Daniel Appling

Early life and education Appling was born in Columbia County, Georgia, to John and Rebecca (Carter) Appling. His father, prominent in the pioneer period in Upper Georgia, was a member of the convention of 1795 tasked with revising the State Constitution. He was educated in private schools judged to be among the best in Georgia, studying under David Bushnell, among others; his education included Greek and Latin.

Career

Operations in Florida In 1805, aged 18, Appling served as a recruiting officer for some time and was later stationed at Fort Hawkins, near Macon, Georgia under the command of Captain (later Brigadier General) Thomas A. Smith. He marched with his regiment to Point Peter on St. Mary's River in Georgia. On July 1, 1809, Appling was promoted to first lieutenant, and on April 1, 1812 he was promoted to captain. One of the boats was separated from the others and was captured by the British. Captain Sir James Yeo decided to pursue the remaining Americans, who had withdrawn up Big Sandy Creek to fortify their position. On the morning of 30 May, a large British force engaged the Americans. Appling, his riflemen and 120 Oneida Warriors had established an Ambuscade and surprised the British. The Battle of Big Sandy Creek lasted less than ten minutes and resulted in an overwhelming American victory. The Americans captured 143 prisoners (133 men and 10 officers), wounded 20 (18 men and 2 officers); and killed 14 (13 men and one officer). They also captured three gun-boats, one with a 24-pounder and a 63-pounder; two cutters; and one gig.

Battle of Plattsburgh During the Battle of Plattsburgh, Appling led 110 riflemen against General Sir George Prevost's attack, conducting a number of delaying actions on the Beckmantown Road. For his distinguished service there, he was brevetted as a colonel effective September 11, 1814.

Resignation and death On June 1, 1816, Appling resigned from the army; he returned to Georgia and later moved to Montgomery County, Alabama.

Honors and namesakes The Georgia Legislature awarded Appling a sword in recognition of the efforts during the War of 1812. Appling died before the sword could be delivered. The sword hung in the Governor's Office until 1883, when it was sent to the archives of the Georgia State Historical Society. In 1906, the sword was sent to be displayed in the Jamestown Exposition, but it never returned to Georgia. In 2010 the director of the Georgia Division of Archives and History saw an advertisement in an antiques magazine offering the sword for sale for $250,000. The Pennsylvania antiques collector and dealer gave Georgians until December 31 to raise $100,000 to purchase the sword or he would sell it to waiting buyers. An initiative by Friends of the Georgia Archives and the Daughters of the War of 1812 raised the money, and in 2012, the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the sword was returned to the state of Georgia and hung in the State Capitol's Hall of Valor. It is now in the possession of the Georgia Historical Society.

Appling County, Georgia, was named for Daniel Appling on December 15, 1818.

, an attack transport named for Appling County, Georgia, was launched on April 9, 1944, and decommissioned on December 20, 1946. Appling earned three battle stars for her World War II service.