Three Times Georgia Invaded Florida - First Incursion - 1776

Today, North East Florida and South Georgia are closely linked by economy and culture.  Some even call Jacksonville “the capital of South Georgia.” Residents of both states travel frequently across the St. Marys River that defines the border.  Both have cultures that are more similar to each other than they are to other regions of their respective states.  There is an old saying, “The further North you go in Florida, the more Southern it becomes.”  This was not always the case.

When we think of the Revolutionary War, our minds often turn to key battlegrounds such as Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, or Yorktown. The heroes of these conflicts, their stories and exploits have been etched into our history books.  However, North East Florida also was the site of key battles that had an important impact on the outcome of the war.

 While East and West Florida were both British colonies neither was one of the thirteen that seceded in 1776.  Florida’s neighbor to the north, Georgia was the southernmost state participating in the rebellion. To protect its border, Florida formed several militias. These were made up of civilian soldiers, many of whom were British loyalists who fled from other colonies.  They were assisted by local Indian tribes which were friendly to the British.  While the stated purpose of the militias was to protect the border, many also carried out successful raids into Georgia, stealing supplies and horses and inflicting damage to property. 

 The largest and most successful of the militia groups was the East Florida Rangers.  The Rangers were led by Thomas Brown, a British loyalist who had been forced out of Georgia, but not before being tortured, beaten, burned, and scalped. Throughout the war, the East Florida Rangers employed guerrilla warfare tactics against the Patriot forces. They were involved in numerous skirmishes with American soldiers, often using their familiarity with the dense forests and swamps to their advantage. These tactics allowed the Rangers to harass and disrupt the Patriot troops, hindering their progress and reducing their effectiveness.

Thomas Brown

Georgians, alarmed by the raids by the Florida militias, demanded that the Continental Army take action to protect them and quell the invaders.  In the Spring of 1776 they began preparations for the invasion of East Florida.  In addition to stopping the militia incursions, the goal was to capture St. Augustine, the capital of East Florida.  St. Augustine was not only the capital but the center of operations from which troops and supplies would be sent to assist with the war in the southern colonies.  Its fort, Castillo de San Marcos – renamed Fort St. Mark by the British – was later also used as a prisoner of war camp.  The prisoners included three signers of the Declaration of Independence.

 In June of that year the Continental Army was ready to make its move.  The plan was to invade East Florida with a contingent of 1500 soldiers.  Many of those men, however, had returned to their home states to fight the British there, leaving just 300 soldiers for the incursion.  Nonetheless, the American officers felt they could still accomplish their agenda with the reduced force.  The plan was to advance towards St. Augustine while destroying the plantations of British loyalists along the route.  If all went according to plan, they would punish the plantation owners, intimidate the Creek Indians who supported the British, and capture St. Augustine.  It would not go according to plan.

Major General Charles Lee

As the American forces began their journey south their commander, Major General Charles Lee, was recalled in August.  In the absence of their leader, squabbles broke out about who was in charge and what direction the invasion should take.  Nonetheless, the contingent slowly continued on, harassed along the way by the East Florida Rangers and their Indian allies.  They got as far as Cow Ford (now Jacksonville) where they were engaged by a band of Indian warriors.  By October, having suffered losses due to battle, disease, and desertion, and with low morale due to lack of leadership, the American forces withdrew.  They never made it to St. Augustine and never engaged the British Army itself.

For more Northeast Florida History visit our Facebook page at Exit 373.

You can read Part 2 of this Article here: Three Times Georgia Invaded Florida - Part 2: The Thomas Creek Massacre - 1777


Suggested Further Reading (ad):

East Florida in the Revolutionary Era, 1763–1785

Loyalists in EAST FLORIDA, 1774-1785

Strange and Obscure Stories of the Revolutionary War

 

Favorites of Your Fellow Readers

Ottis Elwood Toole: The Jacksonville Serial Killer

Image
This article is reprinted from the book   Florida Felons: Stories from the History of Raiford Prison On July 27, 1981 Reve Walsh took her six year old, Adam shopping at a Sears store in Hollywood , Florida .  She left him playing video games in the toy department for a few minutes.  When she returned Adam was nowhere to be found.  Two weeks later the boy’s head was discovered by fishermen in a canal near Vero Beach , nearly 120 miles away.  Adam’s body was never found.  Over the following years, Adam’s father, John Walsh, became an activist on behalf of murdered and missing children and went on to host the television show “ America ’s Most Wanted.” While the case was never officially solved, both the police and John Walsh believe they know who was responsible for Adam’s abduction and murder:  Ottis Elwood Toole of Jacksonville , Florida . Ottis Elwood Toole was born in the Springfield area of Jacksonville on March 5, 1947.  As a young boy, ...
Read more

Italia: Nassau County Florida's Ghost Town

Image
Just off Exit 373 in Nassau County , Florida , is the ghost town of Italia.  Once a thriving village vital to the development of North East Florida in the late 19 th century, Italia is long since abandoned.  Few people are aware of its history or that of its founder, William MacWilliams.   William MacWilliams was born in Ireland in 1840, the son of a grocery store owner.  Despite the local recession and the potato famine of 1846 through 1849, the MacWilliams family was prosperous and William received a good education.  He was a bright young man and a good student.  As a teenager he became prominent in the Irish Nationalist movement.  Concerned for William’s safety, his father sent him to America in 1859 to remove him from harm’s way. MacWilliams met and married Elizabeth Jane Dawson around 1860 and they had two children together while living in Philadelphia .  In 1863 the family returned to Ireland to visit his family where they stayed f...
Read more

The Blue Bridge, A Murder Mystery, and The Advent of Interstate 95

Image
In 1957 a family traveling to Florida in their brand new Chevy Impala had limited route options. One of the more popular was Route 17. US-17, also known as the Coastal Highway, winds its way through the eastern United States, stretching from Virginia to Florida. In the mid-20th century, before the advent of the Interstate Highway System, US-17 was a major thoroughfare connecting travelers to the diverse landscapes and attractions of Florida. Traveling to Florida by automobile has always been an adventure, and for those who embarked on the journey before the construction of Interstate 95, the experience was marked by the scenic beauty and charm (and challenges) of US-17. Unlike the fast-paced nature of interstate travel, US-17 provided a more leisurely journey, allowing motorists to explore the charming towns and communities that dotted the route. Each town had its unique character, offering glimpses into the local culture and history.  While the journey on US-17 was undoubtedly...
Read more