Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

270 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
ful forebodings as he anxiously surveyed the distant horizon and noted
the dusky banners of the fast oncoming storm.
This was the status of affairs in the midst of which Georgia's first
secession convention, on July 4, 1775, met at Tondee's Tavern in Savan
nah. An eloquent sermon from Dr. Zubly solemnized the patriots for
the serious business which was soon to be transacted, and, with Archi
bald Bulloch in the chair and George Walton at the secretary's desk,
the historic assemblage was ready to proceed. The first duty was to
choose an executive council in which to lodge the government of the
province, and the members appointed were : George Walton, president ;
William Ewen, Stephen Drayton, Noble W. Jones, Basil Cooper, Edward
Telfair, John B. Girardeau, John Smith, Jonathan Bryan, William Gib
bons, John Martin, Oliver Bowen, Ambrose Wright, Samuel Elbert,
Joseph Habersham and Francis H. Harris. To the Continental Con
gress five delegates were elected: Noble W. Jones, Lyman Hall, John
Houstoun, Archibald Bulloch and John J. Zubly. But only three attended
the adjourned session of the Continental Congress, Dr. Jones and Dr.
Hall being detained at home. All of the parishes were represented in
the notable convocation. Indeed, no subsequent assembly was ever more
harmonious; and, if the Sons of Liberty, according to Governor Wright,
acted like drunken men, they were intoxicated with the Pentecostal wine
of the new freedom. The die was cast. Georgia's first secession ordi
nance was written, and the colonial gem, which bore the name of the
Brunswick prince, was now transferred from King George's coronet to
Young Liberty's brow.
But the convention, which remained in session for several days, was
not unmindful of the steps which were needed to insure Georgia protec
tion. It was necessary to provide the sinews of war. A schooner was
commissioned by the Congress and put in command of two stout patriots,
Oliver Bowen and Joseph Habersham, who were already in possession
of information which promised to yield substantial results; and, within
the next few days, 9,000 pounds of powder fell to Georgia's share in a
haul which the officers made in connection with some adventurous South
Carolinians. It was the first capture made by the first vessel commis
sioned for naval warfare in the Revolution.
However, this was not the powder which Governor Wright was ex
pecting from the British depot of supplies. The helpless condition of
the royal cause had induced the governor to send dispatches both to
General Gage and to Admiral Graves asking for immediate re-enforce
ments. But the letters were intercepted by good Whigs who suspected
the character of the contents, and who, using the same envelopes, sub
stituted fictitious letters stating that the situation in Georgia was per
fectly tranquil. Though the letters in due time reached the proper des
tination, there was naturally no response; and Governor Wright was
puzzled for an explanation until years afterwards, when he chanced to
meet General Gage in London.
For the military defense of the state, the First Battalion of Georgia
troops was constituted with Lachlan Mclntosh as colonel, Samuel Elbert
as lieutenant-colonel, and Joseph Habersham as major. In. the course