USA > Georgia > The history of Georgia: containing brief sketches of the most remarkable events, up to the present day, Vol. II > Part 15
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The situation of the wounded required the assistance of a surgeon, and Savannah being the nearest place where one could be obtained ; Wil- liam Myddleton offered his services to carry a flag for that purpose. Captain Muller died before the surgeon's arrival. While Myddleton was in Pro- vost's quarters, a British officer requested him to. parrate the circumstances attending the skirmish ;
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after he had given the particulars, the officer ob- served, that " if an angel was to tell him that cap. tain Muller, who had served twenty-one years in the king's guards, with his detachment, had been defeated by an equal number of rebels, he would disbelieve it." Myddleton requested the officer's address, and observed that they were not then on equal terms, but hoped to have it in his power at a future time, to call him to an account for his rudeness. Colonel Provost rebuked the officer for using such improper language to the bearer of a flag : the officer retired.
On the morning of the 28th, major Baker pro- ceeded toward Sunbury with thirty men, and attacked and defeated a party under command of captain Goldsmith, at the White-house ; several of the enemy were killed and wounded ; among the former, was lieutenant Gray, whose head was almost severed from the body by a cut from the sabre of Robert Sallet. Baker marched to Sun- bury, which he entered without opposition.
The detachment which was defeated by Baker, at the White-house, were mounted recruits, enlist- ed for two years, under the denomination of Geor- gia royalists, to be commanded by James Wright, jun. so soon as the regiment was completed.
About the 25th of July, Sir James Wright returned from England and resumed the govern- ment of Georgia, but he did not remain long in the quiet administration of his government.
The property of those, who resided in the eas- tern part of Georgia, and adhered to the cause of
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their country, was either plundered by the British troops and loyalists for private account, or taken into possession by the commissioners of seques- tration for the king's use. All believed that they were to remain in the undisturbed enjoyment of their acquirements, by pillage and possession of that which had been abandoned by the American owners and left among them. The Americans made frequent incursions in small parties, for the recovery of part of their property ; and when a man succeeded in carrying away that which was his own, he was denominated a thief by the ad- herents of the royal government. Under such circumstances, it is not matter of wonder that the Americans resorted to measures of retaliation, as a mean of indemnity.
On the 3d of August, captain Samuel Spencer sailed into Sapelo sound, and one of the enemy's vessels, of six guns, ran down and attacked him. The engagement was well supported for fifteen minutes, when the enemy was boarded and sur. rendered. Spencer had one man wounded : the British, one killed, five wounded, and twelve were made prisoners. Spencer divided his crew, and collected a number of negroes and other property, which he carried in safety to the owners, who had fled to Carolina. The prisoners were paroled and landed on Sapelo island.
About this time, some Indians and loyalists from the Creek nation, arrived at Savannah, and were employed on the borders of South-Carolina,
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with instructions, not to kill the women and chil- dren ; they returned in two days with five scalps, and three female prisoners, who were delivered to colonel Brown, at Ebenezer, as trophies of their valour : Brown rewarded them for their ser- vices. This was merciful warfare, when compar- ed with that which was practised by the savages, under British agents, on the frontier settlements. That mode of hostility was warmly remonstrated against by general Lincoln, but without effect.
M'Girth and his party, having no field for the exercise of their avocations in the eastern, turned their views to the western settlements, and made their excursions to obtain property by pillage. Colonel Twiggs assembled one hundred and fifty militia horsemen, for the purpose of attacking them, and marched on the pursuit. Twiggs se- lected from his party, those who were best mount- ed, and advanced with them in front : they found M'Girth with thirty or forty men, at Isaac Lock- hart's, on Buck-head creek, and advanced to the attack. The skirmish continued about fifteen minutes, without much effect. Twiggs ordered the charge; on which M'Girth made his escape into a neighbouring swamp, by the fleetness of his horse. In the retreat, nine of the enemy were killed, nine wounded, and four taken prisoners ; among the latter, was lieutenant Morris, the se- cond officer in command. Among the wounded, was M'Girth, by a ball passing through his thigh. Twiggs had one private killed, and a captain wounded.
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CHAPTER IX.
AFTER the declaration of Independence, the attention of congress was directed to negociations with the nations of Europe, generally, to obtain "their friendship and alliance, and with France par- ticularly ; believing that from the latter power something favourable was to be expected. France had long been jealous of the growing power of : England. The increasing population and indus- try of the British North-American colonies, daily augmented the power of Britain, and the conse- quent jealousy of France ; and the colonies having now declared independence, it was hoped by con- gress that France would take the advantage of the occasion, apply her power, and make the separa- tion complete. Under such impressions, congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee, commissioners plenipotentiary, to repair to the French court and negociate; and by every mean in their power, endeavour to induce the king of France to enter into a treaty of friend- ship and alliance with the United-States.
The American commissioners repaired to France; and were received with civility by Mon- sieur De Vergennes, the French premier. Secret facilities were afforded to the states ; but the idea of a public acknowledgement, or of military aids, was discouraged. The existing policy of the French government was to remain at peace.
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Franklin, who understood the avenues to the human heart and to the springs of action of the French court, made his address to the queen, and became a favourite with her party. At length the policy of the king's ministers was changed ; and the independence of the United-States was ac- knowledged by France. This was followed by a treaty of amity and commerce, between France and the United States, dated the 6th of February, 1778 ; on terms highly honourable to the former, and advantageous to the latter, in which no ad- vantages were taken by France over the necessi- ties and weakness of the United States, The treaty of amity and commerce was accompanied by a treaty of alliance, eventual and defensive.
When the French ambassador at the court of London, announced that France had acknowledg- ed the independence of the United-States, and entered into a treaty of amity and commerce with them, England considered it as an act of hostility and declared war. The apprehensions of King- land were increased, and new efforts were made to recover her colonies.
Lord Carlisle, William Eden, and governor Johnstone, were appointed costriscioners on the part of Great-Britain, and sent to America, with · offers to relinquish the right of taxation, by the British parliament, and to confirm the colonies in every immunity consistent with a union of force. If these propositions had been made in due season, they would have been well received ; but
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experience of the unjust pretensions of the Eng- lish government, over the American colonies; the cruelties and violence committed on their citi- zens, through all the ramifications of its power in America, which had generated resentments not easily appeased ; the recent alliance with France, and there being no acknowledgment of the inde- pendence of the United States, in the propositions for an accommodation ; congress rejected them with contempt.
France having made positive the treaty of al- liance, eventual and defensive, became a party in the war. A fleet was fitted out, and an army sent to the West-Indies, under the orders of the count D'Estaing : they made the conquest of the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and retired to Cape Francois.
The recovery of Georgia was important, and no time was lost in soliciting the co-operation of the French fleet and army in the West- Indies, to obtain that object. This invitation co-incided with the instructions which the count had received from his government, and he cheerfully offered his services, to act in concert with the forces of the United-States, wherever they might be required, and promise advantage to the cause of either.
General Lincoln made every exertion to col- lect an army, and was sanguine in his hopes of success, in the execution of the concerted plan. The 11th of September was the time appointed for the rendezvous of the two armies at Savannah,
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und preparations were made to invest the place. General Lincoln assembled the continental troops, and required the militia of South-Carolina and Georgia to take the field, and march toward Sa- vannah. The scarcity of arms and ammunition, in the western parts of those states, made it neces- sary to furnish them from the arsenals and maga- zines of South-Carolina, and a detachment of the · Georgia continental troops, commanded by gene- ral Lachland M'Intosh, was ordered to take charge of them and march to Augusta.
The French fleet sailed from Cape Francois, on the 20th of August, by the windward passage. Count D'Estaing despatched two ships of the line and three frigates to Charleston, to communi- cate his intentions and concert a plan of opera- tions with the American general. On the 3rd of September, the despatched ships were discovered by the British, off Tybee light, and the next day major-general the viscount De Fontanges, arrived at Charleston with dispatches for general Lin- coln; informing him that the French fleet was then off Savannah bar, and consisted of twenty- one ships of the line, two of fifty guns, eight fri- gates, and five small armed vessels, having on board five thousand men, including land troops, marines, and seamen, and that the fleet and army were ready to co-operate with him in the reduc- tion of Savannah : at the same time, urged the ne- cessity for despatch, as he could not remain long on the coast, at that season of the year. A number
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of boats were sent to the French fleet to assist in landing the troops, cannon, and stores.
Colonel Cambray, of engineers, and major Thomas Pinckney, aid to general Lincoln, were ordered to accompany the viscount De Fontanges and concert with count D'Estaing the plan of operation against Savannah.
The militia took the field with alacrity, sup- posing that nothing further would be necessary, than to march to Savannah and demand a surren- . der. Colonel Maitland with eight hundred men, retained his position at Beaufort, and general Lin- colo had fixed his quarters at Sheldon, to prevent them from spreading into the country to obtain provisions : thus occupied, general Lincoln could not march to Savannah until the French troops were ready to land.
General Provost could not mistake the object of the combined forces. He re-called his detach- ments from the advanced posts : he ordered lieu- tenant-colonel Cruger to evacuate Sunbury, to embark the sick and invalids in the small arn.ed vessels, and send them by the inland navigation to Savannah, under the care of captain French, and to march with the land troops to Savannah, without loss of time. Captain French did not reach Savannah : by the prevalence of head winds, he was detained until the French ships were in possession of the pass ; he then sailed up Ogechte river, and finding the land passage was occupied by the Americans, he landed and fortified his
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camp, about fifteen miles south from Savannah : in front of it he placed four armed vessels, one of fourteen guns, and three of four guns each, man- ned by forty seamen ; his land force was one hun- dred and eleven regular troops, generally invalids, and one hundred and thirty stand of small arms.
After the British troops obtained possession of Savannah, they progressed at leisure with the repairs of four old redoubts and the construction of some new works ; but the probability of an at. tack in force, rendered the greatest exertions necessary to complete their fortifications. Cap- tain Moncrief, the chief of the engineers, an officer of superior talents in his department, called on governor Wright to order three hundred negroes from the country, with such as were in town, to his assistance on the fortifications. Thirteen re- doubts, and fifteen batteries, with lines of com- munication, were marked out, commenced, and completed, with an abatis in front, and mounted with seventy-six pieces of cannon ; of six, nine, twelve, and eighteen pounds calibre. The guns and batteries were manned by the seamen from the ships of war, transports, and merchant vessels, in the harbour. A number of field pieces were placed in reserve, on the most advantageous po- sitions to traverse, or move speedily to any given point. And intrenchments were opened to cover the reserves. .
On the 4th of September orders were des- patched to lieutenant-colonel Maitland at Beau-
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fort, to hold his detachment in readiness to march to Savannah at short notice ; and as it was pro- bable that part of the French frigates might go into Port-Royal bay and cut off the communica- tion with Beaufort, Maitland was ordered to evacuate the post, and cross over to Tench's is- land, of which Hilton-head is a promontary ; from whence if he was not stopped by a further order, he was to proceed to Savannah. The officer who was charged with the despatch, was taken by a party of Americans, as he was passing through Scull creek.
On the evening of the 4th the French fleet disappeared, which occasioned doubts with gene- ral Provost, as to its real object ; consequently, the orders sent to Maitland were countermanded by another, directing him to remain at his post, in readiness to march at short notice, with his heavy baggage and other incumbrances embark- ed; and if through any other channel he should receive intelligence, which should in his judg. ment induce the measure, he was ordered to march immediately, without further orders, and to run no risk, which could possibly be avoided, of being cut off from Savannah.
On the 6th, the French fleet re-appeared off the bar. Provost deemed it necessary to strength- en the works on. Tybee island, and increase the number of men for their defence. Captain Mon- crief was ordered to perform that duty, and with one hundred infantry re-enforce that post. Orders
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were forwarded to Maitland, to march without loss of time. Finding the fleet increased to a formida- ble number, Provost assigned his alarm-posts, and made every disposition to sustain an attack.
On the 9th the whole fleet anchored off Ty bee island, and landed some troops on the south-east side of it, to attack the British post on the rear, and four light frigates passed over the bar. Find- ing the position on Tybee too hazardous to be maintained, Moncrief spiked the guns, embarked the troops, and retreated to Savannah. The ships Foway, Rose, Kepple, and Germain ; the Comet galley and some other small vessels, weighed an- chor and stood up to Five-fathom-hole.
After general Provost had retreated from South-Carolina, the command of the American cavalry had been confided to count Pulaski, who had taken post on the ridge, fifty miles north-east from Augusta, for the convenience of obtaining forage and provisions, and to be within easy march of Charleston or Augusta, as occasion might re- quire. Pulaski was ordered to join general M'In- tosh at Augusta, and M'Intosh was ordered to march with the infantry and cavalry, toward Sa- vannah, in advance of the army under general Lincoln; to attack the British out-posts, and open a communication with the French troops upon the sea shore.
General M'Intosh pressed forward on Savan- nah, and before the enemy was apprized of his approach, Pulaski cut off one of their piquets ;
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killed and wounded five men, and captured a sub- altern and five privates : he opened the commu- nication to the sea shore, and general M'Intosh advanced toward Ogechee ferry. They had seve- ral skirmishes with the enemy's out-posts, before they joined the French troops at Beaulieu.
So soon as a body of the French troops had landed, general M'Intosh returned, and halted at Millen's plantation, three miles from Savannah, to wait the arrival of general. Lincoln.
On the 10th of September, lieutenant colonel Cruger, with his detachment from Sunbury, reached Savannah. On the 11th, the British land- ed all the cannon from the armed vessels, except such as were deemed necessary to defend the channel, and mounted them on the batteries. The engineers were making every possible exertion to strengthen the works : twelve hundred white men and negroes, were constantly employed ; several new redoubts and batteries were constructed; the moats deepened, and the abatis strengthened.
On the 12th, in the evening, some small French vessels passed the bars into Oseba and. Warsaw sounds, and landed some troops at Beau- lieu and Thunderbolt, without opposition : the 13th, 14th, and 15th were spent in landing troops, artillery, ammunition, provisions, and intrenching . . tools : and on the 16th, count D'Estaing advanc- ed within three miles of the town, and demanded a surrender.
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" Count D'Estaing summons his excellency, general Provost, to surrender to the arms of the king of France. He apprizes him, that he will be personally responsible for all the events and mis- fortunes that may arise from a defence, which by the superiority of the force, which attacks him, both by sea and land, is rendered manifestly vain and of no effect.
" He gives notice to him, also, that any reso- lutions he may venture to come to, either before the attack, in the course of it, or at the moment of the assault, of setting fire to the shipping and small craft belonging to the army, or the mer- chants in the river Savannah, as well as to all the magazines in the town, will be imputable to him only.
" The situation of Hospital-hill, in the Grena. das, the strength of the three intrenchments and stone redoubts which defended it, and the com- parative disposition of the troops before the town of Savannah, with the single detachment which carried the Grenadas by assault, should be a les- son to futurity. Humanity obliges the count D'Estaing to recall this event to his memory ; having so done, he has nothing to reproach him- self with.
" Lord Macartney had the good fortune to es. cape from the first transport of troops, who enter- ed a town sword in hand; but notwithstanding the most valuable effects were deposited in a place, supposed by all the officers and engineers to be im-
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pregnable, count D'Estaing could not have the happiness of preventing their being pillaged.
"Camp before Savannah, September 16, 1779.
D'ESTAING."
. MAJOR-GENERAL PROVOST'S ANSWER.
" Savannah, September 16, 1779.
"SIR-I am now honoured with your excel- lency's letter, of this date, containing a summon for me to surrender this town to the arms of his majesty the king of France, which I had just de- layed to answer, till I had shown it to the king's civil governor.
" I hope your excellency will have a better opinion of me, and of British troops, than to think either will surrender on general summons, with- out any specific terms.
" If you, Sir, have any to propose, that may with honour be accepted of by me, you can men- tion them, both with regard to civil and military, and I will then give my answer : in the mean time I will promise upon my honour, that nothing with my knowledge or consent shall be destroyed in either this town or river. I have the honour to be, &c. A. PROVOST."
COUNT D'ESTAING TO GENERAL PROVOST.
" Camp before Savannah, September 16, 1779.
"SIR-I have just received your excellency's answer, to the letter I had the honour of writing to you this morning. You are sensible that it is the part of the besieged to propose such terms as they may desire, and you cannot doubt of the satisfac-
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tion I shall have in consenting to those which I can accept consistently with my duty.
".I am informed that you continue intrenching yourself, which is a matter of very little impor- tance to me ; however, for form sake, I must de- sire you will desist during our conferences.
" The different columns which I had ordered to stop will continue their march, but without approaching your posts, or reconnoitring your situation. I have the honour to be, &c.
D'ESTAING."
"P. S. I apprize your excellency that I have not been able to refuse the army of the United- States uniting itself with that of the king. The junction will probably be effected this day. If I have not an answer immediately, you must confer in future with general Lincoln and myself."
GENERAL PROVOST TO COUNT D'ESTAING. " Savannah, September 16, 1779.
"SIR-I am honoured with your excellency's letter in reply to mine of this day.
" The business we have on hand being of im- · portance, there being various interests to discuss, a just time is absolutely necessary to deliberate. I am therefore to propose, that a suspension of hostilities shall take place for twenty-four hours from this date, and to request that your excellency will direct your columns to fall back to a greater distance, and out of sight of our works, or I shall think myself under a necessity to direct their be- ing fired upon. If they did not reconnoitre any
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thing this afternoon, they were sure within the distance. I have the honour to be, &c.
A. PROVOST." COUNT D'ESTAING TO GENERAL PROVOST.
" Camp before Savannah, September 16, 1779.
" SIR-I consent to the truce you ask : it shall continue till the signal for retreat to- morrow night the 17th, which will serve also to announce the re-commencement of hostilities. It is neces- sary to observe to your excellency, that this sus- pension of arms is entirely in your favour, since I cannot be certain that you will not make use of it to fortify yourself, at the same time, that the pro- positions you shall make may be inadmissible.
"I must observe to you, also, how important it is that you should be fully aware of your own situ- ation, as well as that of the troops under your com- mand. Be assured that I am thoroughly acquaint- ed with it. Your knowledge of military affairs will not suffer you to be ignorant, that a due examinati- on of that circumstance always precedes the march of the columns, and that this preliminary is not carried into execution by a mere show of troops.
" I have ordered them to withdraw before night comes on, to prevent any cause of complaint on your part. I understand that my civility in this respect has been the occasion that the Cheva- lier De Cambis, a lieutenant of the navy, has been made a prisoner of war.
" I propose sending out some small advance posts to-morrow morning : they will place them.
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selves in such a situation as to have in view the four entrances into the wood, in order to prevent a similar mistake in future. I do not know whe- ther two columns commanded by the viscount De Noailles and the count De Dillon, have shewn too much ardour, or whether your cannoniers have not paid a proper respect to the truce, sul)- sisting between us; but this I know, that what has happened this night, is a proof that matters will soon come to a decision between us one way or another. I have the honour to be, &c.
D'ESTAING."
General Lincoln's army reached the Savannah river on the 12th, but the difficulty in procuring boats took up two days in crossing the river and swamp, which were three miles wide. Having effected it at Zubley's ferry, on the morning of the 15th, he marched to Cherokee hill, about eight miles above the town, where he was joined by ge- neral M'Intosh, with the Georgia continental troops, and by colonels John T'wiggs and B. Few, with part of their regiments of militia. The next morning general Lincoln marched to Millen's plantation, three miles from the town on the Oge- chee road where he established his head-quarters, and proceeded directly to pay his respects to the count D'Estaing, and fix on the plan of future operations. The count suggested, that necessity had compelled him to offer the services of his king to the United-States at this unpropitious sea- son of the year, where it would be unsafe to haz-
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