Battle of Gully Hole Creek The Battle of Gully Hole Creek took place on July 18 , 1742 ( new style ) between Spanish and British forces in the Province of Georgia , resulting in a victory for the British . Part of a much larger conflict , known as the War of Jenkins ' Ear , the battle was for control of St . Simons Island , the British fortifications of Fort Frederica and Fort St . Simons , and the strategic sea routes and inland waters they controlled . After the victory , the Province of Georgia established undisputed claim to the island , which is now part of the U . S . state of Georgia . The better - known Battle of Bloody Marsh , a skirmish also won by the British , took place on the island the same day . Background . Spanish governor Don Manuel de Montiano commanded the invasion force , which by some estimates totaled between 4500 and 5000 men . Of that number , roughly 1900 to 2000 were ground assault troops . Oglethorpe ' s forces , consisting of regulars , militia , and native Indians numbered less than 1000 . The garrison at Fort St . Simons resisted the invasion with cannonade , but was not able to prevent the landing . On July 5 , 1742 Montiano landed nearly 1900 men from 36 ships near Gascoigne Bluff , close to the Frederica River . Faced with a superior force , Oglethorpe decided to withdraw from Fort St . Simons before the Spanish could mount an assault . He ordered the small garrison to spike the guns and slight the fort ( doing what damage they could ) , to deny the Spanish full use of the military asset . The Spanish took over the remains of the fort the following day , establishing it as their base on the island . After landing troops and supplies , and consolidating their position at Fort St . Simons , the Spanish began to cautiously reconnoiter beyond their perimeter . They found the road between Fort St . Simons and Fort Frederica , but first assumed the narrow track was just a farm road . On July 18 , the Spanish undertook a reconnaissance in force along the road with approximately 115 men under the command of Captain Sebastian Sanchez . Battle . A mile and a half short of Fort Frederica , their target , the Spaniards were set upon by a force consisting of Georgia Rangers , and the Highland Independent Company , aided by more numerous Chicksaw , Yamacraw and Creek warrior s , all under General Oglethorpe ' s personal direction . After an intense but brief battle , lasting less than one hour , Oglethorpe ' s forces succeeded in killing or capturing 36 of the Spaniards , nearly a third of the forces in that group . Among those killed was second - in - command , Captain Nicolas Hernandez . Captain Sebastian Sanchez was captured . Oglethorpe ' s losses were described as " light " . The rest of the Spanish retreated in disorder back to the south . They were met by 200 Spanish grenadiers under Captain Antonio Barba , who had just marched from Fort St Simons and covered their retreat . Aftermath . The British colonists also won the Battle of Bloody Marsh later the same day , driving the Spanish out of the Georgia colony . The War of Jenkins ' Ear is commemorated annually on the last Saturday in May at Wormsloe Plantation in Savannah , Georgia .