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Chapter 12
Georgia in the American Revolution
Georgia in the Early Days
of the American
Revolution
• Although fighting had begun in
Massachusetts in April 1775,
months went by before there was
any action in GA.
• In 1776 a fleet of British navy
vessels sailed into the Savannah
River. The British wanted to buy
rice for their troops on duty in
the northern colonies but the
Patriots who controlled Savannah
thought the British were there to
invade GA and put a stop to the
resistance.
• GA’s Patriots prepared to fight if
necessary.
Georgia in the Early Days
of the American
Revolution
• Georgia developed two parts in
its military. A main part of the
Patriot defense would be the
militia, Georgia citizen soldiers
who would be paid by the GA
Patriot government.
• GA also raised a battalion of over
700 men and officers called
Continental troops.
• Men from other colonies could
join the Georgia Continental
troops which were under the
command of Colonel Lachlan
McIntosh of Darian. Eventually
other battalions were allowed ,
forming a brigade, and McIntosh
was promoted to brigadier
general.
Battle of the Rice Boats
• Loyalists began leaving GA.
• The British naval commander
tried to convince GA Patriots that
all he wanted was supplies, not a
fight.
• The British sailed to the backside
of Hutchinson Island, and landed
men.
• These men marched across and
boarded the rice boats. The
Patriots sent men to take the sails
so the rice boats couldn’t leave.
They were captured by the
British.
• Patriot riflemen went into the
river to shoot at the British. The
first shots of the Revolution in GA
had been fired.
Battle of the Rice Boats
• That night the Patriots set fire to
two boats, cut them loose, and
sent them towards the rice boats.
They hoped the burning boats
would set the rice boats on fire.
Only two caught fire and the
British were able to move the
others down the river, unload the
rice onto their boats and sail
away. With them was Governor
Wright and most of the royal
government of GA.
• The battle was over. The Patriots
thought they had saved
Savannah. GA was now in the
hands of the revolutionaries.
Establishing a State
Government
• With the royal government gone,
the Patriots wanted a
government that could run GA
and keep law and order.
• In April 1776, the provincial
congress wrote a temporary
constitution that made the
provincial congress the official
legislature and gave it most of the
governmental power.
• On August 8, a copy of the
Declaration of Independence
arrived in GA, where it was read
in three locations in Savannah as
they did in towns all over the
colonies.
Declaration of
Independence
• We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are
created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with
certain unalienable Rights, that
among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness.--
Native Americans and the
War
• One of the major issues in GA
throughout the war involved the
Indians, who were caught
between the warring whites,
whose disagreements they did
not entirely understand.
• The British government was
urged to make allies of the
Indians and get them to fight in
the war on the side of the British.
• In the end, most, but not all,
Indians who fought sided with
the British, who wanted to keep
the trade going.
Florida and the War in GA
• Georgia Patriots wanted to fight
for the Revolutionary cause. They
thought that invading British
Florida and possible capturing St.
Augustine would not only help
protect GA, but would also help
the war for independence.
• Florida raids into GA began. The
GA militia made it the Florida
border, fought some Florida
Rangers and British soldiers
there, then left to return to GA. It
was mostly a failure.
• The growing division among the
Patriots in GA became a major
problem. One group, centered in
Savannah wanted to be
independent from Britain. The
other group wanted
independence but also changes
within GA that allowed ordinary
people to have more say in the
government.
The Constitution of 1777
• GA needed a permanent state
constitution and a reorganization
of its government. A new
constitution was written in 1777.
• This made the twelve parishes
into 8 counties. These counties
took over the work of local
government. They each had a
sheriff to maintain the law, as
well as tax collectors.
• County officials were elected by
eligible voters. All free white
males over 21 who owned
property worth 10 pounds or
who had a trade or craft could
vote. These requirements
represented the view of the
radical patriots (those who
wanted the most change).
Georgia in the Latter Part
of the Revolution
• In October 1777 the Americans
won the Battle of Saratoga in
New York. This victory was good
for the morale of the Patriots. It
also resulted in the Americans
gaining a major ally in their
fight—France.
• In February 1778 France and the
US signed a military alliance.
Another Invasion of FL
• Georgia leaders planned yet
another expedition to FL. All
three attempts to invade FL were
unsuccessful due to the troops
becoming sick and exhausted in
the heat and humidity. Also, the
commanders were never in
agreement about who was in
charge.
The Fall of Savannah,
Sunbury and Augusta
• The British prepared for another
invasion. Savannah was the first
target. The troops invaded
Savannah.
• The British captured several
hundred Patriots.
• The British then captured Ft.
Morris at Sunbury and took over
command in Savannah.
The Battles at Kettle and
Brier Creeks
• The Patriots attacked a camp of
British soldiers who were resting
near Kettle Creek. The Patriots
defeated the Loyalists here.
• Later the Patriots set up camp
near Brier Creek and were
surprised by British forces. Most
of the Patriots were captured.
• Now the British held Savannah,
the upper coast and the land up
the Savannah River for many
miles.
• The Patriots controlled the lower
coast and Augusta.
The Siege of Savannah
• In September 1779, Georgia
Patriots received some surprise
help from France. The French
Naval Commander arrived with
22 ships and 4,000 troops to
recapture Savannah from the
British.
• The French began to bombard
Savannah hoping to force the
British to surrender. The French
and Patriots decided to attack.
Hundreds of French and
Americans died.
• The French retreated and sailed
away.
• Savannah remained under British
control.
The War in the
Backcountry
• The British then began to attempt
to capture the backcountry of
both South Carolina and GA.
• The Patriots were disorganized
but hadn’t given up.
• Homes were raided, families
murdered and crops were
burned.
Nancy Hart
• Nancy Hart was a famous woman
of the Revolution. Nancy
gathered information for the
Patriots on the activities of the
Loyalists. In one story she went to
Augusta dressed as a man when
the British were occupying the
town. Another told of her capture
of several Loyalists. These
Loyalists came to her cabin
demanding food while Nancy’s
husband was away. She and her
daughter cooked while the
Loyalists relaxed. Twice she sent
her daughter out to get water.
Her daughter actually blew on a
large conch shell to warn her
father and other Patriots that
they needed to come to the
cabin.
• While the Loyalists ate, Nancy
slowly began to remove their
guns. One noticed and jumped to
his feet. She pulled the gun on
him and took them prisoner,
killing one. She held them at
gunpoint until her husband
returned. They were hanged.
The Battles for Augusta
• The Patriots made plans to
recapture Augusta. Just when the
Patriots thought they had the
upper hand, the British called in
reinforcements. The Battle was a
British victory.
• The Patriots invaded again with a
new General and successfully
took over Augusta once again.
The End of the War in GA
• British General Cornwallis had
some victories but several losses.
General George Washington and
French Commander Rochambeau
came up behind Cornwallis. He
was forced to surrender his whole
army.
• Great Britain decided that
continued fighting was not in its
best interest.
• Loyalists and Patriots in GA
continued to fight each other.
• The British troops finally left GA
and the Patriot Government took
over. GA was finally finished with
fighting.
• GA began to rebuild their state,
towns and their lives.