USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 54
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CHAPTER XXXVI
LITERATURE, ETC.
SAVANNAH'S LITERARY CIRCLE-NAMES OF SOME MEN OF LETTERS AND THEIR WORK-G. W. J. DE RENNE AND THE WORMSLOE PUBLICATIONS -OTHER WRITERS-NAMES OF MAYORS AND ALDERMEN CONTINUED.
Hitherto we have said nothing in relation to the history of Savannah from a literary standpoint: but the omission was throngh no laek of material for a sketch of that character which would place the city in the light of being justly noted for her men of letters and the seat of much learning and culture. Indeed, it is impossible, in a work of this kind, to do justiee to the subject of which this chapter treats. So rich is the storehouse of information from which that story could be written that the writer hardly knows where to begin.
SAVANNAH'S LITERARY CIRCLE
.
We have, in the account of the origin of the Georgia Historieal Society, said much concerning Mr. I. K. Tefft, whose efforts in that direction were so successful. Associated with him in organizing that institution was Mr. Alexander A. Smets, who was its first treasurer and whose literary tastes took the turn of making a collection of books and manuscripts which became known as one of the most valuable private libraries in the United States of the period during which its owner was oceupied in accumulating it. The two gentlemen were closely associated for many years of their lives, and in death one was called to follow the other in quick succession. Mr. Smets died on the 9th of May, 1862, and Mr. Tefft on the 30th of June of the same year. In the tribute of respect to the memory of the former, the society, on the 19th of May, placed on its minute book this record of the literary feature of Mr. Smets' life: "Notwithstanding his uniform and strict attention daily to his business, united to the eares of a large and increas- ing family, he nevertheless found time sufficient in which to study and improve himself in the acquisition of the English language* and make himself familiar with most of the best authors of the English classies : and so strong and ardent was his natural taste for books and literary pursuits that year after year he expended from his income large sums of money for the purchase in Europe and this country of the best standard works in every branch of literature and science until at the
*. Mr. Smets was born in France.
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time of his death he had collected and was possessed of one of the most choice, valuable and extensive private libraries to be found in America. This library, which has attracted the attention of strangers far and near for many years past, was one of the chief sources of his pleasure and improvement. especially during the latter part of his life and after his retirement from aetive business."
SOME MEN OF LETTERS AND THEIR WORK
In 1841, Dr. William B. Stevens (afterwards bishop of Pennsyl- vania) wrote a series of articles for the Magnolia. on "The Library of Alexander A. Smets, Esq .. of Savannah." in which he said: "One of these rare and honorable instances in which inclination is seconded by wealth and industry. sustained by intelligence. we have in the gentle- inan whose name heads our article : and it is for the purpose of making known in some measure the extent and riches of Mr. Smets' library that we have undertaken to cieerone our readers through a few of its most interesting materials. Our thoughts will be desultory, and we must crave the liberty of prosing a little, especially when we get hold of some caligraphic manuscript. or any of the good old volumes of Stephens, and Caxton, and Wynken de Worde. The library of Mr. Smets contains about five thousand volumes: but its value does not so mueh depend upon its number as upon the character of the authors and the celebrity of his editions. It consists mostly of English works, combining, in an eminent degree, intrinsie worth, bibliothecal rarity, and an elegance of binding approaching to splendor. It is rich in ancient manuscripts, in early printed works, and in the luxurious and costly volumes of modern times. It embraces many of the standard authors in every department of literature and science, and it is remark- able for the range and appropriateness of its selection. It is not, indeed, like the library of the younger Gordian, paved with marble and orna- mented with gold, with walls covered with glass and ivory, and armonr and desks of ebony and cedar; but it is contained in rooms elegantly furnished, and the books are enelosed in rieh mahogany eases which display to great advantage his bibliothecal treasures, though a larger apartment would be required to exhibit his collection to its full extent, which truly deserves the epithet-magnificent."
Mr. Smets left no survivor who exhibited a like taste for the col- lecting and treasuring of rare books and manseripts, and the library was sold and the articles which he had so much prized have found their way into other collections.
Of Mr. Tefft. the Georgia Historical Society said. in honoring his memory on the 14th of July. 1862: "For literary pursuits and the acquaintance of men of letters. Mr. Tefft showed an early and ardent predilection. His correspondence with eminent men in Enrope and America was large, and. should it over see the light, will prove highly interesting. Many a stranger of literary and moral mind would have passed through our city unknown but for the active and generons hos- pitality of Mr. Tefft. In this respect he was a model for imitation. with scarcely a hope, however, that his place can ever be supplied. As connected with the duties of a bank officer, and especially of a teller of money, a good knowledge of handwriting and the art of engraving
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is indispensable. It was this consideration which stimulated, if it did not originate, Mr. Tefft's fondness for the collection of autographs. The bounds of truth are hardly exceeded in saying that his collection in this department is probably superior to that of any person on either side of the Atlantie, not excepting that of Dr. Raffles or Dr. Sprague of Albany. In the department just mentioned Mr. Tefft took scarcely more pride than he did in promoting and fostering the interests of the Georgia Historical Society, of which, if he was not the actual founder, he was with the earliest and was really the most active, zealous and liberal patron."
In 1850 Miss Frederika Bremer, the Swedish writer, visited Savan- nah, and in a letter written there on the 14th of May said: "' 'The greatest autograph collector in the world' is also the most friendly, the best hearted man in the world, and so kind to me that I shall always think of him with gratitude. His collection of autographs is the first which I have ever been able to examine with interest and respect -- not because it occupies so many folios, and has a whole room appropriated to it, and could not be examined in less than six or seven months, which certainly might inspire respect, but because a portrait is appended to the handwriting of each distinguished person, mostly an excellent copper-plate engraving, together with some letter or interesting docu- ment belonging to the history of that individual. All this gives to the autograph collection of Mr. T. a real historical or biographieal interest.'
It is a singular eoineidenee that the two men just mentioned- friends and neighbors for a long term of years, and fellow-workers in the founding and building up of the Georgia Historical Society in which they were intensely interested-with tastes so closely correspond- ing-should not have been long separated by death. We cannot refrain from quoting the words of one " who thus described the two friends in giving an account of the origin of the society of which they were such ardent patrons:
"Israel K. Tefft,-corresponding secretary-an ardent devotee of the past-a famous collector of autograph-letters and historical documents. especially of such as illustrated our Revolutionary period-looking upon the time-stained paper whereon some famous hand had writ
'With greater love than the self-lov'd Narcissus
Did on his beauty .- '
The fons et origo of the society." And again:
"Alexander A. Smets .- a successful merchant, citizen of publie spirit, and bibliophile of unusual knowledge, in constant communion with books and surrounding himself with much that was choice and rare in the world of letters."
G. W. J. DE RENNE AND THE WORMSLOE PUBLICATIONS
The literary history of Savannah, if written in full, would require a large volume of itself, and we can. therefore. in the space at our command, barely touch upon the subject. Other names, connected with the work of the Georgia Historical Society which might be mentioned
* Charles C. Jones, Jr.
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in this connection are William Bacon Stevens, professor of belles lettres and history of the University of Georgia, and afterwards Episcopal bishop of Pennsylvania, writer of a history of Georgia, etc. : Dr. Richard D. Arnold, skilled physician and editor for a long time of the Savannah Georgian; Edward J. Harden, lawyer, judge, and author of the Life of George M. Troup, Matthew Hall McAllister, who for years was a leading member of the Savannah bar, and later in life federal judge for the distriet of California; Robert M. Charlton, advocate, judge, poet and essayist; John MacPherson Berrien, who, in addition to the fame acquired as a lawyer and judge, was United States senator and attorney general; James M. Wayne, judge of the superior court, con- gressman, and finally associate justice of the supreme court of the United States; Henry R. Jackson, poet, jurist, and minister to Austria and to Mexico; Alexander R. Lawton, who, besides the positions of honor he filled in earlier life both eivil and military, served the United States as minister to the court of Austria near the close of his useful and honorable life; and last, but by no means below the standard of literary ability marked for the names of early members of the Georgia Historical Society already presented to the reader, must be mentioned the name of George Wymberley Jones De Renne. He was a descendant in the direct line of Capt. Noble Jones, who was a friend of Oglethorpe and whose services to the colony in its conflicts with the Spaniards are inestimable. Noble Jones settled at Wormsloe, on the Isle of Hope, where a fort was built of tabby as a protection for the Southern frontier, including his plantation, which was one of Savannah's outposts. The remains of the fort are still to be seen, although buried in the midst of a thick growth of pines. cedars, live oaks, palmnettos, etc., and a dense undergrowth of shrubs and vines. Mr. De Renne's grandfather was the Hon. Noble Wymberley Jones, speaker of the Georgia provincial assem- bly, member of the Continental congress, physician, and patriot. His father was Dr. George Jones, who was an alderman of the city for three terms, and mayor twice.
Mr. De Renne graduated with honor from the University of Penn- sylvania, and, expecting to pursue the practice of medicine, entered the medical school of that institution. from which he graduated and chose as the subject of his thesis on that occasion the "Theory Concerning the Nature of Insanity," which he afterwards had printed. the edition being limited to forty-eight copies. He gave up the inten- tion of becoming a physician. and his life was thenceforth devoted to study and to the collection of books known for their literary value and rarity. He determined to make himself familiar with Georgia's early history. and. at the time of his death. he was probably the best posted man in the state on all matters pertaining to the found- ing of the colony and its subsequent history as a royal province and an independent state. He was best known as the publisher of the rare tracts known as the "Wormsloe Quartos." of which Col. Charles C. Jones wrote: "Of these quartos but a very limited edition was printed. and the copies were donated to famous libraries and placed in the hands of favored friends. Of the first quarto there are ouly twenty-one copies: of the second, forty-nine; of the third, nineteen; and of the fourth. Vol. 1-29
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forty-six. They are all admirable specimens of typography and literary taste; and, in addition to the historical value they possess, are highly esteemed because of their rarity."
OTHER WRITER
Besides the many native Savannah men of letters, of whom we have mentioned only a few, many others, born elsewhere but at some period of their lives residents of the city, may with propriety be named among that class to which they truly belonged while here and whom the world recognized as Savannahians. Of such many members of the Savannah bar might be mentioned, who, in line with their profession, were well known for their literary powers and attainments. Others belonged to the newspaper profession, to the class of editors, etc. It would be impossible to mention all who deserve a place in this list, but we do not hesitate to name Richard Henry Wilde, William T. Thompson, Joel Chandler Harris, Rev. George White, William Henry Stiles, William Law, Bishops Stephen Elliott and William B. Stevens, S. Yates Levy, Mrs. Alethea S. Munford, who, first as Miss Law, then as Mrs. Burroughs, and finally as the wife of R. D. Munford, was the writer of poems of sweetness and touched with a strong patriotic fervor, and the brothers, Robert M. and Thomas J. Charlton. We could name many others who truly deserve a place here, but space needed for other important matters yet to be treated of cannot be used further in the development of this subject.
. MAYORS AND ALDERMEN-Continued
Having left off our record of the members of city council serving successively at the end of the year 1850, we here resume it. In 1851, Dr. Wayne was succeeded in the office of mayor by Dr. Richard D. Arnold, who had, as we have seen, held the office from September, 1847, for the term of one year. He had as his aldermanic board Dr. James P. Screven, Robert D. Walker, Thomas M. Turner, Samuel Solomon, Dr. Cosmo P. Richardsone (who died before the end of a year's service), John W. Anderson. Francis S. Bartow. Richard R. Cuyler, Robert A. Allen, Dr. William Gaston Bulloch, Alexander A. Smets, John B. Gallie and John Mallery.
Dr. Wayne was again the mayor in 1852, with aldermen John N. Lewis, Thomas Holcombe, John McMahon, Charles Ganahl, Dr. R. D. Arnold, Dr. James P. Sereven, Dr. William G. Bulloch, Charles A. L. Lamar, J. Harris, Isaac Brunner, John Mallery, John Riordan, and R. D. Walker.
In 1853 Hon. John Elliott Ward was elected chief magistrate and his board of aldermen were Isaac Brunner, Solomon Cohen, Montgom- ery Cumming, Charles Ganahl, Edwin E. Hertz, Alexander R. Lawton, John N. Lewis, John Mallery, Dominick A. O'Byrne, James P. Sereven. . Sammel Solomon. Robert D. Walker, and Charles Van Horn.
The ticket elected in 1854 contained the names of Edward C. Ander- son, mayor, and AAldermen JJohn Mallery. Gilbert Butler, Alvin N.
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Miller, Robert A. Allen. Thomas H. Harden, Peter W. Alexander, Edwin E. Hertz, James G. Rogers, John N. Lewis, Dr. Charles W. West, Jolin R. Wilder, and George W. Garmany.
Succeeding himself, Hon. E. C. Anderson entered upon another term of service as mayor in December, 1855, with an aldermanic board composed of Richard Bradley, R. A. Allen. Aaron Champion, Robert Lachlison, William S. Basinger, John M. Cooper, Richard D. Arnold, Dominick A. O'Byrne, Solomon Cohen, John J. Kelly, and Dr. John F. Posey.
After serving two terms in succession, Mayor Edward C. Anderson retired in 1856, in the month of December, and the city council then elected stood as follows: Mayor James P. Sereven, and Aldermen R. D. Arnold, William S. Basinger, Aaron Champion, Solomon Cohen. John G. Fallingant, James B. Foley, George A. Gordon, Robert Lachli- son, Alvin N. Miller, Thomas Purse, John F. Posey and Robert D. Walker.
In 1857 the election took place in October, when Dr. Richard Wayne again became mayor, and he had associated with him as aldermen Thomas M. Turner (who became mayor on the 27th of June, in con- sequence of the death on that day of Dr. Wayne), George A. Gordon, John G. Falligant, William R. Symons, Noah B. Knapp, John F. Posey, John Richardson, Claudius C. Wilson, James B. Foley. William Wright, James E. Godfrey. Francis Blair, and Thomas Holcombe.
Having succeeded Dr. Wayne, whose death occurred before the end of the year, Mr. Thomas M. Turner was elected mayor in October. 1858, and his aldermen were Jolin Boston, John G. Falligant (who died one month before his teri expired), Martin J. Ford. Thomas Hol- combe, Noah B. Knapp. John F. Posey, James B. Foley (who died six months after his election), George W. Wylly, John P. Delannoy. John M. Guerard, Francis Blair, John F. Tucker, and John C. Ferrill, who succeeded Mr. Falligant.
After having served twice as mayor and a number of times as alder- man, Dr. R. D. Arnold became mayor for the third time in October, 1859, and his board of aldermen stood as follows: Robert Lachlison. Charles C. Jones, Jr., J. Frederick Waring, Abram Minis. Wallace Cumming, who resigned in three months. Jordan P. Brooks. Dr. Phineas M. Kollock, William M. Davidson, John P. W. Read. John Richardson. Francis M. Stone, John F. Wheaton, and E. A. Soullard.
In the midst of the excitement just preceding the war of the states. in October, 1860, Charles C. Jones, Jr .. was elected mayor with the following aldermanie board: John P. W. Read, William M. Davidson, John F. Wheaton, John Richardson; Henry Brigham. E. A. Soullard. John W. Anderson. Solomon Cohen, W. F. Brantley, who resigned in January, 1861, and was succeeded by J. L. Villalonga, John McMahon, George W. Wylly and Isaac Brunner.
In October, 1861. no candidate for mayor received a majority of votes east, and Mr. Thomas Purse was chosen mayor by the council. the others of the board being George W. Wylly. E. A. Sonllard. Isaac Brunner, John Williamson. John D: Villalonga, A. A. Solomons ( who resigned in July. 1862. and was succeeded by William Hunter). John F. O'Byrne, James M. Schley. John F. Tucker, Robert Lachtison, Francis L. Gue, and Hiram Roberts.
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Thomas Holcombe, after some experience as an alderman three times, was chosen as mayor in October, 1862, with the following alder- men : John Williamson. Robert Lachlison, Thomas M. Turner, Edward C. Wade, Henry Brigham, John F. O'Byrne, Hiram Roberts, F. L. Gue, Joseph Lippman, John L. Villalonga, E. A. Soullard. Isaac Brun- ner, who resigned in a few weeks and was succeeded by George W. Wylly.
Dr. Richard D. Arnold became mayor for the fourth time on the 19th of October, 1863, with a board of aldermen composed of George W. Wylly, John F. O'Byrne, Henry Brigham, Edward C. Wade, Henry C. Freeman, Jolin Williamson. John L. Villalonga, Robert Lach- lison, Joseph Lippman, F. L. Gue, Hiram Roberts and Christopher C. Casey.
A fifth time, twice consecutively, Dr. R. D. Arnold was selected as the mayor of the city on the 17th of October, 1864, with aldermen John Williamson. George W. Wylly, John F. O'Byrne, Henry Brig- ham, Edward C. Wade, C. C. Casey, F. L. Gue, J. L. Villalonga, Joseph Lippman, Hiram Roberts, Robert Lachlison and H. C. Freeman, who, dying in October, 1865, was succeeded by John Cunningham, who was immediately elected and the term of those first named as city fathers was prolonged until December 11, 1865, when another election was held.
In 1865, on the 11th of December, a new term for city officials began, and the Hon. Edward C. Anderson became mayor, with the following aldermen: Geo. W. Wylly (who resigned in July, 1866, and was succeeded hy Geo. C. Freeman), Jno. F. O'Byrne, R. Lachlison, F. L. Gue (who resigned August 8, 1866, and was succeeded by Heman A. Crane), Jno. Cunningham, Jno. Williamson, Jno. McMahon, Jno. C. Ferrill, Jno. R. Johnson, E. A. Soullard, James M. Schley, and C. C. Casey.
Hon. Edward C. Anderson served the city as mayor twice before the war of the states, and, after the expiration of his third term, he was again elected on the 16th of October, 1866, with aldermen Martin J. Ford, J. L. Villalonga, Wm. Hunter, A. N. Miller, Wm. H. Bur- roughs, Matthias H. Meyer, Henry Brigham, Edward C. Wade, F. L. Gue, Geo. W. Wylly, James J. Waring, and Chas. C. Millar.
CHAPTER XXXVII
SAVANNAH DURING CIVIL WAR
MAYOR PURSE'S REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR-FALL OF FORT PULASKI-HOLDING OF FORT MCALLISTER NECESSARY TO DEFENSE OF SAVANNAH-MAJ. JOHN B. GALLIE KILLED-ADDRESS OF MAYOR ARNOLD TO CITIZENS-FALL OF FORT MCALLISTER-EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH-SPECIAL ORDER OF GEN. SHERMAN-RESOLUTIONS OF COUNCIL SEEKING PROTECTION OF CITIZENS-FAMILIES OF CONFED- ERATE OFFICERS REQUIRED TO LEAVE.
Resuming our account of the city during the progress of the war of secession, we will take up the subject just where we digressed in relat- ing the facts attending the deaths of Messrs. Tefft and Smets.
MAYOR PURSE'S REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR
The mayor of Savannah from October 21. 1861. to October 20, 1862, was Thomas Purse. Just before closing his term of office. that gentle- man who lost a son in the battle of Manassas, in his report to council, dated October 1st. said, in part, "The proportions of the revolutionary struggle in which we are now engaged to secure our independence and a place among the nations of the earth, have assumed during the cur- rent year a colossal form, and the depressing influences of the war are more or less felt from the center to the circumference of our infant Confederacy; but our soldiery, with stalwart hearts and patriotic de- votion, have thus far demonstrated by their patriotism that they fully appreciate the magnitude of the contest.
"We have abundant cause to be grateful to a kind Providence for His manifest blessings, even in the midst of the severe ordeal through which we are now passing as a people. First, beeanse of the signal success which has attended our arms in the field, victory after victory having perched npon our standard. Second, because as a city we have been comparatively more exempt from the desolating effects of the war then many of our southern seaports more exposed to the vandalism of the enemy. And third, because we have not been visited with any fearful epidemies, other than those of an endemic character and com- mon to this latitude." It is true that Savannah was throughont the whole period of the war remarkably exempt from the horrors and dis-
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asters encountered by so many other towns in the South. The finances were managed as earefully as possible, and he said "our objeet has rather been to keep intact what has been done so far as this has been practicable" than to enter upon any scheme for publie improvements.
FALL OF FORT PULASKI
During the month of February, 1862, while Mr. Thomas Holcombe was mayor, communication between the eity. and Fort Pulaski was cut off when the vessels of the enemy passed through Wall's Cut and en- tered the Savannah river above the fort. The defending force of the fort consisted of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry (Co. B), the German Volunteers, the Montgomery Guards, the Washington Volunteers, and the Wise Guards, under command of Colonel Charles H. Olinstead. under whom were John Foley, major; M. M. Hopkins, adjutant ; Robert Erwin, quartermaster; Robert D. Walker, commissary; T. J. McFar- land, surgeon ; Robt. H. Lewis, sergeant-major; W. C. Crawford, quar- ter-master's sergeant; Harvey Lewis, ordnanee sergeant; Edward D. Hopkins, quartermaster's clerk; and E. W. Drummond, commissary's clerk. Having erected eleven sand batteries on Tybee island, beyond the effective reach of the guns of the fort, and having mounted them with ordnance of a more powerful force within those batteries, the enemy, through General David Hunter, on the tenth of April, sent under flag of truce an order on Col .. Olmstead for "the immediate sur- render and restoration of Fort Pulaski to this authority and possession of the United States." Colonel Olinstead's reply was promptly but briefly made, his heroic words being "I am here to defend the fort, not to surrender it." With little delay the enemy began the bombard- ment, which lasted, at intervals, until two o'clock in the afternoon of the 11th, when, the outer walls of two of the casemates having been shot away and two of the adjoining ones being in a crumbling condition. and the north magazine in great danger of explosion from the shells of the enemy, the white flag was hoisted and the fort surrendered. Dur- ing most of the time the firing of the guns eould be heard and the smoke of the shells plainly seen by the erowds of citizens who gathered at the "battery" on the eastern bluff of the river.
After the fall of Fort Pulaski the opinion generally prevailed that without delay the Federals would make the strongest efforts to capture Savannah, and, in response to a suggestion from the Confederate anthor- ities, couneil. on the 29th of April, passed the following :
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