USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 38
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The house kept by Mrs. Maxwell in which LaFayette was entertained is that situated in Oglethorpe square, bounded north by State street, south by President street. west by Lincoln street, with the front or east side facing Abercorn street. It passed into the possession of the Owens family, and is now owned and occupied by Mrs. M. W. Thomas, widow of Dr. J. G. Thomas and daughter of the late Mr. George Owens.
It is proper here to state that among the military companies uniting to do honor to the nation's guest were the Liberty County Independent Troop, commanded by their revered Capt. William Maxwell, and the Darien Hussars, with Capt. Charles West, their friend and guide at their head in the procession.
When the reception committee boarded the steamboat at Fort Jaek- son, their chairman, George Jones, Esq., addressed General LaFayette, and, as it was the first greeting received by the guest on Georgia soil and is itself worthy of preservation, it is now given, although somewhat out of its regular order. Mr. Jones said :
"General: This committee, the representatives of a general eom- mittee of the City Couneil and of the civil and military eitizens of Savannah, offer you on behalf of themselves and their fellow eitizens congratulations upon your safe arrival, and a sineere welcome to the State of Georgia. They invite you to accompany them to the spot where their ancestors, with their beloved Oglethorpe, first landed; and thus afford them an opportunity of discharging the pleasing duty assigned them of presenting you to his Excellency the Governor of the State and the eivil authority of the eity, who, with a grateful people, anxiously wait to receive you with a heartfelt weleome."
The reply of LaFayette to this address has not been preserved. Colonel Brailsford also addressed the General, but neither that nor the reply fittingly made to it has been recorded.
During the visit of LaFayette to Savannah the time was chosen as the most fitting occasion for the presentation to the First Regiment of State Volunteers of a stand of colors made for it and intended as a gift to it by Mrs. Harden, the wife of Gen. Edward Harden, commander of the brigade to which the regiment was attached : and Governor Troup was seleeted to make the presentation speech in the presence of LaFayette, all of the military of the city and a very large number of citizens being also present. This is the speech of the governor :-
"Colonel : I present to you, by command of Mrs. Harden, a standard
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of colors for the First Regiment, worked by her own hands. It is a fine offering from the fair to the brave, in the presence of the veteran hero whom all hearts delight to honor. I am happy to be the instru- ment of unfurling them for the first time before the Regiment. They are consecrated by the fair donor and the presence of the Nation's guest. The hand which executed this beautiful work has painted, in indelible colors, the emblems which will guard them. Look on this picture, or on that-this repels dishonor, that animates to patriotism and to deeds of valor. They cannot be tarnished. Death before their inglorious sur- render."
The references in the speech may be understood by reading the following description of the flag: "The principal emblems were, on one side, the arms of the State, the Constitutional arch being supported by three female figures representing . Wisdom, Justice and Moderation ; and, on the reverse, a bust of LaFayette, (in the old Continental uni- form,) and which is being crowned with a laurel wreath by the American Eagle."
The dinner given in honor of LaFayette was served in the council chamber in the Exchange. It was an affair of more than usual impor- tance, and a very large number attended. When we consider the part taken by the man whom our whole country then delighted to honor in the long war which brought us our independence, it is not to be wondered at that he was treated as a great hero and that no expense was spared in showing him that we loved him for what he had done. With that feeling of respect and veneration for the man, there need be no excuse for recording in detail every step taken by our citizens in the plan laid out for his entertainment. and so we give the full account of the dinner which he attended and which he evidently enjoyed to the very end.
"The dinner of the citizens, which was prepared at four o'clock, owing to the late hour at which General LaFayette arrived, was neces- sarily delayed. It however took place at seven o'clock. when the com- pany sat down in the Council Chamber which was prepared for the occasion with arches. branches. &c., of which we shall have occasion to speak hereafter. It comprised a profusion of substantial fare, and every delicacy of the season. The company, including the guests, were at least three hundred in number. The Mayor presided, assisted by George Jones, 1st Vice-President; Charles Harris, 2d do .; W. B. Bulloch, 3d do .; Dr. John Cumning, 4th do .; Wm. Davies, 5th do .; and George Anderson, 6th do. Among the guests, besides General LaFayette, were Col. Francis K. Huger, George Washington Lafayette, Monsieur Le- Vasseur, and the officers frou So. Carolina who accompanied the General, viz. : Major-General Youngblood, General Geddes, Cols. Keith, Butler, Chesnut. Brown, Clounie, Fitzsimmons, and Taylor, Majors Hamilton and Warley. Capt. Moses, and Messrs. Bee and M'Cord; there were also present Col. Murat. General Stewart, Capt. Rees, Col. McAllister. Capt. Maxwell. and the other officers of the Liberty and MeIntosh Cav- alry, and the several clergymeu of the city. In the centre window back of the seats of the Mayor and General LaFayette appeared a transpar- +ney, representing Gen. LaFayette, over which was a scroll inscribed "'He fought for us;' in the opposite window Washington inscribed in
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like manner. 'The Father of his Country.' The centre window, in front, presented an allegorical transparency representing a monument, sur- mounted by a bust of LaFayette; on one side Liberty, on the other History, presenting a tablet inscribed with the dates of the arrival in America of LaFayette, of his appointment as Major-General. of his being wounded at Brandywine, and that of the surrender at Yorktown. The following is a copy of the toasts which were given :
"1st. The Constitution of the United States-Its level the people's rights; its power their protection ; its protection their virtue.
"2d. Georgia-Rich in her resources, rich in the bounties of nature, and rich in the spirit and enterprise of her people; we look to the wisdom of her rulers for the improvement of these advantages.
"3d. Washington-A name associated with every ennobling quality of man; his fame is identified with our history, and its lustre will be reflected upon ages to come.
"4th. LaFayette-The name shall be a badge worn in the hour of peril by freemen in every quarter of the globe, when our rights are assailed by oppression.
"General LaFayette expressed his acknowledgments for the affec- tionate welcome he had the happiness to receive from the citizens of Savannah, and particularly for their honourable and so very gratifying toast ; after which he begged leave to offer the following sentiment :
" 'The City of Savannah-And may her young prosperity more and more show to the Old World the superiority of Republican Institutions and self government.
"5th. The Heroes and Statesmen of '76-In life or death equally the objects of our regard and veneration.
"6th. The President of the United States-Although chosen amidst the conflict of public sentiment, the nation receives him as her chief magistrate, and is ready to support him in the spirit of the Constitution.
"7th. The Republics of Mexico and South America-We hail them as the nations of the earth, and may the voice of freemen ere long thun- der from the Andes of Brazil the rights of man.
"8th. The Holy Alliance-The bitterness of political death to those who are no friends to 'the world or the world's Law.'
"9th. Beautiful France-Munificent Patroness of Science and the Arts, Nurse of Heroes-she shed her blood for us and we are grateful.
"10th. Wm. H. Crawford-Ilis greatness is founded upon the qualities of his mind and the virtues of his heart : Public Station has only served to illustrate it, and private life cannot detract from it.
"11th. The People-The spontaneous burst of their gratitude to one of the early champions of their country's freedom speaks a moral lesson to the nations of the world that will not be disregarded.
"12th. The Army and Navy of the U. States-Niagara, New Orleans, the Lakes and the Ocean proclaim their victories and perpetuate their glory.
"13th. Woman-The graces of her mind refine onr manners, the vir- tues of her heart correct our morals, and civilized man derives his strongest impulse to excellence from the hope of her approbation.
"A deputation was sent during the dinner to wait upon his Excel-
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lency Governor Manning, of South Carolina, on board the steamboat Henry Schultz, then at anehor in the river.
"The deputation was composed of Cols. Brailsford and Randolph, aids of his Excelleney Governor Tronp. bearing a complimentary mes- sage from him; and of a committee from the Citizens composed of Riel- ard W. Habersham, Esq., Col. E. F. Tattnall, Major W. T. Williams and Capt. R. W. Pooler.
"Governor Manning received the deputation with great politeness. expressing his regret that the Constitution of his own State should have prohibited his landing on the shores of another, and thus deprive him of the pleasure of participating in the festivities of the day.
"The President, on the return of the committee, communieated to the company the eireumstanees of the deputation, and gave as a toast 'The Governor of South Carolina' which was received with the warmest approbation. Upon which, Major-General Youngblood, of South Caro- lina. proposed, as a volunteer toast, 'The State of Georgia.'
"The volunteer toasts were as follows:
"By Gen. LaFayette-The memory of Gen. Greene.
"By Gov. Troup-The Guest of the Nation, in union with the Vol- unteer's and Citizens of Georgia; a Father surrounded by his Children, it is as it should be ; who can say that his eivil and military virtues have contributed most to the benefit of mankind.
"By George Washington LaFayette-The principles of 1776-they will regenerate the whole world.
"By Mon. Le Vasseur-The year 1776; Ameriean youth have not degenerated from the principles of their fathers.
"By Col. Franeis K. Huger-The youth of the U. S. may they see and feel that the admiration, esteem and gratitude of the nation are the highest and most honourable rewards of ambition.
"By Gen. Stewart-Our sister State of South Carolina, near and dear to us.
"Major James Hamilton, Jr., from South Carolina, replied to the compliment from General Stewart, and gave the following toast :
"The State of Georgia-Founded by one of the most chivalrous and enterprising spirits of the age in which he lived, she has received a kindred impulse from his character; may her prosperity be equal to the patriotism and gallantry of her sons.
"By Col. E. F. Tattnall, in reply-The memory of General Marion; distinguished for everything ehivalrie, for everything patriotie, for everything Carolinian.
"By Major-General Youngblood-The memory of General Mont- gomery; in the cause of Freedom, and self-goverment our country, when in a sinking condition, made large drafts on the sons of Erin- they were always honored.
"By Gen. Geddes-The memory of Gen. Pulaski who died in defense, of American liberty.
"By Col. Murat-Florida and General Jackson, to whom Floridians are indebted for being citizens of the United States.
"By the President-Col. Warren-We sincerely regret that his bad health has deprived us of the pleasure of the company of a soldier who lost a limb in attempting to rescue this eity from its oppressors.
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"By Geo. Jones. Esq., 1st Viee-President-The memory of Ogle- thorpe. the founder of Georgia.
"By Charles Harris. Esq., 2d Vice-President-General James Sereven. who fought for liberty, and was killed by its enemies in defense of its sacred cause.
"By Wm. B. Bulloch, Esq., 3d Vice-President-General James Jack- son, than whom a purer and more disinterested patriot Georgia never produced.
"By Dr. Jno. Cumming, 4th Vice-President-The memory of Colonel Joseph Habersham; the first in Georgia who raised his arm against royal power.
"By Wm. Davies, Esq., 5th Vice-President-Gen. John McIntosh, a hero of the revolution.
"By George Anderson, 6th Vice-President-The memory of General Elbert.
"The General retired at this time.
"By Major Williams-DeKalb. Steuben. Pulaski, and yet another and a greater-the chivalry of other lands concentrated in the eause of ours their names are hallowed by the glory of their deeds, and ten millions of freemen express their gratitude to the survivor.
"By Col. Hunter-The memory of Dr. Noble Wimberly Jones; the pupil of Oglethorpe, a republican in principle, a philanthropist in prac- tice.
"By Capt. Wm. Law-Our Republic: Constituted for the freedom and happiness of man. its stability is founded in the intelligence of its people, and the virtues of its rulers.
"By Lieut. Baker-The departed heroes of the Revolution : the stars . of freedom, they have sunk to rest.
"By Capt. Higgins-This tribute of respect which emanates from the purest principles of the heart-patriotism and gratitude.
"By Capt. Pooler-Our Guest. LaFayette-The nobleman by birth, the republican from principles.
"By Robert Campbell, (after the President had retired. ) The Mayor, W. C. Daniell, who has presided with so much ability and propriety at the present interesting festival.
"By R. W. Habersham-The memory of Gen. Lachlan Mc Intosh.
"By Lieut .- Col. D'Lyon-Andrew Jackson, the people's choice for the Presidency-though intrigue and bargaining have defeated his eleva- tion, yet in their hearts he stands first among the independent republican patriots of our Country.
"By Colonel Marshall-The memory of Pulaski, who fought for the liberty of his own land, and died in defense of ours.
"By Gen. Harden-The Generals Pinckney-of a conterminous and sister State-patriots without fear or reproach.
"By Col. McAllister-The civic arrangements of this day may be equalled but not excelled by our sister States.
"By George B. Cumming-Cobb and Berrien-their vote on the Clay nomination is decisive of their principles.
"By Major Wayne-The officers, non-commissioned officers and pri- vates of the squadron.
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"By Dr. McConnell-Gen. LaFayette, and his surviving compatriots throughout the Union.
"By Jos. V. Bevan, Esq-The memory of Col. Baker-one of the most eminent partisans known to our own or to the history of any other State; one indeed, who had the additional merit of belonging to that County which gave to Georgia its first determined feeling for Liberty.
"By Capt. Jolm Davidson-The United States, the cradle of liberty -may it never cease rocking the sons of freedom.
"By Capt. Stiles-The glories of Bolivar, the Washington of South America.
"By Mr. Gwathney. The inhabitants of LaGrange; may they be made as happy by the return of LaFayette as we have been by his visit. "By Col. Dennis-The people's favorite, General Andrew Jackson."
Monsieur A. Le Vasseur, LaFayette's seeretary during his journey. wrote an account of the tour, and in his book he deseribed rather fully the proceedings in Savannah. The account is too long to be quoted as a whole. After describing the arrival in the Savannah river and the . parting with the governor of South Carolina, the writer says: "Some minutes after, we were in Georgia, at the entrance of Savannah, when the General was received and addressed by Governor Troup, in the midst of an eager crowd. The triumphal bars and arches, the acclamations of the people, the wreaths and Howers scattered by the ladies, the sound of bells and eannon, everything proved to LaFayette that thongh he had passed into another State, he was, nevertheless, among the same friendly and grateful people." He described the dinner. and ended the description thus: "A hymn to liberty, to the air la Marsellaisc, terminated the ban- quet, and we returned to our quarters by the light of an illumination which blazed over all the City." He thus deseribed the city as it then appeared to him :
"Savannah is the most important city of the State of Georgia. It is situated on the right bank of Savannah river, and about seventeen miles from its mouth. Its large and straight streets cross at right angles, and are planted on each side with a row of delightful trees, called the Pride of India, and for which the inhabitants of the South have a marked predileetion. Although elevated forty feet above the level of the river, the situation of Savannah is unhealthy; an autumn seldom passes without the yellow fever making cruel ravages. Commerce is notwithstanding very active there; its port, which ean admit vessels drawing forty feet, annually exports more than six million dollars worth of cotton. Its population is 7,523 inhabitants, divided thuis: 3.557 white individuals, 582 free people of Colour. and 3,075 slaves. The number of persons employed in the manufactories nearly equals that of those occupied in eommeree, which is about six hundred."
His information, of course, was derived from answers to questions. and his informant must have been one possessed of little accurate knowl- edge of the subject. To say nothing of the rest of the statement. his assertion that yellow fever was a disease which made its appearance annually almost without exception was as much exaggerated as that declaring that vessels drawing forty feet could enter the port.
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MEMORIALS TO GENERAL GREENE AND COUNT PULASKI
La Fayette's visit was made the opportunity to lay the corner stones of monuments to the memory of Gen. Nathanael Greene and Count Casimir Pulaski. On this point we resume our quotations from the pamphlet already mentioned :
"It was * * determined by the Committee that the Corner Stone of the Moment to be erected in honour of General Greene should be laid in the middle of the eastern section of Johnston's Square; and that in honour of Gen. Count Pulaski in the middle of the eastern section of Chippewa Square; and sub-committees were appointed to request the co-operation of the several Masonic bodies, and to make the necessary arrangements for the ceremonial.
"Accordingly the Masonic Brethren formed a procession at their Grand Lodge Room at 9 o'clock on Monday morning 21st March, aecom- panied by a band of musie, and waited upon General LaFayette at his lodgings. * *
* The procession then moved to the site selected for the Monument to General Greene. Upon reaching the arch opening into the Square, the military eseort wheeled to the left and formed fronting the Square. The procession then halted and opened to the right and left to allow the rear to pass through it. The head of the proeession on entering the enclosure wheeled to the right and passed around the circle.
"Here a most beautiful and interesting sight was presented. Around the interior of the enclosure the children from the various schools. up- wards of five hundred in number, in neat and appropriate costumes, were arranged with baskets of flowers with which they strewed the path of their venerable benefactor. The erowd of spectators outside of the enelosnre entirely hid these innocent little creatures from view, and they burst upon the sight like the creations of enchantment, on enter- ing the area. Pleasure brightened in every eye, and happiness beamed in every countenance as they received the paternal salutations of an affee- tionate Guest.'
The stone bore this inscription : " 'This Corner-Stone of a Monument TO THE MEMORY OF MAJ. GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE WAS LAID BY GENERAL LAFAYETTE, At the request of the Citizens of Savannah, on the 21st of March, A. D., 1825.'
"The Stone was lowered to the place prepared for it. while the band performed a solemn dirge, sneceeded by Hail Columbia.
"The principal architect then presented to the Grand Master the square, plumb, and level.
"The Deputy Grand Master William Schley, who was deputed by the Grand Master to act, applied them to the Stone, and prononneed it to be 'well formed, true and trusty.'
"The gold and silver vessels were then brought to the platform, and delivered to the Deputy Grand Master and the two Wardens who sue- eessively presented them to General LaFayette. The General then poured, according to the ancient ceremony, the corn, the wine, and the oil contained in them, npon the Stone; repeating, according to the pre- seribed ceremony. the following :
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" 'May the All-bounteous Author of nature bless the inhabitants of this place,' &e.
"Gen. LaFayette then deseended to the stone which he struek three times with a mallet; after which the publie grand honours were given by the brethren. *
"A large stone slab was then lowered to its place over the stone, and a patriotie tune was played by the band.
"The ceremonies at the monument were eoneluded by three volleys from the U. S. troops who aeted as the eseort, commanded by Lieut. Munro.
"Upon leaving the conseerated spot the procession inoved around the eirele and through the tasteful areh by which it entered the Square. From this areh, beautifully ornamented with myrtle and eedar, was suspended a shield, on one side of which was inseribed: 'Greene, The friend of LaFayette, and the Saviour of the South.' On the reverse: 'Greene died near Savannah, 19th June, 1786.'
"The original order of the procession being resumed, it moved to Chippewa Square, at the entrance of which an arch, similar in design and decorations, was erected, from which, in like manner a shield was suspended; on the one side was inseribed: 'Pulaski, Always valiant, but always Foe to Kings.' On the opposite side was inseribed: 'Pulaski fell at the Siege of Savannah, 9th October, 1779.'
"On entering the enelosure the same arrangement and disposition was made as in the former case.''
Without going into details, let it be stated that the proceedings in Chippewa square were about the same as those in Johnson square where the corner stone of the Greene monument was laid. The Pulaski mon- ument corner stone bore this inscription : "On the 21st day of March, A. D., 1825, was laid by General LaFayette, at the request of the Citizens of Savannah, This Foundation-Stone of a Monument To the Memory of Brigadier Count Pulaski."
The monument to Pulaski, intended to be ereeted in Chippewa square was eventually erected, as is well known, in Monterey square, and the corner stone was laid there on the 11th of October, 1853. At that time suitable arrangements were made, on a grand scale, for the ceremony, and we will say more on the subject when we reach that period in our history; but as a matter of information which may well be related at this point, the following quotation is made from the report, subsequently printed, relating all the circumstances connected with that matter:
"On the 21st of March, 1825, General LaFayette, while on a visit to Savannah, performed, at the request of our eitizens. the ceremony of laying the corner stones of two monuments. to be erected to the mem- ory of Major-General Greene and Brigadier-General Count Pulaski. One was laid in Johnson Square and the other in Chippewa Square. In the course of ten or twelve years a sufficient fund had been collected to ereet the monument now [1853] standing in Johnson Sqnare, and, as it was believed that the efforts to raise the necessary means to ereet another would be fruitless, the one which had been built* was called
* In 1829.
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the Greene and Pulaski Monument, and the corner stone which had been laid in Chippewa Square was removed to Johnson Square, and placed by the side of that dedicated to General Greene.
"The Commissioners, however, to whom the Legislature of Georgia had entrusted the duty of raising the necessary means, determined to renew their efforts; and having. at the session of the Legislature in 1837, procured a renewal of their grant, with some additional powers, proceeded energetically in their work, and, for fifteen years, pursued with untiring devotion their disinterested task, until a fund of $20,000 had been accumulated."
The writer of the above does not explain how the sum of money for the erection of the Pulaski monument was raised. The committee having the burden of raising the funds for the two monuments was composed of Messrs. John Shellman, John Stevens, W. B. Bulloch, J. V. Bevan, R. W. Habersham, A. Porter, James P. Sereven, William Gaston, Alex- ander Telfair. A. B. Fannin and Jas. Bond Read. They obtained the permission of the city council on the 31st of March, 1829. to place the monument to the memory of both Greene and Pulaski in the center of Johnson square. instead of on the spot where the corner stone had been laid by LaFayette. They had secured the passage of an act by the legislature of Georgia chartering the "Greene and Pulaski Monument Lottery," on the 26th of November, 1826. the commissioners named in the act for conducting the lottery were John Stevens, Wm. B. Bulloch. Jas. B. Read. Richard W. Habersham, James P. Screven, Alexander Telfair, Abraham B. Fannin, Mordecai Myers, John Shellman, William P. Marshall, Anthony Porter, Samuel B. Parkman, and Joseph Vallance Bevan. The commissioners, instead of managing the business of the lottery themselves. disposed of their right to others who had perhaps better ideas in regard to the business, by which transaction the pur- chasers were bound to pay to the monument fund the sum of $1,000 annually ; and to the amount so raised the state added an appropriation.
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