General John McIntosh
General John McIntosh was born 1754 in Darien, Georgia, and died November 12, 1826, married Miss Sarah Swinton (died 1799 on St. Simons Island). He served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He dualed with swords with Capt. Elholm, nearly severing the captain's right arm. After the war, he settled on the St. John's River, where he was captured and imprisoned by the Spanish! Meanwhile, his wife lost her vision, but struggled for her husband's release by writing letters to the Governor of Cuba, which she ultimately won.Lieutenant-Colonel John McIntosh served throughout the war first as Captain of the First Georgia Regiment on 7 January 1776, then as Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the Third Georgia Regiment in 1778. On March 3, 1779, John McIntosh was wounded and taken prisoner at the Battle of Briar Creek.
General John McIntosh was listed on the 1820 McIntosh County Census. The Southern Recorder published on November 26, 1826: "General John McIntosh died at his plantation in McIntosh County, near the place of his birth, on the 12th, age about 70 years. He was an Officer on the Georgia Line in 1775 and during the Revolution served with unblemished honor, patriotism, and courage. In 1814, he was again in the defense of his country and commanded the Georgia Division which went to Pensacola. "
The Georgia Gazette published May 17, 1792. " Died at Frederica, John McIntosh, son of General John McIntosh."
Sources: The Georgians by Jeannette Holland, Austin, pp 242-246, McIntosh genealogies.
Battle of Fort Morris, Georgia in Colonial Imprints by Jeannette Holland Austin and published on medium.com and Battle of Sunbury, Georgia
The Southern Recorder, Nov 28, 1826. " General John McIntosh died at his plantation in McIntosh County near the place of his birth, on Sunday 12th inst., age about 70 years. He was an officer in the Georgia Line of 1775 and during the Revolution served with unblemished honor, patriotism and courage. In 1814, he was against in the defense of his country, and commanded the Georgia Division which went to Pensacola."
Note: Another newspaper, the Georgia Messenger of the same date, added that General McIntosh joined the Revolutionary War at the age of 20, and was severely wounded twice.
The Georgia Gazette, May 17, 1791. "Died last Thursday at his plantation on Frederica, John McIntosh, Jr., son of General McIntosh."
The following attack on Fort Morris near Sunbury, Georgia and the bravery of Colonel McIntosh is well-remembered by historians.
"1778. November 25. British attempt to take Fort Sunbury, Georgia There were two hundred soldiers at Fort Morris under the command of Colonel John McIntosh. Delayed by headwinds, The naval force of British Colonel Fuser of some 500 men reached Sunbury after Prevost had begun his return march to St. Augustine. Fuser off-loaded field pieces on Colonels Island and moved them to the land side of the fort, thus occupying Sunbury without firing a shot. Thinking Prevost in command of the area between Midway and the fort, Fuser demanded that the fort surrender on November 25, 1778.
When the British commander Colonel Fuser came to take Fort Sunbury, they made their camps round about. They made their threat by firing with their cannon. When Colonel Fuser made this demand for surrender, Colonel McIntosh, commander of the fort, sent back a bold message. "Come and take it!" Colonel Fuser had initially assumed that General Prevost's forces were still in the area. He must have learned that the Florida regiments had returned to St. Augustine, as he left Sunbury without making a fight of it. "