On this day 250 years ago, 101 Georgia militia were encamped at Williams Creek near the Ogeechee River in Georgia. The militia had been called out by the Royal Governor to protect settlers from a marauding band of 100 or so Creek (and a few Cherokee) Indians who had attacked farms on December 25 and January 14, killing 12 settlers. The next day, January 24, Lieutenant Daniel Grant in command of a company of 30 Georgia militia, was ambushed returning to the encampment. Grant was tortured and killed and three to six (sources vary) other militia men were also killed. Following the attack the remaining militia fled the Ogeechee area. The failure of the Royal Governors of Georgia and South Carolina to effectively protect settlers from these Indian attacks, and the Royal Government’s response of restricting further settlements to avoid provoking additional attacks, would turn the backcountry settlers into ardent Patriots backing Independence.

Sources: Cashin, Edward J., William Bartram and the American Revolution on the Southern Frontier at 72; https://core.ac.uk/reader/234819600