Sawpit Bluff, Florida facts for kids
Sawpit Bluff was a small community in East Florida during the American Revolutionary War. It was built on a plantation right where Sawpit Creek flows into Nassau Sound, across from the southern tip of Amelia Island. This spot was supposed to be a meeting point for soldiers from Sunbury, Georgia and Continental troops led by Lt. Col. Samuel Elbert during an invasion of Florida in May 1777.
Around 1809, Captain James Smith built a plantation at Sawpit Bluff. The Spanish called it Barranco de Aserradero, which means "Sawmill Bluff." Plantations in Spanish Florida relied on the forced labor of enslaved people of African descent.
Today, this historic site is located at the mouth of the Nassau River in what is now Duval County, Florida.
A Look Back: Sawpit Bluff's Story
Battles in East Florida During the American Revolution
Soon after the United States declared independence on July 4, 1776, fighting began between British loyalists in Florida and American "Patriots" from the new nation to the north. In 1776, the British defended Florida from Patriot attacks coming from Georgia. In the spring of 1777, British forces crossed the St. Marys River. They captured Fort McIntosh on the Satilla River and raided Georgia farms, taking about 2,000 cattle.
The Americans quickly planned a response: an invasion of St. Augustine. Patriot forces began moving south. Lt. Col. Samuel Elbert and 400 Continental troops were supposed to meet Colonel John Baker and his group of about 100 Georgia cavalry soldiers on May 12. Their goal was to march south to St. Augustine.
The expedition started from Sunbury on May 1. Baker's cavalry rode by land along the King's Road. Elbert's Continental soldiers sailed down the inland waterway. They expected to meet at Sawpit Bluff, near the mouth of the Nassau River, at the north end of what is now Black Hammock Island.
Spring floods made it hard for Baker's group to advance, but they crossed the St. Marys River. They reached Sawpit Bluff on May 12, only to find that Elbert had not yet arrived. Baker and his men camped there for three days. They raided homes between the Nassau and Trout Rivers. Elbert's ships, led by Commodore Oliver Bowen, were delayed by strong winds. They did not reach Amelia Island until May 18.
Baker learned from a local person that the British knew about their plan. So, he moved west to find a better place to wait. He camped on the banks of Thomas Creek, which flows into the Nassau River. Meanwhile, British Native American fighters and rangers were joined by British soldiers led by Major Mark Prevost. This made their total force about 200 men. They crossed the St. Johns River and camped at Rolfe's Sawmill on Trout Creek. Their scouts found the American camp on the night of May 16–17.
Brown's rangers and Native American fighters set up a surprise attack along Baker's route. Prevost's soldiers advanced behind Baker. When Baker's group reached the ambush around 9:00 AM, Brown's men fired suddenly. Baker and his men tried to run, but they ran right into Prevost's soldiers. The Patriots were quickly overwhelmed by the many rangers and Native American fighters hiding in the bushes. About half of the Georgians ran away as soon as they saw the enemy. Baker, whose horse was taken by one of his friends, escaped into the swamps.
The stronger British force defeated the Americans at the Battle of Thomas Creek. This was the southernmost battle of the American Revolutionary War. It was also the only one fought in what is now Duval County. Colonel Baker and 42 of his men escaped through the marsh and across the St. Marys River back to Georgia. Elbert reached East Florida with his men two days after the battle, landing on the northern end of Amelia Island.
The East Florida Rebellion of 1812-1814
During the "Patriots' War" (also called the Revolution of East Florida), armed groups of "Patriots of Florida" launched attacks from Sawpit Bluff to Talbot Island. On August 19, 1813, Captain Tomás Llorente sent 32 men with the Spanish gunboat Immutable to attack rebel camps in the area. The soldiers found about 25 rebels led by Francisco Roman Sanchez at William Hart's plantation and drove them away. They also removed armed men from William Fitzpatrick's house.
The Spanish decided that the Fitzpatrick and Smith plantations were helping the rebels. So, on August 28, they attacked them with full force. Two gunboats sailed up Two Sisters Creek and destroyed the Fitzpatrick house with cannon fire. As people inside the building fled, a group of soldiers landed and captured Fitzpatrick. The boats then continued to Sawpit Bluff. They shelled the house of James and Mary Smith until the people inside came out and surrendered to the Spanish.
