GASSAR Historic Sites

“I have the happiness to inform you, that about 10 o'clock this forenoon, the Brigantine Hinchinbrooke, the Sloop Rebecca, and a Prize Brig, all struck the British Tyrant's colours, and surrendered to the American arms. … ” This was the beginning of a report dated 19 April 1778, Frederica from Colonel Samuel Elbert to Major General Robert Howe, Continental Army Commander of the Southern Department.
For harbor and river defense and to transport troops and supplies, Colonel Samuel Elbert was dependent upon the Georgia Navy galleys: Lee, Washington, Bulloch and Congress. The two-masted galleys with triangular sails measured about seventy-feet keel, thirteen-feet beam, and four-one-half-feet depth amidships. They carried one large cannon in the bow, flanked by smaller cannon and swivel guns. Twenty double-manned oars on each side required a crew of at least eighty sailors who stood upright to row.
In an effort to stop raiding parties from British East Florida, Georgia had attempted unsuccessful invasions in 1776 and 1777. The Third Florida Expedition was being planned in 1778, when Colonel Elbert learned that four British vessels were sailing in St. Simons Sound. On 15 April 1778, he detailed 360 men from the Continental Battalions at Fort Howe on the Altamaha River to march to Darien. There, they embarked on three galleys: Bulloch with Captain Archibald Hatcher in command, Lee under Captain John Cutler Braddock and Washington under Captain John Hardee.
By mid-afternoon of 18 April, the Patriot flotilla entered the Frederica River and anchored at Pikes Bluff, a mile and half above the ruins of Fort Frederica. First to land were troops commanded by Colonel Robert Rae, who then marched to Frederica where British prisoners were taken. By the time intelligence about Hinchinbrook and Rebecca anchored at Frederica got back to Colonel Elbert, he deemed it too late in the evening to attack.
At dawn the next morning, 19 April, the Georgia galleys sailed down river and Colonel Elbert initiated the attack on the British vessels. A strong ebb-tide was running but the wind had died, making it impossible for the British to carry out their plan of ramming the galleys. Initially the galleys executed a few random shots as they rowed toward the enemy; then anchored at a safe distance of one-half mile and began a heavy cannonade, firing on target for several hours.
Since the limited range of Hinchinbrook’s and Rebecca’s 4-pounders’ were no match for the galleys’ heavier ordnance, the British vessels began dropping downriver. Believing they were in a deep channel, suddenly Rebecca grounded in a place the British later called ‘Raccoon Gut.’ Almost immediately Hinchinbrook and the watering brig suffered the same fate. Meanwhile the galleys, still firing, were closing fast, by then about 10 a.m. Faced with imprisonment, the British abandoned their ships and crowded into boats leaving behind some of the Hinchinbrook’s crew. Six miles distant, HM Galatea was awaiting them in St. Simons Sound, and all who escaped made it safely on board and subsequently returned to St. Augustine.
The Frederica Naval Action was a tremendous boost to Georgians’ morale for it put out of action two British ships that had captured several American merchant vessels. The victory also helped delay for over eight months the British capture of Fort Morris and Sunbury. The tidal currents, lack of wind and underwater shoals certainly affected the outcome, but credit for the capture of the three British vessels must be awarded to Colonel Samuel Elbert for his courage, tactics and leadership, and to each of the officers and men who served under his command.
On April 19, 2005, a Georgia Historical Marker, entitled “The Georgia Navy” that describes the Patriots victory in the Frederica River, was dedicated at the entrance of the Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island, Georgia. The Frederica Naval Action occurred exactly three years after “the shot heard round the world” was fired at Lexington. Over eighty SAR Compatriots from Georgia and Florida joined other organizations to celebrate Patriots Day and dedicate the historical marker. Georgia Society President George Thurmond stated, “This historic occasion is the result of efforts by a lot of different Compatriots, since we have never before sponsored a Georgia Historical Marker.”

Prepared by Bill Ramsaur, Marshes of Glynn Chapter, GASSAR, and Virginia Steele Wood, Specialist in Naval and Maritime History at the Library of Congress.