The Liberty Boys

Indentured servant Dacey Flynn runs away from her capricious mistress and is rescued by patriot Joseph Habersham. Disguised as a man, she ships aboard the American Liberty and falls in love with sea captain Oliver Bowen. Through daring adventures, she joins the Liberty Boys to free Savannah from British rule. The old guard of Savannah are determined loyalists. James Habersham loves his three sons: quiet James Junior, rebellious Joseph, and foolish young John. A friend of Royal Governor James Wright, he doesn't realize all three of his sons are working for the rebel patriots. Dacey overhears their plans in a meeting at Tondee's Tavern. There she meets Oliver Bowen, the brash Yankee privateer. When Dacey's mistress tracks her down, she takes refuge on Oliver's ship and witnesses the capture of the British powder vessel Phillippa. Proving her skills as a sailor, she joins the crew in male disguise and sails to Boston to deliver the gunpowder to General Washington. Returning south, they stop at Newport where they meet Oliver's wealthy brother Jabez. Oliver announces his intention to marry Dacey, but Jabez doesn't give his blessing. He points out the impropriety of such a match. Back in Savannah, Joseph Habersham hears of his father's death and regrets his necessary deception. With Oliver going into dangerous waters, Dacey returns to serve out her indenture as the seamstress of Isabella Rae, Joseph's fiancee. The Liberty Boys form a Council of Safety and organize a battalion with two Habersham brothers as officers. The oldest brother finances them, but retains the veneer of a loyalist. Joseph places Governor Wright under house arrest, but he escapes to a British warship and finds the troops starving. The Continentals repulse the Royalists in the Battle of the Rice Ships. In May, 1776, Joseph and Isabella celebrate their wedding. A loyalist warns James Habersham that he is suspected of financing the rebels, and he soon escapes with his family to the Carolinas. Since England doesn't recognize the United States, any sea captain can be summarily hanged. Oliver asks Dacey to resume her place aboard as he cruises off Florida. The men gossip about loyalist ranger Thomas Brown and his sidekick Daniel McGirth, who rides a spectral horse called the Grey Goose. On shore to meet with Colonel Elbert, Oliver leaves Dacey with the starboard watch guarding the boat. They are captured and Dacey is abducted by McGirth. Returning aboard with the loss of one man, Oliver and his crew prepare for battle at Frederica. Samuel Elbert has 300 men divided among three galleys, while Oliver Bowen commands the schooner Liberty. Their foe has four warships including a frigate, but Oliver's clever strategy defeats the enemy. Elbert is given all the credit for the victory, as the divided loyalties of Savannah hear a distorted account of the battle. Oliver is demoted and faces ruin. In 1778, the British fleet and army close in on Savannah and the city falls under British occupation. Brown and McGirth are put in charge and under Royal Rule, the city suffers devastating reprisals. Bowen and Habersham sail privateers to harass British shipping. The arrival of the French fleet raises the patriots' hopes, but the worst is yet to come. Hundreds of men die in the siege of Savannah, and the Americans are defeated. Those who can, flee the poverty, famine and desolation of the once beautiful city. Oliver and Dacey sail north to Rhode Island, where he signs over his will to Jabez for a ship. He captures a British merchantman, only to find a cargo of fruit. Defeated at Yorktown, the British march away. The exiles return and rebuild. Eventually Oliver's reputation is restored, and the Georgians celebrate their hard-won freedom in true Savannah style.