As the Patriot defense of the State of Georgia fell apart in December 78 and Jan. 79, refugees ahead of the British Army spilled by the hundreds into neighboring South Carolina.
The Georgia Backcountry was all the Patriot’s had left. As the British pushed an oath to the King on the remaining population, Lieut. James Ingram made a defiant statement that should make all Georgians and Patriots alike proud.
It should be remembered in Georgia History because it was the epitome of the American defiance. Col. Ingram declared the American Standard and challenged Georgia citizens with making an Oath to the American Cause. This, right in the face of the King’s Standard at the most critical time.
This defined the two opposing sides quite clearly for all to see and threw a gauntlet clearly on the ground.
This, in Burke County and this when the Georgians needed the rallying call in Georgia’s darkest hour. British General Prevost could not overlook such a rebellious statement.
The Council of War, declared at the Burke Jail by Ingram, made sure the Patriot fire would continue even if only as an ember.
The Patriots in the Georgia backcountry might in the coming months bend, but they wouldn’t break. Not for the entire war.
This letter gives us a little bit more perspective in the building of the coming Battle of Burke Co. Jail. Interestingly enough, it shows that almost 250 Patriots were encamped there less than two weeks before the battle.
This raises the question about just how many American Militia were there. If an additional 250 came from William and Ben Few afterwards, than was an increase the number of militia as we understand it.Letter from Lieut. James Ingram to Benjamin Lincoln,Jan. 14th, 1779,Burk Gaol Head Quarters:
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters at Burk Jail, Jan, 14—1779 for the purpose of considering the most expedient method to reclaim the disaffected that has been influenced to Assemble in consequence of the proclamation signed by Hyde Parker & Archibald Campbell dated Savannah 4th of January 1779. (Ingram declares his goal was to counter the British Oath of Allegiance with an American one!) Ingram’s letter continues:
“Col. Hammons writes me agreeable news—I have made a bold push, & am now encamped at Burk Gaol with about 250 men who behave like regulars, my orders in every respect are punctually obeyed—I have hoisted the Standard & issued a Proclamation which I enclose to you—…pray do not send Mr. Grier as a spy any more, as they are informed of him. I intend to keep constant spies out… James Ingram, Lt. C, Burke Gaol, 15 January 1779
Also a part of Ingram’s declaration. he proudly declared those locals were American Officers present for the American Cause:
“Present (Were the American Militia Officers) Col Francis Pugh, Lt. Col. Jams. Ingram, 7 Samuel Lanier, Majors James Martin, Capts Andrew Burney, Benjm. Mathews, Charls. Crawford, Danl. Walikon, John H. Wilkinson, George Wyche, Joseph Atkinson, Moses Davis, John Sharp, Thoms. Lewis, Joshua Hinman, John Warren, John Murrey, Lts. Robt. Clark, Thoms. Townsend, Matthia Gray, Thoms. Ford, Shadrick Hinman, Jams. Castilo, Caml. Holton, Jams. Lewis, Frederick Wommach—–”
Ingram tells us WHO was to be put in the Burke County Jail! Not all listed likely were taken into custody.Listed as those to be arrested and ordered, “bring them into (the Burke Jail ) Camp.” American Col. Francis Pugh was giving this task.
Ordered brought to the Jail were: Col. John Thomas, David Russel, William Tucker, William Belfair, John Bonell, John Robinson, Henry Overstreet Valentine Hollingsworth, Pardon my sister Ranoldson.
As described before, the Burke Jail Battle was a prolonged exchange of fire and likely some hand to hand combat around the Jail.
Florida Ranger’s Brown & McGirth were veterans of such assaults against a fortified structure such as their successful captures of Ft. Barrington and Ft. McIntosh. At the Burke Jail, however, they are unable to exert their will on the American Militia. It should again be underscored that it is unclear how the battle was dispersed around the surrounding countryside.
Under American Captain John A Summer, Christopher Stockman would state: (Brown was) repulsed, leaving 16 dead on the field and 16 or 17 wounded.
Note this does not give any captured enemy numbers. We know that at least three of Brown’s men were captured that had been recent recruits.
These were all three brothers. The American casualties were thought to be about half those of the Loyalist forces.
Immediately after the battle, much of the American Force was immediately on the move, taking their captives with them into South Carolina.
The Americans were not retreating, but were attempting to check the moving forces of British Lieut. Col. Archibald Campbell towards Augusta.
With the fall of Augusta, Ga days after the Burke Jail Battle, the Georgia Backcountry would become contested but never conquered.
American mounted forces would continue to win small engagements more than not. After the Burke Jail engagement, mounted American forces continued to chase after the same mounted Loyalist forces they had just defeated.
In one of these engagements, the fierceness and the tenacity of the Americans would be well represented.
Leading the Georgia Horse, Col. Joshua Inman, made a fierce attack out on the intersection leading to Demaries or Gerruard’s Ferry. With sword in hand, Inman would cut down three Loyalist Majors, including Burke County’s Major Henry Sharp, and “ two other Majors from South Carolina.”
One of those was William Spurgeon who had been the Loyalist officer who made had made a ralling stand against the Americans at Kettle Creek.
He is credited with saving the remaining Loyalist after the defeat and helping them escape to Campbell’s forces days later.The Battle of Kettle Creek would be fought just a few weeks after the Burke Jail and represents the high tide of those attempting to join the King’s Forces. Georgians had accomplished just enough to stem the tide of volunteers going over to the enemy.
A great deal of success was also in the fact that they also limited the expected numbers of Native Americans crossing the frontier the British were expecting to ally with.
Another huge factor was the realization that the British had, in the first place, planned to allow Native American Forces to overrun unchecked through the backcountry settlements. Perhaps this fact, more than any other, was the overwhelming deciding factor American Col. Dooley would note.
This convinced many “fence sitters” that they had little choice but to fight for all they had carved out on the frontier borders. Many would pitch their lots with the Americans in realizing the cruel practices of the British.feat at the Battle of Brier Creek was the last hope Burke County citizens had in protecting what they had in the short term. The region would never be completely conquered and the Americans would come back and rebuild as the tides turned for the Patriots.
The three brother prisoners belonging to Brown’s command captured at the Burke Jail, became the focus of American revenge.
It was decided just days after their capture, that the brothers were to be hung. Lieut. Col. Campbell was encamped at this time at the Lower Brier Creek Landing.Hearing of this planned execution, he sent a stern warning to the Americans that if this execution occurred, he would take the following retaliatory measures. He stated that he would build a gallows on the bank of the Savannah River in full view of an American Camp on the opposite site.
He would then hang six Americans he currently had as prisoners, some being “committee men.” Sound like a scene out of the Patriot movie? Hmmm.The Americans backed down and exchanged the prisoners captured at the jail for an equal number of Americans.
Hanging Loyalist in Burke County became more common as the war came to an end.At the Lower Brier Creek Crossing, several Loyalist were noted as being hung high in the trees at the creek crossing for all to see that passed by.It was a clear message to those still against the American Cause.
Leave a Reply