Kartik Krishnaiyer’s newest book, Florida and the American Revolution is due out November 15.

This week, I had an opportunity to visit Seaton Creek Preserve in Duval County which contains the the pictured historical marker discussing the southernmost battle of the American Revolution – the Battle of Thomas Creek. It is important to note that both East and West Florida stayed loyal to the British crown.

In April 1777, East Florida Governor Patrick Tonyn was made aware that American rebels/patriots governing Georgia planned to invade Florida from the north. The Americans has attempted to invade the previous year but had been rebuffed. On May 10, American forces crossed the St Mary’s River and entered East Florida. Unlike in 1776, British forces were not amassed along the St Mary’s River to resist an invasion and American troops walked into Florida largely uncontested initially. 

In this circumstance, British officials believed that plantations which provide aid to the incoming Continental Army should be scuttled. General Prevost recommended a scorched-earth policy common in warfare at the time as a result. Ironically one of the plantations that was to be burnt down was that of Governor Tonyn. 

Tonyn for all his earlier missteps and previous conflicts with British General Alexander Prevost proved heroic in this moment. Not only did he scuttle his own property for the betterment of protecting East Florida from invasion, but he strongly rebuffed efforts by other plantation owners to surrender to the rebels. In fact two of these plantation owners, James Penman and Spencer Mann eventually fled Florida for Charleston and protection in rebel territory. 

The result for Tonyn is that his family was stuck in what were relatively smaller quarters by comparison in St Augustine- divided between Government House and the Peña-Peck House which today is a tourist attraction in the heart of town. 

During the first two weeks of May, British forces including 400 regulars, Brown’s Rangers and Native American allies moved up the St Johns River and eventually camped close to where the Continental forces were. At this point Brown and his Creek allies detached from the main force, and on the night of May 15, 1777, raided the Continental camp and made off with about 15 horses. On May 17, 1777, British forces attacked the American rebels who were camped on the banks of Thomas Creek, in what is now Nassau County. The rebels were ambushed, many fleeing at the first sight of British regulars. On May 25, after regrouping on Amelia Island, the American forces withdrew to the other side of the St Mary’s River.