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GEOBGIA
AND GEOBGIANS 309
the feelings of my troops are highly incensed against you and I can by no means
be responsible for any consequences that may ensue.''
The bluff worked. Captain French at once fell into the trap and agreed to .sur
render, as he thought it was useless to battle with the large surrounding force. At
this moment Captain Elholm dashed up on horseback and demanded to know where
to place the artillery. '' Keep them back,'' replied White, '' the British have sur
rendered. Move your men off and send me three guides to conduct the British to
the American post at Sunbury.'' Thereupon the five vessels were burned, the three
guides arrived, and the British urged to keep clear of the supposed infuriated
American army hovering about, marched off, while Colonel White hastened away,
collected a force of neighboring militia, overtook the British led by his guides, and
conducted them as prisoners to Sunbury.
Nine days after this remarkable exploit, Colonel White was severely wounded a.t
the assault upon Savannah made at the Spring Hill redoubt. He succeeded in making
his escape from the British, but the wounds received so much impaired his health
that he was obliged to retire from the army and died soon afterwards in Virginia.*
KBENEZEE IN THE REVOLUTION.—The Salzburgers were slow to side against Eng
land. It was perfectly natural for them to feel kindly disposed toward the country
whose generous protection was extended to them in days of persecution; but they
were also the sworn enemies of tyranny, whether at home or abroad. When the
question of direct opposition to the acts parliament was discussed at Ebenezer in
1774 there arose a sharp division of sentiment. Quite a number of the inhabitants
favored "passive obedience and non-resistance." But the majority refused tamely
to submit. At the Provincial Congress, which assembled in Savannah on July 4,
1775, the following Salzburgers were enrolled from the Parish of St. Matthew:
John Adam Treutlen, John Stirk, Jacob Casper Waldhaur, John Floerl and Chris
topher Cramer. As a community, the Salzburgers espoused the cause of the Revolu
tionists, but, headed by Mr. Triebner, some of them maintained an open adherence
to the Crown. Between these parties there sprang up an angry feud, in the midst of
which 'the Rev. Mr. Habenhorst, "who exerted his utmost influence to curb the
dominant passions, crowned his long and useful life with a saintly death.''
* The account of this remarkable capture is taken from White's "Historical Co\-
lections of Georgia,'' and accepted by that historian as correct. It is corroborated
by a manuscript furnished that author by the Hon. Robert M. Charlton, giving' a
sketch of the life of Col. White.
Capt. Hugh MeCall, one of the earliest of Georgia's historians, on page 60 of
Vol. II of his history, mentions briefly the occurrence accepting the foregoing state
ments as true.
C. C. Jones, Jr., in his "History of Georgia," Vol. II, page 390, also mentions
this statement as true.
In Vol. II, page .180, of the "Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries," is
found an article communicated by I. K. Teft, in which the author corroborates the
foregoing facts by an order then in his possession, given by Maj. William Jackson
upon certain vcndue masters for $500.00 "in the cause of the captors and claimants
of the vessels taken in Ogeechee River by Colonel White, being his fees in said cause."
Dr. David Ramsey, writing in October, 1784, or five years after his remarkable
exploit, in his "History of the Revolution in South Carolina" (p. 242, Vol. II),
records as facts the details above outlined. This is substantial proof of its trust
worthiness.
Colonel White was survived by a widow and one daughter. The widow married
Thomas Gordon, of Philadelphia. The daughter, Catherine P., first married William
Limbort, and upon his death married a Mr. Hayden. Mrs. C. P. Haydeii died in
Savannah in January, 1866, leaving most of her property to St. John's Church.
The will is recorded in Book M. P. 211, of the ordinary's office. The writer has in
his possession the papers of Mrs. Hayden, and among them are several military orders
drawn by Colonel White, a copy of Mr. Teft's communication, with notations thereon
by Mrs. Hayden, and a letter from the widow of Colonel White, written to Gov. John
Houston in 1789, requesting him to recover for her a house and lot in Savannah owned
by he" late husband, and which had, through mistake, been confiscated as British
property.—E. H. Abrahams.