The American Revolution in Jackson County

May 29, 2008
By: Dale Cox
Although Jackson County seems far removed from Lexington and Concord, Valley Forge and other landmarks of the American Revolution, the area was actually touched by the war that gave the United States its independence from England.
We hear so often of the original thirteen colonies or states that it is easy to forget that there were really sixteen colonies. When the war began, Great Britain also controlled Canada, East Florida and West Florida. The British had gained possession of these colonies at the end of the French and Indian War. The three additional colonies, however, did not join in the revolution against the King George III.
As the war progressed, an important front developed along the border separating East Florida and Georgia. Word reached the British in St. Augustine in early 1778 that the Americans in Georgia were planning an invasion of Florida. Calls for reinforcements went out and a detachment of British officers and troops set out from Pensacola to reinforce the garrison at St. Augustine.
The expedition followed a path then called the "Pensacola to St. Augustine Road." This ancient trail led across Northwest Florida from Pensacola Bay and crossed into what is now Jackson County near Graceville. From there it followed the approximate route of today’s State Highway 2 across the future sites of Campbellton and Malone to cross the Chattahoochee River at Neal’s Landing.
Crossing through northern Jackson County, the British reached Neal’s Landing on July 25, 1778. The historic site was then the location of the Lower Creek Indian village of Ekanachatte ("Red Ground"). According to a journal kept by a British official named David Holmes, Ekanachatte was then the home of around 25 families. The chief or principal leader of the village was "the Bully," a man of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry. In addition to his duties as chief, he operated a trading post and was described as being fabulously wealthy for the place and time.
The British camped for several days at Neal’s Landing, visiting with the inhabitants and sending out officers to request that the chiefs and warriors of other villages in the area come to a conference at Ekanachatte.
The conference was attended by 55 chiefs and warriors from throughout the Jackson County area, as well as the white traders James Burgess and John Mealy who operated trading posts on the Apalachicola River at Tomatley (near present-day Sneads) and Ocheesee (in Calhoun County). The council resulted in an agreement by the Native Americans to join the British in their effort to defend St. Augustine. These early residents of Jackson County ultimately fought in several battles and skirmishes between St. Augustine and Savannah.
The British broke camp at Neal’s Landing on the morning of July 31, 1778, and crossed the Chattahoochee River to continue their march to St. Augustine. Their six day visit at Neal’s Landing, however, left Jackson County with an almost forgotten connection to the American Revolution and the effort that gave the United States its independence from Great Britain.
Editor’s Note: Writer and historian Dale Cox is the author of several books on Florida history, including The Battle of Marianna, Florida and Two Egg, Florida. His books are available locally at Chipola River Book & Tea in downtown Marianna. Read more of his writings by visiting the Local History section at www.jacksoncountytimes.net.