USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 51
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20th of February, 1826, recommending "the removal by the general government of obstructions placed in the channel of Savannah river during the war," and a bill covering the purpose was reported. The obstructions were wreeks sunk in the channel during the War of the Revolution. The memorial showed how it was proposed to improve the bar and the river, and confirmed the report on surveys made by the officers of the government showing the advantage of Savannah over Charleston and St. Mary's. A report was afterward filed by Secretary S. L. Southard, dated December 27, 1827, on a survey of harbors at Charles- ton, Beaufort, Savannah and St. Mary's. Attention was paid to the memorial, and congress authorized an expenditure of $50,000, which proved wholly insufficient for the accomplishment of the good intended. A letter on the subject of payments for the work was transmitted to
THE RIVER FRONT, SAVANNAHI
congress May 19, 1830, by Secretary S. D. Ingham, and it was shown that by the 24th of March $45,916.59 had been expended, for which little results could be seen. Again. on the 16th of February, 1831, the same officer made a statement of disbursements on account of the work of "removing obstructions from the Savannah River, Georgia." In June of the last mentioned year conneil appointed a counnittee to consult one Henry Schultze on the subject of a plan proposed by him for im- proving the channel which seenred from that person a pledge to deepen the channel at a cost of $150,000 so that vessels drawing eighteen feet of water could come up to the city, and guaranteeing to do the work which was to be a permanent job by the end of two years. A favorable report on this plan was made to conneil that a recommendation be made to the legislature for the necessary appropriation, as the work was considered of benefit to the entire state. The report was at first
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adopted, but later on it was deemed the proper course to appeal to congress.
Further discussion of the subject was made in council without definite result, and in the month of January, 1840, Captain JJ. Mackay of the corps of topographical engineers submitted a plan, accompanied with a map, showing that obstructions placed in back river at certain places would canse the deepening of the main channel, and recom- mending that the eity appeal to congress for the necessary means to carry it out, and it was adopted.
IMPROVEMENT OF SAVANNAH RIVER AND HARBOR
The next step to which our attention is directed is that on the 27th of March, 1844. Representative Joseph HI. Peyton submitted to congress a report recommending the improvement of the Savannah river. Through the efforts of our congressman. Hon. William H. Stiles, an appropriation was secured from congress in that year, and couneil thanked him for his work in that behalf. The next congress passed a bill making appropriations available for river and harbor work, but the President vetoed it, and a convention of the people of the United States was called to meet at Chicago, July 5, 1847, to protest against his veto. In 1845 the Savannah Chamber of Commerce sent a memorial to congress urging the removal of obstructions in the Savannah river. dated the 16th of December: and that was followed by another memorial from the eitizens of Savannah, on the 8th of January, 1846, "praying for the removal of certain obstructions to navigation." Once again. on the 21st of December, 1846. the Chamber of Commerce memorialized congress to make an appropriation "for the removal of wrecks in the Savannah River." In 1850, as early as the 28th of January, Secretary Geo. W. Crawford sent a report to congress "with a copy of Lieutenant Smith's survey and examination of the Savannah River." and it was accom- panied with a map, and the minutes of city council show that the reeom- mendations of that officer met with the approval of the mayor and aldermen who urged the Georgia senator and representatives in congress to secure an appropriation to 'carry on the work so recommended.
Having briefly shown the steps taken in the matter of improving the harbor from time to time, we now return to the period with which this chapter begins. The committee appointed by council in 1851 was com- posed of Mayor Wayne and Aldermen James P. Sereven and Francis S. Bartow. No record of any success on their part ean be found.
PROPOSAL THAT CITY ISSUE BONDS
A mass meeting of citizens was held on the 4th of May, 1853, when resolutions were adopted in relation to the matter of deepening the river channel, and recommending the issne of bonds to the amount of $160,000 to pay for the work, and conneil went so far in sanctioning the expressed views of the people as to pass an ordinance authorizing the bonding of the city in the amount stated. That action was taken. however, following the exhaustion of an appropriation made in August,
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1852, by the United States under direction of Lieutenant Jeremy F. Gilmer, U. S. A., in "the removal of obstructions in the Savannah River 'at a place called 'The Wrecks.' and the improvement of said river," done at the request of the Savannah Chamber of Commcree. A com- mission. of which Prof. A. D. Bache, Capt. A. II. Bowman and Lient. Gilmer were the members, had been appointed to decide upon the nature of the work to be done, and the last named gentleman was detailed to supervise it. They reported back a plan which was "to deepen the front river over the wrecks,' along Garden Bank, and over two shoals above the city by dredging, and at the same time to throw sufficient water along the branch of the river to preserve the depth attained. To accomplish the latter object, timber jetties and closing works were to be constructed at the upper end of Hutchinson's Island, aeross Fig Island channel, and at the upper. end of the last named island." It was caleulated that the whole of the work so laid out would eost $201,- 427; but the appropriation of the United States was only $40.000, and as it was deemed absolutely necessary that all the work recommended should be done, the money given by the government was spent in the preliminary surveys and in working the dredge machine along the Garden Bank and over "the wrecks," and the city council agreed to advance the funds for the balance of the designed improvements, expeet- ing that they would be refunded by the United States. On the request by council Captain Gilmer. then promoted. was permitted to continue to direct the work contemplated under the expenditure authorized by the city. A convention held in Memphis, Tennessee, at this time, adopted measures asking congress to see to the deepening of southern rivers. In 1855, as shown in the reports, 102.500 cubic yards of earth had been removed from Savannah river, giving a depth of ten feet at mean low water, or sixteen feet six inches at mean high water.
APPROPRIATION BY CONGRESS
Congress came to the relief of the city by making an appropriation of $160,000 in March, 1855. for the removal of obstruetions in the Savannah river below the city, placed there during the Revolutionary War for the common defense. and Captain Gilmer was ordered on the 7th to take up the subject and present as soon as possible a plan by which the improvements should be made. Mayor Edward C. Anderson. in referring to the services of that officer said "The people of Savannah are under lasting obligations to that able and judicious officer for his untiring efforts in their behalf." The report was submitted on the 24th of March, showing that the recommendations of the commission already referred to were the best that could be suggested. and advising that they be adopted with slight modifications. It showed that in what had up to that time been done the city had expended the sum of $49.000 for materials, machinery and wages of skilled workmen and laborers. as well as for timber. a large part of which was unused and still available for piling, etc .. and could be purchased from the present owners. The report also embraced an inquiry whether out of the appro- priation the city should be reimbursed for the outlay already made. The reply to that question was that as the appropriation was specifically
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for the purpose of removing the obstructions sunk during the Revolu- tion, it could be applied only to that purpose. The city contended that . the dredging was a necessary part of that work in uneovering the wrecks in order to their removal, and the point was eonceded by the Secretary of War. "A draft of a change in the act making the appro- priation was prepared and forwarded to Washington to permit a more liberal interpretation of the uses to which the money could be put, making it applicable for the removal of bars, banks and other impedi- ments in the river caused by the original obstructions. The existing condition of the front river was held to be the inevitable result of the sinking of six vessels aeross its outlet. They were scuttled aeross its lower entianee in the year 1779 for the purpose of elosing the channel against the approach of naval vessels to the city, and so completely bloeked the outlet that the currents above were deadened by the ram- ming back of much earthy matter and other substanees which the natural flow had previously swept onward to the ocean. Such was the origin of the Garden Banks." Congress assented to an amendatory act making available for removal of all obstructions the unexpended balanee, and Captain Gilmer's experience resulted in seeuring a depth at low water of eleven feet or seventeen feet at high tide, by the first of Octo- ber, 1856. At that time the Secretary of War beeame impressed with the idea that the engineer department was going beyond the scope of the aet of congress and directed that work be suspended, and an appeal was made to the President of the United States, Franklin Pierce, who, however, never rendered a deeision, but President Buchanan promptly investigated the subject after his inauguration, and decided that the work be resumed, which was done by Captain Gilmer until he was transferred to San Francisco in 1858, when Lieutenant W. H. C. Whiting superin- tended the operations until the appropriation beeame exhausted.
In eonjunetion with the improvements undertaken by the United States government the city took up the work, in 1856, of removing the obstruction known as the Knoll, about two miles and a half above Tybee light, extending across the entrance from Cockspur island. That ob- staele was a huge mass of sand, mud and shells. and was very much in the way of vessels drawing more than the ordinary number of feet. The state was asked to appropriate $25.000 for the purpose, but the bill ealling for it was lost in the house of representatives. The appropria- tion of congress was not available for the purpose, and Mayor Edward C. Anderson recommended that the city bear the expense, showing in his communication that the removal of that impediment would give a depth of water sufficient for the passage of vessels drawing twenty-one or twenty-two feet from the month of Savannah river to Venus' Point. which is about six miles and a half from the eity. Captain Gihner directed the work when council authorized it to be done on an estimated cost of $25,000, and the use of a large dredge used by the United States was secured by which the work was greatly facilitated. When completed in 1857 Captain Gilmer pronounced " the outlet of the Savannah river better than that of any harbor south of Norfolk," and then there was a depth at the bar of nineteen feet six inches at mean low water, or twenty- seven feet at high water.
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LIGHT HOUSE ERECTED ON BAY STREET
In 1856 the United States government proposed to erect an iron light house within the limits of the city, near the river, and the first step taken to do so was to obtain the consent of the legislature of Georgia in order that the city could properly make a deed of the land necessary for the purpose to the United States. The general assembly of Georgia, on the 1st of March did "surrender and cede jurisdiction to the said the United States over a certain area of twenty feet square within the limits of the city of Savannah, which area of twenty feet square, on the center of the same, is sixty-seven feet and one inch on a perpendicu- lar line drawn from the western line of East Broad street, extended, at a point on said extended line one hundred and nineteen feet and seven inches from the southern line of Bay street, or such other arca of twenty feet square as might be agreed upon by the mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah and the United States government, for the erection by said government of a lighthouse in said city for the pro- tection of commerce." The act of the legislature was coupled with the promise that the grant should be adjudged and perfected only with "the assent and concurrence of the mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah and the hamlets thereof." Council readily assented to the grant in these words: "The said mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah do hereby assent and coneur in the said grant of said above definite area of twenty feet, and the said cession of jurisdiction over the same, on the terms and conditions mentioned and expressed in said first above recited aet; and that his Honor the Mayor cause to be pre- pared and executed any instrument or instruments in writing necessary to effect the purposes of this ordinance." The terms and conditions referred to were "that should said area of land so granted as aforesaid be diverted from the purposes for which it is granted, then and in that event said area of land shall revert to its present ownership, and the grant hereby made shall beeome utterly void." The lighthouse, known as a beacon light, was erected in 1858, at an elevation of seventy-seven feet above the mean level of the Savannah river, and was then intended to serve as a guide to vessels passing Fig Island and over the wrecks. It still stands in the position where it was originally built, though it is many years since it has been used. It was lighted with gas, and after its erection it was found that it was cheaper to keep it lighted all the time than to pay a person to eare for it by lighting it at the proper time in the evening and turning off the gas after daylight in the morning. According to the deseription given of it when first put up, it was of "a dark bronze green. and fitted with a sixth order catadrioptrie apparatus in the system of Fresnel, giving a red light." It was described also as "altogether a beautiful and graceful structure and served as an orna- ment for that part of the Bay."
The work of raising the obstructions in the channel of the river and deepening the same, which cost both the city and the United States so much money, was of little practical nse, and the funds used for the purpose were virtually thrown away, as, during the war between the states which followed so soon after, the river was much more completely
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blocked by the Confederate authorities, and, at the close of the war the same process of removing obstructions had to be done over.
VISIT OF EX-PRESIDENT FILLMORE
At this point it seems proper that some incidents of a publie nature which took place within a short space of time immediately preceding the exacting times ushering in the war between the states should be briefly narrated.
In the spring of 1853 Ex-President Millard Fillmore. during a tour of the country, visited Savannah, and, for the purpose of paying proper respeet to him, a meeting of citizens was held on the 4th of March and council gave him a special invitation to come to the city. appointing the mayor, Dr. Richard Wayne, and Messrs. R. R. Cuyler. R. D. Arnold, John N. Lewis, Robt. H. Griffin. John Macpherson Berrien and Thomas Holcombe a committee to take charge of the reception of the honored guest and to provide for his entertainment, his stay lasting from the 21st to the 25th of April.
The account of that event is now given in the words of the Georgian, of Friday, the 21st : "It is announced by a despatch in another column that Ex-President Fillmore will arrive here this evening at half past five o'clock and remain over Sunday. The Ex-President is accompa- nied by the Honorable Jolin P. Kennedy. A deputation from the Com- mittee of Arrangements will depart on this morning's train to meet the Ex-President and suite at Griffin's Dinner House, on the Central Rail- road. On his arrival at the Railroad Depot here he will be formally wel- comed by the Mayor and Aldermen, and the Committee of Reception, fol- lowed by a salute of thirty-one guns from the Chatham Artillery. The reception ceremonies will take place in the extensive warehouse of the Central Railroad. after which the distinguished guest and suite will be honored by a civic and military escort to quarters provided at the Pu- laski House. During the sojourn of the guests. a complimentary ball. at St. Andrews Hall, and an excursion to Fort Pulaski are contemplated." On Tuesday, the 25th. the same paper gave a full account of the enter- tainment of the presidential party during their stay in an article with the head-lines "Ex-President Fillmore in Savannah."
PRESIDENT. PIERCE INVITED
In contemplation of a belief that he might be induced to include the city in a proposed tour at the end of his administration. the city council adopted a resolution on the 22d of January, 1857, inviting President Franklin Pierce to be the guest of Savannah, in which this expression was used: "His administration has been such as to endear him to the heart of every lover of the Union. every friend of the constitution, and every trne-hearted Southerner," and the statement was made that council, "in extending the invitation, reflect the wishes of every citizen. irrespective of party affiliations." The invitation was declined, but in doing so Mr. Pieree said: "It would afford Mrs. Pierce and myself great pleasure to visit a city so distinguished for its attractions and especially for the hospitality of its people as Savannah, but our pleasant anticipations must be abandoned."
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THACKERAY'S VISIT AND ILIS ACCOUNT OF CITY
Previous to the incident just recorded, that is to say, in the year 1855, the city was visited by the great English fiction writer, William Makepiece Thackeray, at which time he was entertained by Mr. Andrew Low in his home on LaFayette Square. The author took occasion later to give an account of the eity as it appeared to him, describing it as "a tranquil old eity, wide-streeted, tree-planted, with a few cows and carriages toiling through the sandy road. a few happy negroes saunter- ing here and there, a red river with a tranquil little fleet of merchant- men taking in cargo, and tranquil warehouses barricaded with paeks of cotton, no row, no tearing Northern hustle, no ceaseless hotel racket, no crowds."
The Honorable Edward Everett delivered his great lecture on Wash- ington in Savannah, in April, 1858, and dined with Mr. I. K. Tefft. Learning of his intention to be in the city the mayor and aldermen offered him its hospitality and a committee of council delivered to him in person the resolutions adopted in his honor.
RESPECT PAID BY THE PUBLIC TO MEMORY OF HENRY CLAY AND GOVERNOR TROUP
Great respect was shown on the death of Henry Clay in June, 1852, and of Governor George M. Troup in June, 1856. Of the former, council placed its estimate on record in.a resolution declaring that "such men and such actions swell the pages of national glory" and "should be admired by all and transmitted as examples to those who must there- after sustain the priceless blessings of republican institutions." Of the latter his biographer ( Hon. Edward J. Harden) states: "At Savannah a meeting of citizens, irrespective of party, and presided over by the Mayor, was held on the 5th of May, at which feeling and suitable reso- lutions were adopted. One of these resolutions contained a request that the Honorable John C. Nieoll ' deliver a eulogy on the life and char-
acter of the deceased.' Another resolution was to the effect that 'the Chatham Artillery, of which Governor Troup was an honorary member, be requested to fire minute guns corresponding with the number of years of the deceased." The writer, in a foot-note, made this statement: "It is greatly to be regretted that Judge Nicoll's engagements did not permit him to pronounce a eulogy. On the 12th of May minute-guns were fired by the Chatham Artillery. The following is an extract from the min- utes of the corps: "Marching to Forsyth Place, seventy-six minute guns were fired, agreeably to the resolution of the corps, passed at the meet- ing on the 5th inst. * The city court of Savannah adjourned over for one day, as a token of respect for the memory of Governor Troup."
ACTION OF COUNCIL IN HONORING PROMINENT CITIZENS
Couneil never failed to pay proper respect to the deeds and to the memory of the members while living and who died either while serving the city or after their days of service had ended. The instances are so
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numerous that it is not possible to name them all here. Let the following notable ones, then, suffice.
After the end of the service of the first mayor, the Honorable John Houstoun, he was not only thanked, but a donation from the city treas- ury was awarded him. At that time the chief magistrate of the city received no salary. The precedent set in his case was long afterwards repeated in the cases of Honorable Thomas Holcombe, in 1863, and Edward C. Anderson, in 1866.
Mayor John Y. Noel, who served four terms, was the recipient of a special vote of thanks, and the Honorable Thomas U. P. Charlton was similarly honored on more than one occasion. and, after the yellow fever epidemie of 1820, in addition to the adoption of laudatory resolutions a committee of council was appointed to present him with a sum of $1,500 "and request him to accept the same with the assurance of the sincere regard of council and their full and entire approbation of his conduct."
Dr. William C. Daniell, on his retirement, in 1826, received the assurance of council that "his presidency over the interests of this city has been attended with honor at his hands and eminent advantages to the public, and the thanks of the board for the services of Dr. Daniell are respectfully tendered to him."
After serving six terms, Dr. Richard Wayne died in office June 27, 1858, and council attended his funeral in a body, and asked the civic societies and the military to attend also, and directed the fire department to parade. The citizens closed their places of business and followed the corpse to the grave. The bells of all the churches were tolled during the time of the funeral, and all the flags of the city, including those on the shipping in port, were lowered to half-mast. It is said that it "was confessedly the greatest funeral pageant ever witnessed in our city, and was participated in by all classes of citizens." The services were conducted by Bishop Stephen Elliott, of the Protestant Episcopal diocese of Georgia and rector of Christ church, and the procession was a mile long. The funeral hymn, at the cemetery, was sung by the con- gregation of the First African Baptist church, of which religious body the mayor had been a trustee.
Dr. James P. Sereven served as mayor from December, 1856, to Octo- ber, 1857, and was three times an alderman. He died in Virginia in 1860, and his funeral, on the 6th of April, was attended by council, which body adopted resolutions of respect.
CHAPTER XXXV
INCIDENTS PRECEDING CIVIL WAR
CASE OF THE SLAVE YACHT WANDERER-ACTION IN CONGRESS-PROSECU- TION CONDUCTED BY DIST. ATTY. JOSEPH GANAHL, ASSISTED BY HON. H. R. JACKSON-QUOTATION FROM ACCOUNT WRITTEN BY THE LATTER -EXCITEMENT PRECEDING SECESSION OF GEORGIA-PROMPT ACTION OF Gov. J. E. BROWN-OLMSTEAD'S ACCOUNT-SECESSION OF GEORGIA -GOVERNOR BROWN'S FIRM STAND ON SEIZURE OF GUNS BY NEW YORK POLICE-BARTOW'S WARM AND MANLY REPLY TO THE GOVERNOR -HIS DEATH WHILE "ILLUSTRATING GEORGIA"-HONORING BAR- TOW'S REMAINS-GEN. R. E. LEE IN COMMAND AT SAVANNAII -- NON- COMBATANT CITIZENS ARMED FOR DEFENSE OF CITY.
Before we take up that most important and exeiting period in the city's history, as well as in the national history, the four years of the . South's struggle to break the bond of union by which the states had been held under one government formed through the suceessful efforts of the thirteen colonies to rid themselves of British oppression, we will devote a little spaee to the story of the ease of the yacht Wanderer, among the last vessels engaged in the African slave trade-a ease which held the attention of the whole country during the time of its eon- tinuance and caused the greatest excitement among the people of Savannalı.
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