The Walton War was a conflict over the control of Walton county which was claimed by Georgia and North Carolina after they became states. Georgia residents controlled the county until a company of North Carolina militia occupied it in December of 1810 and removed the county government. Georgia responded with an expedition in January of 1811. Two sharp actions on the same day at McGaha Branch and Selica Hill resulted in a total annihilation of the Georgia relief force.

At McGaha Branch, many Georgia militia were reported killed and at least twenty-five captured. The Georgia militia survivors regrouped at Selica Hill but were unable to stem the onslaught of the North Carolinians. There were no survivors of the Selica Hill engagement and there were questions about what happened to the prisoners since reportedly none returned home. While exact numbers are not known, A company of the period ranged from 60 to 100 men. So this would be a good estimate for a gaming scenario.

Scenario: January 1810. McGaha Branch. Board: A Trail/ dirt road crossing a creek near the NC board edge with a hill (Selica Hill) along the road near the Georgia board edge. Both sides should deploy on a sketch map. The NC troops will be on the NC side of McGaha Branch. The GA troops will be deployed along the road with 12" or 18" of the creek. The compressed deployment area represents the ambush nature of the first contact.

NC Objectives:

Strategic. Capture Selica Hill or wipe out the Georgia force.
Marginal. Hold McGaha Branch ford as this would have secured the area.

GA Objectives:

Strategic. Capture McGaha Branch Ford + inflict more casualties than you lose.
Marginal. Hold Selica Hill + inflict more casualties than you lose.

Georgia must inflict more casualties to make Walton County too expensive for the North Carolinians to remain. For the North Carolinians inflicting casualties is important but not as important as retaining the dominating terrain. Both may acheive marginal victories.

More Strange American Conflicts

Strange American Conflicts: Introduction
Strange American Conflicts: Bacon's Rebellion
Strange American Conflicts: Shay's Rebellion
Strange American Conflicts: Whiskey Rebellion
Strange American Conflicts: Oconee War
Strange American Conflicts: The Walton War
Strange American Conflicts: The Toledo War
Strange American Conflicts: Helderberg War
Strange American Conflicts: Muskogee Free State War
Strange American Conflicts: Patriot War
Strange American Conflicts: Jackson's Florida Expeditions
Strange American Conflicts: Wakarusa War