USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 29
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his attending offieer, Colonel Bentalou, "was compelled, though relue- tantly, to consign to a watery grave all that was now left upon earth of his beloved and honored commander."
THE SIEGE FROM A BRITISH STANDPOINT
The accounts of the siege of Savannah by the allied American and French troops most commonly known are those representing the matter from the American standpoint. The following statement showing how Governor Wright saw it, together with the description given by a British officer, and adopted by Wright as truthful, will enable the reader to see both sides and aid him to draw his own eonelusions :
"No. 8. * SAVANNAH IN GEORGIA, the 5th of Nov. 1779 .- My Lord : Sinee I had the honor of writing to Your Lordship last by the Cork Vietuallers we have met with a very unexpected alarming and serious secne, Especially in this part of the world, for no Man could have thought or believed that a French Fleet of 25 Sail of the Line with at least 9 Frigates and a number of other Vessells would have come on the Coast of Georgia in the month of September and Landed from 4 to 5000 Troops to besiege the Town of Savannah, but My Lord amazing as this is, it is certainly Faet, for on the 3d of September an aeeount eame to Savannah that 5 Large ships were in the offing and the next morning advice came that they were French Ships, and I eoneluded that they had been drove here by distress, however on the 7th a letter was wrote by Captain Henry Commander of His Majesty's Ship Fowey that 42 sail of French Ships appeared off Tybee Bar and on the 8th 5 of them very Large Ships came in over the Bar, on which the Fowey and Rose Ships of War were obliged to retreat and come up the River, and on the 12th several of the French Fleet went in at Ossabaw and at Night began to land their Troops at Bewlie and on the 15th the Count D'Estaing sent a Summons to General Prevost to Surrender the Town and Provinee to the King of France on which some Messages & Letters passed, and on the 17th the Truce ended in Declaring that it was the Unanimous opin- ion and Resolution of the Civil and Military that the Town should be Defended. This my Lord made me very happy as I had some strong Reasons to apprehend and fear the Contrary. The particulars of the Negotiation Your Lordship will receive from General Prevost, and from this time Hostilities began and both sides were very active in raising Redoubts and Batteries and Opening Trenehes ete., ete. and now my Lord give me leave to mention the great ability and Exertions of Captain Moncrief the Chief Engineer who was Indefatigable day and Night and whose Eminent Serviees contributed vastly to our defence and safety, and on the 3d of October at half after 11 at Night the French began to Bombard the Town and at tlie Firing of the Morning Gun on Monday the 4th they began a most Furious Cannonade which continued more or less till Saturday the 9th when just before Break of day an attack was made by the united Armys of the French and Rebels, and we have it from very good authority that the flower of both armys to the amount of 2500 French and 1500 Rebels, eame against us. The Confliet was sharp, Vol. 1-15
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and lasted for about an hour and a half and we were well informed by French Officers who were wounded and taken, and also by some who came with Flags and by deserters and others, that they lost 700 killed & wounded, and some accounts mentioned 1000 among which are 63 of- ficers-D'Estaing wounded in the thigh and arm Polaski on the Hip with a grape shot and since dead and the Rebels its said had killed and wounded 500, amongst them Charles Price. Astonishing to think we had only 7 killed and 14 wounded but for a more Circumstantial Account of the Siege, Attack etc., etc., I beg leave to refer Your Lordship to the Inclosed diary, and which altho not in the Military Language or Style, I will be answerable is as Just and True an account of the whole matter as will be transmitted from any hand whatever, and I have it my Lord from some of my Friends who had an opportunity of Knowing the condition of the French Fleet when they were ready to depart from our coast, that the Ships were much out of repair and the Men exceedingly sickly on Board the Sagittaire the Crew of which amounted to 500, they Buried with the Scurvy and other disorders but chiefly the Scurvy at least 2, 3 and 4 every day one day with another, and this for a month, and several officers who came there from the other ships said it was. the same throughout and I was Informed from the same Authority that D'Estaing was return to Brest immediately with 11 ships, 4 to go to Chesapeake for provisions and from thence to the Cape, 2 Frigates and the Cape Troops, say 1200 Men to go to Charles Town & the rest with La Motte Piquet to Martinique this Destination was learnt yet possibly may not be the fact,
"I have the Honor to be with Perfect Esteem "My Lord Your Lordships "Most obliged & Obed't Serv't
JA. WRIGHT."
The Right Hon'ble Lord George Germain His Maj. Principal Secretary of State &c. &c. &c.
[Indorsed]
R Dec'r 21. By Capt. Shaw. Duplicate-Orig'l not received.
[Inclosed in Gov. Sir Jas. Wright's Letter of 5 Nov. 1779.]
"On Friday the 3rd Sept. Capt. Henry of His Maj'tys Ship Fowey call'd on me and told me he had heard from Tybec, that they were 5 large ships in the Offing which were imagin'd might be the Roebuck with some Cork Victuallers.
"On Saturday the 4th he call'd on me again & Shew'd a letter from Capt. Brown of the Rose, who wrote that he had sent a Lieut. to recon- noitre the Ships, who reported them to be French & we then suppos'd they might have been drove this way by a Gale of Wind-which seem'd in some measure to be confirmed-becanse on Monday the 6th Accounts were bro't up that the Ships had disappeared.
"But at daybreak on Wednesday the 8th I received a letter from Gen'l Prevost acquainting me that at 4 O'Clock that Morning, he had
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received a letter from Capt. Henry informing him that there were 42 Sail of French Ships of War in Sight, most of which appeared to be large Ships, on which we conchided that a serious Attack was intended against this Province: We had been repairing the Old Redoubts and raising New Works-Expecting an Attack by the Rebels, but on these Accounts of a French Fleet being on the Coast, the greatest Exertions were made by Capt. Moncrief Chief Engineer and 400 to 500 Negroes were immediately ordered in by the Gov'r and Council and set to work- And in the whole there were 13 good redoubts raised round the Town in different places and 15 Gun Batteries were raised also in different places between the Redoubts-the whole of these Batteries contain'd 80 Pieces of Canon, 18, 9 & 6 pounders-The Batteries were mann'd by the Sailors of the Fowey, Rose and Keppel & by Sailors & Volunteers belonging to Transports and other Ships in the River.
"Besides which there were several 6 and 4 Pounders properly placed without Batteries. also five field pieces. We soon received an Account from Capt. Henry that the French Fleet consisted of 25 sail of the Line and 9 Frigates besides other Vessels.
"On the 8th Sept. Five Frigates got over Tybee Bar, and soon after the Fowey, Rose, Keppel, Savannah & the Galleys were obliged to retire up the River.
"On Sunday the 12th at night the French began to land Troops at Bewley, 14 miles from Town And on Wednesday the 15th a letter came from Count De Estaing containing a General Summons to surrender the Town and Provinee to the King of France, he boasted in this letter of his formidable Armament by Sea and Land What he had done with them at Granada &c. mentioned how much Ld Macartney had suffered by not Capitulating, and that it was totally in vain to think of opposing or resisting his Force-And warn'd General Prevost of the Conse- quences attending a Storm, hinting that he shou'd consider him as per- sonally answerable for the lives of the people &c.
"The Answer to this was that the General he had a better opinion of him & of the British Army which he had the honour to command, than to expect they wou'd surrender the Town &e. on a General Summons, without knowing on what terms or conditions. That he had communi- eated the above letter to the Civil Governor-And if the Count had any terms to offer. desired they might be made.
"To which the Count replied, that it was the part of the Besieged to propose Terms and not that of the Besiegers.
"The Answer to this was that it was a matter of great Consequence and there were many different Interests to be adjusted and settled, and therefore desired 24 hours to consider of it.
"This went on Thursday the 16th and the Count agreed to wait for an Answer till the firing of the Evening Gun on Friday the 17th.
"In the Afternoon a Conneil of War was held in the General Tent, consisting of the field Officers (the Gov'r and Lieut Gov. being present ) to consider of an Answer to be sent to the Count De Estaing when it was the unanimons opinion of the whole that the Town should be de- fended & that this Answer or Notice should be returned to Count De Estaing. On which Hostilities commenced-
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"On the 17th 18th & 19th Col. Maitland and all the Troops from Beaufort got here but with the greatest difficulty and risque. Excepting the Artillery Men of the Hessian Corps, Hessian Convalescents and about 170 of the 71st. The Vigilant Man of War, three Galleys and 3 Transports with all the Artillery Stores Baggage &c. were left. at Callibogie. .
"The whole of the Troops which arrived with Col. Maitland amounted to about 800 Men.
"Two of the French Frigates with two Galleys advanced np the River to 4 Mile Point and on the 29th Sept. one of them got up to & Anchored at the Mouth of the Back River and the two Galleys at the point of Yonges Island of March and at different times they fired many Shot into the Town 24 & 12 Pounders.
"The French were employed in bringing Canon &c. &c. &c. from Bewley till the 24th .. In the night of which, they began to break ground, near our lines and next day we saw 2 pieces of Canon mounted.
"A party of light Infantry were Order'd out under the Command of Major Graham consisting of about 90 men in Order to draw the French out of their Lines, who to the number of 300 eame out & were drove from their Works but were then Supported by a Column of French Troops from 500 to 600 from the Woods behind their Works which Obliged the light Infantry to return. The french were much Galled by our Canon and the fire of the Musquetry & lost as we were informed 84 Killed & about 100 Wounded.
"The light Infantry lost Lieut. MePherson & 7 private Killed & 13 wounded.
"From the 24th the french were extending their lines & Works & raised three large Batteries and were bringing Canon & Mortars &c. from Bewley, Thunderbolt & Caston Bluff.
"On the 2d of Octr. The Frigate & Rebel Galleys Kept a constant fire on the Town & Camp from 11 a. m. to 1 P. M. many shot reach'd thro' the Town to Zubley's Meeting from the Galleys & from the Frigate went quite across the Camp to the Barracks.
"Sunday 3d Octr. At half after 11 at Night the French open'd a Bomb Battery of 9 Mortars & continued throwing Shells till One O'clock in the Morning-123 Shells were thrown into every part of the Town, but without doing any Material Damage.
"Monday 4th Oetr. Just as the Morning Gun was fired-the Enemy began a most furions and incessade Canonade from three Batteries mounting in the whole 32 Guns of 18, 12, 9 & 6 Pounders, besides a Con- stant fire from the Frigate of 14 Gims 12 pounders. And of 2 Guns 24 Pounders from the two Rebel Galleys-as also a Bombardment of Shells-however only the Daur. of a Mrs. Thomson, and a Mr. Pollard Assistt. Barrack Master were kill'd, during which a constant Fire was Kept np, by our Batteries, on the Enemy's works & Shells thrown from 5 small Cohorns. Tuesday 5th Canonading & Bombardment continued- Day & Night.
"Wednesday 6th the same -- This night a Woman her Mother & Child & a Niece were killed by a Shell in the Middle of the Town, also three Negroes-Mrs Lloyds house was set on fire by a Carease which they now began to threw.
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"Thursday 7th The Canonade & Bombardment continued-several Carcases were thrown-Another House was burnt, most of the Houses in Town were much damaged by the Shot but nobody kill'd either in Town or Camp.
"Friday 8th Bombardment & Canonade continued much damage continued to be done to the Honses-Capt. Simpson killed by a Grape Shot in Major Wrights Redoubt at the Trustees Gardens-In the Course of this Night a very heavy Canonade from the enemy.
"Saturday 9th Especially from 12 at night also a Bombardment which continued till the firing of the Morning Gun at Day break & immediately an Attack was made by the French & Rebels on the Eben- ezer redoubt & Battery by the Spring and on the redoubt by Col. Mait- land is Tent, on the Right at our line, commanded by Col. Maitland; the Eenemy that made the Attack were the flower of the French Troops Virginia & So. Carolina Continentals & So. Carolina Militia-Supposed to be 2500 french & 1500 Rebels.
"Count De Estaing Commanded himself and Genl. Lineoln as second in Command.
The Attack was made with great Spirit on the part of the French- The Morning was favourable for them being Dark & Foggy. The At- taek continued 116 hour when the Enemy were beat back & retreated with great precipitation Our Troops who alone opposed them were 30 Dragoons.
"64 So. Carolina Loyalists commanded by Tawes of the Dragoons who bravely fell in defending it. In the Ebenezer Redoubt.
"90 of Col. Hamilton's No. Carolina Loyalists & 56 Georgia Militia In the Redoubt where Col. Maitland was & 70 Granadiers of the Royal Americans who were Ordered to support the Redoubts, and bravely charg'd the Enemy with their Bayonets.
"Exclusive of the above the Spring Battery of 6 Guns mann'd by 31 Sailers Commanded by Mr. Manly & Steel did very great execution & much contributed to the repulse of the Enemy-None of the other Troops on the right of our line were at all engaged, or had occasion to fire a single musquet-these consisted of the 1st Battalion of 71st the Hessian regt Wezenbeckens & Browns Rangers.
"On the left of our Line a Feint was made by the Rebel Troops- 500 under Command of Genl. Williamson-on Major Wrights redoubt by the Trustees Gardens & 700 under Command of Col. Slever on Col. Crugers Redoubt in Tatnels Road-The Rebels were beat off & lost 50 kill'd & wounded at this end of our line-Amongst the first Charles Pryce.
"After the retreat of the French & Rebels on the right of our line 270 men chiefly French were found dead-31 of whom were in the Ditch and on the parapet of the Ebenezer Redoubt & 93 more within the Abattis-A French & Rebel Standard were once fixed on the parapet of this redoubt, the French carried off theirs, but the Rebel Standard was taken by us. Since the Attack we find by Deserters. French Officers and others that the French lost in kill'd & Wounded not less than 700 some say 1000 & of the first 63 Officers by their own Aceot. Amongst the Wounded Count De Estaing Received a Misqnet Shot in his Arm & another in his Thigh. Count Polaski a Wound in the Hip by a Grape Shot & since dead-And the Rebels by the best information we con'd
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get had kill'd & wounded about 500 & it is astonishing to think that in this attack We had only C'apt. Tawes & 7 privates Kill'd and 14 wounded. "N B. Our whole force. Regulars, Militia, Sailers & Volunteers did not amount to above 2350 men fit for Duty.
"A flag was soon sent by the French & Rebels desiring a Truee for the Burial of the Dead. & receiving the Wounded, which was agreed to till 2 o'clock & then extended till Dark. During this Night a slight Canonading on both sides & many french & Rebel Deserters eame in.
"Sunday 10th Several Fiags passed and Truces agreed to, for the above and other purposes, a Slight Canonading during the night & many Deserters come in.
"Monday 11th No Canonading or Bombardment on the part of the Enemy. Deserters coming in who Inform'd that they were sending their Siek & Wounded & heavy Canon on board their Ships-The Rebel Militia were daily going off in Numbers.
"Tuesday 12th Slight Canonading on each side in the night, but not a Gun fired in the day-the Enemy seem'd now to fire from two pieces of Canon only.
"Wednesday 13th The same.
"Thursday 14th The same.
"Friday 15th The same and We were now Inform'd that all the Carolina Militia were gone.
"Saturday 16th The same The Enemy had removed all their Cannon but two.
"Sunday 17th The same and We were Inform'd that the freneli blaek & Mullatoe Brigade had March'd to Col. Mullrynes-to Embark.
"Monday 18th This Evening & Night all the French & Rebel Troops left their Camps & lines which were next day & a few days following all destroyed.
"Tuesday 19th Were inform'd the French had taken post 2 miles from Town at the Cross Roads leading to Brewtons & that the Rebels were crossing the River with all Expedition, at the two Sisters and Zubly's Ferry.
"20th & 21st Learn'd that all the French had Embark'd at Caston's Bluff in abont 100 Boats & had gone to Tybee to embark in their Men of War lying there.
"From the 21st the Winds hanging to the Eastward, the French Frigate eou'd not move from five fathom hole Cartels during this time coming up with prisoners.
"JA, WRIGHT."
During the siege the headquarters of the English were on the north side of Broughton street, between Bull and Drayton, now known as number twenty-four Broughton street east. The guard-house was where the Citizens and Southern Bank now stands, on the lot facing Johnson square, and bounded by Bull, Bryan, Drayton and St. Julian streets. Governor Wright's residence was on the lot now occupied by the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, bounded by Barnard, State, Jefferson and President streets. The council house faced Reynolds square, with Abercorn street on the west, St. Julian street on the north, and Congress street on the south.
CHAPTER XX
SAVANNAH AGAIN AMERICAN
ROYAL CIVIL GOVERNMENT FEEBLE-AFFAIRS MANAGED BY WRIGHT AND COUNCIL-AUGUSTA SURRENDERED TO THE AMERICANS-ROYAL CAUSE GETTING DARK-WRIGHT'S PITIABLE MENTAL CONDITION-AMERICAN TROOPS AT GATES OF SAVANNAH-WAYNE'S TERMS FOR BRITISH EVACUATION-NATHANIEL GREENE AND HIS SERVICES-CONFISCATED BRITISH ESTATES -- " MULBERRY GROVE" MADE OVER TO GREENE- ANTHONY WAYNE AND HIS SERVICES-GREENE VISITS "MULBERRY GROVE" -- DEATH AND FUNERAL OF GENERAL GREENE-WAYNE'S GEORGIA RESIDENCE ALSO SHORT.
From the time of the capture of Savannah by Archibald Campbell, on the 29th of December. 1778, Augusta became the capital of Georgia, and there the meetings of the Republican assembly were held, while Savannah continued to be the seat of the royal legislature.
ROYAL CIVIL GOVERNMENT FEEBLE
After the successful resistance of the combined attack on the part of the Americans and their French allies in October, 1779, Sir James Wright found it difficult to get a quorum to attend a meeting of his legislative assembly. He ordered an election of delegates returnable on the 9th of May, 1780, but of the twenty-six legal members only fifteen actually appeared, which was three less than the fixed constitutional quorum ; but, with the advice of his council, he assented to an organiza- tion of the commons house with a reduced number of representatives under the circumstances. On the 6th of November of the year 1779, he wrote to Secretary Lord George Germain: "In my former letters I very particularly mentioned the reason why it was impossible to call an assembly at that time and how far this Province had been suffered to
relapse into rebellion again. * * * I am now, my Lord, taking every step in the power of the civil department to check the spirit of rebellion by compelling all those who I think might or ought to have come in and joined in the defense of the town but did not to (sic) give a very cireun- stantial account of their conduet during the siege, and have directed that those of the lower class who do not appear materially culpable shall be obliged to give security for their good behaviour for 12 months them- selves in £100 sterling and 2 securities in £50 each, also to take the oaths of allegiance. &c., &c., and to subscribe the test, a copy whereof is in-
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closed, and any who appear to have offended eapitally I have ordered to be committed, and it sufficient evidence can be had against them I am determined they shall be prosecuted for high treason; but my Lord in the situation we are now the civil government. your Lordship will see, must be very feeble, and will remain so till I can call an assembly. This is a point I have considered, and hope it may be done, and that the time is not very distant when I may issue writs for that purpose."
Again, in a letter to the same person, on the 9th of November fol- lowing, he wrote: "When I can call an assembly which I hope will be as soon as the reinforcement comes to enter Carolina, then Government will soon strengthen and raise its head." He waited more than two months without finding it within his power to obtain the necessary ma- terial for a law making organization and even then his hopes fled. On the 20th of January, 1780. he once more said to Lord Germain: "As soon as the troops begin their operations I shall issue writs of election, and hope when I can get an assembly I shall be able to execute his Maj- esty's commands, and my instructions to accomplish which. and every matter that I may judge to be for his Majesty's service, I shall exert to the utmost of my power." The power to grant the writs was finally sanctioned by the council in the month of March, as will be seen by the following extract from a letter written to Lord Germain on the 24th : "We had happily and most providentially escaped a danger and force almost sufficient to have swallowed us up, and on the arrival of his Majesty's troops from New York I then look'd upon peace and good order and government in this provinee.as certain and at hand but how was I mistaken ? The first drop was the alteration on the route of the army which had been clearly settled here should be from hence to Augusta, but the change left the province so much exposed and discon- certed me to that degree that with the advice of his Majesty's eouneil I postponed using the writs of eleetion for some time. I do not mean to censure the measure of altering the route, for it might be very proper and right. I will not say otherwise. But immediately on the baek of this comes the proclamation, without any restriction or limita- tion and without any exception of any persons whatever, and under which it is my fear that every rebel who has fled this province and eommitted crimes of the blackest dye may come back and elaim pardon and protection, and it that is the case, my Lord, it will be scarce possible for any King's officer to remain here with any tolerable satisfaction. The moment I received it I ordered the council to be summoned and laid the proclamation before them, and, my Lord, it was then determined to issue the writs of election, for if these people return many of them will have influence enough to get themselves elected members of Assembly. And what, then, my Lord, is to be expected ? So that I have at all events, and at all hazards, ordered the writs to be prepared and shall sign them tomorrow." On the 6th of April he gave the result of the election in the town as follows: "The election for the town of Savan- nah began yesterday and I believe will end agreeably, and that the four members will be Mr. Robertson the Attorney General, Mr. Simp- son the Clerk of the Court, Mr. Mossman a planter, and Mr. Farley an attorney."
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The assembly met, as we have already stated, on the 9th of May, with a questionable legal quorum. On that point we have only these few words from Governor Wright in a report to Lord Germain on the 20th : "I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that notwith- standing the wretched state the Province is just now in, and parties of rebels coming from Carolina plundering and carrying off the inhabitants within 5 or 6 miles of the town, yet we managed so as to get all the writs of election executed in every parish and district except in St. Paul's where Augusta is, and on the 9th instant we met and opened the session, and now inclose your Lordship copies of what was passed on that occasion and which I hope may be approved of.
"I think, my Lord, there is a good Assembly, and I hope I may be able to carry into execution some matters which I presume it is wished may be done. But, my Lord, much still depends on the restriction of South Carolina. after which all proper exertions will be used.
"We are now waiting with the utmost anxiety to hear of that event. 3 months and a half since the troops left Savannah, and Charles Town (for aught we know) still in the hands of the rebels."
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