October 27th St Simon's Island Visit- The Georgia Navy

As an extension of my revisit to Ft. Frederika, I learned about the efforts of the "Georgia Navy", and its involvement in the early days of the Revolution.  Who knew?  

During the American Revolution four heavily-armed row galleys were constructed in Savannah for the Georgia Navy, all underwritten by the Continental Congress. In nearby Frederica River, beginning at dawn on April 19, 1778, Georgia galleys Lee, Washington, and Bulloch, commanded by Colonel Samuel Elbert, attacked HM brigantine Hinchinbrook, the armed sloop Rebecca, and an armed watering brig. The British attempted to retaliate, but were out-gunned and out-maneuvered. As they tried to gain an advantage by moving down river their ships grounded, were abandoned, and captured. This remarkable victory boosted patriot morale and delayed by more than eight months the British invasion of Georgia.

Erected 2005 by Georgia Historical Society, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, Coastal Georgia Historical Society, and the Fort Frederica National Monument. (Marker Number 63-6.)

I picked up a brochure around that indicated that there is a fairly major Annual Celebration of the Frederica Naval Action, "Georgia Patriots Day" in Mid April-  Have to add that to the side trips for April.