Georgia Revolutionary War
Figures and Events
October 2010
Shively/Turner
Prosperity, then Decisions
 Georgia Colony received Europeans from many countries, many
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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”
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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)
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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, 1777. Both were wounded.
Gwinnett died 3 days later. He was 42.
Lyman Hall, M.D. (1724-1790)
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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 (1741-1804)
 Born-Virginia.Moved to Savanna-1769; studied Law;
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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-1776.
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 1781-1783.
George Walton, Cont’d
 1783 – was censured by the legislature for his involvement
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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
Nancy Hart
Elijah Clarke
Private Austin Dabney
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
 1777-78 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,
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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 (1735-1830)
 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.
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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 (1735-1830)
 The most famous events took place at
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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
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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 1779.
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
King Carlos III
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Bernardo de Galvez
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.
The Seige of Savannah
Seige of Savannah
 September 1779. The arrival of 4,000+ French troops on
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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 9th, 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 1783. The
Revolution ended with the British General Cornwallis’
surrender at Yorktown to General George Washington.