What: Skirmish, Col. John Baker vs. *Lt.Col. Thomas Brown, 17 May 1777

Other names:

Where:
30.57474 -81.60875 US-17 at Nassau River, NPS estimate of site
30.50565 -81.79164 Historical marker, US-1 at Thomas Creek
30.4924588 -81.9084421 Thomas Creek, mouth

Maps: [map notes]

• 30.57474,-81.60875 US-17 at Nassau River, NPS estimate of site
• ACME Mapper.
• National Map
• Google
• Confidence: 2

• 30.50565,-81.79164 Historical marker, US-1 at Thomas Creek
• ACME Mapper.
• National Map
• Google
• Confidence: 1

• 30.4924588 -81.9084421 Thomas Creek, mouth
• GNIS record for Thomas Creek. Note mapping options.
• Confidence: 5 (for mouth of creek)

Sources:

• NBBAS:One. p. 172-175

• Thomas Creek. NPS:
  

  Thomas Creek

  In 1763, after nearly two centuries of Spanish rule, the terms of the Treaty of Paris gave Florida to Great Britain. Over the next decade, the British rapidly expanded their presence in East Florida, their new 14th colony . More than 100 plantations were established between the St. Marys and the St. Johns Rivers, and a 200 mile road was built, linking St. Augustine, in north Florida, and Fort Barrington, near present day Brunswick, Georgia.

  Almost immediately upon the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, hostilities began between British loyalists in Florida and Patriots loyal to the new nation to the north. The British spent the remainder of 1776 deflecting Patriot raids across the St. Marys River. In the Spring of 1777, the British pushed across the St. Marys River, capturing Patriot Fort McIntosh on the Satilla River, and raiding Georgia farms for some 2000 head of cattle.

  The patriot response was swift: an invasion of St. Augustine was planned, and Patriot forces began moving south. Patriot Colonel Samuel Elbert, and 400 soldiers were to rendezvous with Colonel John Baker and his force of about 100 for the march south to St. Augustine. But, on the morning of May 17th, the British came upon Baker and his men as they awaited the arrival of Elbert on the bank of Thomas Creek, a tributary of the Nassau River. The superior British force defeated the Patriots, killing eight, wounding nine, and capturing thirty-one. Colonel Baker and forty-two of his men escaped, making their way through the marsh, and across the St. Marys River to Georgia.

  Location of Thomas Creek

  The exact location of the Thomas Creek battle site has not been determined. It is believed to be located near the point at which U.S. Route 17 crosses the Nassau River, within the boundaries of the Timucuan Preserve. There are no National Park Service wayside markers, parking areas, or other facilities at that location.

• "Battle of Thomas Creek", from Wikipedia.:

  The Battle of Thomas Creek on May 17, 1777 was the final engagement in the second of three disastrous attempts by American forces to invade East Florida during the American Revolution.

  As part of the campaign, Colonel John Baker had marched south from Sunbury, Georgia, with a company of some 100 mounted militia; he was to link up with a group of 400 Continental troops, led by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Elbert, at Sawpit Bluff. The latter were being transported by water, also from Sunbury.

  Thanks to Tory sympathizers in Georgia, the British were well-informed about Patriot movements, and Baker's camp at Sawpit was raided on the night of May 14-15 by a band of Indians, who took 40 horses when they escaped. These were recovered the next morning; during the ensuing skirmish, one Indian was killed, his body later mutilated by the rebels. Governor Patrick Tonyn's after-action report, posted on June 18, noted that this "greatly exasperated the Savages [sic]", which would prove to have disastrous consequences for the Americans.

  Worried about the delay of Elbert's force, Baker moved west to find a better strategic location to wait. Meanwhile, a British column made up of regulars, Indians, and Tories, had started north from the St. John's River to deal with the invasion; scouts informed them, on the night of May 16-17, that the Americans were camped a short distance away.

  A small group of Rangers and Indians, led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Brown, advanced the next morning to engage the American forces; at the same time, the main body of troops, under the command of Major Marc Prevost, advanced in three columns to surround them. The advance guard sighted the Patriots at around 9 in the morning, and Brown promptly set up an ambuscade. His men delivered a surprise volley at 50 yards from the front and flank, and the commander turned his column in the direction from which Prevost was expected to appear. The Patriots, already shaken, were quickly overwhelmed by the large numbers of regulars appearing in the underbrush. About half of the Georgians fled at first sight of the enemy; the commander followed soon after, carrying with him a handful of supporters. Some 40 men, including one Captain Ignatius Few, surrendered. Of these, all but 16 (including Captain Few) were put to death by the Indians in revenge for their fallen comrade. It would appear, from British eyewitness accounts, that these were the sole casualties of the battle.

  For his part, Elbert reached Florida with his men two days after the battle, landing on the northern end of Amelia Island. Here they were met by 18 survivors of Baker's militia, who detailed the circumstances of their defeat. As a consequence, Elbert decided to abandon his invasion.

  What followed the fiasco was a storm of recrimination. The regulars blamed the militia. For his part, General Lachlan MacIntosh placed the fault squarely on Elbert, a man he saw as supremely unqualified for his command.

  The battle site remains largely undeveloped today.hin the boundaries of the Timucuan Preserve. There are no National Park Service wayside markers, parking areas, or other facilities at that location.

• "Battle of Thomas Creek". Florida Historical Markers Program:

  Title: BATTLE OF THOMAS CREEK
  Location:on U.S. 1 at Thomas Creek
  County: Nassau
  City: South of Callahan

  Description: When the American War of Independence began, the new British colonies of East and West Florida did not seek separation from England. East Florida remained comparatively free from serious fighting throughout the course of the Revolutionary War. In the summer of 1777, however, Americans initiated an invasion aimed at capturing St. Augustine. The expedition was composed of Continental Army troops and Georgia militia forces under the command of Lt. Col. Samuel Elbert. Preparations for the defense of east Florida involved the East Florida Rangers, a force of mounted provincials, British Regulars, and Indian allies. On may 17, 1777, a portion of the invading American expedition was attacked by a detachment of British Regulars under Maj. J.M. Prevost assisted by Rangers under Col. Thomas Brown and Indians. The battle took place at a site on Thomas Creek south of its confluence with the Nassau River. After suffering heavy casualties, the Americans, already discouraged by lack of supplies and the heat, began their retreat from Florida. Only one more unsuccessful invasion of East Florida occurred during the remaining years of the American Revolution.
  Sponsors: sponsored by Florida Society, Children of the American Revolution in cooperation with Department of State

• RevWar75  
  listing: 5/17/1777 Nassau River (Battle of Thomas Creek). Shown as British victory.
  

Related sites:

Submitted by: Patrick O'Kelley

Confidence level: See above.