Samuel Elbert
Samuel Elbert | |
---|---|
Born | 1740 Savannah, Georgia, British America |
Died | November 1, 1788 (aged 47–48) |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | Georgia State Navy Continental Army |
Rank | Major general (Georgia Militia)[1] Brigadier general (Continental Army)[1] |
Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Awards | Society of the Cincinnati |
Other work | Governor of Georgia |
Samuel Elbert (1740 – November 1, 1788) was an American merchant, soldier, slave owner,[2] and politician from Savannah, Georgia.
Elbert fought in the
In 1784, he was elected to the
Elbert was a
Life
Born in 1740 November 1 in
Elbert was employed by a prosperous planter named John Rae, an important man in both commerce and government. Rae had built a beautiful home on his land near
He became engaged to Rae's daughter, Elizabeth. In 1769, they were married at Rae’s Hall, a union which, according to historian Charles C. Jones, "confirmed Elbert’s social position and influence."[12]
Elbert became a captain of a grenadier company of Savannah’s First Regiment of Militia in June 1772 and signed a pledge of allegiance to George III as a prerequisite to being commissioned as an officer.
American Revolutionary War
He became active in the Provisional
In 1777, Georgia’s president,
At about the time this expedition was initiated, an ongoing feud between Gwinnett and the commander of Georgia’s Continental troops, General
Nevertheless, one reason Florida never became a part of Georgia might be found in the vagaries of the wind. May 13, 1777 was the date picked for Elbert and Baker to combine their forces and drive back the British. Many problems prevented Elbert’s sea expedition from reaching its destination on time. While on the boats, the men were stricken by disease, which combined with supply problems and head winds, slowed their progress considerably. In addition, the waters in this area are relatively low in the spring, making
Colonel Baker’s mounted militia arrived at Saw Pitt Bluff as planned, but quickly moved to a new location when it became apparent that the British already knew of their intentions. During this move, Colonel Baker’s men were surprised by a force of some 400 British troops, and a brief battle ensued in the vicinity of
It was about three days later that Colonel Elbert disembarked his troops on the north end of Amelia Island. His forces were joined by a few stragglers from Baker’s detachment, but after reconnoitering, Elbert found the British well entrenched with troops and artillery. While Elbert’s little band was busy trying to cut through the Amelia Narrows, the British commander, Patrick Tonyn, was making plans to attack them with vastly superior forces.
To ensure total victory, the British war ships Rebecca and Hawke were ordered out to block any attempt of Elbert’s little flotilla to escape. A violent storm came up, and the British warships were forced out to sea. Before they could return, they encountered a rebel brigantine of sixteen guns. The ensuing battle damaged the Rebecca so badly that it could no longer carry on, allowing Elbert to leave Amelia Island unopposed.[17]
Failing to surprise the British and without the support of Baker’s detachment, Elbert and his men returned to Georgia without much having been accomplished. Shortly thereafter, Elbert concluded in a letter to General McIntosh:
I think --- that little can be done, unless by a formidable invasion, which I judge to be rather too much for Georgia to undertake till her forces are put on a more respectable footing, and therefore recommend confining our operations entirely to the defensive till a more favorable opportunity. We have too many secret enemies amongst us who keep up a regular correspondence with our Florida neighbors, and until they are put to a stop it will be impossible for us to enter Florida without their having timely notice of our approach.
A later attempt to invade Florida with a much larger army was initiated by Governor
Elbert's three galleys comprised a good part of the Georgia State Navy at that time. These vessels were the Lee, the Washington and the Bulloch. A fourth galley, named the Congress, was the other galley authorized by the Continental Congress for the state. The galleys were approximately 70 feet (21 m) in length and were powered by two lateen sails as well as oars and had a very large cannon mounted in the bow. Although not suited for ocean going, their maneuverability made them formidable in the shallow coastal waters of Georgia.[18]
The remarkable success of this enterprise encouraged him to consider launching an attack against another heavily armed British vessel, the Galatea, anchored at the north end of Jekyll Island. Apparently he decided against it, and the Galatea, unable to complete its mission, set sail for St. Augustine, Florida a few days later.[19] General Howe commended Elbert and his troops for their victory over the British ships and, partly because of this venture, decided to continue with the invasion of Florida.
Meanwhile, Samuel Elbert continued with his Continental troops toward Florida. Just after they crossed the Satilla River, on June 24, the first Solar eclipse recorded in the British colonies occurred.[20][21] It was called "the dark day" by the troops and may well have been responsible for some of the desertions about then.
Elbert, now joined by General Howe, continued on and occupied
In December of 1778, the British sent a fleet with about 3,500 troops led by Colonel
Battle of Brier Creek
Savannah was captured by the British, and General Howe later faced a
The articles of provisions we shall have plenty, of artillery we have none, small arms very ordinary in general and scarce, many men have come to camp without any, which we have not to give them. Entrenching tools and camp utensils are not to be had here.[25]
In late February, Elbert was joined by General John Ashe and about 1800 additional troops. Ashe deployed most of his troops on high ground near Brier Creek. It was here that Elbert nearly lost his life.
Although Elbert was a brigadier general in the Georgia Militia, he was still a colonel in the Continental Army at this time and was in command of one of three divisions under General Ashe. On March 3, 1779, the British launched a surprise attack and quickly routed Ashe’s main army. Ashe disappeared into the woods, ostensibly to rally his scattered troops. The remaining left wing, under General Elbert, was driven back against Brier Creek. With Brier creek behind him and surrounded on all other sides by the enemy, Elbert and Lieutenant Colonel John McIntosh together with 60 Continentals and 150 Georgia militiamen, made a heroic effort to turn the fortune of battle without any help from the other two divisions. In the words of the Georgia Historical Commission, Elbert’s small regiment "made one of the most gallant stands against overwhelming odds of the Revolutionary War."[26] The British Army was forced to bring up its reserves and, with all hope of escape or victory gone, Elbert surrendered the remnants of his command.[27] More than half of the 150 men killed were Elbert's men. Elbert himself was about to be bayoneted when he was recognized as a Mason by a British officer who ordered his life spared.
There is ample reason to believe that, if the other two divisions had fought with the tenacity of Elbert’s command, things might have turned out differently, especially since General Andrew Williamson was on his way with 1200 men and General Griffith Rutherford was coming with 800 men to reinforce the army at Brier.[28] As it was, General Lincoln’s plan to win control of the South and bring the war to an end resulted in disaster. General Ashe was later accused of cowardice for leaving the field of battle while Elbert was still engaged, but since nothing could be proved, a court of inquiry found Ashe only guilty of gross neglect.
Elbert remained a prisoner on parole in the British camp for more than a year. During this time, he was accorded great respect and kindness. The British made every effort to suborn his allegiance, offering promotion, honors and other rewards, but he remained loyal to the American cause.
Elbert was given considerable freedom while being held prisoner, which was unusual given the typically harsh treatment of prisoners at the time. It is a family tradition, however, that this freedom exposed him to a plot upon his life.[13][29] It was attributed to a gang of Tories who had every reason to dislike Elbert since he had been very active against them. Their plan was to have him killed by Indians. While strolling in the woods one day, Elbert encountered two Indians with guns aimed directly at him. He had always extended great kindness to the Indians whenever he had had dealings with them in the past. He made a secret signal to them, and they recognized him as a friend.
The Patriot movement at Augusta petitioned the Continental Congress to offer Brigadier General James Inglis Hamilton in exchange for Elbert, and to arrange for his promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the Continental Army.[30] This request was granted after the capture of Charleston by the British in 1780.
Elbert went immediately to
In 1782, the General Assembly of Georgia chose Elbert, General
Postwar activities
Many honors were bestowed upon Samuel Elbert. He was elected Sheriff of
Governor of Georgia
When the General Assembly of Georgia convened at Savannah on January 4, 1785, Samuel Elbert was elected governor of the state, to succeed John Houstoun. Elbert had not sought this honor and he asked for time to give the matter his earnest consideration. On January 7, 1785, Elbert appeared before the House, and formally accepted the honor, saying in part:
I shall ever be sensible of the honor you have conferred on me, in appointing me
Chief Magistrate of the State of Georgia. It must, in the highest degree, be flattering to me, that my conduct as a soldier through our last glorious struggle, has met the approbation of my Country; and rest assured that it will be my study as a citizen to merit the confidence you have reposed in me. I firmly rely on the concurrence and support of your Honorable House in every measure that will secure the citizens in their just rights and privileges and which may be conducive to the welfare of the State.[33]
In January, 1785, an unusual piece of legislature was passed by the General Assembly for the regular establishment and support of religion in Georgia, mixing Church and State matters. Though governors at that time had no power to vote, Elbert and succeeding governors who found the legislation untenable, ignored it, as stated in the Digest of the Laws of Georgia.
As governor, Samuel Elbert was intensely interested in educational and cultural matters. Along with another prominent advocate of education, Abraham Baldwin, Elbert persuaded the Georgia House to pass a bill supporting the "full and complete establishment of Public seminaries of learning". On January 27, 1785, the House granted a charter to Franklin College, later to become the University of Georgia, and Baldwin became the university's first president. Georgia thus became the first state to charter a state-supported university. The Savannah Morning News stated that this event was "... perhaps of more enduring and far-reaching importance and good than any other of this great man's notable career."[34]
The matter of taxation came before Elbert early in April, 1785, when William Houston, Georgia's delegate to the United States Congress, wrote a letter informing him that New York and Georgia were the only states that had not conceded the right to levy these taxes – that feeling against Georgia in the national capital New York City at the time was very high, even going so far as to threaten to vote Georgia out of the Union. Undoubtedly, Elbert favored full cooperation with Congress, but governors of that did not wield the power that executives of later years were to possess, and Georgia did not accept the tax.
Personal life
Elbert and Elizabeth Rae had six children: Catherine, Elizabeth, Sara, Samuel de Lafayette, Matthew and Hugh Lee. That he was a kind and greatly beloved father to his children is evidenced in many records.
On November 6, 1788, the following obituary appeared in the Georgia Gazette, published in Savannah:[35]
Died last Saturday, after a lingering sickness, age 48 years, SAMUEL ELBERT, Esq. Major General of the Militia of this state, Vice president of the Society of the Cincinnati, and Sheriff of the County of Chatham. His death was announced by the discharge of minute guns and the colours of Fort Wayne, and vessels in the harbour being displayed at half mast high. An early and warm attachment to the cause of his country stimulated him to exert those natural talents he possessed for a military life, throughout the late glorious and successful contest, with ability and general approbation, for which he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in the Army of the United States. In the year 1785, his country chose him, by their general suffrage, Governor and Commander in chief of the State, which office he executed with fidelity and discharged its various duties with becoming attention and dignity. The appointments of Major General of the Militia and Sheriff of this county, were further marks of the confidence of his country, whose interests he had always at heart, and whose appointments he received and executed, with a grateful remembrance that his conduct through life had met the approbation of fellow citizens. In private life, he was among the first to promote useful and benevolent societies. As a Christian, he bore his painful illness with patience and firmness, and looked forward to his great change with an awful and fixed hope of future happiness. As a most affectionate husband and parent his widow and six children have great cause to lament his end, and the society in general to regret the loss of a valuable member. His remains were attended to on Sunday to Christ Church by the ancient society of the Masons, (of which he was the Passed (sic) Grand Master in this state) with the members of the Cincinnati as mourners, accompanied by a great number of his other fellow citizens, whom the Rev. Mr. Lindsay addressed in a short but well adapted discourse on the solemn occasion. Minute guns were fired during the funeral, and every other honor was paid his memory, by a respectable military procession, composed of the Artillery and other Militia Companies. The body was afterwards deposited at the family burial place on the Mount at Rae’s Hall.
Honors
Much of the credit for awakening interest in Georgia's Revolutionary heroes is due to the efforts of William Harden, former longtime librarian of the Georgia Historical Society at Savannah. His interest inspired the Sons of the American Revolution to appoint a committee to locate Samuel Elbert's grave. The grave site was eventually found on an Indian mound overlooking the Savannah River. In a letter to the editor of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution dated May 9, 1971, John L. Sutlive, former editor of the Savannah Evening Press, stated the discovery of Elbert's grave was somewhat accidental. Working on the Rae plantation many years ago, workmen uncovered some bones thought to be those of an Indian, but the fact that there were some military buttons with the skeleton came to the attention of General Robert J. Travis, who rescued them, realizing that they were the remains of Governor Elbert. He kept them in a crate under his desk until reburial arrangements could be made.
On March 24, 1924, Samuel and Elizabeth Rae Elbert were re-interred in
Elbert County and the town of Elberton were named for him.[37] There is also an Elbert Ward and an Elbert memorial in Savannah. In 1971 a private school named the Samuel Elbert Academy was chartered in Elberton, Georgia. Many markers have been set up by the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution, the Society of Masons and the Georgia Historical Commission honoring Samuel Elbert.[38][39][40]
References
- ^ a b Jones 1886, p. 36.
- ^ "Samuel Elbert". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ Smith, p. 285
- ^ Cook, James F. "Georgia Governor Samuel Elbert". Mercer University Press. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
- S2CID 162248285.
- ^ "Solomon's Lodge #1, F. & A. M. History". Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.1.
- ^ Georgia Colonial Records, Vol. V, p.655.
- ^ Georgia Colonial Records, Vol. X, p.907.
- ^ Ouzts, Clay (2017). "'A Good Bargain for the Trust': The Ordeal of William and Sarah Elbert, 1733-1742". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 101 (1): 25.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.90.
- ^ Jones 1886.
- ^ a b Purcell 1951
- ^ Bennett 1970, p.10.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.35.
- ^ Bennett 1970
- ^ Bennett 1970, p.16.
- ^ Wood, Virginia Steele (2006). "The Georgia Navy's Dramatic Victory of April 19, 1778". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 90 (2). Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ Wood 2006
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.48.
- ^ "Solar Eclipse Calendar". Archived from the original on 2009-10-27. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.60.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.62.
- ^ Coulter 1947, p.138.
- ^ Elbert Letter 1779
- ^ "General Samuel Elbert historical marker". Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ Davis, Robert S. (2016). "Civil War in the Midst of Revolution: Community Divisions and the Battle of Briar Creek, 1779". Georgia Historical Quarterly. 100 (2): 137.
- ^ Hollingsworth 1959
- ^ Johnson 1851
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.69.
- ^ "Cherokee Land Cessions / Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution / 1884".
- ^ McCall, Hugh (1817). The History of Georgia, Vol. 1.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.75. from the Georgia Gazette, January 13, 1785.
- ^ Purcell 1951, p.80. from The Savannah Morning News of Oct 31, 1920.
- ^ Georgia Gazette November 6, 1788
- ^ "Members of the Major General Samuel Elbert Chapter Daughters American Revolution, Tennille, Georgia, place wreath on Elbert's tomb, Savannah, Georgia, March 10, 1924". Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University Library. Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
- ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 116.
- ^ Cotten, Mary Gene. "General Samuel Elbert Masonic Historical Marker". University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia: Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- ^ Cotten, Mary Gene. "Battle of Brier Creek State Historical Marker". University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia: Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
- ^ "Elbert County State Historical Marker". University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia: Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Archived from the original on 2007-11-18. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
Bibliography
- Bennett, Charles E.(1970). Southernmost Battlefields of the Revolution. Crossroads, Virginia: Blair.
- Christensen, Mike (April 4, 1976). "Georgia's Navy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta: Cox Enterprises.
- Coulter, E. Merton (1947). Georgia: A Short History. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina Press. p. 138.
- Elbert, Samuel (January 29, 1779). "Letter to General Benjamin Lincoln, Southern Army Commander".
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(help) - "General Samuel Elbert Masonic Historical Marker". located on Brannen's Bridge Rd. at Brier Creek: Grand Lodge of Georgia Free and Accepted Masons.
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(help) - Johnson, Joseph, M.D. (1851). Traditions & Reminiscences Chiefly of the American Revolution in the South Including Biographical Sketches Incidents & Anecdotes. Charleston, South Carolina: Walker & James. pp. 473–477.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Jones, Charles C. (1886). The Life and Services of the Honorable Major General Samuel Elbert of Georgia (Speech). a speech on file at the Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
- "Map of the Battle of Brier Creek". Georgia State Historical Marker located on Brannen's Bridge Rd. at Brier Creek, 11 miles northeast of Sylvania, Georgia: Georgia Historical Commission, compiled by Clyde D. Hollingsworth - 1959.
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(help)CS1 maint: location (link), 32°48′39″N 81°29′03″W / 32.8107°N 81.4841°W - "Order book of Samuel Elbert". Collections of the Georgia Historical Society. V, pt. 2: 655.
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(help) - Ouzts, Clay. 2022. Samuel Elbert and the Age of Revolution in Georgia, 1740-1788. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.
- Purcell, Clarice E. (1951). "The Public Career of Samuel Elbert". Master's thesis. University of Georgia.
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(help) - Smith, Gordon Burns, History of the Georgia Militia, 1783-1861, Volume One, Campaigns and Generals, Boyd Publishing, 2000.
- Sutlive, John L. (former editor Savannah Evening Press) (May 9, 1971). "Governor's Bones - a letter sent to the Atlanta Journal Constitution". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atlanta: Cox Enterprises.
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has generic name (help) - The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia. Vol. V. 1738–1744.
- The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia. Vol. X. pp. 124–125, 907.
- published by authority of the lords commissioners of the Admiralty; to which is added, The North Georgia gazette, and Winter chronicle. (1821). Written at Philadelphia. The Georgia Gazette. an article on file at the )
- "The Last Will and Testament of Samuel Elbert". Will Record Book C 1780 - 1791. Chatham County, Georgia: court of the Ordinary: 105–111.
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(help) - Whalen, Gail. "The WPA Excavation of Irene Mound". Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia: Coastal Georgia Archaeological Society.
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(help) - Wheeler, Frank T.; Georgia Historical Society (October 1998). Savannah River Plantations (Images of America: Georgia). Arcadia Pub. pp. 69–82. ISBN 0-7385-0030-5.
- Whitehead, Stella Muse. "To the Glory of Georgia". a profile of Samuel Elbert derived partially from journals of Elbert left to Stella by her grandmother, Jane Stiles Muse Hernandez who inherited them from her first husband, Samuel Elbert Muse, a great grandson of General Elbert.
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(help) - Wood, Virginia Steele (Summer 2006). "The Georgia Navy's Dramatic Victory of April 19, 1778". Georgia Historical Quarterly. XC. Savannah, Georgia: Georgia Historical Society.
External links
- Frederica Naval Action[permanent dead link]
- Biography in The New Georgia Encyclopedia
- Order book of Samuel Elbert, Colonel and Brigadier General in the Continental Army, October 1776 to November 1778, and Letter book of Governor Samuel Elbert from January 1785 to November 1785
- Georgia State Archives Roster of State Governors
- Georgia Governor's Gravesites Field Guide (1776-2003)
- GeorgiaInfo: Battle of Brier Creek State Historical Marker
- HMdb.org: Battle of Brier Creek Marker
- HMdb.org: General Samuel Elbert Marker
- Gen. Samuel Elbert historical marker
- American Revolution Institute
- Society of the Cincinnati