Saint Mary’s River

Beginning December 13, 1814, British ships began embarking troops on Cumberland Island. After occupying the island, the British began an advance on the southern end of the island and Point Peter from January 11-13, 1815.  The small American force at Point Peter fell to the British and retreated. After ransacking the Town of Saint Mary’s the British returned to Cumberland Island on January 24. On February 24, Admiral George Cockburn advanced west on St. Mary’s River to attack villages along the river. However, American forces attacked the British barges forcing them to retreat.

Although the War of 1812 saw a flurry of activity in Georgia, the post-war Saint Mary’s River raid was the only significant military action between the Americans and British that took place within the state's border. The fact that the action took place well after the official closing of hostilities points to the still primitive communications available to early 19th-century military units. Regardless, had the war not come to an end immediately prior to Cockburn's operations in Georgia, the state's coast would have clearly developed into an important theater and object of the British command. Notably, such a shift in British strategy developed late in the Revolution as well.