+ISVKME©W+ISVKME©W 6IZSPYXMSREV];EV6IZSPYXMSREV];EV Past - Found in the Present 1 he “shot heard ‘round the world” at Lexington, 2 3 Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, began a long 4 “Discovering Our Heritage and difficult fight for American Independence. When British warships arrived in the Savannah and History” River in January 1776, Georgia Patriots entered 5 the fight and arrested the Royal Governor. The following month, the British ships exchanged heavy cannon fire with the Patriots during the Battle of the Riceboats. By 1778, the 6 American Revolution had reached a stalemate, and the Brit- Georgia ish high command initiated a “Southern Strategy” with an in- vasion of Savannah to restore British rule in Georgia and set 7 MAp OF Cannon Firing at Fort Morris Celebration GEORGIA, the stage for capture of other southern colonies. 8 1778 The Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution has highlighted Georgia’s major battles, leaders and key Battles events during the American Revolution in a series of Brochures and WebPages. Explor- ing Georgia’s Revolutionary War Trail, you American Revolution in Georgia can discover where the past can be found in the present. 1 Elbert County – Fight at Van(n)’s Creek GPS: N34.162 W82.744 Discovering history is more fun and Monument at Kettle memorable when experienced in person. Creek Battleground 2 Wilkes County – Battle of Kettle Creek You can stand on the Savannah battle- GPS: N33.691 W82.886 ground where General Casimir Pulaski was mortally wounded, or visualize a seaman in 3 Lincoln County – Elijah Clarke & John Dooly: the naval battle in the Frederica River at St. Heroes of the Hornet’s Nest Simons, or walk where Colonel Elijah Clarke GPS: N33.856 W82.410 fought Loyalists alongside Kettle Creek in 4 Augusta – Sieges of Augusta and Revolutionary Musket Salute Wilkes County. At the Fort Morris earth- Capital of Georgia GPS: N33.476 W81.964 at Patriots Day works, you can imagine hearing Lt.Col. John McIntosh shout Celebration “Come and take it” or imagine hearing the French cry “Vive 5 Screven County -- Battle of Brier Creek le roi!” at the Spring Hill redoubt in Savannah. GPS: N32.811 W81.466 Standing with your back to Brier Creek, you can suppose 6 Savannah -- Battles of Savannah, Colonel Samuel Elbert surrounded by British Highlanders, Royal & Revolutionary Capital of Georgia or pretend you are in “Light Horse Harry” Lee’s cavalry dur- GPS: N32.076 W81.100 CLARKE ELBERT McINTOSH ing the capture of Fort Cornwallis in Augusta. You can honor the memory of Revolutionary War Patriots buried 7 Liberty County – Sunbury, Fort Morris & Midway at Colonial Cemetery in Savannah, St. Paul’s Cemetery GPS: N31.764 W81.279 ...in in Augusta, and the Midway Cemetery. Plan your trip to the historic sites on the Georgia’s 8 St. Simons Island –Frederica Naval Action the Backcountry Cabins at GPS: N31.224 W81.393 American Elijah Clark State Park Revolutionary War Trail website – www.grwt.gassar.org and locate nearby State Parks with accommodations www.grwt.gassar.org at www.exploregeorgia.org/. If you explore Georgia’s Revolutionary War Trail during the annual Celebrations, Georgia Society Sons Revolution Georgia Society Sons you can hear historians describe the Revolutionary War of the American Revolution The British called the backcountry of the American action and see personalities who portray the men and Design – Ed Fluker, GASSAR Revolution women who fought and died for our freedom. “The Hornet’s Nest.” Color Guard Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries Georgia of University Library, Manuscript Clarke Augusta in Portraits courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and and Book Rare Hargrett of courtesy Portraits signed Paris of Treaty Elijah Jackson re-established Government Whig 23 September 1783 September 23 James John Wereat John Parishes Colonial revived July 1781 July Wright Gov. Royal Button Gwinnett Button Revolution the of Augusta of Siege Second July 1779 July battle last Plantation, Delegal’s 22 May - 5 June 1781 June 5 - May 22 25 July 1782 July 25 Creek Brier of Battle 1781 Carolinas the in 3 March 1779 March 3 , . Georgia reclaim Patriots fights Militia Georgia Savannah, evacuate British Lee Creek Kettle of Battle September 1781 September 11 July 1782 July 11 “Light Horse Harry” Horse “Light Greene Nathanael 14 February 1779 February 14 May 1780 – 1780 May Pickens Wayne Plantation Gibbon’s at Fight Andrew Andrew Anthony Creek Vann’s at Fight Augusta of Siege First 23 June 1782 June 23 George Walton George Hall Lyman 11 February 1779 February 11 14-18 September 1780 September 14-18 Georgia Gaol County Burke at Fight collapsed Government Whig entered Wayne Anthony Gen. 26 January 1779 January 26 25 May 1780 May 25 12 January 1782 January 12 1779 1780-1781 1782-1783 , . , . , . Final Fight for Independence for Fight Final Backcountry the for Struggle of Independence of of Independence of Declaration Declaration Samuel Elbert Samuel Pulaski Riceboats the of Battle Casimir Casimir captured Phillipa Ship Powder Bulloch Expedition Florida Third 2-7 March 1776 March 2-7 8 July 1775 July 8 Archibald Archibald 4 July 1776 July 4 April-June 1778 April-June Hill Spring at Attack , . arrested Wright James Gov. Royal established Government Whig 9 October 1779 October 9 Action Naval Frederica 18 January 1776 January 18 formed; Safety of Council d’Estaing 19 April 1778 April 19 Savannah of Siege 1776-1777 Henri July 1775 July , . Sept-Oct. 1779 Sept-Oct. approved Expedition Florida Second raised Flag Union and Pole Liberty Constitution Georgia April-June 1777 April-June Morris Fort and 5 June 1775 June 5 5 February 1777 February 5 Habersham Wright Sunbury of Surrender Expedition Florida First Joseph Sir James Sir Lachlan McIntosh Lachlan Georgia reached 9 January 1779 January 9 Savannah at read dence June-Sept. 1776 June-Sept. Concord and Lexington of News - Indepen of Declaration 1776-1777-1778 Savannah of Capture May 1775 May , . 10 August 1776 August 10 29 December 1778 December 29 Convened Congress Provincial Morris Fort of Siege 18 January 1775 January 18 25 November 1778 November 25 1775 Jones Wimberly Wimberly 1778-1779 , . Howe Noble Noble , . Robert Robert War in the Lowcountry the in War Independence to Rebellion Major Georgia Battles in the American Revolution North Carolina Militia to Brier Creek and await reinforcements. Col. Samuel Elbert with his back to Brier Creek attempted to fight Campbell instructed British Lt. Col. Mark Prevost with 1,000 men his way through British lines. Of 150 Patriots killed, more than half 1. Fight ’s Creek to proceed northwestward, cross Brier Creek and attack the Patri- were Elbert`s men. Visit Brier Creek Battle Site in Tuckahoe Wild- ncouraged by the capture of Savannah, the British commis- on February 11, 1779, crossed at Van(n)’s Creek in present day ots from the rear on March 3, 1779. Against overwhelming odds, life Management Area, Screven County, GA. Esioned Loyalist Col. Boyd to raise militia in the Carolina and Elbert County, but severe Patriot opposition weakened his forc- Georgia backcountry. With over 700 Loyalists, Boyd attempted es by about 100 men, many of whom deserted and returned to to cross the Savannah River at Cherokee Ford where the Patri- the Carolinas. See Cherokee Ford - Van(n)’s Creek Monument, 6. Savannah – Three Battles ots thwarted his approach. He moved five miles upstream and located at Richard B. Russell State Park, Elbert County, GA. attle of the Riceboats – During March 2-7, 1776, British Gen. Benjamin Lincoln arrived from Charles Town with 1,500 Bwarships took possession of several rice-laden merchant men. The Franco-American attack on the Spring Hill redoubt ships, leading to a heavy exchange of cannon fire with the began early on October 9, 1779. British artillery and musket- Creek Patriots. Capture of Savannah – By 1778, the British initiated ry ripped the attackers, and Scottish bagpipes responded to utnumbered more than two to one, Patriot Colonels Andrew wounded, and 150 captured. The Battle of Kettle Creek on Febru- a “Southern Strategy.” Lt.Col. Archibald Campbell’s 3,500 the French battle cry, “Vive le roi!” British, Loyalist, and Hes- Pickens, John Dooly and Elijah Clarke attacked when Loyalist ary 14, 1779, was one of Georgia’s most memorable victories during O troops landed below Savannah at Brewton’s Hill, brushed sian defenders cut down those who reached the parapet and Col. Boyd halted his troops for breakfast in a flat area between a the American Revolution. Visit Kettle Creek Battleground, located away token resistance, and on December 29, 1778, routed planted their colors. The Allied attack failed with 1,094 killed, steep hill and Kettle Creek. Boyd led about 100 men up the hill and 10 miles from Washington off SR 44 in Wilkes County, and see arti- the Patriots who lost 83 men killed and 483 captured. Royal of whom 650 were French. Sir Henry Clinton stated that the was mortally wounded. The Loyalists were routed with 70 killed or facts at the Washington Historical Museum, Washington, GA. Governor James Wright returned to Savannah and revived British victory at Savannah was “the greatest event that has the Colonial Parishes. Siege of Savannah – In September happened in the whole war.” Visit Battlefield Memorial Park, 1779, French Count Henri d’Estaing disembarked 4,000 located at Louisville Road and M.L. King, Jr. Boulevard, Sa- 3. Heroes of the Hornet’s Nest troops at Beaulieu on the Vernon River, and Continental Maj. vannah, GA. wo of Georgia’s heroes -- Elijah Clarke and John Dooly -- ing in the Carolinas from May 1780, through September 1781, Tare buried close to where they fought the British, Loyalists while Georgia witnessed a relative lull in the war.