On August 2, nearly 100 "Liberty Boys" called upon several gentlemen to force them to swear to uphold the Continental Association. William Thomson fled to the comparative safety of Alexander Cameron's residence at the Cherokee town of Keowee. Thomas Brown, a new arrival to the town of Augusta, Georgia, who would play a major part in the history of the Indian Department later in the war, was not so lucky.

Brown was staying at New Richmond in South Carolina, at the residence of John Gordon. Already known as a leader of those with Loyalist sentiments, Brown was targeted specifically by the rebel mob that came to New Richmond to demand that he sign the Association. He began the confrontation warily, asking to be excused from joining. The committeemen demanded to know Brown's reasons for refusing to take the oath of the Association. Brown said that he did not want to take up arms against the country that had given him being, but on the other hand he did not want to fight those among whom he intended to spend the rest of his days. They replied that the oath required neither action. Brown admitted that the obligation to take up arms was not expressly mentioned, but it was implied. The Association required obedience to any measure ordained by Congress; the use of arms was a distinct possibility. Furthermore, Brown had, as Magistrate, recently taken the oath of allegiance to the Crown and, as a man of honor, could not take another oath in opposition to it.

This debate on the front porch of Gordon's house at New Richmond had counterparts elsewhere. Few are as well chronicled as this one between a lone Loyalist and nearly one-hundred Sons of Liberty. The crowd began to grow impatient. Their spokesmen told Brown plainly that he could not remain neutral; if he was not with them he was against them. Brown then replied that they could not deprive him of the privilege of thinking what he thought. He then went inside the house. The Patriots, frustrated so far, threatened to destroy the property. At that point, Brown put his pistols in his pockets, stepped onto the porch again, and demanded to know what the crowd intended to do. They told him plainly that they intended to drag him to Augusta and force him to subscribe to the Articles of Association. Brown said that if they were for public liberty, they ought to be for private liberty and allow him to live in peace. At that point, about fifty of the mob left New Richmond.

The rest, however, became more agitated and moved toward Brown in a threatening manner. Brown warned that the first person to touch him must be ready to "abide by the consequences." Six or eight drew their swords and rushed at him. Brown's first pistol misfired, but with the second he shot "their Ringleader" (Chesty Bostick) through the foot. When the Patriots grabbed his pistols, Brown drew his sword: "I parried off their repeated lunges and kept them at bay for some time," his narrative continued. But a "cowardly miscreant" came up behind him and hit him in the head with a rifle butt, fracturing his skull. Brown was carried off toward Augusta in a semi-conscious state; his house was ransacked. He was tied to a tree and burning pieces of lightwood were thrust under his feet. His hair was stripped off with knives, he was scalped in three or four places, and his legs were tarred and burned so badly that he lost two toes and could not walk properly for several months. Brown was exhibited in a cart from the head of town to the east side of Augusta. An acquaintance, Dr. Andrew Johnson, attended to Brown. He left Augusta the next morning with the connivance of a friendly guard, and made his way to Moses Kirkland's camp at Ninety-Six and later to Savannah.

On January 18, 1776, Brown left Savannah, bound for East Florida, aboard the HMS Hinchinbrook. Soon after his arrival in St. Augustine, Brown unfolded the plan that he and Moses Kirkland had developed with the approval of Lord William Campbell - the last Royal Governor of South Carolina. The plan had as its object the restoration of royal rule in Georgia and South Carolina by employing Indian allies on the frontier in conjunction with British troops along the coast. Essential to the plan was that the Indians be accompanied by white Loyalists who knew the backcountry people well enough to distinguish between friends and enemies. John Stuart was present and, according to East Florida Governor Patrick Tonyn, "he adopted the measure with spirit when the plan was read to us by Mr. Brown." Of course, Stuart had already received orders to make ready to use the Indian nations against the rebels. He did, however, have grave doubts about whether the Indians could be properly restrained once the war lust was upon them. Furthermore, his family was still detained in Charlestown as hostages against his good behavior. So, on February 15, 1776, John Stuart went off with mixed feelings to Cape Fear, North Carolina, to confer with General Sir Henry Clinton, whose southern expedition would soon reach that point on its way to Charlestown. At the same time, Thomas Brown ventured into Creek country to begin to learn the ways of the Indians.

The "Liberty Boys" - led by Capt. Andrew Hamilton, Sr., a detachment of the Camden District Regiment.

Chesty Bostick

Approximately 100 men

Thomas Brown

John Gordon

Unknown number of Loyalists.

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