Battle of the Rice Boats Summary
The Battle of the Rice Boats was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain from March 2–3, 1776, near Savannah, Georgia. In an attempt to acquire provisions for British troops who were under siege in Boston, British ships entered the river. The Georgia Committee of Safety responded by ordering the arrest of Governor James Wright and his council. While American forces under the command of Colonel Lachlan McIntosh prepared to defend the city, British ships seized 10-12 boats filled with barrels of rice. American and British forces skirmished over the course of two days before the British fleet anchored at Tybee Island. Both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange, which included Governor Wright, and the British sailed away on March 30, technically giving the American forces a victory. Americans held Georgia for a little more than a year and a half when the British launched the Southern Campaign with the Capture of Savannah.
Battle of the Rice Boats Facts
- Also Known As: The Battle of the Rice Boats is also known as the Battle of Yamacraw Bluff.
- Date Started: The Battle of the Rice Boats started on March 2, 1776.
- Date Ended: It ended on March 3, 1776.
- Location: The Battle of the Rice Boats was fought near Savannah, Georgia, and Hutchinson Island in and around the Savannah River.
- Theater: The battle took place in the Southern Theater of the Revolutionary War.
- Who Won: The United States of America won the battle.
What happened at the Battle of the Rice Boats?
Georgia and the Continental Association
Georgia was the only colony that did not send delegates to the First Continental Congress. After Congress agreed to form the Continental Association, Georgia was pressed as to whether it intended to join the Association and agree to the Aricles of Association, which prohibited trade with British merchants. Georgia also agreed to send delegates to the Second Continental Congress. The Georgia Provincial Congress, which was established in July 1775, agreed to adopt the Articles. Patriots in Georgia started to enforce the rules of the Association as best they could, forcing merchants to comply.
Georgia Committee of Safety
Despite the Georgia Provincial Congress, the Royal Governor, James Wright, still maintained some level of control over the colony. However, as the war continued, his control slowly slipped away. On August 17, 1775, a Committee of Safety was established, which took control of the Georgia Militia and replaced the Provincial Congress.
The Committee of Safety proceeded to elect new officers for the militia and sent the commissions to Wright for his approval. Wright refused and the Committee proceeded to approve the commissions. Among the men commissioned were:
- Colonel Lachlan McIntosh
- Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Elbert
- Major Joseph Habersham
Patriot Support Grows in Georgia
Meanwhile, one of the Georgia delegates to Congress, Reverend John J. Zubly, was creating problems. Zubly was against independence and opposed the Continental Association. Making matters worse, Zubly sent reports about the proceedings of Congress to Governor Wright. Around the middle of November, Zubly left Philadelphia and returned to Georgia where he hoped to convince the Patriot faction to drop the trade embargo.
Further complicating matters in Georgia was the presence of a British agent, John Stuart, who was working to maintain an alliance with the Creek Indians. Stuart was also working with the Spanish in St. Augustine. Through his connections in Florida, Stuart was able to have goods delivered to St. Augustine and then transported north to Loyalists living in Savannah and Charleston.
Over time, support for the Patriot Cause increased in Georgia and Governor Wright asked for reinforcements to help him maintain control of the colony. In January 1776, British ships sailed up the Savannah River. The Committee of Safety responded by arresting Wright and some members of his Governor’s Council.
British Ships Arrive in Savannah
In March, more ships arrived. This time, they were searching for provisions to buy and take back to Boston, where British forces were under siege. The British fleet was under the command of Commodore Andrew Barkley. The Committee of Safety refused to allow anyone to trade with the British, in compliance with the rules of the Continental Association.
Although Savannah was defended by American forces — Georgia and South Carolina troops — under the command of Colonel McIntosh, Barkley decided to take action.
British Forces Move on Savannah
On March 1, Barkley sent five of his ships up the Savannah River to threaten the city. More ships were deployed as transports for Major James Grant and his ground troops. Grant’s men boarded ships and prepared to move to a position near the Port of Savannah. McIntosh and his men were able to fire on the British ships, keeping them from moving closer to Savannah.
The Committee of Safety prepared for further hostilities by calling up more militiamen. 500 Georgians and another 100 men from South Carolina responded.
The Battle of the Rice Boats Begins
On March 2, Grant and his men landed on Hutchinson Island in the Savannah River. There, they captured 10-12 boats carrying rice that were anchored nearby. The entire operation was conducted in silence, so the Patriot forces and the Committee of Safety were unaware.
Finally, at 9:00 a.m. on March 3, the alarm was raised in Savannah. McIntosh responded by gathering 300 men and artillery and taking a position on Yamacraw Bluff, overlooking the harbor. From there, he could easily bombard any British ships that were in the harbor.
The Georgia Committee of Safety responded by ordering men to remove the rigging of the larger British ships, which would essentially make them useless. However, when the Americans boarded the ships, they were easily taken as prisoners.
McIntosh Tries to Negotiate
McIntosh sent men, under a flag of truce, to negotiate with Barkley but the Americans were arrested. A second group of men was sent to negotiate, but a skirmish broke out. For around four hours, the American guns on Yamacraw Bluff and the British ships exchanged fire.
The Fire Boat
The Committee of Safety met and organized an attack on the flotilla of British ships and the rice boats. The Americans set a ship on fire and pushed it into the rice boats. One of the rice boats was set on fire, and a few others were damaged. Patriot Militia and British forces skirmished during the battle, while three ships burned. The next day, McIntosh offered a prisoner exchange to Barkley but was refused. The Committee of Safety responded by arresting the remaining members of Governor Wright’s council.
The Battle of the Rice Boats Ends
The British fleet anchored near Tybee Island while negotiations continued, which carried on through the end of the month. Eventually, the prisoners, including Governor Wright, were exchanged and the British fleet returned to Boston — with the barrels of rice it had taken.
American forces were able to maintain control of Georgia until December 1778 when British forces launched the Southern Campaign.
Significance of the Battle of the Rice Boats
The Battle of the Rice Boats is important to United States history because of the role it played in keeping Georgia in American hands during a crucial period of the American Revolutionary War. Eventually, American control of Georgia led the British to devise the Southern Campaign, which started with the Capture of Savannah in 1778. Although the Americans lost Savannah in that battle, it ultimately led to British forces being trapped at Yorktown in 1781 and having to surrender.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Battle of the Rice Boats
The Battle of the Rice Boats, also known as the Battle of Yamacraw Bluff, occurred during the Revolutionary War on March 2–3, 1776. It took place in and around the Savannah River, which served as the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina.
The conflict arose due to tensions over British colonial policies in the Thirteen Colonies, which had escalated into war. The Royal Navy fleet was sent to Georgia in December 1775 to acquire provisions for British troops under siege in Boston. The Patriots in Georgia and South Carolina saw the fleet’s arrival as a threat and sought to resist the British seizure of supply ships.
Governor James Wright was the Royal Governor of Georgia during this time. He played a central role in the conflict. Wright requested a naval presence near Savannah but faced resistance from the Patriots. He was eventually arrested by the Georgia Patriots, and his powers were progressively stripped.
Upon the fleet’s arrival, the Patriot militia in Georgia and South Carolina took action. They arrested Governor James Wright and other provincial representatives loyal to the Crown. The Patriots also resisted the British seizure and removal of supply ships anchored at Savannah. Some of the supply ships were burned to prevent seizure, while others were recaptured by the Patriots.
The Battle of the Rice Boats marked a significant moment in the Revolutionary War. It resulted in the end of British control over Georgia, as the Patriots gained the upper hand. However, the British forces later managed to recapture Savannah in December 1778, and Governor Wright returned to the city. The British retained control over Savannah until 1782.