81 Austin Dabney Facts To Understand His Role In The Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War occurred between 1765 and 1791.

The Americans in the 13 colonies defeated the British in the war and established the United States of America.

The African American soldiers played an important role in the American war on both sides. The strongest motive for enslaved African Americans was gaining their freedom.

Around 9,000 African Americans joined America's side, and about 20,000 joined the British side during the American Revolution. An African American who joined the American side was called a Black Patriot, and on the other side, they were called Black Loyalists.

If you enjoy reading this article, then you might also find articles on American Revolution facts and American Civil War facts interesting here on Kidadl.

Facts About Austin Dabney

Austin Dabney was an African American slave and a Black Patriot who opposed the British in the American Revolution. He was a private serving in the Georgia militia during the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783.

Austin Dabney was owned by Richard Aycock, and it was he who dispatched Dabney to enter the Georgia military as his replacement. Austin Dabney functioned as an artilleryman beneath Elijah Clarke, a lieutenant colonel.

Dabney is believed to be the sole black soldier to have fought in the Battle of Kettle Creek in the year 1779. He was shot during the Battle of Kettle Creek and was crippled for life.

In 1786, Austin Dabney was the lone African American to be endowed land by the state of Georgia. The Georgia legislature also authorized the state to pay 70 pounds for Dabney's freedom.

Though a war veteran, Dabney was not included in the Georgia land lotteries since he was a black man.

The state legislator of Georgia during that time was Stephen Upson, who wholeheartedly supported Dabney's cause. Consequently, in 1821, Dabney received 45.32 ha (112 ac) in Walton County in North Carolina.

Apart from that, Austin Dabney also obtained a pension from the federal government of 60 dollars every year after he was disabled in the Battle of Kettle Creek.

These honors and recognitions were previously not given to any African American, which sets Austin Dabney apart from other people during his time. However, these recognitions were not well received by white people and created quite a stir among them.

Austin Dabney's Childhood

At the beginning of the American War, there was an urgency among the people in the colonies to enlist soldiers to fight in the Civil War to combat the British. The African Americans were also recruited to serve in the war as they were found to be ample fighters in the American Revolution.

Austin Dabney was also an African American war hero of the American Revolution. He was born in North Carolina in Wake County during the 1760s.

His parents were unknown, and he was a slave owned by Richard Aycock. Some historians claim that Richard Aycock was Austin Dabney's father, and it was he that brought Dabney from Wake County to Wilkes County in Georgia at the end of the 1770s.

Soon after this, the American Revolution called for soldiers from Georgia, and Aycock dispatched Dabney as his substitute since the former did not want to join the military service. Aycock proclaimed Dabney to be a free slave to enlist him in the military service.

Austin Dabney's Contribution In The War

Many African Americans joined the war in the hope of gaining their freedom once the war ended but many of the slaves that fought for the American cause were not allowed to retain their freedom. At the end of the war, Dabney was returned to Richard Aycock.

Austin Dabney rode as an artilleryman under Elijah Clarke during the American Revolution. Dabney proved himself to be a brave soldier during the war.

He fought along with Elijah Clarke in the Battle of Kettle Creek and was shot in the thigh while saving Clarke. The shot crippled Dabney for life but also made him a war hero. He was rescued from the battleground by Giles Harris and was cared for by the Harris family.

For the heroic contributions of Austin Dabney to the American Revolution, he was singled out by the state of Georgia. The federal government of Georgia granted him 20 ha (50 ac) of land in Washington County for his military service.

In addition to this, Dabney was also given an annual state pension of 60 dollars by the state of Georgia in 1789.

This sum was then later increased to 96 dollars in the year 1816. Finally, the Georgia government also helped Dabney gain his freedom from Aycock due to his exceptionally brave contributions to the war.

Austin Dabney's Legacy

Austin Dabney was a brave soldier who served in the Continental Army for the Americans. He joined the military service from Georgia. He was freed from slavery by the state of Georgia in return for his brave service during the American War.

Giles Harris and his family helped to nurse Dabney back to health after he was wounded and crippled in the Battle of Kettle Creek. Dabney was loyal to the Harris family until the end of his days.

He paid for William Harris to go to Franklin College and supported him persistently to finish his studies. Dabney supported William Harris while he was studying for his law degree and is said to have openly wept outside the courthouse when the young Harris passed the bar exam.

The association between the families of Dabney and Harris continued throughout his life. He even moved with the Harris family to Burke, Walton, and Pike counties.

In 1835, William Harris christened one of his sons Austin Dabney Harris in Dabney's honor. Dabney passed away in 1830 and was laid to rest in the family plot of the Harris family in Pike county.

In February 1998, the US senator of Georgia, Max Cleland, honored Dabney for his military service and contributions to the American War in the presence of the senate floor. Austin Dabney's name can be found on a historical marker in Griffin for his exceptional military service.

Years after his death, Dabney was again honored in 2010. SAR or the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), with the help of the Harris family, conducted a special ceremony for Austin Dabney.

During this ceremony, a newer version of the tombstone for Dabney was unveiled in order to recognize the onset of the site being open to the public.

The most memorable aspect of this ceremony was the fact that this was the very first time in the history of America that a Black Patriot took this honor in Georgia. Many historians have also written books on Austin Dabney.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 81 Austin Dabney facts to understand his role in the Revolutionary War, then why not take a look at Georgia facts or facts about Augusta, Georgia.