USA > Georgia > Chatham County > Savannah > A history of Savannah and South Georgia, Volume I > Part 55
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"WHEREAS, a communication has been received from the command- ing general stating that lie will defend this city to the last extremity : and whereas, the members of the council unanimously approve of the determination of the commanding general, therefore be it
"Resolved, That the council will render all that is in their power to sustain the general and to carry out his laudable determination." The immediate command was then held by Gen. A. R. Lawton, but in obedience to orders in May following he left Savannah, in command of five thousand sokliers to report in Virginia to Gen. Robert E. Lee. and Gen. Hugh W. Mereer then assumed command of this district. holding the same until relieved by Lientenant-General Win. J. Hardee shortly preceding the evacuation of the eity in December, 1864 ..
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HOLDING OF FORT MCALLISTER NECESSARY TO DEFENSE OF SAVANNAH
Next to Fort Pulaski the interests of Savannah were largely centered in the operations against Fort MeAllister on the Ogeechee river whose garrison was to a great extent made up of troops from the city. Occupy- ing a position on a land projection on the right bank of the river com- monly called Genesis Point, though the real spelling should be Jenys's Point, that fort was really considered an important factor in the defense of the great Georgia seaport lying only about sixteen miles distant. The first attack on that work was made on the 29th of June, 1862. and was resisted by the DeKalb Riflemen under Capt. Alfred L. Hart- ridge without the loss of even one killed. and only two wounded. Again, it was bombarded by several vessels on the 2d of November, when re- sistance was offered by the Emmet Rifles of which George A. Nicoll was the captain. The third attack was made on the 19th of the same month when the force in charge consisted of the same company and the Repub- lican Blues commanded by Lient. George W. Anderson, when three men were wounded, but the enemy, meeting with repulse then, did not cease to make similar attacks from time to time. one of which, begun in the morning of January 27, 1863, was led by the ironclad Montauk. assisted by three gunboats, a mortar schooner, and a tng. Formidable was the armament of the ironclad which consisted in part of one fifteen- inch and one eleven-inch Dahlgren gun. The bombardment lasted five hours and a half without damaging to a great extent the earthwork fort or injuring any of the garrison. The important point concerning that action is thus brought out by Col. Chas. C. Jones. Jr .. in his historical sketch of the Chatham Artillery: "To this bombardment remarkable historical interest attaches, because on this occasion a fifteen inch gun was first used in the effort to reduce a shore battery; and the ability of properly constructed sand parapets to resist the effect of novel pro- jectiles far surpassing in weight and power all others heretofore known was fairly demonstrated. To the honor of this little fort and the praise of its heroic defenders let these facts be recorded and perpetuated."
MAJ. JOHN B. GALLIE KILLED
Closely following. on the first of February, early in the morning. which was Sunday, the same ironclad, accompanied by four gunboats and a mortar boat, moved np the river and for six hours ponred deadly missiles into Fort McAllister. after which she had to retire; but this time the little Confederate force met with a loss which cansed gen- uine mourning in the city of Savannah. In the midst of the cannonad- ing a piece of a trunnion of one of the guns of the fort was struck off by a ball from the guns of the enemy and. flying through the air, struck Major John B. Gallie on the head, instantly killing him. The com- mand then devolved on Captain George W. Anderson who was a worthy successor of the stricken hero. After that fight General Beanregard issued an order of thanks and of a complimentary character, in which he said: "The thanks of the country are due to this intrepid garrison who have thus shown what brave men may withstand and accomplish despite apparent odds. Fort McAllister will be inscribed on all the flags of all the troops engaged in the defense of the battery."
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Fort McAllister was finally captured by a land attack, but the last naval attack was made just about a month after the one just described. On the third of March, again in the early morning, a fleet of the enemy, consisting of four ironclads, five gunboats and two mortar schooners, sailed up to the proper distance and for seven hours and a half made the most formidable attempt against that fortification that had then been planned. It is so well described by the Savannah Republican of the 11th of that month that the account is herewith given : "About a quarter before nine o'clock the fort opened on the Passaic with a rifled gun, the eighit and ten-inch Columbiads following snit, to which the Montauk replied, firing her first gun at nine o'clock. She was followed by her associates in quick succession. The fire on both sides was continued for seven hours and a half, during which the enemy fired two hundred and fifty shot and shells at the fort, amounting to about seventy tons of the most formidable missiles ever invented for the destruction of human life. The fort fired the first and last shot. The enemy's mortar boats kept up a fire all night, and it was evidently their inten- tion to renew the fight the next morning, but finding that the damages done to the fort the day before had been fully repaired, and the garri- son fully prepared to resist, declined. * * Notwithstanding the heavy fire to which the fort was subjected, only three men were wounded : Thomas W. Rape and W. S. Owens of the Emmet Rifles, the first on the knee and the latter in the face, James Mims of Company D, First Georgia Battalion Sharpshooters, had his leg crushed and ankle broken by the fall of a piece of timber while remounting a Columbiad after the fight. * The night previous to the fight Lieutenant E. A. Ellarbee, of the Hardwick Mounted Rifles, Captain Jos. L. McAllister, with a detachment consisting of Sergeant Harmon and Privates Proc- tor, Wyatt, Harper and Cobb, crossed the river and dug a rifle pit within long rifle range of the rams and awaited the coming fight. Dur- ing the hottest part of the engagement an officer with glass in hand made his appearance on the deck of the Passaic. A Maynard rifle slug soon went whizzing by his ears which startled him and caused him to right-about face, when a second slug, apparently, took effect upon his person, as, with both hands, he caught hold of the turret for support, and immediately clambered or was dragged into a port-hole. It is believed that the officer was killed. The display on the Passaic the day following, and the funeral on the Ossabaw the Friday following, gave strength to the opinion. As soon as the fatal rifle shot was fired the Passaic turned her guns upon the marsh and literally raked it with grape shot. The riflemen. however, succeeded in changing their base in time to avoid the missiles of the enemy. Not one of them was hurt. Too much credit cannot be bestowed upon the daring act of a few brave men. # * Captain George W. Anderson. of the Republican Blues, commanded the fort on this trying occasion, and he and his force received, as they deserved, the highest commendation. Captain George A. Nicoll, of the Emmett Rifles. Captain J. L. Me Allister. Lien- tenant W. D. Dixon, and Sergeant T. S. Flood (the latter was sick at the hospital when the fight commenced, but left his bed to take part in the fight), Corporal Robert Smith and his squad from the Republi- can Blues, which worked the rifle gun; Lieutenant Quin of
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the Blues, Sergeant Frazier, Lieutenant Rockwell, and Sergeant Cav- anaugh, Captain Robert Martin and detachment of his company, who successfully worked a mortar battery, Captain MeCrady. and Captain James (W.) MeAlpin were entitled to and received a large share of the honors of the day."
Apprehending further attacks the Confederates. after this encounter, added to the strength of the fort both in its strneture and armament; but it suffered no more from the enemy's fleet. When it fell the attack was made by Sherman's army on the land side just before that force entered the city.
ADDRESS OF MAYOR ARNOLD TO CITIZENS
The continued advance of the Federal troops under Sherman brought the people of Savannah to a realization of the fact that the city was in the greatest danger. So near was the enemy by the closing days of November, 1864, that the mayor issued the following address :
"Mayor's Office, "Savannah, November 28, 1864.
"Fellow Citizens :- The time has come when every male who can shoulder a musket can make himself useful in defending our hearths and homes. Our city is well fortified, and the old ones can fight in the trenches as well as the young, and a determined and brave force can, behind entrenchment, successfully repel the assaults of treble their number.
"The General commanding this division has issued a call for all men of every age not absolutely incapacitated from disease to report at once to Captain C. W. Howard at the Oglethorpe Barracks, for the purpose of organizing into companies for home defense. I call upon every man not already enrolled into a local corps to come for- ward at once and report to Captain Howard. Organization is every- thing. Let us emulate the noble example of our sister cities of Macon and Augusta, where the whole male population is in arms. By man- ning the fortifications we will leave free the younger men to act in the field. By prompt action a large local force can be organized from our citizens above the military age, and from those who have been exempted from field service.
"No time is to be lost. The man who will not comprehend and respond to the emergency of the times is foresworn to his duty and to his country.
"R. D. Arnold, Mayor."
FALL OF FORT MCALLISTER
By the 10th of December Sherman had his lines confronting the Confederate defenses west and sonth of the city, at which time. despite all efforts to concentrate the southern troops within the lines, there were not more than ten thousand men actually on duty. The situation then is accurately described by Col. Chas. C. Jones. JJr., in his account of the "Siege of Savannah." He shows the Confederate lines subdivided and commanded as follows: "The right, extending from the Savannah
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River at Williamson's plantation (Brampton) to within about one hundred feet of the Central Railroad crossing, garrisoned by the Georgia militia and the state line troops, was under the command of Major- General Gustavus W. Smith. Twenty guns were in position on his front.
."The batteries at the Central Railroad and Louisville Road cross- ings and extending from that point to the head of Shaw's dam, were commanded by Major-General LaFayette MeLaws. Twenty-nine pieces of artillery were posted on his front.
"Lieutenant-General William J. Hardee was in general cominand with his headquarters in the city of Savannah. For holding this long line less than ten thousand infantry, dismounted cavalry, and artil- lery were assembled; and for the space of ten days this little more than a thin skirmish line confronted, at close quarters, Sherman's invading army over fifty thousand strong.
"The light artillery companies were distributed as the necessities of the line demanded, and were either actively engaged in handling the guns in position, or were posted at such convenient distanees in the rear that they could move immediately to any designated point in their respective fronts. Only two of them were held in reserve.
"Lieutenant-Colonel Charles C. Jones, Jr., was chief of artillery.
"On Major-General Smith's front Captain R. W. Anderson acted as chief of artillery of that division. Captain J. A. Maxwell was de- tailed as chief of artillery in Major-General MeLaws' front, and Cap- tain John W. Brooks acted in a similar capacity in Major-General Wright's division.
"By assignment of the general commanding, Major Blaek of his staff was designated as inspector on Major-General Smith's front; Col. George A. Gordon, volunteer aid, inspector on Major-General Mc- Laws' front; and Lieutenant-Colonel S. B. Paul, of the lieutenant- general's staff, inspector on Major-General Wright's force."
For reasons best known to himself, General Sherman did not make an immediate and direct attack on the city. In his " Memoirs," Vol. 2, page 195, he says: "As soon as it was demonstrated that Savannah was well fortified, with a good garrison, commanded by Gen. William J. Hardee, a competent soldier, I saw that the first step was to open communication with our fleet, supposed to be waiting for us with sup- plies and clothing in Ossabaw Sound." That meant that he intended to capture Fort McAllister which would put him in direct communica- tion with the fleet. Of the taking of that fort we have the words of its defender, Maj. George W. Anderson, who, in continuance of his account with what happened in the morning of December 13th, 1864, said: "About eight o'clock A. M. desultory firing commeneed between the skirmishers of the enemy and my sharpshooters. At ten o'clock the fight became general, the opposing forces extending from the river entirely around to the marsh on the east. The day before, the enemy had established a battery of Parrott guns on the opposite side of the . - river-distant from the fort a mile and a half-which fired upon us at regular intervals during the day and the ensuing night. Receiving from headquarters neither orders nor responses to my telegraphic dis- patches. I determined under the cireminstances, and notwithstanding the great disparity of numbers between the garrison and the attacking
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forces, to defend the fort to the last extremity. The guns being en barbette, the detachment serving them were greatly exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters. To such an extent was this the case that in one instance out of a detachment of eight men three were killed and three were wounded. The Federal skirmish line was . very heavy, and the fire so close and rapid that it was at times impossible to work the guns. My sharpshooters did all in their power, but were entirely too few to suppress this galling fire upon the artillerists. In view of the large force of the enemy-consisting of nine regiments, whose aggregate strength was estimated between 3,500 and 4,000 mus- kets, and possessing the ability to increase it at any time should it become necessary and recollecting the feebleness of the garrison of the fort, numbering 150 effective men, it was evident, cut off from all support, and with no possible hope of reinforcement from any quarter, that holding the fort was simply 'a question of time. There was but one alternative-death or captivity.
"Late in the afternoon the full force of the enemy made a rapid and vigorous charge upon the works, and succeeding in foreing their way through the abatis, rushed over the parapet of the fort, carrying it by storm, and, by virtue of superior numbers, overpowered the gar- rison fighting gallantly to the last. In many instances the Confeder- ates were disarmed by main force. The fort was never surrendered. It was captured by overwhelming numbers.
"I am pleased to state that in my endeavors to hold the fort I was nobly seconded by the great majority of officers and men under my command. Many of them had never been under fire before, and quite a number were very young, in fact, mere boys. Where so many acted gallantly it would be invidious to discriminate, but I cannot avoid men- tioning those who came more particularly under my notice. I would therefore respectfully call the attention of the general commanding to the gallant conduct of Captain Clinch who, when summoned to sur- render, by a Federal captain. responded by dealing him a blow on the head with his sabre. (Captain Clinch had previously received two gun- shot wounds in the arm) : immediately a hand to hand fight ensued. Federal privates came to the assistance of their officer, but the fearless Clinch continued the unequal contest until he fell bleeding from eleven wounds (three sabre wounds, six bayonet wounds, and two gunshot wounds), from which. after severe and protracted suffering, he has barely recovered. His conduct was so conspicuous, and his cool bravery so much admired as to elieit the praise of the enemy, and even of General Sherman himself.
"First Lieut. William Schirm fought his gun until the enemy had entered the fort. and. notwithstanding a wound in the head, gal- lantly remained at his post, discharging his duties with a coolness and efficiency worthy of all commendation.
"Lientenant O'Neal. whom I placed in command of the scouting party before mentioned. while in the discharge of that duty, and in his subsequent conduct during the attack, merited the honor due to a. faithful and gallant officer.
"Among those who nobly fell was the gallant Hazzard, whose zeal and activity was worthy of all praise. He died as a true soldier to his post facing overwhelming odds. The garrison lost seventeen killed and thirty-one wounded."
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EVACUATION OF SAVANNAHI
With the fall of Fort MeAllister and the consequent establishment of a base of supplies for Sherman's army, the evaenation of Savannah by the Confederate forees became a foregone conclusion. Accordingly, on the 19th of December Mayor Richard D. Arnold was informed that the departure of the troops would at once begin. There was one direc- tion only by which the evacuation could be accomplished, and that was by crossing the river into South Carolina. Pontoon bridges were pre- pared, and over them the troops marehed, so that by the morning of the 21st the city was entirely in the care of the civil authorities. The city council met in extra session when each member was provided with a certificate of his eleetion as a member of the board. Under instruc- tion the city marshal provided carriages to convey the members of council to the headquarters of the enemy, and the gentlemen so con- ducted were Dr. R. D. Arnold, mayor, and Alderman Henry Brigham, J. F. O'Byrne, C. C. Casey, Henry Freeman, Robert Lachlison. Joseph Lippman, J. L. Villalonga, and George W. Wylly. The manner in which these gentlemen acted is thus told in Lee and Agnew's Historical Record of Savannah:
"The council dispersed to assemble at the Exchange at a later hour where hacks would await to convey the members to the outer works. As they came out of the Exchange a fire was observed in the western part of the city, and, by request, Messrs. Casey, O'Byrne, and Laehli- son went to it with a view of taking measures for its suppression. The fire was caused by the burning of a nearly completed ironelad and a lot of timber near the mouth of the Ogeechee Canal which had been fired by the retreating troops. The wind was blowing to the west, and after observing that no danger to the eity need be apprehended from the flames, these gentlemen returned to the Exchange where the other members of the council had assembled and were in a haek pre- pared to start. They stated that other hacks had been provided. but General Wheeler's cavalry had pressed the horses into serviee. Mr. O'Byrne procured his horse and buggy and conveyed Mr. Casey to the junction of the Louisville road with the Augusta road, about a mile beyond the Central Railroad depot-and leaving him there returned for Mr. Lachlison who had walked in that direction. The party in the hack meanwhile had come np to Mr. Casey, and, taking him up, drove to the Louisville road. Mr. O'Byrne met Mr. Lachlison. and with him returned to where Mr. Casey had been left, but not finding any of the party there, conelnded they had gone np the Augusta road, and proceeded up it, hoping to overtake them. They advaneed but a short distance when they heard the report of a gun and a minnie-ball whistled between them. They halted, and were then ordered by the picket to turn around (they had nnawares passed the enemy's pieket and had not heard the command to halt), and come to them. They did as com- manded, and after informing the officer of the pieket who they were. were conducted to Colonel Barnum, to whom they stated the object. of their mission. He then escorted them to Gen. John W. Geary. They told him that the city had been evacuated, and that they. having. started with the mayor and eouneil to surrender it, but becoming sep-
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arated from them, would assume the authority of consummating a sur- render. General Geary at first did not believe them, and questioned them very elosely. After becoming satisfied that they were what they assumed to be, he consented to receive the surrender. The aldermen then asked that the lives and property of the citizens should be respected and the ladies protected from insult. General Geary promptly replied that the requests should be complied with, and that any soldier detected violating the orders which would be given to restrain them should be punished with death. Messrs. Laehlison and O'Byrne then asked that a detachment should be sent to look after the mayor and other aldermen, which was granted. " General Geary then put his troops in motion, and, with Messrs. Laehlison and O'Byrne acting as guides, advaneed toward the city. At the Central Railroad bridge they were met by the mayor and aldermen who had been over- taken by the detachment sent for them and returned with it. They,
CONFEDERATE MONUMENT, SAVANNAH
on being introduced to the general and told what had been done by Messrs. O'Byrne and Lachlison, confirmed their action. The line of march was then taken up to West Broad street, down to the Bay, and thence to the Exchange, in front of which the troops were drawn up. The officers and members of the council proceeded to the porch, from which General Geary addressed the troops. complimenting them upon their past deeds and upon the additional honor they had conferred upon themselves by capturing * this beautiful city of the South." Dir- ing this speech Colonel Barman observed a sergeant step out of the ranks to the store at the corner of Bull and Bay streets. enter, and come out wearing a fireman's hat. On coming down from the porch he called the sergeant to him, and drawing his sword, ordered him to hold out the hat, which he did. and the colonel, with one stroke of his sword, cut it in half. He then stripped the chevrons from the sergeant's arms and reduced him to the ranks.
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"After the speech the troops were dispersed in squads throughout the city, and, notwithstanding the strict orders they had received, committed many depredations. That the military force of the United States acted towards the citizens in a just and merciful way was eer- tainly the opinion of the aldermanie board. if we may judge properly by the action of that body on the 23d of January, 1865, a little more than a month after the fall of the city. Then the council adopted reso- lutions as follows :
" WHEREAS, By the evacuation of Savannah by the Confederate troops on the night of the 20th of December, 1864, the city was left in a defenseless position and from the military the right of govern- ment devolved on the city authorities; and.
"WHEREAS, The mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah in common council assembled had previously resolved that when that contingency should occur they would immediately proceed to Maj .- Gen. W. T. Sherman's headquarters and ask from him protection for their lives and private property of the citizens; and.
"WHEREAS, It was our good fortune on the evening of the 21st of December, 1864, to meet Brig .- Gen. John W. Geary who was lead- ing the division of the United States army which was the first to enter Savannah, and the said request was made of him; and,
"WHEREAS, He promptly granted it and took all necessary means to afford protection by sending a brigade into the city, in advance of his troops, under the command of. Colonel Barnum, who displayed his own efficiency and the admirable discipline of his troops, by pre- serving an order and quiet perhaps unrivaled in the annals of warfare when a victorious army entered a capitulated city; and,
"WHEREAS, The conduct of Brigadier-General (now Brevet Major- General) Geary from that until he was relieved from his post in the field, carried out to the fullest extent the expectations raised from our first interview with him:
"Resolved, That the thanks of the mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah for themselves and in behalf of their fellow citizens be and the same are hereby tendered to Brevet General Geary for the uni- form courtesy extended by him to all who came into official contact with him, and for his great judgment in the conduct of all his busi- ness transactions, and that we will ever hold him in remembrance as the embodiment of the high-toned gentleman and the chivalrous soldier. "Resolved, That to his staff individually and collectively we hereby- return our thanks and those of our citizens for the able, impartial, and courteous manner in which they performed their various duties."
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