Towards the end of 1775 James Wright was powerless to stop the rebellious faction in the Georgia House. In early 1776 a portion of the British fleet arrived at Cockspur Island to buy provisions. When Governor Wright spoke to the radical Council of Safety, urging them to permit Britain to purchase these provisions, he and others were detained, effectively ending royal rule in the state.

Soon, additional vessels and troops arrived off Tybee Island. Wright boarded British ship, along with almost all his loyalist advisers.

On March 1, 1776 the British fleet sailed up the Savannah River towards Savannah. There a group of boats containing rice became the target of the British search for provisions on March 2, 1776. Georgia's Council of Safety reacted quickly, ordering the local militia to set boats on fire and drive the British away. The Inverness, loaded with rice and deerskins, was set on fire and cut loose, drifting into the brig Nelly. While some 500 Whigs from South Carolina join the 600 Georgia rebels, the two ships drifted downstream, setting three more ships on fire. Governor Wright barely escaped. (Wright's description of the action is significantly different.)

Note: Occasionally called Battle of Yamacraw Bluff.

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Acts of War
Battle of Brier Creek
Battle of Kettle Creek
Battle of Savannah
Battle of the Rice Boats
British Take Savannah and Augusta
Dark days for Georgia
Declaration of Independence
End of the French and Indian War
End of the Revolution
Introduction to the American Revolution in Georgia
Liberty Boys; Virginia Resolves
Movement towards Independence
On to Independence
Problems in East Florida
Radical Georgia Unites
Sugar Act; Stamp Act
Tea Act and Tea Party

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