The Sons of Liberty, however, were determined to precipitate confrontations with any authorities, Whig or Tory, who were not in favor of full independence for the colonies. The actions of these militant young men were often illegal but their leaders were well known, and they had considerable support among the populace and even from some members of the Council of Safety. Toward the end of July, a British mariner named John Hopkins proposed a toast among his fellow sailors that included the words “Damnation to America!” The next night he was taken from his bed in a cheap lodging, carried to the town square, and tarred and feathered. Crowds watched and many cheered his ordeal, and no one attempted to intercede on his behalf. He was threatened with hanging unless he drank a toast, “Damnation to all Tories and success to American liberty,” and he did so. He survived the torture but was scarred for life.

As far as Georgians were concerned, their provincial congress soon rejected any authority of the British governor and his ministers, began dealing with Indians, controlling trade, and cautiously taking over the judicial system.

In November, the Continental Congress voted to raise three battalions of troops for South Carolina and one for Georgia. When the word reached Savannah, the provincial congress elected Lachlan McIntosh as commander, with the rank of colonel, and Major Samuel Elbert as his deputy.

CHAPTER 20

Does God Approve Revolution?

In June 1775, Aaron Hart rode hard from a visit to Charles Town directly to see Captain Clarke. Hannah told him that her husband was out back, probably near the creek, looking for a cow that was overdue to drop a calf. The two men finally met after an exchange of signals on cow horns, and Hart blurted out, “ ’Lige, fighting has broke out in Massachusetts, and the colonists in Philadelphia have decided to form an army to protect themselves from the British.”

“That sounds good, Aaron. Jest tell me what you know.”

“Well, I brought a newspaper that’s got the story.” Instead of handing it to Clarke, he said, “Let me read it.”

The article described how the British had learned that Minutemen had munitions stored in Concord, about twenty miles from Boston. Lord North had ordered General Gage, commander in the northern colonies, to move in with troops to seize them. A local silversmith named Paul Revere had detected the troop movement and spread the alarm in the countryside. There was a military confrontation in Lexington on April 19, and eight Minutemen were killed. This caused an uproar, and when about two thousand British troops later moved toward Concord, militia companies from two dozen towns met and defeated them, killing 273 Redcoats and forcing the invaders back to Boston. There they were being besieged and, without relief from a strong British force, would soon be forced to evacuate the city.