USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 35
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STRENGTHENING THE FORT WAYNE WORKS
Whatever may have been the response on the part of the United States government to the request of the citizens in the matter of strengthening the works at Fort Wayne, it is certain that on the 19th of June, 1812, the city council appealed to the people in this behalf for such male slaves whose labor can be dispensed with with the under- standing that the appeal was "to the patriotism of our fellow citizens" and that "the negroes furnished in the city will return to their owners to their meals, and those from the country will be furnished with pro- visions and lodgings." Of the funds collected for the work one thou- sand dollars given to begin the repairs was charged to the United States.
Fortunately Savannah was not a special object of spite or of ill-will on the part of the English forces, and her interests suffered little by the war. In response to the "War Message" of President Madison, sent to Congress on the 1st of June. 1812, the house, on the 4th, promptly passed a bill declaring war between Great Britain and the United States, which bill passed the senate with amendments on the 17th, the amendments were concurred in by the house on the 18th and were the same day signed by the president. The news of the declaration of war through special ef- forts of the mail contractor reached Savannah on the 24th, and Maj. Gen. Thomas Pinckney of the southern division of the army, who had arrived in the city on the 22nd, with his aid Colonel Harris and had been received with honors including a salute by the Chatham Artillery and the Rangers, immediately left, having suggested plans for fortifying the
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place. The work was carried on by a committee of council composed of Aldermen J. B. Read, G. V. Proctor, and T. U. P. Charlton who in- serted in the Georgian this advertisement :
"Whereas Major-General Thomas Pinckney has determined to cause to be built immediately on the site of Fort Wayne such works as are deemed advisable, and adopt such other measures recommendatory of . its enlargement as in his judgment may seem proper,
"And whereas the Major-General has recommended to the City Council to direet their attention to the erection of such works on the South Common agreeably to a plan pointed out and explained as of great importance to the protection of the City;
"Resolved, That the Committee of Council appointed for the purpose of superintending the works intended to be erected in this City by the corporation and the citizens of Savannah thereby adopt the General's recommendation and now call upon the citizens to contribute their aid and furnish the laborers subscribed by them, to commence the works to be erected on the South Common which will be under the direction of Captain McRae as engineer."
Work on the fortifications was kept up for some time, and in a "Plan of the City and Harbour of Savannah in Chatham County and State of Georgia taken in 1818" by I. Stouf, on the 9th of April of that year, the "line of defense thrown up in 1814" is very distinctly shown.
FIRST REGIMENT OF GEORGIA MILITIA
A regiment, known as the First Regiment of Georgia militia, composed of the Savannah Volunteer Guards and the Republican Blues together with other Savannah companies, was organized and kept on duty at all times. The Chatham Artillery and Chatham Rangers were other companies of the city not included in the infantry, that rendered all service necessary at the time. The regiment was regularly mustered into service under command of Lieut. James Johnston, but, as there was no actual fighting around Savannah the enlistment lasted not more than a month.
CELEBRATING THE WARRINGTON AND PORTER NAVAL VICTORIES
Of course the good people of Savannah took their own peculiar way of rejoicing whenever news was received of a victory or of any event showing the advantage of our cause over the British. The successes of Capts. Isaac Hull and Jacob Jones as well as of Commodore Deca- tur were marked by the designation by council of the 1st of Jannary, 1813, as a time for the citizens to give "expression of their gratitude to the Supreme Being for the aforesaid signal victories and the high sense they entertain of the gallant conduct of the said naval command- ers their officers and crews, and also for the general joy which these naval victories have produced upon our citizens.'
In May, 1814, the Epervier, a British brig of eighteen guns, cap- tured by the United States sloop of war Peacock, Capt. Lewis War-
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rington, was brought into port. That prize had treasure amounting to $110,000. On the occasion of her capture council took this action :
" Whereas. another victory has added to the glory, the lustre, and renown of the American Navy, the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Savannah are anxions on this, as they have been on other occasions of similar triumphs. to pay the tribute of respect to unparalleled skill and. valor of the heroes of the ocean. Be it therefor unanimously resolved, that the mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah do feel sincere gratitude and respect for the distinguished conduct and noble services of Captain Warrington, the gallant officers and erew in the late victory over the British sloop of war Epervier."
Other victories met with the same spirit of congratulation, exulta- tion and thankfulness. The people were not then, nor have they ever been, slow to show their appreciation of acts of bravery and patriotism. and the events of that war-a war which singularly touched Savannah gently and produced little disastrous effects-were as truly watched and made a part of the city's concern as though she was in the very midst of the greatest danger and suffering.
When the news of the victory of Captain Porter in the conflict of the Essex with the two British war ships Phoebe and Cherub reached Savannah, the mayor and aldermen, in council assembled, on the 22nd of July, 1814, made it a matter of so much cause for rejoicing that they let loose their feeling in the form following :
"Whereas, another great and brilliant exploit has bestowed on the skill, courage. Self Devotion and Patriotism of the hero Porter, his officers and crew, a splendour and glory never before acquired under similar circumstances and given a reputation to the American Navy which neither vaunts nor misrepresentations of the enemy can prevent carrying fear and terror to his thousand ships, and whercas this glorious achievement, united to the noble efforts of the illustrious Porter, his officers and crew, to promote the fame and the interest of their Country in their long perilous and unexampled cruise, demand not only heartful gratitude of every citizen of the Republic, but particularly of every public body and department of the Country: Be it therefore unani- mously resolved by the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Savannah that for and in behalf of themselves, and their Fellow Citizens of Savannah, they beg leave most respectfully to tender to Captain David Porter, late of the Essex Frigate, his officers and crew, this high opinion of his skill, Perseverance and Patriotism evinced throughout the long and perilous cruise of the Essex, as well as the sincere profound and un- affected gratitude with which they have been inspired by the great glorious and unexampled skill and heroism displayed by Captain Porter. the brave officers and gallant Seamen in the unequal contest of the Essex, with the British Frigate Phoebe and the Sloop of War Cherub."
VIGOROUS PREPARATION FOR RESISTING BRITISH ATTACK
At one time it was supposed that the enemy would actually attack the city, and special efforts were made to fortify all points considered weak, so that on the 2nd of September, 1814, a special meeting of council
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was held and all the citizens were urged to do all in their power to assist the city, their aid being especially invoked to help in throwing up breast- works. On the 14th the aldermen elected were John B. Norris, Isaac Fell, T. U. P. Charlton. James Bond Read, Robert Mackay, George Jones, J. Hersman, H. MeIntosh, Edward Harden, Alexander S. Roe, Matthew McAllister, Thomas Bourke, and William B. Bulloch. Those gentlemen were as active in their efforts to serve the people and their country as any set of men could be. The board was divided into special committees for certain work to look after. Messrs. McAllister, Read, Mackay, Hers- man and Charlton were to co-operate with a committee of military offi- cers. A committee called on citizens to subscribe to a fund for the city's defense, and General Pinekney was importuned to send an engineer to look after fortifications ; and the mayor was authorized to borrow $10,000. Messrs. Jones, Bourke. Mackay, Harden and Read composed the com- mittee on defense, holding meetings every day. Planters were requested to send their negroes to work on the fortifications, and council called for aetion looking to the calling out of the Georgia militia, so "as to be effi- ciently prepared to resist and probably to avert the blow of the enemy," deelaring that "'all considerations of economy should be banished." Aldermen Roe, Charlton, and Norris were appointed as a committee whose duty it was "to guard against the introduction of suspicious ehar- acters into the city, and to have weekly returns from all taverns, lodging and boarding-house keepers of the numbers, names and business of such persons, and to act towards them as the law and ordinanees direct, and they are required to aid in ascertaining the earliest information of the approach of the enemy by land or water and are empowered to appoint a secretary to record proceedings.
"Resolved, that the sum of five hundred dollars be and is hereby ap- propriated and put at the disposal of the committee for the publie good."
Even the mayor and aldermen met at the Exchange on the morning of September 29, 1814, with spades, hoes and axes, to work on the for- tifications.
THE "MARTELLO TOWER"
Some time during the war the structure on Tybee island commonly known as the "Martello Tower," was erccted by the United States gov- ernment. The idea that it was an old Spanish work is entirely erroneous. If it was true, then surely some mention of it would have been made in the many accounts we have of that island during the time Oglethorpe was in Georgia and afterwards. No such edifice was named or described in any of them; and the fact of the matter is now given in order that all doubt in connection with the subjeet may be forever set aside. It was built sometime during the War of 1812-15 by the United States as some sort of a fortification, and Mr. Isaiah Davenport was the contractor who supervised its erection. Mr. Davenport was afterwards an alder- man of Savannah in the years 1818, 1819 and 1822.
CELEBRATING THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS
On the 21st of February, 1815, on receipt of tidings of victory at New Orleans on the 8th of January and the subsequent events the
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thanks of the citizens of Savannah were returned to Gen. Andrew Jack- son and his colleagues, Coffee and Carroll and their soldiers, the resolu- tion reciting that "their late distinguished deeds have humbled our late inveterate foe and added ever blooming laurels and glory to the arms of America." It appears that a military parade had been given on the first receipt of the news of the battle of New Orleans which was not as.enthu- siastie as it should have been, and another was ordered by council under the control of the eity which came up to the full expectations of all the people, though couneil eautioned the people against illuminating their houses "owing to the material of which most of them are composed;"' but the Exchange was illuminated, and a band was kept there from seven o'clock to ten in the evening, giving musical selections all the time.
PEACE DECLARED
The proclamation of the president in which the treaty of peace was ratified was made public by the mayor on the 28th of February, 1815, and a recommendation that the Exchange be again illuminated on Sun- day, the 4th of March, was adopted, when the people were asked to ob- serve that day "as a day for innocent recreation and amusement in con- sequence of the ratification of a treaty of peace with Great Britain founded on the basis of perfect reciprocity, and honorable to this nation, resolved that the board having heretofore devoted all the means and ener- gies in the prosecution of just war, now hails the return of peace and amity and commerce which it is hoped will follow this gratifying event, and declare itself equally devoted to the maintenance of peace and friend- ship with the subjects of Great Britain, always having in view the sacred and patriotic duty of considering in the scope of its authority all persons 'enemies in war, in peace friends.' "
The result of the War of 1812-15 gave to the people of Savannah that satisfaction which might have been looked for in those whose greatest interests were centered in the principles involved in the questions upon which that war was waged; and it is shown in the naming of localities in the city such as Hull, Perry and MeDonough streets and Orleans and Chippewa squares.
CHAPTER XXIII
DECADE OF NOTED EVENTS
VISIT OF MONROE AND CALHOUN -- THE NEW INDEPENDENT CHURCH-THE GREAT FIRE OF 1820-YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC (ALSO 1820)-LOCAT- ING THE BURIAL PLACE OF NATHANAEL GREENE-CITY AFFAIRS CON- TINUED-DRY CULTURE CONTRACTS-WINFIELD SCOTT AND DAVID PORTER, SAVANNAH'S GUESTS-RECEPTION OF LA FAYETTE-ME- MORIALS TO GENERAL GREENE AND COUNT PULASKI-MAYORS AND ALDERMEN, 1821-24-CANAL PROJECT INAUGURATED-FORT PULASKI COMMENCED.
Savannah was visited in 1791 by Washington, the first president of the United States, and, in 1802, by the then vice president, Aaron Burr.
VISIT OF MONROE AND CALHOUN
The fifth president. James Monroe, together with Secretary of War John C. Calhoun, General Gaines and staff, Mr. Gouverneur, Lieutenant Monroe and the president's secretary, entered the city on Saturday, the 8th of May, 1819, at six o'clock in the evening. Anticipating the visit, the city council. as early as the 18th of March, appointed a committee composed of Aldermen T. U. P. Charlton. Charles Harris and John H. Ash to take measures for the reception and entertainment of the hon- ored guest. By action of these gentlemen the military and social organ- izations promised their assistance, and council was requested "to attend with its officers on the President the day after his arrival and congratu- late him in his visit to the city and express such other sentiments of gratitude and joy as the occasion and the comforts and simplicity of Republicans should warrant to the eminent patriot and virtuous cit- izen they propose to felicitate on his arrival, and that the address on such occasion be passed and voted in council and delivered by the mayor who is to adopt the same." The mayor at that time was James M. Wayne who resigned on the 12th of July following and was succeeded by T. U. P. Charlton. The report of the committee showed that . William Scarbor- ough, Esq., had politely offered his new and elegant house at the west end of the town for the reception and residence of the President and which your committee have accepted with thanks." To meet the ex- penses of the reception the sun of five thousand dollars was appropri- ated, and an additional sum of five hundred dollars was set apart to pro- vide for a ball and supper.
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The Georgian, of May 9th, said: "He was rowed from the Carolina shore in twenty minutes, and when he reached the Georgia waters was saluted with 21 guns from the Revenue Cutter Dallas, which was re- peated when the barge reached the wharf, the Chatham Light Artillery, at the same time, opening a Federal salute on the bluff. He was received at the wharf by the Mayor and Receiving Committee of Aldermen who condneted him up the bank. Nearly the whole population of Savannah thronged the bank, and every voice and every heart welcomed him to Georgia. The military, consisting of the Georgia Hussars, the Chatham Light Artillery, the Republican Blues, the Fencibles, and the Savannah Volunteer Guards, were drawn out on a verdant plain, parallel with the river, and exhibited an appearance to the President which must have excited his admiration. Colonel Marshall, with his staff offieers, oeeu- pied their proper stations in front of this splendid line, elegantly mounted aud eaparisoned. It is not uninteresting to state that the company of Light Artillery is the same that received General Washington on his visit to this eity in 1791, and that the two brass pieces with which it saluted President Monroe were presented to it by the father of our country, as a compliment for the merits which it displayed on that occasion. The President having reviewed, on foot, with great attention, their whole front, mounted a horse, which he preferred to a superb barouche which was also in waiting for his accommodation, and rode to the new and elegant home of Mr. Scarborough, escorted by the Mayor, the different committees and the military companies. On his way to his lodgings, down Broughton street, the President was preceded by half the Hussars and followed by the other half with all the military companies, and we do not hesitate to declare that with regard to precision of movement and cleganee of appearance they have never been surpassed in the United States. Those companies were soon displayed in front of his horse and fired feux de joie, by platoons, companies, and divisions. The President attended Divine Service at the new Presbyterian Church,* and witnessed the dedication of that magnificent building by the Rev. Dr. Kolloek "
Continuing, the Savannah papers recorded the fact that "On Monday the citizens in a body marehed in procession to the President's lodgings preceded by the municipal offieers, accompanied by the officers of the army and navy, and the military companies, and at 2 p. m. James M. Wayne, the Mayor, delivered to him a congratulatory address, to which the President made a respectful reply."
ยท The address of the mayor is too long to be copied here in full, but it began with these happy expressions: "The corporation and citizens of Savannah present to you their assurance of the respect which they have for your publie services and their sineere regard and admiration of those virtues and attainments which have placed yon among the best and most eminent of our countrymen. In the present state of our country, to have attained the exalted station which you now hold is to the world, and it will be to posterity, a sufficient proof of your fitness for it however mueh experience may show the elevation of persons and officers to be but an equivocal testimonial of worth and merit." And in conclusion he said : "May yon long live, sir, to enjoy this happiness, and we sincerely
* The Independent Presbyterian Church,
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hope that the termination of your political career may be as gratifying to yourself as your life and administration have been hitherto beneficial to your country."
The president's reply was all that could have been wished for, and ended in these words : " I beg you to accept my best thanks for your kind reception, and best wishes for the prosperity and welfare of the town and . citizens of Savannah."
The citizens gave him a public dinner on the 11th, and his whole time was taken up during the days of his visit with partaking of the hospitality of the officers and people and in lending his presence to social functions and the enjoyment of pleasure trips. During his stay he witnessed the dedication of the new building of the Independent Presbyterians, and it so happened that at that very time the new steamer Savannah, the first steamship to cross the ocean, was at the wharf preparing for the voyage which made her famous.
Columbian Museum and Savannah Daily Gazette of Thursday, May 13th, copied an editorial which appeared in the Republican of the even- ing before, describing the publie dinner, beginning with an account of the president's visit to the ship and trip in her to Tybee, in these words : "Yesterday the President with the gentlemen who accompany him, the Secretary of War, General Gaines, Colonel Clinch, General Floyd and staff, General John MeIntosh, General D. B. Mitchell, General Huger, of South Carolina, the Rev. Dr. Kollock, Judge Berrien, Col. Marshall and staff, the committee of reception, Judge Charlton, Charles Harris, Esq., and Dr. Waring, and a number of our most reputable eitizens, both civil and military, went down to Tybee in the elegant steamship Savannah. The wind being from the northwest the sails were but partly used against the floodtide; but the wheels were the essential powers that forced her way through the water-and with the utmost majesty she proceeded down the river, until she came opposite the light-house- when she cast anchor for a few minutes to enable our distinguished guest to take a more certain view of our harbor, the different bearings and dis- tances of either the impediments to the navigation which might be dis- tinguished by beacons, or ports which might be made capable of defence.
"The anehor was then weighed and she proceeded up the river, aecom- panied by the steamboat Altamaha, and two barges manned by a picked crew and steered by two experienced masters of vessels. On going by the Patriot brig La Fortuna, lying near Long Island, the American colors were hoisted at her foremast, and those with the national flag of the brig were lowered as the steamship passed-a salute was then fired from her and three loud cheers acknowledged the respectful esteem of foreigners to our beloved chief magistrate. The tide having fallen too low for the ship to come farther up, the whole party went on board the steamboat and partook of a collation prepared for the occasion.
"We are happy to learn that Mr. Monroe was very much pleased with the attention paid him on the pleasant excursion.
"On the steam-boat's passing the revenue cutter Dallas commanded by Captain Jackson, lying opposite the town, handsomely dressed with colors, a salute of 21 guns was fired from her. The boat proceeded to the steam-boat wharf, when Mr. Monroe landed amidst a large eoncourse
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of our population whose loud acclamations evinced their respect and admiration for talents and virtue."
From the 5th to the 8th of May (the day of the president's arrival) this advertisement was running in the columns of the Museum and Gazette: . "Passage for New York. The steamship SAVANNAH, Capt .. Rodgers, will make one trip to New York, previous to her departure for Liverpool, should a sufficient number of passengers offer, and will be ready to proceed in course of this week or commencement of the next. Apply on board at Taylor's wharf, or to Scarborough & MeKinne.
It was at Mr. Scarborough's house the president was being enter- tained, and that house was on West Broad street, then one of the most imposing private houses in the city. It is now the West Broad Street Colored School.
The steamship Savannah sailed from this port on the 20th of the same month on her famous trip across the Atlantic.
On the Tuesday of his stay in Savannah. Mr. Monroe partook of a public dinner under a large booth at the east end of the bay, under the trees. This account is copied from the Savannah Republican and Even- ing Ledger :
"The booth was ornamented with wreaths and branches of laurels. At the head of the table was an arch composed of laurels beautifully dec- orated with roses, so disposed as to form the name of James Monroe. The company having dined the following toasts were announced from the chair accompanied with appropriate music from the stand. During the giving of toasts, the Dallas fired salutes, her commander having obligingly tendered his services for the occasion. On the president re- tiring from the table a grand national salute was opened which made the welkin ring. The regular toasts were:
"1. Our Country. In her infancy she is nighly in the first class of nations, what will be the meridian of her life ?
"2. The Federal Union. May the head be accursed that shall in- siduously plot its dissolution, the arm withered that shall aim a blow at its existence.
"3. The Constitution of the United States, framed by the wisdom of sages, may our statesmen and our posterity regard it as the national ark of political safety never to be abandoned.
"4. The military, naval, legislative, and diplomatic worthies of the Revolution. It is our duty and delight to honor them and to tell their deeds with filial piety.
"5. General George Washington, revered be his memory! Let our statesmen and our warriors obey his precepts, our youth emulate his vir- tues and services, and our country is safe.
"6. The cession of the Floridas-Honorable to the adminis- tration and useful to the United States, it completes the form of the Republic.
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