Thanks, Mick. It rather resembles Carson's tune.

If Lunsford is right that his great-uncle sang it "more than 60 years ago," that would put it right around 1870.

Trad Tune Archive sugg. that the title orig. referred to the Georgia gold rush that began ca1830.

It has always seemed likely to me (and, I imagine, others) that it referred to Sherman's March (1864).

The phrase "Hell's broke loose in Georgia!" was often used to mean "All hell's broke loose!" It seems not to have appeared in print before 1869.

Which proves little, if anything.

"Ride Ol' Buck to Water" is similar:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0uI-TpDCqQ

The video's also worth watching for the utter lack of interest expressed by the shoppers.