It would probably be safe to say that the Georgia Brigade is one of the more obscure units of the Continental Army. To a large degree this is understandable. It was assigned to an out-of-the-way area where its mission was one of garrison duty and patrols. Its units fought in few major battles, and most of these ended in defeat. Documentation concerning the Brigade is lacking, and much of what does exist is dreariness of its campaigns, most Georgia historians have preferred to concentrate on the exploits of the local militia in the final (victorious) campaigns. Yet the Georgia Brigade was not the ineffectual, phantom unit depicted by some modern authors. From its inception in 1775 to its dissolution in 1779, it was the cornerstone of the day to day defense of the Southern frontier, though in the event of major operations it was always necessary to call for help from South Carolina. At its peak, the Brigade contained four foot battalions, three artillery companies and a light dragoon regiment. There was also a galley service and several small state units of infantry, cavalry and artillery. Considering the resources available to the state, this was a sizeable effort. In fact, one of the Brigade's major problems was that the effort was far beyond the state's abilities. Recruitment and Campaigns The Georgia Brigade began on November 4, 1775 when Congress authorized a battalion of infantry and appropriated $5,000 to raise it. The first commander was Lachlan McIntosh, an experienced soldier. The other field officers also had considerable militia experience. Most of the companies were to be from the Savannah area, but some were to be raised from the Augusta area and some of the southern counties. On April 26, 1776, McIntosh reported to General Washington that the battalion was ready to take the field. Unfortunately, some of the troops had been recruited for as little as six months. Also, companies ranged in size from the authorized 48 rank and file to as few as 10 men. During the winter of 1776 the state of Georgia also authorized the raising of two companies of mounted rifles to patrol the frontier. At right, map depicting the theater of operations for the Georgia Brigade along the Georgia-East Florida border. The map is from The Georgia-Florida Contest in the American Revolution, 1776-1778 by Martha Searcy, University of Alabama Press, 1985. Large Map: Theater of Operations Georgia Brigade (173K) During the spring and summer the battalion was engaged in several small actions against parties from British waships operating off the coast. In March 1776, Loyalist rangers from East Florida briefly occupied Fort Barrington. This raid was reciprocated when Major Jotun McIntosh led a force against Fort Tonyn in Florida. The fort was burned and the raiders withdrew to Georgia. As the total regular forces available to Georgia consisted of one small foot battalion and two mounted ranger troops, the state requested Congress to authorize an increase. In July 1776, Congress duly authorized Georgia to raise two more foot battalions and three artillery companies. The mounted ranger troops were to be expanded into the Regiment of Light Dragoons (12 troops). The commanders were colonels Samuel Elbert (2nd Georgia), James Screven (3rd Georgia) and lohn Baker (light dragoons). The artillery companies were to be commanded by Captains Lee, Young and Morris. The state also raised a galley service of four river galleys under Commodore Bowen. Finding itself unable to pay for the upkeep of the galleys, the state elected to hand them over to the Continental Navy. Due to the small and divided population of Georgia, the units were to be recruited from North Carolina and Virginia (much to the dismay of those two states). Recruiting parties were dispatched in the summer of 1776. Expedition to Florida Following the successful defense of Charleston, South Carolina (on June 28, 1776), Major General Charles Lee, commander of the Southern Department, developed a plan to capture St. Augustine in Florida. For this expedition South Carolina contributed 460 men from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Regiments. Volunteers were also solicited from the Virginia and North Carolina units in Charleston. The Georgia Battalion was also included. The expedition set out in August 1776 - the height of summer. lt carried no field guns, no medical supplies or few supplies of any kind. As might be expected, the expedition was a fiasco. It advanced no further south than Sunbury, Georgia, where 14-15 men died daily from disease. Lee, probably to his relief, was recalled to join Washington's main army, where he descended to new lows of ineptitude. He also took the North Carolina and Virginia units with him, leaving Robert Howe in command of the Southern Department. Sensibly, Howe withdrew the sickly, dispirited troops and an uneasy quiet settled over the frontier, occaisionally disturbed by minor forays by both sides. These forays were little more than officially sanctioned banditry, a characteristic of warfare on this frontier throughout the war (and long afterwards). The expansion of the Georgia forces into a brigade caused a political crisis over the command. McIntosh was the obvious choice, and he was duly promoted to brigadier general and commander. This infuriated the more radical elements led by Button Gwinnett and George Walton. It did not help matters that some members of the very large McIntosh clan were in Florida aiding the Loyalists. Gwinnett accused McIntosh of having treasonous relations with his enemy relatives. Though cleared of all charges, the radicals mounted a campaign to discredit McIntosh which would fester for some time and poison military-civilian relations in the state throughout the war. Bizarre Campaign The spring of 1777 brought one of the more bizarre campaigns of the war. It demonstrated just how little authority the Department commander had over his own troops and how much authority the political leadership of Georgia had. Georgia forces now consisted of the 1st Georgia, most of the 2nd, the Mounted Rangers, and the Galley Service. The 3rd Battalion was also coming in fairly well. The state Assembly felt strong enough to mount an invasion of East Florida, so they accordingly petitioned Major General Howe to dispatch the appropriate forces for the task. Howe, never an energetic commander, refused to commit Continental forces. This should have killed the project. The Assembly now directed McIntosh to assemble the Georgia Line to carry out the campaign. McIntosh was still in the politicians' bad graces (the fact that he had killed Gwinnett in a duel did not help matters), so he ws ordered to stay in Savannah and give Elbert field command. This episode was not untypical of civilian-military relations in the deep south. Elbert proceeded by boat from Sunbury with the 1st and 2nd Georgia, sticking to the intercoastal waterways to avoid British warships. Baker and the Mounted Rangers were to go overland and link up with Elbert. Elbert's force encountered many delays due to low water. Baker's column in the meantime was ambushed and scattered by Colonel Browne's East Florida Rangers. Elbert eventually pushed as far south as the north end of Amelia Island (near Jacksonville). He was joined by some of Screven's 3rd Georgia and some of Baker's troopers. A party under Lt. Ward fought a skirmish with Indians and Rangers in which Ward was killed. With supplies running out and his men getting sicker by the day, Elbert decided to return, no doubt a wise decision. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were sent to the interior to recuperate, while the 1st and the Mounted Rangers patrolled the southern border. Finally, the Assembly managed to get McIntosh recalled to the main army where he first commanded the North Carolina Brigade and then was commandant of Fort Pitt. On October 13th he assumed command. Elbert ordered Lt. Colonel Leonard Marbuty to take over the Light Dragoons (also called Mounled Rangers or Light Horse). He replaced Baker, who had resigned, being completely unable to control his regiment, which was in a state of virtual mutiny. Besides command changes, the spring and summer brought a new unit to the Brigade. As usual, the three foot battalions were far understrength and unable to adequately defend the state. Recruits could not be found in Georgia, and the Carolina and Virginia recruiting areas had been closed. This effectively meant that no losses could be replaced in the Continental units. Congress resolved to open the traditional recruiting areas in Virginia to recruit (not replacements for existing units) a fourth foot battalion. On February 1, 1777 John White of the North Carolina Brigade was appointed colonel of the 4th Georgia. The 4th eventually recruited as far north as Pennsylvania and included a number of British Army deserters and prisoners of war in its ranks. The Brigade officers were not overjoyed at the prospect of a new unit. Obviously, they would have preferred the new recruits for their own depleted units. Ambushes Other events of the summer included two ambushes, one near Fort Howe in July and one on the Oconee, also in July. There was also an attack on Captain Carney's Company of the 1st Georgia at St. Simon's Island in August. None of these were large clashes, but they were typical of the action of the Brigade. Interestingly, after Captain Carney was captured, it was discovered that he had been engaged in dealings with the British. It seems that the good captain had been rustling cattle to sell in St. Augustine. In the late fall of 1777, the 2nd and 3rd Battalions returned to Savannah. The 4th was on its way south, thoroughly terrorizing the governor of North Carolina on its way. Eventually, the 4th Georgia arrived with 300 effectives, having lost 150 men along the way, mostly through desertion. The winter of 1778 brought a flurry of activity for the Brigade as a new campaign was in the offing. Congress had finally been convinced that the southern frontier would not be secure until that "nest of vipers" (East Florida) had been destroyed. Major General Howe was instructed to outfit an expedition strong enough to clear the border area along the St. Mary's River of British regulars, Loyalist Rangers, Indians and any other banditti that might be encountered. He was given authority to use any Continental troops at his command and to call for militia and naval help as needed. He was either to command himself or to allow Colonel Elbert to command. It should be noted that the objective of the campaign was to clear the border, not to capture St. Augustine. Clear the Border In April 1778 Elbert began to concentrate his forces, first at Sunbury, and then at Fort Howe. His command consisted of elements of all four foot battalions, part of the Light Dragoons, and Lee's and Defau's (ex-Young) Artillery Companies. in all he had between 7-8,000 men available. Howe was at Savannah awaiting the South Carolinians and the militia. Before Howe arrived, Elbert struck the most spectacular blow of the campaign in a combined land-sea (or rather, river) operation. Since the early days of the war the British brigantine Hitchenbrook had been praying on the coast, burning houses, capturing shipping, and making a nuisance of herself. Hitchenbrook could outmaneuver anything she could not outfight in the open water. The Georgia galleys, with their heavier guns, were, of course, not sea vessels. On April 18, 1778, Elbert discovered Hitchenbrook, the sloop Galeta and the captured transport Rebecca anchored in an inland waterway near Darien, where the superior British maneuverability would not help. Elbert landed half of his force to deal with British shore parties. The rest of his force boarded the galleys Washington and Lee. The shore element accomplished its mission easily and in the morning the British crews awoke to the sight of the galleys bearing down on them with oars flashing and guns booming. Galeta managed to escape, but Hitchenbrook and Rebecca were captured. A shipment of uniforms, originally intended for South Carolinians, was found aboard the Rebecca. On May 10, 1778 the Continental forces concentrated at Fort Howe. Besides Elbert's command, there was a South Carolina Brigade commanded by Colonel Huger, consisting of parts of the 1st, 3rd and 6th South Carolina Regiments. A detachment of the 4th South Carolina Artillery joined the Georgia Artillery under Major Roman de Iisle of Georgia. The South Carolinians mustered about 600 men. The militia was also coming in, consisting of about 350-400 Georgians under Governor Walton and about 800 South Carolinians under General Williamson. Command Problems The arrival of the militia also brought one of the more tangled command problems to the war. Walton, as governor, refused to serve under an army officer. Howe pointed out that he could not serve under a state official and had been given command by Congress. Williamson, described by Hugh McCall as an unlettered bumpkin, announced that if the Georgia militia was not under Howe, then that of South Carolina was not either. Bowen announced that his galleys were Navy, so they were under the control of neither the state nor Howe. In the end Howe moved south with the militia following at a properly independent distance. Bowen, in a fit of cooperation assisted (perhaps he remembered that most of his crewmen were Continental soldiers). Progress was very slow with frequent long halts to recuperate (for instance, the expedition paused at Fort Howe from April 23rd to May 27th). During this time there was constant patrolling and skirmishing with parties of Rangers and Indians who were desperately trying to buy time for British general Prevost to assemble his small force of regulars (about 800 men of the 16th, 3rd battalion 60th, and 4th battalion 60th Foot). In the end dysentery and malaria slowed the expedition down more than the enemy. Between one-half and one-third of the command was incapacitated. On May 28th, the expediiton at last began its great southward push. The march was led by Captain Moore with the Georgia Corps of Grenadiers, followed by a light gun. The bulk of the Brigade, due to the large number of sick, was reorganized into 24 platoons. The first line under Colonel Stirk (3rd Georgia) consisted of 16 platoons and a gun. Bringing up the rear was another gun and the baggage guard. The Light Dragoons and light infantry patrolled the flanks. On June 25, 1778 Howe assembled his Continentals for the final march on Fort Tonyn, which was the base of operations for the East Florida Rangers. The militia was somewhere to the rear, more interested in plunder than in meeting the enemy. The Light Infantry of the Georgia Brigade led with a 2-pounder gun, followed by the Pioneers and Grenadiers. A hundred and fifly yards behind came the Brigade in two columns with a brass gun between columns. The artillery park followed with four guns and the ammunition. Huger's Brigade followed in two columns with a brass gun between (each column) followed by a rear guard and the cattle with its guard. On the 29th a skirmish was fought near Cabbage Swamp on the St Mary's River which nearly resulted in the Ranger's entrapment. Though Browne escaped, Fort Tonyn was abandoned. Howe ordered the fort burned after issuing captured stocks of uniforms and supplies to his destitute troops. Pushing south, Howe ran into Prevost at Alligator Creek Bridge (near modern Jacksonville, Florida). Browne's rangers bought time for Prevost to form his regulars, and in a confused fight, Howe was halted. Rebuffed at Alligator Creek Bridge, the army retired to Fort Tonyn where it encamped. Howe, Elbert, Huger and most of the officers realized that the army was at the end of its tether, so a council of officers was called. The council decided that the stated objective of the campaign, clearing the border, had been achieved and that further efforts would result in the army's destruction. Howe returned to Savannah with the sick while Elbert and Huger marched their shattered commands back by land. Within a few weeks, Browne's rangers were back raiding the border. Thus ended the 1778 Florida Campaign, one plagued by divided command and insufficient supplies. It had begun so well and had ended so dismally. Though relatively unknown, it was one of the most arduous ever carried out by an American army. Return to Georgia Upon its return to Georgia, the Brigade was deployed as follows: at Savannah, the 2nd and 4th Georgia Lee's and Defau's Artillery; at Augusta, 1st Georgia, the Light companies of the 3rd and 4th Georgia, 4 guns and the Light Dragoons; at Sunbury and Fort Morris, the 3rd Georgia and Morris's Artillery; at Ebenezer Magazine, the Light Company of the 2nd Georgia The Grenadiers are not mentioned. About 25-30% of the Brigade was sick in the Savannah hospital. Generally, two galleys were at Savannah and two were at Sunbury. In November, Prevost launched a two-pronged attack on Georgia from Florida. One column under the command of J.M. Prevost, with some 750 regulars and rangers, aimed for Midway. The other column, commanded by Colonel Fuser, with 250 regulars, aimed for Sunbury and Fort Morris. Prevost easily dispersed a militia unit at Bulltown Swamp and plundered his way to Midway. Here he was met by Colonel White and some 100 Continentals. General Screven of the militia was also present with his 20-man mounted escort. Screven was killed during the battle and White was forced to retreat. White also left behind false papers indicating that Elbert was near with a large force. This ruse prompted Prevost to withdraw. At Fort Morris, when called on to surrender, Lt. Colonel McIntosh (3rd Georgia) replied, "If you want this fort, come and take it!" After a short bombardment, Fuser also pulled his troops back to Florida. For the moment, Georgia was safe. Though the British invasion had been repelled, the situation in Georgia remained critical. The Brigade had nearly one-fourth of its strength sick and in hospitals. Supplies were virtually non-existent, the money was worthless, and morale was understandably low. The Galley Service was in an even worse state than the army, with Commodore Bowen resigning in disgust. The galleys could only be moved and crewed by men drawn from the army battalions. There had also been a department command change, with the unpopular Robert Howe being replaced by Benjamin Lincoln. However, Lincoln had yet to arrive so Howe remained in command. British Expedition In December, intelligence was received of a major British expedition fitting out in New York with Georgia as its objective. This force commanded by Lt. Colonel Campbell contained some 2,500 including two banalions of the 71st Foot, two Hessian battalions and two Loyalist battalions (later increased to four). It was to be joined by yet another invasion from Florida by Prevost. This caused a flurry of activity in the south. The 3rd and 5th South Carolina Regiments were dispatched to Georgia, efforts were made to locate galley crews in Charleston, and efforts were made to strengthen the defenses at Savannah and Fort Morris. In the absence of General Lincoln, Howe assumed field command in Savannah. Efforts to call out the militia yielded negligible results. Having decided to defend Savannah, Howe deployed his force. He had about 250 men from the Georgia Brigade, some 400 South Carolinians, and about 90 men of the Savannah Militia Regiment. He formed his army on a road south of Savannah with Elbert on the left and Huger on the right; the militia was formed to the right rear at right angles to the Continentals. Swamps and rice fields covered the flanks. Campbell advanced with the 71st Foot, keeping his Hessians and Loyalists in reserve. The light infantry was sent around Howe's right flank. This flanking movement caught Howe by surprise, and the militia fled at the first sight of the redcoats. The South Carolina Brigade managed to withdraw with the artillery and sustained minor losses. Elbert, however, was trapped against a flooded tidal creek and most of his command was captured. Only Elbert and those who could swim escaped without their equipment. Meanwhile, Major Lane of the 3rd Georgia, was holding Fort Morris despite orders from Howe to destroy the fort and withdraw. Lane had a mixed bag of about 160 Continentals and 40 militia. He also had two galleys. Prevost arrived with about 600 men and commenced a sedge. After emplacing an 8-inch howitzer near the fort, the British were able to pulverize the barracks and the parapet. Lane surrendered and the two galleys were scuttled. The Georgia Brigade had suffered extensive casualties during the short campaign, but elements were still in the field after Savannah. Elbert gathered in the Augusta garrison, the Light Dragoons and some other odds and ends to make up a force of about 120 infantry and 60-70 cavalry. This force operated generally in the area south of Augusta. Across the Savannah River, Lt. Colonel Harris was assembling the survivors of the battles of Savannah and Fort Morris. In March 1779, Elbert's force, along with a North Carolina militia force under General John Ashe, was encamped at Brier Creek. Ashe deployed as follows: in the camp were three militia regiments and Elbert's Continentals, to which some 80 Georgia militia were attached. Target Guarding a burned bridge at the creek was Lt. Colonel Lyttle's small 18-month North Carolina Continental battalion with a light gun. Across the river was the South Carolina Light Horse under Major Ross; across the creek and to the west were Marbury's Georgia Dragoons. This force was the target of British Colonel Mark Prevost. Prevost detached Major McArthur with a battalion of the 71st Regt. to distract Ashe by demonstrating near the bridge, while the main body, commanded by Prevost, crossed the creek further west. Prevost was intercepted by Marbury, but Marbury's messengers were captured. Marbury, thinking that he had done his duty, withdrew across the creek. Ashe only discovered that Prevost was across the creek when the British were but a mile or two away from the American position. All was confusion in the American camp, with ammunition being served out and attempts being made to arrange some sort of formation. The entire milita force fled at the first volley, leaving Elbert and his Georgians alone. These continued the fight until they were completely surrounded. At this time, Elbert surrendered while Lyttle managed to withdraw. Meanwhile, the other detachment under Harris had grown to some 250 men and were operating under the command of General Moultrie. During the spring it was engaged in the successful maneuvers to defend Charleston. At the unsuccessful attack on Stono Ferry, they were part of Colonel Malmedy's light infantry on the American left. In mid-summer 1779, they were ordered to guard a convoy to Augusta. Thus the remnants of the Brigade returned to Georgia. One Last Battle The Brigade had one last battle to fight and it was to be in Georgia. A French army under d'Estaing had beseiged Savannah, and General Lincoln hurried his army down from Charleston to join the French. The Georgians were commanded by Major George Handley, 1st Georgia. They were joined by the Light Dragoons, some 30 strong, attached to Pulaski's Legion cavalry. There was also a volunteer company of supernumerary officers. In the assault on the Spring Hill Redoubt, the Georgians managed to gain the parapet before being forced to retreat. During the assualt, Colonel White of the 4th Georgia was seriously wounded and his death in 1780 was apparently due in some part to his wounds received in this battle. Lt. Bailey of the 2nd Georgia was also killed. The battle, perhaps appropriately for the Brigade, was a defeat. Returning to Augusta, all those whose enlistments were up were discharged. This accounted for virtually all of the enlisted survivors. The remnant, a handful of officers and probably less than a dozen men were captured at Charleston in May of 1780, thus ending the Georgia Brigade. Many officers and some enlisted men continued to serve either in the militia or in Continental units from other states, notably Virginia. Some returned to the state's service when the Georgia Continental Battalion was formed in 1782. Georgia Brigade Organization and Strength Back to American Revolution Journal Vol. I No. 2 Table of Contents Back to American Revolution Journal List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 1997 by James E. Purky This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com