Fort Tonyn

Continental and Georgia forces initiated an expedition to capture St. Augustine in East Florida to end Loyalist raids in Georgia. On June 30, Maj. Gen. Robert Howe ordered Brig. Gen. James Screven and 100 cavalry to engage the Loyalist forces under Col. Thomas Brown.  In response, Brown divided his Rangers into two groups- one group set to ambush the Americans and a second group to push the Americans into the ambush.  Screven’s cavalry overcame the ambush, but followed Brown’s Rangers into a British force at Alligator Creek Bridge.  Surrounded by the British, Screven’s cavalry barely escaped in their retreat.

The battle at Fort Tonyn and Alligator Creek occurred as the Continental Army made a third attempt at capturing St. Augustine. After splitting forces the Continental regulars went and captured the abandoned Fort Tonyn while the militia moved south to attack British forces blocking the Kings road. The British turned back the militia and thus turned back the final attempt on St. Augustine.