The Battle of the Rice Boats (Battle of Yamacraw Bluff) (mar 2, 1776 – mar 3, 1776)

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The Battle of the Rice Boats (Yamacraw Bluff) took place in the Savannah River on the border between the Provinces of Georgia and South Carolina. The battle pitted the American militia against the proud British Navy. It is sometimes referred to as the battle of Yamacraw Bluff. On 2 March, north of Savannah River, a group of merchant ships carrying rice was attacked by British warships and their cargoes of rice were seized. The Georgians reacted quickly. About 600 Georgian militia joined by about 500 Whig from South Carolina set the ship Inverness ablaze and cut it loose. The fire ship, a weapon consisting of a ship carrying explosives that is set adrift to destroy enemy ships, drifted into the British brig, HMS Nelly. These 2 ships drifted downstream, setting 3 more ships on fire.

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