ELBERT COUNTY. 239 



On the 16th of September, 1776, Elbert was promoted to 

 the rank of Colonel, and in May, 1777, he commanded in an 

 expedition intended by President Gwinnett for the reduc- 

 tion of East Florida ; but it failed in its object, and after 

 some skirmishing, the troops were withdrawn. In the next 

 year, 1778, the British retaliated, and an invasion of Georgia 

 was projected by General Provost, aided by the Indians and 

 Royalists from Florida. The Carolinians were called upon 

 for their aid, and it was promptly and liberally afforded. 



On the 19th of April, 1778, Col. Elbert having heard that 

 some British vessels were at anchor at Frederica, obtained the 

 galleys and manned them with some of his own landsmen. 

 With these he went in pursuit of the enemy. They proved to 

 be the brigantine Hinchenbrook and sloop Rebecca, privateers 

 which had been infesting the southern coast, and had gone in 

 with their prize, a brig, for refitting and plunder. Colonel 

 Elbert boarded them, and after a smart resistance, succeeded 

 in capturing all of them. 



The combined movements of the Georgians and Caro- 

 linians, on this occasion, certainly saved the State from the 

 intended invasion, but they did no other good. Their army 

 was badly provided for and badly conducted. General Robert 

 Howe, of North Carolina, was mifortunately the commander 

 of this gallant but ill-fated army. A want of concert among 

 the commanders caused the expedition to be abandoned, and 

 Elbert returned to Savannah, with his regiment shattered by 

 disease and thinned by death. Here they were attacked on 

 the 29th of December, 1778, by an expedition sent direct 

 from New- York, under Col. Arch. Campbell, defeated, and 

 driven at the point of the bayonet through the streets of Sa- 

 vannah. The Georgia troops, under Elbert, made a brave 

 but ineffectual stand against the victorious British regulars, 

 and retreated fighting them. 



The next battle in which Col. Elbert was engaged, was at 

 Briar creek, where General Ashe, of North Carolina, com- 

 manded the Americans. This was a complete surprise and 

 total defeat. The British amused General Ashe by a feint 

 at the bridge, while they crossed the creek above him, and 



