| | | | 
By Mike Stroud, July 2008 | |
| | | 1. Jasper Spring Marker | | |
Inscription. At this spring
close by the entrenchments of
the British who held Savannah
Sargent
William Jasper
and Sargent
John Newton
in 1779, effected their heroic rescue of a
number of American Patriots who were
being taken to Savannah for military trial.
These prisoners were under a guard of ten
British soldiers. Sargents Jasper and Newton
had followed them for many miles almost within
sight of the British fortifications, the escort here
stacked arms. Two soldiers guarded the prisoners
while the others refreshed themselves at the
spring. Rushing from their concealment in the
heavy underbrush, the gallant Americans shot
down the two guards, seized the guns, disabled
two other of the enemy and made the remainder
prisoners. The rescued Patriots were released and
armed with the captured guns. The British
prisoners were then marched to the
American camp in South Carolina.
Sargent William Jasper was enlisted in St.
George’s Parish, now Burke County, Georgia, July
seventh, 1775, and served continuously until
he received a mortal wound, a few hundred yards
East of this spot, on October 9, 1779, while placing
his Regimental Flag on the British earthworks
in the assault by the American and French
Allied forces on Savannah.
Sargent John Newton, | | | | 
By Mike Stroud, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Jasper Spring Marker | | somewhat washed out, the base reads " Erected By The United States 1932 " | | |
taken prisoner
on the surrender of Charleston in 1780,
died soon after on a British Prison ship.
Erected 1932 by The United States.
Location. 32° 5.378′ N, 81° 7.683′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. Marker is on Augusta Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Click for map. Opposite On Ramp at I-516. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31415, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. A different marker also named Jasper Spring (here, next to this marker); Largest Slave Sale in Georgia History (approx. ¼ mile away); Robert Sengstacke Abbott Boyhood Home (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Great Dane Dog (approx. one mile away); Birthplace of John C. Frémont (approx. 1.8 miles away); Andrew Bryan (approx. 1.8 miles away); Central of Georgia (approx. 1.8 miles away); Central Of Georgia Railroad (approx. 1.8 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Savannah.
Regarding Jasper Spring. Recruited to serve with the Second South Carolina Regiment by Francis Marion. Jasper was quickly advanced to sergeant by superiors who recognized in him a character well adapted for a martial career. General Moultrie described Jasper as a "brave, active, stout, strong, enterprising man and a very great partizan " who was a master of disguise."
( The South Carolina Historical Society)| | | | 
By Mike Stroud, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Jasper Spring Marker with the Spring | | |
Also see . . . John Newton. Parson Weems's fictional Sgt. Newton saved a group of American prisoners from execution by capturing their British guards at the Siege of Savannah in 1779, in which the Americans recaptured Savannah, Georgia. According to Lieutenant Colonel Peter Horry however, "Newton was a Thief & a Villain."
{ Parson Weems, was an American printer and author. He is best known as the source of some of the apocryphal stories about George Washington, including the famous tale of the cherry tree ("I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet"). The Life of Washington (1800), Weems' most famous work, contained the story.} (Submitted on July 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)
Credits. This page originally submitted on July 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,146 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
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