There was no response, only a nervous murmur and some shuffling of feet. Clarke looked from one of his company commanders to another, and finally James Jackson responded, “Colonel, as you can see, we don’t have many men left, and most have brought their wives and children into the protected area. These are the ones that are not ready to give up, but what’s going to happen to the families if all the men take off up north?”

Clarke was obviously aggravated as he responded in a low but intense voice, “Shit, we can leave enough here to guard the entrances to our places, and take the rest to fight the damned Redcoats.”

He looked around for a while and then asked, “How many of you will go with me to Carolina?”

Ethan immediately raised his hand and then looked around to see that the company commanders and only about thirty others had joined him. Few of them had families to protect.

Aaron Hart attempted to salvage what he could from the embarrassing response. “It’s clear that all of us are ready to continue fighting, but there’s a question whether to do it here or in Carolina. The other questions are what to do about our families and whether we want to split up or stay together. I’m trusting the colonel to make these decisions, and I’m ready to follow where he wants to go.”

After a few moments, Clarke said, “I ain’t changed my mind about protectin’ Carolina, but that don’t mean we can’t protect ourselves at the same time. I’ll send a few men up to the Watauga Valley to see what plans they have and how we can help them, but most of us will hunker down here together till we see what’s best to do, bring our families in close, and be strong if Brown tries to attack. I’m really pissed at the men who didn’t show up when I called them, and we’ll spread the word that anybody caught in Georgia that won’t join us will be considered a traitor to the revolution and will be hanged.”

•  •  •

As quickly as possible, the British fortified Charles Town, Savannah, Augusta, and Port Royal, so that Florida and the two southern colonies were effectively incorporated as British. General Clinton moved to New York and Cornwallis replaced him in Charles Town. He ordered Major Patrick Ferguson and Banastre Tarleton to crush any remaining rebel activity, without restraints. Georgia and Carolina militia leaders decided not to oppose the main British forces, and to remain in the distant west.