At this spring
close by the entrenchments of
the British who held Savannah
Sargent
William Jasper
and Sargent
John Newtonin 1779, effected their heroic rescue of anumber of American Patriots who werebeing taken to Savannah for military trial.These prisoners were under a guard of tenBritish soldiers. Sargents Jasper and Newtonhad followed them for many miles almost within sight of the British fortifications, the escort here stacked arms. Two soldiers guarded the prisonerswhile the others refreshed themselves at thespring. Rushing from their concealment in theheavy underbrush, the gallant Americans shotdown the two guards, seized the guns, disabledtwo other of the enemy and made the remainderprisoners. The rescued Patriots were released andarmed with the captured guns. The British prisoners were then marched to theAmerican camp in South Carolina.
Sargent William Jasper was enlisted in St.George's Parish, now Burke County, Georgia, Julyseventh, 1775, and served continuously untilhe received a mortal wound, a few hundred yardsEast of this spot, on October 9, 1779, while placinghis Regimental Flag on the British earthworksin the assault by the American and FrenchAllied forces on Savannah.
Sargent John Newton, taken prisoneron the surrender of Charleston in 1780,died soon after on a British Prison ship.
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