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308 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS
the land given to him by the State of Georgia. He was still accompanied by the
Harris family, for whom he continued to labor. It is said that he denied himself
many of the comforts of life, in order to bestow the bulk of his earnings upon his
white friends. He sent the eldest son of Mr. Harris to Franklin College, and con
tributed to his maintenance while he studied law under Judge Upson at Lexington.
It is said that when young Harris stood his legal examination in open court Austin
Dabney was outside of the bar with the keenest look of anxiety on his face and that
when the youth was finally admitted to practice the old negro fairly burst into tears
of joy. He left his entire property to the Harris family, at the time of his death.
The celebrated Judge Dooly held him in the highest esteem, and when the latter
was attending court in Madison it was one of Dabney's customs to take the judge's
horse into his special custody. He is said to have been one of the best authorities in
Georgia on the events of the Eevolutionary war periods. Once a year Austin Dabney
made a trip to Savannah, at which place he drew his pension. On one occasion—
so the story goes—he traveled in company with his neighbor, Col. Wiley Pope. They
journeyed together on the best of terms until they reached the outskirts of the town.
Then, turning toward his dark companion, the colonel suggested that he drop behind,
since it was not exactly the conventional thing for them to be seen riding side by
side through the streets of Savannah. Without demurrer Austin complied with this
request, stating that he fully understood the situation. But they had not proceeded
far before reaching the home of General Jackson, then governor of the state. What
was Colonel Pope's surprise, on looking behind him, to see the old governor rush
from the house, seize Austin's hand in the most cordial manner, like he was greeting
some long lost brother, drew him down from the horse, and lead him into the house,
where he remained throughout his entire stay in Savannah, treated not perhaps as
an equal, but with the utmost consideration. In after years, Colonel Pope used to
tell this anecdote, so it is said, with much relish, adding that he felt somewhat
abashed on reaching Savannah, to find Austin an honored guest of the governor of
Georgia, while he himself occupied a room at the public tavern.—L. L. Knight in
Georgia's Landmarks, Memorials and Legends, Vol. I.
COLONEL JOHN WHITE: HERO or THE GREAT OOEECHEE.—In December, 1778, the
British captured Savannah.* In September, 1779, Count d'Estaiug with a force of
about 1,700 men acting under instructions from the French government effected a
landing at Beauiieu, and shortly thereafter was joined by General Lincoln. The
purpose was to recapture Savannah by siege. General Provost, the British com
mander, immediately summoned from all outposts every portion of his scattered
command. Some reached the British lines in safety. But Captain French was not
among this number. With 111 regular troops, accompanied by five vessels and their
crews of forty men, he sought to join General Prevost, but interrupted in his attempt
to enter Savannah by news of the investment of the town, took refuge in the Great
Ogeechee Kiver, about twenty-live miles below Savannah, disembarked and formed
a fortified camp on the left bank of that stream.
Col. John White, of the Fourth, Georgia Battalion of General Lincoln's force,
conceived a. brilliant plan for the capture of French's command. Accompanied only
by Capts. George Melvin and A. C. G. Klholm, a sergeant, and three privates, a total
force of seven men (some accounts state five), on the night of October 1, 1779, this
daring band located the British camp on the Ogeechee and built many watch-fires
at various points around it, placing the fires at such positions as to lead the British
to believe that they were surrounded by a large force of Americans. This was kept
up throughout the night by White and his force marching from point to point with
the heavy tread of many when, accompanied by the challenge of sentinels at each
point surrounding the British cam]), each mounting a horse at intervals, riding off in
haste in various directions, imitating the orders of staff officers and giving fancied
orders in a low tone. Anticipating the presence of the enemy, Captain French
believed that he was entrapped by a large force. At this juncture Colonel White,
unaccompanied, dashed up to the British camp and demanded a conference -with
Captain French.
"I am the commander, sir," he said, "of the American soldiers in your vicinity.
If you will surrender at once to my force, I will see to it that no injury is done to
yon or your command. If you decline to do this I. must candidly-inform you that
• E. H. Abrahams: Article in the Savannah Morning News, July 4, 1909.