Woodville/Bartow in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Jasper Spring

Photographed 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,

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taken prisoner on the surrender of Charleston in 1780, died soon after on a British Prison ship.

Erected 1932 by The United States.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Patriots & Patriotism • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1890.

Location. 32° 5.378′ N, 81° 7.683′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Woodville/Bartow. Marker is on Augusta Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Opposite On Ramp at I-516. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Savannah GA 31415, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured 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); Moses J. Jackson (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hudson Hill (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Schools in West Savannah (approx. half a mile away); Commercial Development of Western Savannah (approx. 0.6 miles away); Robert Sengstacke Abbott Boyhood Home (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Great Dane Dog (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map 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

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

2. Jasper Spring Marker

Although eroded, the base reads "Erected by The United States 1932"

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)

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.)

Jasper Spring Marker with the Spring image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2008

3. Jasper Spring Marker with the Spring

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,826 times since then and 20 times this year. 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.