USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 33
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"On his approach to the city, the coneonrse on the bluff, and the erowds which had pressed into the vessels, evinced the general joy which had been inspired by the visit of this most beloved of men, and the ardent desire of all ranks and conditions of people to be gratified by his presence. Upon arriving at the upper part of the harbor he was saluted from the wharves. and by the shipping, and particularly by the ship Thomas Wilson, Captain White, which was beautifully decorated
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with the colors of various nations. At the foot of the stairs where the president landed. he was received by Colonel Gunn and General Jackson. who introdneed him to the mayor and aldermen of the city. The artillery company saluted him with twenty-six discharges from their field pieces. and he was then conducted to a honse prepared by the corporation for his accommodation, in St. James' Square, in the following order of procession :
"Light Infantry Company.
"Field Officers and other Officers of the Militia.
"Marshal of the City.
"Treasurer, Clerk and Recorder.
"Aldermen, the Mayor.
"President and Suite.
"Committee of Citizens. .
"Members of the Cincinnati.
"Citizens, two and two.
"Artillery Company."
"The following address by the Mayor and Aldermen was delivered : 'To the President of the United States-Sir: The Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah. do unanimously concur in presenting their most affectionate congratulations to you on your arrival in this city. Impressed with a just sense of your great and eminent services to Amer- ica, permit us, the representatives of the city, to assure you of the high opinion the citizens entertain of your elevated virtues.
" 'We respect von as one of the richest and most valuable blessings divine goodness has bestowed on the people of these United States; your presence is an evidence of the watchful care you have for every part of the extended empire over which you preside. If we can not, by external show, demonstrate that respect for you which is in the power of the more wealthy of our sister States to display, yet none estimate your merits higher than the people of Georgia. The historic page bears record of our sufferings in the late revolution, and the vestiges of war remain within view of our Capital, and although peaec was, in 1783, restored to America. yet Georgia continued to suffer under the destruc- tive ravages of an Indian war, and it has been reserved for the efficacy of the present government to give peace to our State.
" 'May the blessings of the government long continue under your administration. and may it please the Great Ruler of Events, to grant you long residence on earth, and to length of days add the blessings of uninterrupted health. that the advantages of the present government may be permanently established.' "'
To the foregoing address the president made the following response : "To the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah-Gentlemen : Your affectionate congratulations on my arrival in this city, and the very favorable sentiments you express towards me, are received with gratitude and thanks. with sincerity. Estimating favors by the cordial- ity with which they are bestowed. I confess, with real pleasure. my. obligations to the corporation of Savannah, and I can never cease to entertain a grateful sense of their goodness.
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" 'While the virtuous conduct of your citizens, whose patriotism braved all the hardships of the late war, engaged my esteem, the distress peculiar to the State of Georgia, after the peace, excited iny deepest regret.
".It was with singular satisfaction I perceived that the efficacy of the general government could interpose effectual relief. and restore tranquility: to so deserving a member of the Union. Your sentiments on this event are worthy of citizens, who, placing a due value on the bless- ings of peace, desire to maintain it on the immutable principles of justice and good faith.
"'May the harmony of your city be consequent on your administra- tion, and may you individually be happy.'"
At six o'clock in the afternoon the president and his suite by invitation of the mayor and aldermen dined with the latter at Brown's Coffee House, Gen. Anthony Wayne, president of the Society of the Cincinnati, also being an invited guest. Toasts were drunk and the Chatham Artil- lery fired three guns. The city was brilliantly illuminated. The next day the Cincinnati entertained Washington at the same place, and a ball was given in the evening in the long room of the filature where, at 8.30 Washington made his appearance and was introduced to ninety- six elegantly dressed ladies, "some of whom displayed infinite taste in the emblems and devices on their sashes and headdresses out of respect to this happy occasion." The Georgia Gazette said: "The room which had been lately handsomely fitted up and was well lighted, afforded the President and excellent opportunity of viewing the Fair Sex of our City and vicinity, and the Ladies the gratification of paying their respects to our Federal Chief. After a few Minuets were moved, and one Country Danee led down, the President and his Suit retired about 11 o'clock. At 12 o'clock the supper-room was opened, and the ladies partook of a repast. after which dances continued until 3 o'clock. The company retired with the happy satisfaction of having generally con- tributed towards the hilarity and gaiety of the evening."
On Saturday, Gen. Lachlan MeIntosh, who had taken part in the siege of Savannah in October, 1779, took the president and others on a tour to inspect the lines made at that time by the British as well as the works of the Americans and their French allies in which Washing- ton showed a deep interest.
- The Georgia Gazette furnishes the following information as to the remainder of the time spent by the president in Savannah: "In the afternoon the President honored the Citizens with his company at a dinner prepared for him under a beautiful arbor supported by three rows of pillars entirely covered with laurel and bay leaves so as to exhibit uniform green columns. The pillars were higher than the arbor. and ornamented above it by festoons, and connected below by arches covered in the same manner. The place on which it stood was judicionsly chosen, presenting at once a view of the city and of the shipping in the harbor, with an extensive prospect of the river and rice lands both above and below the town. But the principal advantage which resulted from its situation and structure was the opportunity which it afforded to a great body of people to have a distinct and uninterrupted view of that object to which all eyes and hearts appeared to be attraeted.
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"A company of nearly 200 citizens and strangers dined under it. and the satisfaction which each one enjoyed in paying this personal tribute to the merit of a man who is, if possible. more beloved for his goodness than admired for his greatness, produced a degree of convivial and harmonious mirth rarely experienced. Every one beheld with de- light, in the person of our President, the able General. the virtuous Patriot, the profound Politician-in a word, one of the most shining ornaments that ever dignified human nature.
"The Artillery Company dined under another arbor erected at a small distanee. and received merited applause for the great dexterity which they displayed in firing at each toast. Their- fires were returned by Fort Wayne, and the ship Thomas Wilson which was moored op- posite the arbor. Her decorations through the day, and illuminations at night, had a fine effect.
"The following toasts were given :-
"The United States of America.
"Prosperity to the Citizens of Savannah and its vicinity. [By the 'President.]
"The Fair of America.
"The Vice-president of the United States.
"The Memorable Era of Independence.
"The Count d 'Staing.
"The Memory of General Greene.
"The Arts and Sciences.
"The Memory of those Brave Men who fell before the Lines of Savan- nah on the 9th of October, 1779.
"The Friends to Free and Equal Government throughout the Globe.
"All foreign Powers in Friendship with the United States.
"May Religion and Philosophy always triumph over Superstition and Prejudice in America. .
"The present dexterous Corps of Artillery. [The President's toast.]
"[After the President retired.] The President of the United States.
"The construction of the arbor and the manner in which the enter- tainment was provided and conducted did great honor to the gentlemen to whose direction the whole was committed.
"In the evening there was a handsome exhibition of fireworks, and the amusements of this day of joy and festivity were concluded by a concert.
"On Sunday morning the President attended Divine Service in Christ Church, and soon after set out on his way to Augusta. On taking his leave of the mayor and committee of the citizens he politely expressed his sense of the attention shown him by the Corporation and every denomination of people during his stay in Savannah. He was attended out of the city by a number of gentlemen, and escorted by a detachment of Augusta dragoons commanded by Maj. Ambrose Gordon. At the Spring Hill the President was received by General Jackson, where the Artillery and Light Infantry Companies were drawn up, and was there saluted by 39 discharges from the field pieces, and 13 vollies of platoons. After which he proceeded to Mulberry Grove, the seat of the late Major- General Greene, where he dined, and then resumed his tour."
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The account we have given of Washington's visit to Savannah, the only one he ever made, diseloses the second service of very great im- portance rendered by the Chatham Artillery within the space of five years after the organization of the company, and the fact that a special toast was given in its honor by that great man who characterized it as "the present dexterous Corps of Artillery." He still further showed his appreciation of the services rendered by it on that notable oceasion and his pleasant memories of the same by presenting it, shortly after bis re- turn, with two field pieces of bronze which had been captured at York- town ; and these guns are still held by the company which values them be- vond anything that the world can estimate by any conceivable pecuniary measurement.
WASHINGTON'S ACCOUNT OF HIS SOUTHERN TOUR
The southern tour of General Washington began on Monday, the 21st of Mareh, 1791, when he left Philadelphia, as he said "about 11 o'clock, to make a tour through the Southern States." He thus men- tioned his approach to and experiences at Savannah: "Thursday, 12th [May]. By five we set out from Judge Heyward's, and road to Puris- burgh 22 miles to breakfast.
"At that plaee I was met by Messrs. Jones, Col. Habersham, Mr. Jno. Houston, Genl. McIntosh and Mr. Clay, a committee from the City of Savannah to conduct me thither. Boats also were ordered there by them for my aecommodation; among which a handsome S-oared barge rowed by 8 Ameriean Captains attended. In my way down the River I call upon Mrs. Green the Widow of the deceased Genl. Green, (at a place called Mulberry Grove) and asked her how she did. At this place (2 miles from Purisburgh) my horses and carriages were landed, and had 12 miles further by land to Savannah. The wind and tide being both against us, it was 6 o'clock before we reached the City where we were received under every demonstration that could be given of joy and respect. We were seven hours making the passage which is often performed in 4, tho' the computed distance is 25 miles-Ilhunninns at night.
"I was conducted by the Mayor and Wardens to a very good lodging which had been provided for the oceasion, and partook of a good dinner by the Citizens at the Coffee Room. At Purisburgh I parted with Genl. Moultree. Friday 13th. Dined with the members of the Cincinnati at a publie dinner given at the same place-and in the evening went to a dancing Assembly at which there was about 100 well dressed and hand- some ladies. Saturday 14th. A little after 6 o'clock. in company with Genl. McIntosh, Gent. Wayne, the Major and many others (principal Gentlemen of the City.) I visited the City, and the attack and defense of it in the year 1779. under the combined forces of France and the United States, commanded by the Count d'Estaing and Genl. Lincoln. To form an opinion of the attack at this distance of time, and the change which has taken place in the appearance of the ground by the cutting away of the woods, &e., is hardly to be done with justice to the subject ; especially as there is remaining scarcely any of the defences.
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"Dined today with a number of the Citizens (not less than 200) in an elegant Bower erected for the occasion on the Bank of the River below the Town. In the evening there was a tolerable good display of fireworks. Sunday, 15th. After morning Service, and receiving a number of visits from the most respectable ladies of the place (as was the case yesterday) I set out for Angusta, Escorted beyond the limits of the City by most of the Gentlemen in it, and dining at Mulberry Grove the seat of Mrs. Green,-lodged at one Spencers-distant 15 miles."
In the honors shown the illustrious visitor the Society of the Cincin- nati took a large part. At that time its officers were : President, Gen. Anthony Wayne; vice-president, Maj. William Pierce; secretary, Maj-
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MIDWAY CHURCH, ERECTED IN 1792
John Habersham; treasurer, Col. Richard Wylly; assistant secretary, Jolin Peter Ward; and assistant treasurer, Edward Lloyd.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUED
In 1792 Joseph Habersham succeeded Thomas Gibbons as mayor. and Messrs. Scheuber, Lewden, Waldburger, Berrien and Wayne were retained as aldermen while Joseph Clay, Jr., was chosen in the place of Welscher. William Stephens became mayor in 1793, and John Cun- ningham, Andrew MeCredie and George Jones stepped into the places of Scheuber, Waldburger and Wayne. Again in 1794 Thomas Gibbons took his seat as chief magistrate, and Messrs. Clay and McCredie retired in favor of George Throop and Ulrick Tobler. After a year of rest from the conduet of unmicipal affairs Win. Stephens took the head of government in 1795, during which year he had as fellow members of the board Messrs. John Moore, Balthasar Schaffer, George Throop, James
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Box Young, George Faries. Ulrick Tobler, Andrew McCredie, Richard Wayne and Thomas Gibbons. One of Savannah's noted lawyers became mayor in 1796, and he afterwards served the city as alderman several times and twice again as mayor. John Y. Noel was the man, and he had on his aldermanic board Ulrick Tobler, Richard Wayne, Thomas Gibbons, and John Moore, whose experience on former occasions aided them in their work, while Owen Owens, John Miller, John McCall and Thomas Norton were newly elected to office in that year 1796.
DISASTROUS FIRE OF 1796
On the 26th of November of the last mentioned year a fire occurred in Savannah which was most disastrous in its effects. It is so well described in an editorial article in the Columbian Museum and Savannah Advertiser of the 29th, just three days after, that we quote it here in full :
"On Saturday the 26th instant this City exhibited a scene of deso- lation and distress, probably more awfully calamitous than any pre- viously experienced in America.
"Between six and seven o'clock in the evening a small Bakehouse belonging to a Mr. Gromet, in Market Square, was discovered to be on fire. The citizens, together with the officers and crews of the vessels in the harbor, were soon convened; but, unfortunately, no immediate and decisive measures were adopted by which the fire could be stopped at its beginning. The fortunate escape from the destructive element which "the City for many years past experienced had greatly lulled the vigil- ance of its inhabitants, and prevented suitable preparations for such a calamity.
"The period when such prevention and the united efforts of actual exertion could have been useful was, however, of very short duration.
"The season for two months previous to this incident had been dry ; the night was cold, and a light breeze from N. N. W. was soon increased by the effect of the fire. The covering of the buildings being of wood, were, from the above circumstances, rendered highly combustible. Sev- eral of the adjoining houses were soon affected, and then almost instantly in flames. The wind now became strong, and whirled into the air, with agitated violence large flakes of burning shingles, boards and other light substances which, alighting at a distance, added confusion to the other terrors of the conflagration.
"The use of water was now rendered totally vain, its common extin- guishing power seemed to be lost. Torrents of flames rolled from house to house with a destructive rapidity which bid defiance to all human- control, and individual exertions were from this time principally pointed towards the securing of private property.
"The direction of the fire being now committed to the wind its rav- ages were abated only when, by its extending to the common, it found no further object wherewith to feed its fury.
"On the north side of Market Square, and thence in a sontheasterly direction, the inhabitants were enabled, by favor of the wind, to save their houses and limit the conflagration. On the other hand, by the
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time it had extended on the Bay, nearly to Abercorn street, the pro- digious quantity of heat already produced in the centre of the city began to draw in a current of air from the east, and enabled some of the most active inhabitants and seamen to save a few houses in that quarter, after having been in imminent danger.
"Between twelve and one the rage of the fire abated, and few other houses from this time took fire. The exhausted sufferers of both sexes had now to remain exposed to the inelemeney of a cold frosty night, and to witness the distressing spectacle of their numerous dwellings, covered with smoke and Hames, tumbling in ruins.
"Thus was the little City, soon after emerging from the ravages of a revolutionary war, and which had lately promised a considerable figure among the commercial cities of our sister States, almost destroyed in a single night. The number of houses (exclusive of other buildings) which are burned is said to be nearly three hundred, but of this (to- gether with an estimate of property destroyed) a more particular state- ment than we can now furnish is expected shortly to be offered to the public. We can now only say that two-thirds of the city appears in ruins, in a direction from the corner of Market Square, along the Bay to Abercorn street, thence in a southeast direction, taking the whole centre of the city to the south and east commons, a few houses quite in the southeast part only excepted. 'Tis said that three or four white men and two or three negroes lost their lives in rendering assistance during the fire. and whether any more is not yet ascertained.
"The following statement is just handed, as this paper is going to press :
"During the conflagration on Saturday night last in four hours 229 houses, besides out-honses, &c., were burnt, amounting to One Million Dollars, exclusive of loose property. Three hundred and seventy-five chimneys are standing bare, and form a dismal appearance-one hun- dred and seventy-one houses only of the compact part of the city are standing-upwards of four hundred families are destitute of houses. Charities are solicited."
CHATHAM ACADEMY
The people of Savannah and the surrounding territory had become impressed with the necessity for a building suitable for the education of children farther advanced than those in the primary grade, and to that end a plan was inaugurated for the chartering of trustees for building and maintaining a schoolhouse to accommodate for a long time the children of Chatham county seeking an education from the infant class to the high school. The charter was obtained long before the build- ing was erected, and we are in the dark as to what was done from 1788 to the opening of the new building called the Chatham Academy in 1813, outside of the negotiations between the trustees and the Union Society.
The legislature of Georgia, in session at Angusta, passed an aet. dated February 1, 1788, incorporating Chatham Academy. The act is too long to be quoted in this place, but the original trustees named in
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it were John Houstoun, John Habersham, William Gibbons, Sr., William Stephens, Richard Wylly, James Houstoun, Samuel Elbert, Seth John Cuthbert, and Joseph Clay, Jr. It is needless to give particulars in rela- tion to the arrangement by which the property of the Bethesda Orphan House managed by the Union Society and the newly created board of trustees was used in common to erect the building, known always as Chat- ham Academy but used for a time jointly by the two corporations, but an act was passed on the 22nd of December, 1808, by the terms of which cer- tain money was set aside for the use of the commissioners of the Chatham Academy, said commissioners being required to "support and educate at least five orphan children from its funds as soon as they shall receive the property herein vested in said institution." We learn from a state- ment in the Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger of Tuesday, Janu- ary 21, 1812, that : "At a meeting of the Union Society, Savannah, 6th January, 1812. it being represented to this Society that John Bolton, Esq., one of the building committee from the Academy of Chatham County, is now four thousand dollars in advance towards the erection of the joint building to be completed for the benefit of the two institutions, and that the workmen were now idle for the want of funds.
"Resolved, That the President be directed to place in suit every bond or evidence of debt due the Society," etc.
The same paper of December 12, 1812, contained a notice signed by John Bolton, R. M. Stites and John Lawson, the first paragraph of which was in these words: "The undersigned committee of the trustees of the Chatham Academy are happy to announce to their fellow citizens and the public that the academy will be opened in the elegant and convenient edifice, lately erected in this City, for the reception of pupils in the various branches of literature proposed to be taught in the institution, on the first Monday in January next." This was followed by the an- nouncement on Friday, January 1, 1813, in the same paper, of this invitation : "The ladies and citizens of Savannah in general are respect- fully invited to attend at the academy on Tuesday, the 5th of January next, at 12 o'clock, at which time the building will be opened for the reception of scholars, and an appropriate address will be delivered on the occasion." The manuscript of that address by the Rev. Henry Kollock, D. D., pastor of the Independent Presbyterian church is still in the possession of the Board of Education of Chatham county. The trustees announced that they had "appointed as principal of the academy Mr. JJared D. Fyler, a gentleman highly recommended, and well known as possessing every qualification for that office, not only in extensive crudition but in experience as a skillful instructor."
THE GEORGIA HUSSARS
About this time the cavalry company known as the Georgia Hussars which has won for itself a reputation deservedly high and honorable was organized. There is considerable doubt concerning the precise time of its founding. Some persons hold to the belief that it is really much older, and that it formerly held another name, only making a change. for some special reason at a late day of its history. It is certain that
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cavalry companies of various names had existed in the city, and it is not at all unlikely that such a change in name was actually made. It is also claimed that the Georgia Hussars began their history in the year 1785. Another statement is that they "were organized shortly after the War of 1812, by the consolidation of the Chatham Hussars and the Chatham Light Dragoons, the latter of which was an organized command as early as 1781, and affiliated with the Chatham Artillery at the funeral of General Greene in 1786."
THE OLD EXCHANGE
As the reader has been already informed the site of our present city hall was occupied by a building known as the Exchange long before the erection of the one known by the same name and used as a city hall from about 1801 until it was replaced a few years since by the present edifice. Perhaps no clearer account in as few words of the olden struc- ture can be given than that contained in the annual report of Mayor Edward C. Anderson in 1866: "It may not be amiss in connection with the Mayor's report to replace upon record a brief history of this old landmark, as derived from the minutes of Council. Many of its archives have been lost in the occupancy of the city by the United States forces * * * The question of the erection of an exchange building was first agitated in 1798, and in the following year the foundation of the present structure known as the Exchange was laid. It was built by a joint stock Company, in which the city was a stockholder to the amount of twenty-five shares. The ground was leased to the Company for ninety-nine years. The estimated cost of erection was twenty thousand dollars the stock being divided into two hundred shares of one hundred dollars each. The subscription was limited to the inhabitants of Chat- ham County. In the year 1806 a committee of Council was appointed to purchase stock for the City, and they reported having bought eleven shares at one hundred and fifty-six dollars per share. The city con- tinued to purchase at prices generally much above par until the year 1812, when it secured the entire balance of the stock in private hands at one hundred and fifty dollars per share. The purchase money was raised by the issue of certificates of stock at eiglit per cent ; redeemable in ten years. One year previous to this purchase the subject of erecting a new city hall was agitated in Council, and a Committee was appointed as a preliminary step to ascertain on what terms the City shares in the Exchange could be sold. At the time of the sale to the city the revenues of the company were $3,000, and had been as high as $4,000. The estimated revenue to accrue to the eity was twenty-four hundred dol- lars per annum. From this brief history of the Exchange it appears that it was originally the property in part of certain citizens; that in 1812 it became public property and that the building which was the Exchange became the City Hall. It was a profitable property to the company which owned it, but the merchants ceased to use it as an Exchange long before it was sold to the City at the enormous profit of fifty per cent."
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