourned – the Council of Safety was in-charge.

Revolutionary Battles - Pt. 1  Skirmishes began in the backcountry between “Tories” & “Whigs”  November 1775: Thomas Brown is tortured by Liberty men for recruiting loyalists to build a counter association against the rebels.  January 1776: British warships arrive in Savannah – their goal was to seize the rice-laden merchant ships in the harbor. In reaction – Governor Wright was placed under house arrest and fled. Colonel Lachlan McIntosh was placed in-charge of the defense of the city.  May 1, 1776: Provincial Congress met and set up “rules and regulations for a simple government”. Archibald Bulloch became its president & commander in-chief of the Georgia Militia.  Delegates race to Philadelphia to join Lyman Hall in the seated Continental Congress.

Letter to Three Patriots  As President of Georgia’s Council of Safety (a civilian board that controlled Georgia’s Militia) Archibald Bulloch wrote to Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, & George Walton before their departure to Philadelphia to join the Continental Congress… Archibald Bulloch President, Council of Safety Savannah, Ga April 5, 1776 Gentlemen Our remote situation from both the seat of power and arms, keeps us so very ignorant of the counsels and ultimate designs of the Congress, and of the transactions in the field, that we shall decline giving any particular instructions, other than strongly to recommend it to you that you never lose sight of the peculiar situation of the province you are appointed to represent: The Indians, both south and northwesterly, upon our backs; the fortified town of St. Augustine made a continual rendezvous for soldiers in our very neighborhood; together with our blacks and tories with us; let these weighty truths be the powerful arguments for support. At the time we also recommend it to you, always to keep in view the general utility, remembering that the great and righteous cause in which we are engaged is not provincial, but continental. We, therefore, gentlemen, shall rely upon your patriotism, abilities, firmness, and integrity, to propose, join and concur, in all such measures as you shall think calculated for the common good, and to oppose such as shall appear destructive. By order of the Congress Archibald Bulloch, President

Who were the signers of the Declaration in 1776 ?

Button Gwinnett (1735 – 1777)  Born in England - acquired a larger land tract in 1765  Poor at farming, he was well spoken & respected  Long –standing rival of Lachlan McIntosh – military leader  Elected to Continental Congress, 1776  Returning to Georgia, he hoped to command the Georgia Militia – but McIntosh was given the appointment  Succeeded Bulloch as President of the Council of Safety  Early 1777, was charged with malfeasance (misuse of authority) for an aborted attempt to invade Florida. He was cleared of wrong-doing.  Ran an unsuccessful campaign for Governor of Georgia  His honor challenged by McIntosh, they met in a duel outside of Savanna, May 16, Both were wounded. Gwinnett died 3 days later. He was 42.

Lyman Hall, M.D. ( )  Born-Connecticut. Studied Medicine at Yale  Moved to Charleston to set-up medical practice  Bought land in Georgia in 1760, established a Plantation  Returned to Charleston in 1774, a revolutionary partisan  Made an enemy of Georgia Governor James Wright  Elected to Continental Congress, 1775; Involved in provisioning food and medicine for Revolutionary Armies  Returned to Georgia in 1777 due to state matters and his longtime friend Button Gwinnett.  Hall’s property burned. Accused of Treason, he fled to Charleston / then Connecticut.  Returned in 1783; Delegate to Georgia House of Assembly  Served 1 yr. As Governor, then Judge. Returned to private life – stayed involved with state agriculture

George Walton, Lawyer ( )  Born-Virginia.Moved to Savanna-1769; studied Law; admitted 1774  Deeply involved in the Patriot Movement; became Secretary of the Georgia Provincial Congress and made President of the Council of Safety. Elected to the Continental Congress  Allied with General Lachlan McIntosh, he fought against Button Gwinnett for political dominance of the state  1778-Colonel in the Georgia Militia.  Wounded in Battle. Captured. Released in 1779 through a prisoner exchange.  Elected Governor for 2 months – dismissed from office for alleged “criminal activities on others.”  Returned to Congress in Philadelphia in

George Walton, Cont’d  1783 – was censured by the legislature for his involvement in the duel that caused Button Gwinnetts’ death  Commissioned to treat with the Cherokee Nation in TN.  Appointed Chief Justice of Georgia  1789 – served in the college of Electors and Elected Governor. Changes in the Georgia Constitution that year caused Walton to step down in November.  Immediately appointed a Superior Court Judge.  1795 – Sent to U.S. Senate to complete the unfulfilled term of Sen. James Jackson (resigned). He was not reelected.  Retired to Farming. Died in Augusta in 1804 (age 64)

Revolutionary Battles - Pt. 2  December 1778: British Troops attack & take control of Savannah. Reports of looting, burning, and murder by British forces emerge.  By January 1779 : The port of Sunbury is captured and Augusta is under fire from British guns – the Georgia militia could not defend either one.  February 1779: Colonel Elijah Clarke and the rebel militia defeated a British force of 800+ at Kettle Creek near Washington, Georgia. This raised low morale, provided rebels with weapons and horses from British troops.  October 1779 : Georgians attempt to form a constitutional government – factions split the Whigs in Augusta and the Royals still govern from Savannah. Financial assistance would not come from Philadelphia until this was settled.

Heroes, Heroines, & Outsiders Elijah ClarkePrivate Austin Dabney Nancy Hart

Elijah Clarke (1742 – 1799)  Born in North Carolina – impoverished, illiterate frontiersman  Clarke’s name appears on a petition in support of the King in 1774  Joined the Rebels. As a Militia Captain, fought the Cherokees-1776  became a lieutenant colonel in the state minutemen  February 1779 – led the charge in a rebel victory at Kettle Creek  Escaped the British-1780, by crossing through Native lands, continuing the fight as a partisan in the Carolinas. Led frontier guerillas in major battles. Attains rank of General.  Survived battle wounds, smallpox, and mumps during the Revolution  The State of Georgia rewarded Clarke with a Plantation. Served in the State Assembly & in the state Constitutional Convention of 1789  Clarke also rec’d thousands of acres of land (some questionably) & participated in the Yazoo land fraud in the 1790’s  Disenchanted, Clarke tries to form a country-Trans-Oconee Republic by seizing Creek land on the frontier  Discredited and almost bankrupt Elijah Clarke dies in Augusta.

“Aunt” Nancy Hart ( )  Born in North Carolina (some say as late as 1747)  Hart and Family made their way into Georgia in the early 1770’s  Hart was Cousin to Revolutionary General Daniel Morgan. Husbands’ family later produced Sen. Thomas Hart Benton (Mo.), & Kentucky Senator Henry Clay.  6 ft. tall, gangly with red hair and a smallpox scarred face with a hot temper, fearless spirit and a taste for vengeance on those who harmed her, her family and friends.  Local Indians called her “Wahatche” / “War Woman.” She was a domineering wife and mother of 8 (6 boys / 2 girls). An expert herbalist, a skilled hunter and despite crossed eyes – an excellent shot  Benjamin Hart served as a lieutenant in the Militia under Elijah Clarke, while Nancy was left alone to defend and care for the children for most of the Revolution.  “Aunt Nancy” became a spy, disguising herself as a simple-minded man who wandered into Tory camps and garrisons to get information

“Aunt” Nancy Hart ( )  The most famous events took place at the family cabin…Text Pg 159.  The Harts lived in the Broad River area several years after the war  Nancy became devout Methodist  Late 1790’s, the Harts moved to Brunswick, GA – Benjamin Hart died  1803 John Hart took Nancy and his family and moved to Henderson County in Tennessee. She is buried there.  1912 discovery makes legend into fact

Austin Dabney (1765 – 1830)  Born to slaves in North Carolina in the 1760s. Austin moved with his master, Richard Aycock, to Wilkes Cty, Georgia in the 1770s.  Aycock was conscripted & sent Dabney to join the Militia as a substitute. He served as an artilleryman under Elijah Clarke.  Dabney is believed to be the only black soldier to participate in the Battle of Kettle Creek in  Severely wounded in the thigh, Dabney was cared for by Giles Harris, a white soldier.  Leaving the service with a rank of Private, Dabney is granted 50 acres of land, is emancipated from his owner, a pension for his wounds at Kettle Creek, and in 1821, additional property.  Dabney worked for the Harris Family for the rest of his life, supporting Giles’ son, William through Franklin College (UGA)  He died in Zebulon and is buried in the Harris family plot

Carlos III & De Galvez of Spain  Spain allied with France against England with the French as intermediaries  King Carlos saw the war as a way to recoup losses to Britain and a new trading partner.  Spain sent supplies and money for 5 years.  Spanish men from the all over the Americas fought alongside the Rebels.  Governor of Louisiana 1776–83 Bernardo de Galvez was our contact and ally, supplying trans-Allegheny rebels and blockading the Mississippi from the British interference. King Carlos III Bernardo de Galvez

The Seige of Savannah

Seige of Savannah  September The arrival of 4,000+ French troops on 22 ships joined 15,000 Americans at Tybee Island  The combined army under the command of Charles Henri Comte d’Estaing and General Benjamin Lincoln prepared to strike Savannah to liberate it.  Savannah had been fortified with palisades and British troops well supplied with weapons  October 9 th, they attacked. The battle lasted 45 minutes, with 1,000 men killed (821 French) and over 600 wounded  Polish Count Casimir Polaski gave his life for our new country  Savannah remained in British hands for the next 3 ½ years

The Revolution Resolved  Guerilla warfare in the backcountry and political fighting for control of Georgia continued until The Revolution ended with the British General Cornwallis’ surrender at Yorktown to General George Washington.