High Treason Against Georgia
From: bernhard1848@att.net
During the Revolution, the British found Negro slaves willing to betray the American colonists fighting desperately for political liberty, and they flocked to Lord Dunmore’s side in Virginia to be used in his black regiments. When the South once again fought for political liberty and republican government in 1861, the betrayals and treason commenced again as slaves willingly helped the enemy surprise and kill American soldiers.
In the passage below, 300 American soldiers either lost their lives, were drowned or were captured due to the treason of the slave Quamino Dolly. With high talk about reparations and apologies for slavery today, it is also time for an apology from the descendants of slaves for adhering to our enemies, and reparations paid to the descendants of those American soldiers killed because of these numerous betrayals. Once again, Article III, Section 3 of the United States Constitution dictates that “treason against the United States, shall consist only of levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”
Bernhard Thuersam, Director
Cape Fear Historical Institute
Wilmington, North Carolina
www.cfhi.net
High Treason Against Georgia:
“The grand (British) plan called for invasion from the south by an army operating out of East Florida under Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost. This army was to be joined by a fleet coming down from New York under the command of Colonel Archibald Campbell. Prevost did not fare so well. His army was turned back in its first attempt, before he could reach Savannah. But in his retreat southward he wreaked destruction along the coast by burning and pillaging. A victim of this British vengeance was that symbol of revolution at Midway [Georgia], the little Congregational church. It was burned to the ground.
More successful, however, was the mission of Colonel Campbell, who arrived off Savannah in December [1778] with an army of two thousand aboard his vessels. He landed them near the mouth of the river and prepared to infest Savannah. The city was defended by General Robert Howe with an army of six hundred men. Though outnumbered, he should have been able to hold the city, as it had excellent defenses in the maze of swamps surrounding it with only a few approaches available, and these were capable of being blocked off by the proper disposition and handling of his forces.
But the American general left one entrance open and the British were told about this by an old Negro with the strange name of Quamino Dolly. Of the Negro’s motives, who he was, why he betrayed the American forces we do not know. We only know his name. He was perhaps a slave with a grievance of some sort. But he acted as guide for the British army and led them through the one unguarded passage in the swamps and to the rear of the American army. The garrison was caught and completely surprised. The English chased the American soldiers clear through the city in a shameless rout. It was an easy victory. Over half the American army was killed, drowned or captured. The British lost six dead, with nine wounded.”
(The Savannah, Thomas L. Stokes, UGA Press, 1951, page 155)
