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The War of 1812 in Georgia was prosecuted on two-fronts. U.S. Navy Gunboats based at St Marys and Savannah patrolled the
coast to prevent ships of the Royal Navy from interdicting maritime commerce and raiding coastal islands, towns, and
plantations. On its western borders, along the Flint and Ocmulgee Rivers, Georgians constructed a series of trip-wire forts and
stockades to defend against raiding parties of Red Stick Creek Indians allied to the British.

Did You Know :

" Combat did not end with the stunning American victory at New Orleans..

" The final shots of the war on American soil were fired in Georgia between Royal Marines and Georgia Militia, on 23 -24
February 1815 near Camp Pinckney, along the banks of the St. Marys River between Folkston and Colerain.

"The final shots of the war in U.S. waters were fired in Georgia waters on Wassaw Sound, between U.S. Navy Gunboat No. 168
and the bomb ship HMS Erebus, on 16 March 1815.

" The same troops and naval squadron that burned Washington and attacked Fort McHenry, later attacked and occupied
Cumberland Island, Point Peter, and St. Marys.

" No less than seven hundred slaves from coastal Georgia plantations gained their freedom on Cumberland Island - beginning
the Black Diaspora.

" Six US Navy Gunboats were sunk or run aground in the St. Marys River during the epic hurricane of 16-17 September 1813.
Four were recovered. Two gunboats, No 161 and No. 164 may still be on the bottom.

For a Map of the St Marys River Basin, Click Here or copy and paste the URL
http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/pubs/smr_guide/images/stmarysbasinmap.pdf

Come to St Marys to learn the rest of the story

St Marys, Georgia: A Chronology of Events during the War of 1812

St. Marys, by nature of her geography, played a key role in our young nation's history. As the southernmost "Patriot
controlled" border she saw action during the American Revolution. After the war, Florida reverted to Spanish control. An
uneasy peace followed on the European continent. As in the past, conflicts in Europe would eventually manifest themselves
on the North American continent. By 1793, England was again at war with France. The Napoleonic Wars had begun. Issues
with one-time ally, France, posed a real and present danger to the United States which boiled over into an episode known as
the "Quasi War with France." Our next conflict, The War of 1812 was the result of decades of unresolved post-war conflicts
with both France and Britain.

During the War of 1812, Georgia would find herself fighting a two-front war. Her adversaries were:

The Red Stick Creeks in the West: To defend her frontier, Georgia built a series of "tripwire" outposts along the Flint and
Ocmulgee Rivers.

Fort Hawkins blockhouse on the Ocmulgee River, near present-day Macon

The Royal Navy along theCoast: In addition to garrisoning Savannah's Fort Jackson, Sunbury's Fort Defiance, and St. Marys'
Point Peter, Georgia employed 11 "Jeffersonian" gunboats to defend coastal communities from St. Marys to Savannah.

St. Marys and the War of 1812:

1. U.S. Navy Gunboats No. 2, No.3, and No.4 are assigned to Naval Station St. Marys in March 1810

2. The cantonment and battery at Point Peter served as the base of operations for America's first clandestine operation - The
Florida Patriot's War (1812 -1813)

3. At eleven U.S. Navy Gunboats, St. Marys ranked among the largest number of gunboats assigned to any port in the United
States -- she was second only to the ports of New York and New Orleans.

4. The Florida "Patriot" War begins. Approximately 180 Georgians, calling themselves "Patriots", crossed the St. Marys River
into Spanish East Florida and occupied Rose's Bluff, opposite the town of St. Marys, Georgia, and in sight of Amelia Island,
Florida. On March 17, 1812, the Patriots proceeded to Amelia and forced the small Spanish garrison to surrender the island.

5. On 18 March fifty men of the 1st Regiment of U.S. Riflemen "receive and defend in the name of the United States, the town
of Fernandina and the island of Amelia" from the Patriot forces.

6. On April 12, 1812, the 1st Regiment of U. S. Riflemen under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Smith occupied
Fort Moosa [Mose]. The Spanish attacked the fort and Smith was forced to pull back to an encampment further from St.
Augustine

7. 13 May 1812, U.S. Navy Gunboat No. 168 is fired upon by the British brig HMS Sappho.

8. Congress declares war against Great Britain 18 June 1812. The War of 1812 begins.

9. 6 May 1813, Lt. Abraham A. Massias, 1st Regt. U.S. Riflemen, lowered the American colors at Fort San Carlos in Fernandina,
Amelia Island. Lt. Massias, brought his unit, the last detachment of American troops in Florida, across the St. Marys River to
the American fortification at Point Peter, and reported to Major Lawrence Manning, 8th U.S. Infantry Regiment. Florida was
returned to Spanish control. The Patriot's War was over.

10. 11 June 1813, Major General Thomas Pinckney, commander of the U.S. Sixth Military District made his headquarters at
Point Petre on the Georgia coast

11. 16-17 September 1813 a Category 3 hurricane hit Amelia Island and St. Marys. Every ship in the harbor except one is sunk
or run ashore including 9 U.S. Navy Gunboats. Three gunboats (62, 161 164) were sunk. Gunboat No. 3 was driven ashore
three miles south into the Florida marsh. Gunboat No. 160, Gunboat No. 158, Gunboat No. 63, and Gunboat No. 165 were blown
ashore above high water mark. Gunboat No. 168 was dismasted and driven 7 miles inland from Fernandina to Harriett's Bluff by
the storm surge.

12. May 1814, the British extend their blockade of the U.S. East Coast to include Georgia. The first British vessels, HMS
Morgiana and HMS Majestic, are observed in the St. Marys River. The Georgia Militia is activated.

13. The British continue to raid coastal plantations and harass coastal shipping between St. Marys, Sunbury, Savannah, and
Charleston.

14. 25-26 August 1814, RADM George Cockburn, RN, captures and burns Washington, D.C.

15. 17 September 1814, RADM George Cockburn, RN, is repulsed at Baltimore's Fort McHenry.

16. 6 October 1814, 200 Royal Marines from HMS Lacedaemonian assault Gunboats No 160 and No 168 while they escort a
supply convoy from Charleston enroute St. Marys at Cabin Bluff.

17. The British Admiralty decides to invade Georgia. Cockburn's Squadron prepares at Bermuda.

18. 24 December 1814, The Treaty of Ghent is signed in Belgium. Before the war is officially considered over, both the Prince
Regent and Parliament, and President Madison and Congress must ratify the treaty.

19. 7-8 January 1815, General Andrew Jackson scores a stunning victory over General Sir Edward Pakenham at Chalmette,
Louisiana; on the outskirts of New Orleans.

20. 9 January 1815, a light squadron gathers off Cumberland Island. The next day, 1500 Royal Marines and elements of the 2nd
West India Regiment take possession of Cumberland Island. British Headquarters on the island are set-up in Dungeness, the
estate of the late widow of General Nathaniel Greene.

21. 13 January 1815, a combined amphibious assault is launched against Point Peter. Greatly outnumbered the garrison retreats
to Fort Barrington on the Altamaha.

22. 14 January 1815, British troops supported by HMS Terror and HMS Devastation attack, capture and occupy St. Marys.
British Headquarters in St. Marys are set-up in Archibald Clark's house.

23. RADM Cockburn orders a punitive raid against the sawmills of Archibald Clark, U.S. Collector of Customs for the port of
St. Marys. The mills are situated on Spanish Creek, near present-day Folkston.

24. 18 February 1815 Congress and President Madison ratify The Treaty of Ghent.

25. 23 February 1815, Georgia militia on the north bank and Florida Patriots on the south bank of the St. Marys River catch the
British punitive expedition, comprised of eight barges carrying 189 Royal Marines a short distance from Camp Pinckney, near
Colerain. It is the last combat of the War of 1812.

26. 15-16 March 1815 The British forces withdraw from Cumberland Island.

27. 16 March 1815, U.S. Navy Gunboat No. 168 is fired upon by British bomb-ship HMS Erebus. Gunboat No. 168 returns fire.
It is the last naval engagement of the war in U.S. territorial waters.

28. 15 April 1815, U.S. Navy Gunboat No. 168 carries U.S. Government agent Thomas Spalding and Navy Surgeon William
Baldwin to Bermuda for post-Peace treaty negotiations.

The British Assault on Georgia

Cockburn's Story

By mid-December 1814, the British decided to execute a combined amphibious assault against Georgia. Rear Admiral Sir
George Cockburn, R.N., who commanded a squadron from Bermuda, arrived in Chesapeake Bay, picked up detachment of
Colonial Royal Marines and made a course for St. Marys Inlet. He ordered Captain Barrie to follow with HMS Dragon, HMS
Brune, HMS Hebrus, HMS Regulus and rendezvous with him off Charleston before heading to Cumberland Island.

Captain Robert Barrie

This invasion was part of a larger plan to link with Red Stick Creeks and a British force under Major Nicholls and Captain
Woodbine operating in Mississippi, Alabama, and West Florida. Fortunately for the Americans General Jackson's victory at
New Orleans and operations under General Floyd (Horse Shoe Bend) would render that threat moot.

On 13 December 1814, HMS Rota, under the command of Captain Philip Somerville, embarked the flank companies of the 2nd
West India Regiment, at Nassau, under orders to join the light squadron at "St. Marys Inlet and Cumberland River." HMS
Rota arrived at the rendezvous position on 18 December 1814. Just three months prior HMS Rota took part in the privateer
General Armstrong incident at Fayal, Horta, in the Azores, which had unforeseen repercussions affecting the outcome of the
Battle of New Orleans.

Cockburn's Georgia Squadron Assembles

Adhering to Cockburn's orders to wait off Charleston, HMS Hebrus anchored off Edisto and sent her crew ashore to forage
and obtain fresh water. A South Carolina patrol squadron under Master Commandant John Dent came upon the British frigate.
Dent sent Lt. Lawrence Kearny, who then captured a number of British seaman, a carronade and six brass swivel guns. Kearny
used one of the barges from Hebrus to capture a tender and landing party from HMS Severn a few days later. The outings cost
Hebrus approximately forty crewmen and at least two boats, while costing Severn forty men and a tender. Hebrus and Severn
quickly resumed their voyage to Cumberland Island.

As Hebrus had familiarized herself with coastal Carolina, HMS Primrose also of Cockburn's current squadron, was no stranger
to coastal Georgia. The previous summer, HMS Primrose chased the Baltimore privateer schooner Pike aground on the "south
breakers," near the mouth of the Savannah River. The schooner Pike, under the command of Captain Davey, was described as
"an elegant vessel mounting twelve12 guns, with a compliment of 130 men when she commenced her cruize (sic)." Pike's
armament actually consisted of eleven 12-pounder carronades and one long 9-pounder. She had a most successful career
during which she captured 23 enemy vessels. On the evening of 25 August 1814, after being run aground by HMS Primrose,
boats from Primrose destroyed the Pike and captured 43 of her crew of 85. The 1st Lieutenant, the captain's clerk and some 42
seamen managed to escape in Pike's boats and reach Tybee Island, while Captain Davey and the rest of the crew were taken
aboard Primrose. Pike was a total loss, "entirely gone to pieces." The Savannah papers incorrectly credited HMS brig of war
Dotterel with the destruction of Pike.

The British Occupation of Cumberland Island

Captain Barrie in HMS Dragon arrived on 9 January 1815 to find HMS Rota, already on station, at anchor off Cumberland
Island. During the evening of 10 January, HMS Dragon landed elements of His Majesty's 1st, 2nd Bttn., Royal Marines and
3rd Bttn, Corps of Colonial Marines & Royal Marines on the northern end of Cumberland Island. The commanding officer at
Point Petre, Captain Abraham A. Massias, 1st U.S. Regiment of Riflemen, had under his command approximately 70 men. The
garrison was comprised of elements of the 1st U.S. Regiment of Riflemen, 43rd U.S. Regiment of Volunteers and 8th U.S.
Infantry Regt.
Capt. Massias reported the following to General John Floyd:

...It has just been reported that he (the enemy) has effected a landing off the
north point of Cumberland. A frigate is at anchor off that point. As my orders contemplate
a retreat, I have thought it best to prepare in time, and to direct the assistant deputy quartermaster general to remove most of the provisions (of
which we have a large supply) together with all the ammunition except what shall be necessary for immediate defence of the battery...I hope to
have it in my power to give the enemy a brush before I leave the ground...

Massias advised Georgia Militia Lt. Colonel William Scott of the situation. Scott promised to come to his aid with about 200
men if the British attacked Point Petre. Scott agreed with Massias's suggestion that the Militia would take post at Sweetwater
Branch to guard against an attack on the rear of Massias' position.

The following day, the British Light Squadron beat on and off the bar at St. Andrew's sound. Before noon they landed on
Cumberland Island in strength. With two vessels providing cover, nineteen barges landed two divisions: one at Plum Orchard,
and the other at the Dungeness wharf. Among the troops landed were the 1st and 2nd Companies of His Majesty's 2nd West
India Regiment.

At 3:00PM, Captain Abraham A. Massias, commander of the Point Petre Battery, sent a dispatch to General John Floyd at
Sunbury estimating the British strength at 1500 troops composed of "white and black" men. Lt. Col. Wm. Scott, commanding
the Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Georgia Militia, requested reinforcements.

The Engagement at Point Petre

On 12 January, the British held a council of war. The British plan of attack was devised by Captain Philip Somerville, the Senior
officer present. The plan called for the use of two companies of (Beckwith's) 2nd West India Regiment, Royal Navy Seamen
and elements of the 2nd Battalion Royal Marines in a combined amphibious assault on Point Peter. This Light Division, under
the indefatigable 41 year-old Captain Robert Barrie, was to approach the battery from the north, and attack the battery from the
rear. Meanwhile, another force comprised of three boat divisions would support the British left flank and attack the battery in
the front, from the river. The three boat divisions were under the command of Captains Nourse and Jackson, plus Lieutenant
Alexander of HMS Dragon. Captain Charles Bayne Ross of HMS Albion assisted.

During the early morning hours of Friday, 13 January, a British force of 600 men comprised of infantrymen, Royal Marines and
Royal Navy seamen set out from Sand's Landing on Cumberland Island for Point Petre. At first light, the British troops landed
unopposed on the southern end of Kings Bay Plantation, owned by Irish immigrant, Major Thomas King. King was the
second wealthiest planter in the area (the wealthiest planter was John H. McIntosh). At 1000 acres, Kings Bay Plantation was
also among the largest plantations in the area. Major King was "strongly Federalist" and along with Major James Seagrove
served as the leader of the Camden County Militia. Kings Bay Plantation was located on the western shore of Kings Bay. Prior
to King's arrival Kings Bay was known as the Western Shore River.

The British flotilla of barges landed at a place called Johnstone's Landing adjacent to Johnstone's Mill, four miles to the north
of Point Petre. With his force of 76 men defending the Point Peter Battery outnumbered by almost ten to one, Captain Massias
defied conventional military wisdom, and split his force in the face of a numerically superior enemy.

Massias had no choice. He was doing that for which Riflemen were renown - that being to do the unexpected and fight
unconventionally. Massias left Captain Elias Stallings and 36 men to defend the battery. Massias' orders for Stallings were:
defend the battery as long as possible, spike the guns, blow the powder magazine and join him (Massias) in the field.

Massias and 40 men moved north to meet the British force. With Massias were: Captain Edward F. Tattnall, 43rd Volunteer
Georgia Infantry, Lieutenant Jonathan Hall, of the 43rd Volunteer Georgia Infantry and Lieutenant Joseph D. Hardee. Massias
endeavored to set an ambuscade for the approaching British along a swampy path not too distant from Kings Bay Plantation.
Captain Barrie later recalled:

"We had a very difficult march through the wood to get in the rear of the fort. Midway we fell in with the enemy's riflemen - ambushed in the
thickest wood I ever saw. No fire was as smart as any I remember to have been in for about ten minutes."

The ambush site was a natural defile flanked by trees with marsh on either side. It forced the British to narrow his ranks. The
thick vegetation provided excellent cover for the riflemen. Massias had cut down trees across the path so artillery could not
pass. The obstacles were most effective.

Major Archibald Clark's House - St. Marys

Written from Major Archibald Clark's house, then British Headquarters in St. Marys, Captain Barrie's report to Captain
Somerville confirms this: "Captain Braddock of HMS Brune and a detachment of seaman from HMS Brune, plus, Midshipmen
Smales and Brown carried Congreve rockets on their backs in order to clear the obstacles." Captain Barrie, referring to the
Americans as "Nathan," recalled:

"Nathan let us advance within ten yards of him before he opened his fire. We were then in a narrow misty lane where the
troops could only advance by threes. God knows how we escaped so easy as we had only one man killed and five severely
wounded...So completely were these cowardly Yankees concealed that I never saw one of them till he was killed or made
prisoner...a Black soldier was shot through the head standing close alongside me whose clothes were singed by the powder
from the American's musket."

The engagement took place at a location that would become known as "Battle Hammock."
Massias found his men blocked by Lord's Light Division. The Light Division consisted of: the light company of the 2nd West
India Regiment, under Captain Lord; skirmishers of the 2nd Battalion Royal Marines, under Lieutenant Frazer; and a company
of the 3rd Battalion of Royal and Colonial Marines under Lieutenant Agassiz.

Massias ordered Lt. Hall to attack the British left and Lt. Hardee to maneuver behind the British, an order Hardee quickly
executed. Massias next ordered Captain Tattnall to advance and pass the defile. As Tattnall began his advance, a British bugle
sounded and a brisk combat ensued. It was widely reported." Taking the rifle of one of his own wounded, Tattnall fired and
killed the British commander of the detachment of the 2nd West India Regiment facing him. Returning British fire severely
wounded Tattnall in the arm." British accounts do not support the information about the British commander being killed.
British accounts do mention the loss of one Marine.

The action was brief, maybe twenty minutes in duration, but the ground was hotly contested. Lieutenant John Miller of HMS
Lacedaemonian observed: "The Yankee riflemen fired at our men in ambush." Miller, referring to one of the men of 2nd West
India Regiment serving as a skirmisher, noted: "...on the impulse of the moment, left the ranks and pursued them (the
Americans) in the woods fighting like heroes." Miller went on to observe the same 2nd WIR skirmisher in action: "A poor
Yankee, disarmed, begged for mercy...and (was) immediately shot...dead."

The ambush was marginally successful. Realizing this action would only delay the inevitable, Massias, with great patience and
prudence, wisely yet reluctantly, ordered his men to leave the field to the British and head for Fort Barrington by way of St.
Marys. Captain Barrie commented: "...when Nathan ran - we had no chance of overtaking him." Captain Lord advanced the
rest of the way to the battery unopposed. He arrived to find British Colors flying over the fort. Protected by an earthen
fortification, Captain Ross noted: "the battery mounted eight guns. Six guns pointed toward the sea: "two-24 lb., four -18 lb.
Two-brass 6- pounders were directed to flank the causeway on the land side. There were two twelve pounders not mounted
on carriages."

A brief engagement took place at the battery, during which only three guns from the battery fired at the British boats. Stallings
followed his orders by offering light resistance, however he did not spike the guns or fire the magazine. The British captured
the battery intact. A Sergeant Major and a Private of the Rifle Company were wounded and made prisoner along with three
other men. Records indicate the wounded private was George Washington Redmond. Capt. Barrie estimated American
casualties at the ambush at "Battle Hammock" were a Captain and Lieutenant severely wounded and between fifteen and
twenty rank and file killed or wounded."

Captain Nourse left Captain Ross in charge of the fort and pressed on with Captain Jackson toward St. Marys. With Captain
Ross were Captain Willis and 150 men of the 1st Battalion, Royal Marines. That afternoon Captain Nourse and his boat
division took possession of St. Mary's. The rest of the troops marching by land reached St. Marys by 10:00pm that evening.

Later that day, upon his arrival at Sweetwater Branch, just outside St. Marys, Massias immediately wrote a dispatch on 13
January informing General John Floyd that:

The enemy moved against Point Petre this morning at half past 7 o'clock,
with his whole force. "

After sending his dispatch, Massias continued his retreat to Fort Barrington. He wrote a dispatch on 15 January informing
General John Floyd that the battery at Point Petre was in British possession:

"...the number of the enemy too imposing, a thousand to eighty
was too much odds and...it was with reluctance I ordered a retreat, which
was effected in good order."

Floyd approved of Massias's course of action in a dispatch dated 17 January 1815:

"I have just time to acknowledge your report of an action with the
enemy and to express my approbation of the gallant conduct of the
officers and men under your command, and your meritorious
conduct in preserving your detachment by a retreat, surrounded by
so many difficulties."

Massias sounded the alarm with his dispatches to General Floyd. Governor Peter Early issued orders to General Blackshear to
proceed to Fort Barrington "without delay." Blackshear was traveling down the Flint River, some forty miles from Hartford, to
join General McIntosh at Mobile when he received Early's orders.

"I take on myself the responsibility of ordering you with the force under
your command to shape your course without delay to the point invaded."

Accounts of Massias' engagement with the enemy reached Governor Early's office. A part of Floyd's 1st Brigade, the 1st
Regiment Georgia Volunteers was mustered into Federal service. General Daniel Stewart ordered Lt. Colonel John MacPherson
Berrien's 1st Regiment of Cavalry to hold Fort Barrington to cover the withdrawal of the 43rd Regiment U.S. Volunteers and the
1st U.S. Rifle Regiment. On 17 January 1815, the Liberty Independent Troop deployed at Darien. They were lodged in private
homes, as there was little time to make other arrangements. The next day, Wednesday, at noon, Massias reported to Floyd
from Fort Barrington:

"Sir- The enemy is now near Darien his fleet is in Doboy Sound -- he
keeps close to me; yet, it is my belief Savannah is his objective -- I shall
watch his motions."

The Assault on St. Marys and British Occupation

On 14 January, the British ascended the St. Marys under leaden skies. The weather was cold and raw, early morning snow later
gave way to rain. Captain Charles Bayne Ross, of HMS Albion, led the expedition. The bomb vessels Terror and Devastation,
commanded by Captains Alexander and Sheridan, respectively, accompanied Captain Ross. There was no American
resistance. The British took possession of all shipping, stores and merchandise they found. Among the prize vessels they
took were two East Indiamen. One was the East Indiaman Countess of Harcourt, 520 tons, mounting 6 heavy guns, which had
been captured by the Sabine, an American privateer from Baltimore on 5 June 1814 in the English Channel. The other East
Indiaman was the Cortes, 650 tons, of Harport, captured by Sabine on 15 June on the English Channel with a cargo of dry
goods, rum and gin. There was also an American ship loaded with timber and the American gunboat Scorpion, which was a
present from the city of St. Marys to the United States. Countess of Harcourt was subsequently laden with all the prize goods
captured at St. Marys and sent to Bermuda. The timber ship was taken to Cumberland Island. Any stores, or guns taken from
St. Marys that were not fit to haul away were destroyed. Citizens of St. Mary's, reported they heard Captain Jackson, of HMS
Lacedemonian, swear that he wanted the opportunity to burn the cities of Savannah and Darien. Dr. William Baldwin recalls
the appearance of St. Marys after the British attack:

"My household furniture with the exception of a large looking-
glass and some other furniture, where I had kept the U. States
medical stores, was all safe."

"..I found the city almost a desolation. It had been plundered of
public and private property to the amount of near half a million
of dollars. A great deal of property was not taken away, it was
wantonly destroyed."

In his after action report to Admiral Cockburn, Capt. Barrie mentions the contributions of "Captain (John Robert George)
Fitzgerald," an ex-patriot British Naval officer living on Cumberland who has offered invaluable assistance during the
campaign.