Battle of Fort Peter
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Fort Peter, or the Battle of Fort Point Peter or Fort Point Petre, was a successful attack by a British
force on St. Marys, Georgia
and a smaller force of American
soldiers at Fort Peter, a small fort protecting the town. Point Peter is located at the mouth of Point Peter Creek and the St. Marys River
.The St. Mary's River forms the boundary between Georgia
and Florida
. It is a 'black water' river, the result of the presence of a great deal of dissolved organic carbon
.
The battle occurred in January 1815, after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent
, which would end the War of 1812
, but before the treaty's ratification. The attack on Fort Peter occurred at the same time as the Siege of Fort St. Philip
in Louisiana
and was part of the British occupation of St. Mary's and Cumberland Island.
Sir
George Cockburn
landed on Cumberland Island
in an effort to tie up American forces and keep them from joining other American forces to help defend New Orleans, Louisiana
, and the Gulf Coast
. The British force consisted of the three Royal Marines Battalions
(560 men in the 1st & 2nd, plus the six companies of the 3rd), ships' detachments of Royal Marines
from the squadron (120 men), and two companies from the 2nd West India Regiment (190 men).
Bad weather and lack of materials and ships delayed Cockburn until it was too late to produce any effect on the outcome of the battle for New Orleans. Despite the U.S. victory at New Orleans, the occupation of Cumberland Island continued.
On January 13 a British force first bombarded and then landed near Fort Peter on Point Peter by the town of St. Marys. The British attacked and took the fort without suffering any casualties.
The British land force then headed for St. Marys along the St. Mary’s River. While they were on their way they encountered a small American force of 160 soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Regiment and the Rifle Corps under Captain Abraham A. Massias. A skirmish ensued before the Americans retreated.
Massias estimated the size of the British force as 1500 men. He reported that American casualties on 13 January numbered 1 killed, 4 wounded, and 9 missing. Although Massias believed that British casualties were numerous, they amounted to only three men killed and five wounded in the entire expedition.
On January 15 the British captured St. Marys. American reports suggest that the British looted the jewelry store and stole fine china and other goods from the residents. British reports are that they agreed terms with the town's inhabitants undeer which the residents gave up all public property and all the British respected all private property. The British captured two American gunboats and 12 merchantmen, including the East Indiaman Countess of Harcourt, which an American privateer had captured on her way from India to London.
The British ended their occupation of St. Marys after about a week. They burned the fort, including its blockhouses and barracks, and withdrew to Cumberland Island.
This small battle was the only land engagement during the war to occur within the territory of Georgia.
In 1953, a historical marker was placed at the battlefield. As of 2009, archeologists have found thousands of artifacts, including cannons, muskets, musket balls, knives and uniform
button
s.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
force on St. Marys, Georgia
St. Marys, Georgia
-See also:*Cumberland Island*St. Marys Historic District*St. Marys Railroad-External links:***...
and a smaller force of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldiers at Fort Peter, a small fort protecting the town. Point Peter is located at the mouth of Point Peter Creek and the St. Marys River
St. Marys River (Florida/Georgia)
The St. Marys River is a river in the southeastern United States. It is named after the Irish Saint Mary. From near its source in the Okefenokee Swamp, to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean, it forms a portion of the border between the U.S. states of Georgia and Florida...
.The St. Mary's River forms the boundary between Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is a 'black water' river, the result of the presence of a great deal of dissolved organic carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
.
The battle occurred in January 1815, after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent
Treaty of Ghent
The Treaty of Ghent , signed on 24 December 1814, in Ghent , was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812 between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, which would end the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, but before the treaty's ratification. The attack on Fort Peter occurred at the same time as the Siege of Fort St. Philip
Siege of Fort St. Philip
The Siege of Fort Saint Philip can refer to several different battles:*Siege of Fort St. Phillip - a siege during the Seven Years War*Siege of Fort St. Philip - a Siege during the Spanish invasion of Minorca in the American War of Independence...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and was part of the British occupation of St. Mary's and Cumberland Island.
Battle
On January 10, 1815, British forces under the command of AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
George Cockburn
George Cockburn
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet GCB was a British naval commander of the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries. He held important commands during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 and eventually rose to become Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord.-Naval...
landed on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island is one of the Sea Islands. Cumberland is the largest in terms of continuously exposed land area of Georgia's barrier islands. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia and is part of Camden County...
in an effort to tie up American forces and keep them from joining other American forces to help defend New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and the Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast of the United States
The Gulf Coast of the United States, sometimes referred to as the Gulf South, South Coast, or 3rd Coast, comprises the coasts of American states that are on the Gulf of Mexico, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and are known as the Gulf States...
. The British force consisted of the three Royal Marines Battalions
Royal Marines Battalions (Napoleonic Wars)
Three battalions were raised from among the Royal Marines during the Napoleonic Wars; seeing combat in Portugal, Northern Spain, the Netherlands and North America.-The First Battalion:...
(560 men in the 1st & 2nd, plus the six companies of the 3rd), ships' detachments of Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
from the squadron (120 men), and two companies from the 2nd West India Regiment (190 men).
Bad weather and lack of materials and ships delayed Cockburn until it was too late to produce any effect on the outcome of the battle for New Orleans. Despite the U.S. victory at New Orleans, the occupation of Cumberland Island continued.
On January 13 a British force first bombarded and then landed near Fort Peter on Point Peter by the town of St. Marys. The British attacked and took the fort without suffering any casualties.
The British land force then headed for St. Marys along the St. Mary’s River. While they were on their way they encountered a small American force of 160 soldiers of the 43rd Infantry Regiment and the Rifle Corps under Captain Abraham A. Massias. A skirmish ensued before the Americans retreated.
Massias estimated the size of the British force as 1500 men. He reported that American casualties on 13 January numbered 1 killed, 4 wounded, and 9 missing. Although Massias believed that British casualties were numerous, they amounted to only three men killed and five wounded in the entire expedition.
On January 15 the British captured St. Marys. American reports suggest that the British looted the jewelry store and stole fine china and other goods from the residents. British reports are that they agreed terms with the town's inhabitants undeer which the residents gave up all public property and all the British respected all private property. The British captured two American gunboats and 12 merchantmen, including the East Indiaman Countess of Harcourt, which an American privateer had captured on her way from India to London.
The British ended their occupation of St. Marys after about a week. They burned the fort, including its blockhouses and barracks, and withdrew to Cumberland Island.
This small battle was the only land engagement during the war to occur within the territory of Georgia.
Fort Peter Today
The British burned Fort Peter to the ground after their victory; it was never rebuilt.In 1953, a historical marker was placed at the battlefield. As of 2009, archeologists have found thousands of artifacts, including cannons, muskets, musket balls, knives and uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
button
Button
In modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of...
s.
See also
- St. Marys Historic DistrictSt. Marys Historic DistrictSt. Marys Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976 and is located in St. Marys, Georgia, the second oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States after St. Augustine, Florida. The city was first settled in the mid-16th century by the...
- British occupation of St. Marys and Cumberland Island
- War of 1812War of 1812The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...