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 SIEGE OF SAVANNAH.. ^^ 
 
 IN 
 
 1779, 
 
 AS DESCRIBKl) IN TWO CONTEMPORANEOUS JOURNALS 
 OF FRENCH OFFICERS 
 
 I *! 
 
 IN 
 
 THE FLEET OF COUNT DESTAING. 
 
 ALBANY, N. Y. : 
 
 JOKL MUNSELL, 82 STATE STREET. 
 
 1S74. 
 
 J \i 
 
4 
 
'Ill riiK 
 
 (iK()li(ilA IIISTOIJK'AL SOCIKTV 
 
 LHINTUIIU TIOX Til nil: MISTiiltV 
 
 SIEGE or SVVANNAU I.N 17711 
 
 COUDIAI.I.V DKDICATi;]). 
 
 
TNTIIODirrTION 
 
 Ti) tin- kiinliicsH of Mr. J. Cnrsori Hicvoort. of nrooklyii. am I in- 
 (l('l)ti'(l I'or till' loan both of tlu? Fivncli iiiaiiiiMcri|it IVoiii \vlii<'li the ful- 
 lowiii;^' traiiHlatioii IniH Im-cm prepared, and of tlie aiito;iraph map lii-re 
 reprodiieed. Tlie Ibrmer, heaiitifidly written in a delicate, rejiular 
 hand, is evidently a copy, l)y a |)rofes.sioMal .^crilie, of the journal ol' 
 Home French olficer present at the siei:(' of Suviinnah and during- liie 
 movements of D'K'Ktain^'H tleet antecedent to and conseipient n|ioii tliat 
 inetMoiaiile occurrence. 
 
 It is clear, from its internal evidence, that the original was a con- 
 tem|)oraneons dociuneiit. The present tense is used in nearly every 
 instance: and the prohahilities are that it was penned day hy day as 
 the events, of which it treats, transpired. The forms of expression, 
 words, and the construction of the .sentences are such as were current 
 iimong Krench writers ahont a century ajio. 
 
 While an adept with his pen. the scribe was. not infriMpiently. ne.irli- 
 .ncnt in i)reservinf;- the proiier accents and capital letters, and unmind- 
 ful of suitable punctuation, lie is also occasionally at fault in hi.s 
 siK'llin,!:. The labor of the translator was thus rendered somewhat 
 tedio\is. but in the end not uncertain. To my friend I'rof. Chai'les IJau 
 of New York city, special acknowlediiuients are due lor most valuable 
 assistance. Tnlortunatidy the name of the author ol' this .lourual has 
 not been preserved. Without doubt, however, he was personally cog- 
 nizant of the movements of whicii he speaks, and an actor in the scenes 
 here described. 
 
 From Fnylish and American sources we derive extended accounts 
 of the siege of Savannah, but the accompanying Journal furnishes us 
 with the most satisfactory French narrative of which we have any 
 knowledge. An interior view is here presented of the intentions and 
 operations of D'Estaing, and of the disposition and labors of his army, 
 which appears nowhere else with the same minuteness of detail, and 
 
vi 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 accuracy of description. Despite the fact that the cociperation of the 
 American forces under General Lincohi is recognized by little more 
 than a bare mention of tiieir i)resence and partial participation in the 
 assault, and although undue prominence be given to the actions of tlie 
 French, this account happily supplements the narratives already before 
 the public, and forms a most valuable conti'ibution to the history of 
 the siege. 
 
 We have taken the liberty of adding notes where they appeared con- 
 ducive to a fuller ajjpreciation of the events alluded to. 
 
 The original map (of which we have here a reproduction by the 
 photolithographic process), was purchased in Loudon at the late sale 
 of Lord Kawdon's papers, and was selected from his military portfolio. 
 While its general resemblance to the nuip of the siege ol' Savannah 
 contained in " Faden's Plans ol" Battles in North America" will be 
 readily conceded, we think the present map nu)re elaborate and satis- 
 factory in its details. It is apparently the work of a Gernum or Swiss 
 engineer who may have been connected with either Wissenbach's or 
 Trumbach's Hessian regiment, both of which were present at the siege 
 and constituted a part of th.> English garrison. IJy an endorsementlt 
 seems at one time to have been the property of Lieutenant Kinnegan 
 of the Sixteenth regiment of Infantry. Two companies of that regi- 
 ment held the entrenchments to the left of the Augusta road, and n^i- 
 dcred ellicient service in the repulse of the a.'^sault of the 'Jth of ( )ctober. 
 As furnishing another French account of the siege, and as illus- 
 trating the opinion entertained by at least one ollicer in iri-lstaiiig's 
 tleet of the expediency and conduct of this demonstration against Sa- 
 vannah, we have translated and ajipendedsome extracts fromtlie.Iournal 
 of a naval ollicer who participated in the expe.lition. This Journal 
 was printed in Paris in 1782. The privations en.hnvd and the dan- 
 gers encountered by the French licet while u[)on the Geoi'gia coast are 
 vividly portrayed. It is interesting also to note the estimate here 
 formed of Count D'Estaing as a man and as a commander. 
 
 Both themanu.«'riptand the printed Jom-nal were procured in Paris, 
 at the Luzarche sale, on the first of March, 180'J. 
 
 Nkw Vouk, 
 
 .Time 1st, 1874. 
 
 (JUAULKS C. JON'ES, Jr. 
 
TlIK 
 
 SIEGE OF SAVANNAH, 
 
 nv 
 
 COUNT D'ESTAING, 
 
 1779. 
 
SIEGE OF SAAwV^^iS^AlT. 
 
 1779. 
 
 July Mmdai/, at four o'clock in the nioriiinji', M. D'Estaing makes his 
 I'Jth. appearance in the roadstead of Basse Terre. 
 
 idem. At three o'clock I'M. three hundred and fifty men from the regiment 
 of Annagnac, an equal number from the regiment of Guadeloupe, and 
 thirty-one artillerymen are taken on board the tleet. 
 
 20th. Tuesday morning preparation is made for sailing. 
 
 21st. WtdncsJay morning Count D'Estaing orders the ships Le Ruhustc rV" ' 
 
 and L'Annibal, and the frigates Iphujenie and Za Ghimere to detach ' ; // >. 
 themselves from the tleet, and, proceeding to the leeward, to take a / 
 position before the forts of Montserrat. 
 
 Towards noon La Ghimere, which was in the advance, encountered 
 twenty-five or thirty cannon shots from the batteries without, however, 
 sustaining any injury from them. The Hannibal, commanded by 
 M. de la Motte-piquet ;' is also cannonaded. Having replied with 
 one hundred discharges from his twenty-four and thirty-six pounder 
 guns, directed against the city and the batteries, this oilicer joins 
 M. De Grasse, commanding La liuhiuitc, who was standing to his 
 leeward. 
 
 ' Spelled iu the luauuscript Mulhepiim< I. 
 
 i- hr^^i 
 
 '!€ I , 
 
 H' 
 
 JMi J. 
 
10 
 
 1779. 
 
 SIEGE OF SAVAXXMI. 
 
 Near four o'clock r.v. the iYw\io T i„„i.. 
 
 "^ "'^""^ ^^'^^'ly conveys to the two .ships, 
 
 and the two Irigatos, an order to return to the «u.adr 
 join belbre niditrall. 
 
 ■on; which they 
 
 Ju y lJ,nrs,ay n.orn„,g, about ten o'clock, the French .,„adron deliles 
 
 -nd. ,„ order of battle before the English squadron which was lyin, in the 
 
 n>ads,.ad ot St Christopher, with broad-sides brought to bear upon the 
 
 i^rench The Lnghsh squadron was con.posed of twenty vessels, three 
 
 ol which had lost their top-masts in the battle at Grenada - 
 
 Resolved by a countennarcli at long range cannon shot to pass a 
 second tune nearer the English, Count De Grasse, whom Count D'Es- 
 tanig had charged with attacking the enemy if ho deemed the matter 
 practicable, conducts the movement.'- 
 
 23rd. Friday, Count D'Estaing dispatches to ]3asse Terre some iri.ates to 
 bring the merchant tleet, to which that of Martinique had bee,;„nited, 
 and to conduct it to the squadron which, before St. Christopher and 
 Montscrrat, waited to convoy it. 
 
 20th. On Mondau the merchant fleet joined the squadron which sailed for 
 bt. Domingo. 
 
 olst. Syluu, at (bur o'clock in the afternoon, the squadron arrived in 
 the harbor of the Cape.' In entering, the Amphion touched bottom 
 and lost her rudder. Some of the other vessels were dama-zed. Upon 
 landing we are informed of the declaration of war by Spain. 
 
 Auj 
 
 Inesduij. Count D'Estaing comes on boar.l the ( 'himere, and with 
 the ships Artesien, Fendant, and f^njUlalre, the frigates Mha-r. nnd 
 Ghuncrc, and one cutter, sails for the mole of St. Nicholas. 
 
 ■^ Tliis olior of battle was declined by the English, 
 y Franvois. 
 
 i 
 
SIEaj: OF SAVAXNAir. 
 
 11 
 
 1779. Wednexilay. D'Estairig goes aslioro at the mole, from which he returns 
 
 l)y huid Home tla\.s afterwards. 
 Aug.4. 
 
 7th. Siilimhti/. Arrival at Port an Prince of the division of the Fcmlant, 
 
 commanded hy M. de Vaudreuil, and embarkation of the troops. 
 
 10th. Fete gi • -n at the Cape,' on Iward the L(ui</ac<hc, by Count D'Estaing. 
 in celebration of the alliance with Spain. 
 
 11th. Wednesday. Removal of the troops from the Wind-ward islands and 
 their location in ships and frigates other than those in which they had 
 been embarked lor the Cape. 
 
 13th. Friddi/. M. de Vaudreuil's division leaves Port an Prince for the 
 mole of St. Nicholas, where it arrives on the 2Gth,= and receives troops 
 on board. 
 
 16th. Monday. Count D'Estaing sails from the Cape with the fleet, and a 
 convoy from the Wind-ward islands and St. Domingo composed of sixty 
 sails.^ During this voyage of the 17th and 18th the scpiadron keeps 
 to the windward, and is joined by the division of M. de A'audreuil which 
 left the mole on the 17th. 
 
 18th. Wednesday. Passed near Tortngas. 
 
 10th. Thumhiy. Came in sight (jf Great Inagua, a low and uninhabited 
 island. 
 
 20th. 
 
 Friday. Sighted and passed to the leeward of Miraporvos and the 
 Fortune islands, a cluster of low lying island.s, and like Inagua, unin- 
 hal)it(Ml. In the afternoon of the same da^- we observed Crooked island. 
 
 ' FraiKMiis. 
 
 - Sliimid be the \<olh ; see postoa. 
 
 ■' Manshdl, in hi- Ufi „ ' W,„h!,„jto,,, [vol. iv, p K. J'hiiadelphia, 1805 ] computes 
 the strength of the land army on board the fleet, at six thousand men. 
 
S/EOE OF SAVAXXAir. 
 
 Sntunhn/. Tlic Gcnonil look advantago of a calm to hoist the coni- 
 mancler's Hag. An ofliciT from each vessel repaired on hoard the sliip 
 Laiigiiedoc and received piu-tienhir instrnetions and signals Ibr landing. 
 Sealed orders relating to the debarkation, addres.sed to the commanders 
 of the troops on the respective ves.sel.s, were liirnished by the Major 
 General of the land army. 
 
 22nd. 
 
 and 
 
 23rd. 
 
 On Smnluij and Mumhiy we sailed in sight of the Watling islanils 
 which, in all respects, resembled the islands we had noticed on pre- 
 vious days. 
 
 At three o'clock p.m. on Sumlai/, the merchant convoy separates 
 itself from the squadron and is escorted by tiie Pmhvtcur and the Fler, 
 and by the frigates Mi nerve, Almiriie and Ahmth/c. 
 
 At the time ol" its de])arture from the AVindward islands the lloet was 
 composed of twenty-five ships — including the Ficr Uinln<j„c — thirteen 
 frigates, and one cutter. The Amphion was absent, having remained 
 at the Cape. After our separation from the convoy, the lieet was reduced 
 to twenty-two ships of the line, ten frigates, and one cutter. Tliere 
 were also several barges and transport schooners, and some American 
 vessels. 
 
 Sept. Wt'thmdoi/, at seven o'clock I'.m. we anchored in fifteen fatiioms 
 1st. Avater, fourteen or fifteen leagues east of the coast of Georgia, and in 
 the thirty-ilrst degree of north latitude. 
 
 2nd. Thnmhnj. The sea very rough. The winds veering from east to 
 
 south compelled a part of the squadron, which had lost both cables 
 and anchors, to put to sea. 
 
 4th. Safunlay. South-east winds have restored a calm, and tiie lleet is 
 
 again united. 
 
 7tli. Tumliiji. The squadron gets under way to approach the land. 
 
siicai-: or savaxxmi. 
 
 n 
 
 177!i 
 Sept. 
 
 WahicKihn/. Wo oust luiclior I'onr leufiucs in front of Tyboi'' islanil. 
 
 A division coniijosed of tho Ar/rsicii, the Faiitdsijiw, tiio Chiini'iv, the 
 lihiiiche, the Foiiinire und the f/ifii'ijeiiic in detaciied from the lleet to 
 iidvanee and come to anchor at tho distance of a league and a half from 
 Tybeo. 
 
 9th. Count D'pj.staing directs tiie embarlvation of seven hundred troops in 
 
 tho long boats, to await his further orders. Tiie Cieneral iiiniseif 'oes 
 on board the Chinii'ir and, witli three other frigates, prepares to foi-ee 
 a passage acu-oss the liar of the Savannah- river. He had scarcely 
 gotten under way when the galleys or frigates of the enemy, which 
 were lying at anchor near the mouth of the river, moved a league higlier 
 up.' At the same time the English opened (ire upon us from Fort 
 Tybee.^ Our four frigato.s came to anchor above tho bar, having crossed 
 it without encountering any obstacle. At niglitl'all Count D'Estaing 
 orders the disembarkation of tlie troops on board the frigates, and 
 directs tho long boats' to be brougiit along asido of the Ghhtn'rc that 
 they might move in concert. 
 
 As the general's cutter, in which there was a detachment of only 
 fifteen men, belonging to the regiment of Armagnac, uu)ved much faster 
 than tho long boats, the General, being unwilling to wait for them, landed 
 himself on Tybee island which he found evacuated by tho eneni^-. 
 Having visited the environs of the fort, he posts two sentinels and goes 
 quietly to sleep. The long boats were unable to compass a landing 
 until two hours afterwards. From these boats two hundred men of 
 diilereut regiments were put on sliore. 
 
 ' Spelled in tlio iimiiiiscripf, Tiii/. 
 
 - In tin; inaniiscript writlun Suvtiunh.. 
 
 •'Tho l';ni;li,sli vcssols allmlod ti) woro tlio ships A'i<.<, , Fmrn/, h'rpji/i' ami di'rnui.'ii. tho 
 Com, 1, 11 liuiloy, anil sovoral sniall oral't. Upon tho approacii of the French llioy woij;hod 
 anclmr and retired to Five I'athoni hole. 
 
 ' l''orl 'I'ybco, located near the ligla house on the norlliern oxtremity of (iroat Tybee 
 i.slatnl, was desij^ned to :;uard the entranee into Savannah river. At this lime it was 
 feebly garrisoned. It's armament eonsisted of one twenty-lour p.)under gun and an eight 
 and a half inch howitzer. 
 
 ■' Already lilled with seven hundred men. 
 
14 
 
 SIKdi: UF S. www A II. 
 
 Lf -^ I'n,!,,!,, at .lav-l-iruk, tlio CmutmI ..nlcrs tlK- liJuunm' to rcrmb.irk 
 ^^^-^^^ Ikt troops aiHl Join tl.c s.jua.lron. 11. liinisclf rotun.s to l.is ship an.l 
 ^,1^1^ '''^■'''''' ^•'''«''' 'ill tla'lan.Iin- tro.,ps,,r tin. li.vtrmnitlie ships thollan- 
 'nl'i'l, th.. (i„..ni,.r, ti... Sphinx, th.' Vongrnr, tlic Artosiun an.l tho 
 IVovLM.fo, to pass in ivvirw hdhiv iiini. At ten ./dock at ni-ht tlie 
 tnu.ps whid. were, on Tyb... ishuiJ were taken on hoar.l the twoTrigates 
 La lUauvhc and Li J-urhunv. Onlv twentv-llve nu'ii ..f the regiment 
 of Arniagnac were left on board tlie (.'hini.'re. 
 
 llth 
 
 Satnnhij. The six ships al)ove nanie.l, with all the Ion- boats ..fthe 
 «luadron an.l the .ntters, wei,ulu..l anehors an.l the same day dropped 
 tliem agani six leagues to the south, an.l at a distance of Ibu.. jea-ues 
 Iron, the month of Ossaba river, at whi.i, point a disend>arkation had 
 been iletermine.l up.,n." Twelve hun.lred men fr..m dillerent regiments 
 wer.' plaeed in the long boats and cutters. 
 
 U'th. 
 
 Siiuilai,. At nine o'eloek at iiiglit these tr.,.)ps set Ibot on lan.l at 
 JJeaulieu.^ situated Ibiir leagues from the mouth of the Ossaba river, 
 iiiid six K.agues to the s..uth of Sava.mah. This p.,int^ was guarded 
 by thirty men whoevaeuat.d it upon the ajij-roa.'!. of .u.r tro..ps° whose 
 landing was in im manner iiindered. 
 
 ' Tlio ^■isco,■,.t de l',)nh.njrcs, Acljiitant-Cienoral of fl,o annv. who, i„ (|„ fi-i.^to \.,n. 
 zon,co„>nK.uded by tho ran.„us ..aviKa.nr U l>.:,„u«., had loo,, di.patehod ^ Cou.t 
 1 Ks amg to ..onler with (io.u.n.l Linn,!,,, arrive,! in Charleston, South Carolina, on ,ho 
 •l.h ol ^opten,be^, A concert of actio,, between the French fleet and the An.erieanH for 
 the reduction of Savannah, was ,,niekiy a.M-eed u,,on, IJoat., were sent fron, Charleston 
 o a8«,st ,n land.nj,. troops, ordnance, and stores. CoI„nel Cand.ray of ,i,e Kn-ineer., 
 .donel Ihomasl'inckney, .\id to (ieneral Lincoln, an,l <-.,„„iu .lad.sden we,-e de.ail.d 
 to .-eturn w,.h .he \ .sconnt and a.ssist Count D'Kstaing in consununatin;; his landin.- 
 upon the (icor-ia coast, i.'nuiu„ 
 
 At (Xsaba Count D'Kstainj, was n>et by Colonel Jo.se,.h Ilaher.shau, who had proceeded 
 th.ther to .nd.cate the proper place for an,l to facilitute the debarkation of ,he ,rno„s 
 
 - Written Jhuli/ in the nianu.script. 
 
 _ ^ Colonel Hnekney states that the liriti.sh force stationed at this point, with two field 
 
 p.eces had been wi.hdr.uvn the preceding day. Had any resistance been oMered the 
 
 ircnch.n open boats and unsupported by the fleet. Would ..eccsarily have been subjected 
 
 to considerable loss. j.-.-i>-u 
 
 ■:#- 
 
1779. 
 Si'pt. 
 
 r2tii. 
 
 Sli:(li: OF SAVAWAIf. |- 
 
 Inrorinalioii Ih nvcivod ol" \\w t-iiptiiiv of tlio fVijiuto Ariol' hy the 
 Aiimzoii, (■oniiiiiUKled by iM dc In I'eroiizc, ii liciitoimnt of tlu- navy. 
 M. Koger, a captain of the regiment of Oiiadi-lotipo, was uidured hy tlie 
 General to occupy a position di.stant three leagues from Ueaulieu in the 
 direction ol' Savannah, and along the line of Ossaba river. Here he 
 captured two barges and some long boats freighted with articles and 
 merchandise, and ten i)risoncrs. He reports his achievement to the 
 rieneral.andalsocommnnicatesthefact that intelligence had just reached 
 him that he would be immediately attacked by two iumdred men. 
 This determined Count D'Estaing to dispatch, at once, M. Odune, with 
 three hundred men, for the relief of M. l!oi;cr. 
 
 i 
 
 idem. General I'ulaski,-' with some ollicers of his command, comes to wel- 
 come M. D'J'lstaing. 
 
 I This captuvu was niiido uri tl.. llth, after i. f^allaiit rcsislanci! .iH'eiud on tlio part nf 
 tho KiiKli-sli ciuiiiiiaTiiU'r. Tlio Amazon carried a battery ol' tliirty six guns, while the 
 An'il had ciiily twcntylinir. 
 
 ■-' .*^pelled t'dltifl,!/ ill tlie iiiaiiilseript. 
 
 Tiila^ki, whi), alter I'ruvost's retreat from South Carolina, liad taken pi.st hi. a rid-e 
 lit-ly miles mirtli-cast cf Aufiusta fur the ei>nvcnieneo of (d.tainin^' provisions and to he 
 within ea.sy march of either Augusta or Charleston asoeeasioii mi-lit rociuiro, was ordered 
 to join Ceiieral .Aleliitosh at Au-nsta. With this united nunniand (ieiieral .Melntosh 
 was direetud to move toward .^avannah in advance of the army under (jencral Lincoln 
 which was coniiiijr from Charleston, attack the Hritish outposts, and open communi- 
 cation with the rreueh troops up<.u the coast, t'ressiiif,' forward, fioneral Mcintosh took 
 a position between Savannah and (Jreat Ofiecchee ferry. Count I'ulaski cut off one of 
 the enemy's pickets, killin- and wonndinj; live men and eaptiirin- a subaltern and live 
 privates. .Several skirmishes were had with the Itritisli (mtposts before ho joined the 
 French at Ueaulieu. As soon as Count U'Hstain^' had cffocteda landing, General .Mcintosh 
 returned and halted at Milieu's plantation, where ho awaited the arrival ,d' (Jeneral 
 Jjincoln 
 
 Sr,' M'C„/l\i //i.'^lori/ of (;,'„,■;/,;,. v.d. II, p. 217. Captain licntalou (/A/,/,/ fo ./„,/,;,. 
 Jolu,su,i\ Jinn,n/.-x etc., p. ill!. Baltimore, ISl'D) a.s.serts tliiit Count D'Estaing inti.rmcd 
 I'ulaski, upon their meeting at Ueaulieu. that he intended to march at oneo upon Savannah 
 without waiting for General Lincoln, and that " he counted on his Legion to form his 
 van." '■ III pursuancoof this wish." continues Captain licntalou, " we set out immediately 
 and rca.-lied Savannah sometime befnrc D'lOstaing, where we eng:igcd and cut off an ad- 
 vauccd picket of the cueiny's infantry." 
 
16 
 
 rjth. 
 
 sirjiN or s.\ r.t. V.V.I //. 
 
 177!). Tlic iiniu'd .'^toir .sliips J.<i Uricolinud Iai y^HiVf, ciUT}ing eij!,littni 
 1111(1 twelve [louiiiliT guns, enter the Saviiiiuali river to join the Cliuiu'rr 
 
 iiiulei' tlie eoiiiiiiiiiKl oi' M. Diirmiiaiii, who exeliiuige.s ii ciuiiioiiiKle with 
 the English giilie^M without injury to either side. 
 
 13th. The frigates La J-'or/iuirc ami Ld lilitiivlic leave .Savannah river to 
 receive the orilers which M. D'Kstaing had left for them with M. de 
 Brovos commanding the remainder of the lleet. They come to anchor 
 near the Cm^itr. at ten o'clock in the nioruing. At noon they are or- 
 dered to disemhark their troop.s at Cksaba river. The rough weather 
 did not permit them to rai.se their anchors, and the wind, which had 
 suddenly incri'ased to a gale, compelled tlii-m to slip their cables. The 
 same thing happened to the squadron of M. de IJrovcs who, in lik(^ 
 manner, almndoned his anchors. The violence of the wind did not 
 sutler the lleet to return to its anchorage liefore the 2(lth. Several, 
 vessels wore severely injured, and the ship Ln lllaii>7ic\\iin at one time 
 on the eve of cutting away her mizzen-mast. 
 
 idem. Two American galleys, armed with eighteen and twenty-four pounder 
 guns and coming IVoiii Charles-Town, proceeded to join M. Uunimain. 
 
 15th. Wulncsihtij. Tiie twelve hundred men removi'd from IJeaulieu and 
 went into camp three miles from Savannah. The\' were divided into 
 three commands, as follows, that of the General in the centre, towards 
 Mixhuu; that of Dillon on the right, at Jonshanss, and that of Noailles 
 on the left, at Brisr/hdittv. 
 
 Since the eleventh of Septemher when the landing of our troops 
 was efTtcted, variable north-west and north-east winds, prevailing 
 violently, prevented the continuance of the debarkation. Most 
 of the long boats, two of which were lost, had not returned from 
 the shore. To-day the sea is beautiful and all the boats are filled with 
 troops. 
 
sii:ai: or s.\ i.i.v.v.i//. 
 
 17 
 
 I77!i. 
 
 Sept. 
 I'.tli. 
 
 (iciiiTiil liiiicolu arrives witli lirtccn Iiiiii(lr(>i| Aiiicriciin troopH.' lU 
 (•iiiii|»H near 1)^- and to the left of'tliu division of Noaillcs. 
 
 Siihinlii!/. .M. D'Kstaiiifr, accoinpanicil hy tiie (n< iiadla-x u[' Xwxi'Ywnn 
 ami the ^//(/xstvow ot'CJianiiiaf-iiP and oCdiiadcloiipc, sunwiions (iencral 
 Prc'vost to siim-ndcr.- He asi;s twelve lioms lime' to consider the 
 proposition, and takes advantajic of this interval to introduce into the 
 
 ' 'I'lic iL'lli ••iiiil l.'ltli Were (jcciiiiioil in cTussini,' tlu! Aiiioriraii ti-iHi|.s, (•(iiiiiimii(lo.| \,y 
 ficiifial l,inciilri, (ivor llic Savaiiiiiili river :it /,iilil)',i lerry. Oiitlio urtcrnnon nf tlic l.'itli, 
 till! lPHi],s fn.iii Aii-iistii, undor (loiirral .McIiiKwii, loriiiod a junctiun with tlicm. Hoiiit; 
 lulviscd .111 (lie l.lth that Count D'HMuinj; had landed and that ho \v.,uld tlnit nij,'lit taku 
 l"ist nint- miles IVcmi Savannah, (lenoral Linculn niuvcid with his ontire ciinnnand and v\\. 
 camja'd nt ('herokco Hill. The liilluwih- day the I'rerieh and Ana lienn forces wcro 
 united for fulure joint operations aLrairist the eity. The enemy having' destroyed the 
 hoals ,.n the Savannah river, eonsideralile delay was eneoun(ered hy Ueneral Lineoln in 
 elVeeiinf; ii er. ssin- with his command at /uhly's IVrry. lint <mo canuo being found at 
 tirst, and General Lincoln heing extremely anxious to throw sonui cavalry across the 
 river so that they could reconnoitre and follow the movements of the enemy, I'uhiski ae- 
 com|,lished thisol.jecl hysendin-one man at ■! time, with his aeecoilremenls. in this caiKJo 
 and swinimin- the horse alonjrside. ■• In this manner" says Captain lientalou, " between 
 twenty and thirty horse accomplished a landing on the other hank, ol' wlinm I'ulaski j;ave 
 me the command." With this litllc f .rce Captajn l{entalou at once prosed forward, find- 
 in- the advanced posts of tlie enemy evacuated, until late in the eveninir of the next day 
 he came in si-hl of the IJritish lines around Savannah. About twelv .,'clork the s-inn" 
 ni,;:ht he was joined by Count I'ulaski with the re.^t of the l.e^iiori and .some v.ilunteers. 
 Karly in the morning an express was overtaken with a letter fr.im Counl D'Kstaing to 
 
 •'';'"■'■■'' '■' I".'""l als. one to I'ulaski in which, after informing him of his landin.i," he 
 
 ''"''' r '"''^'i' tiattering things, " that kmiwing C(,unt I'ulaski was there, lie was sure 
 
 he would be the liist to join him." Although it r.nru'd heavily. I'ulaski instantlv hastened 
 to lieanlieu where he foimd ])'Ks(aiug. ami wlo're. in the language of Cajitain" I!,.ntalo„, 
 the two •■cordially embraced and expressed mutual happiness at the nu'eting." The 
 junction of (ieneral Lincoln's forces with those of Count U'Kstaing. bei'ore Savannah, was 
 eflected on the Klih. See Letter of General J.incolu to C,ui-rcss. umler date, Charleston 
 October I'L', 1 7Tlt. 
 
 -This demand was made by Count D'K.stain..- before General Lincoln had effeetcd a 
 .liinetion will, him. -CncNr D'Lsr.viN.i sc.mmons his Kxcki.i.hncv. Gknkii.m, I'lu;- 
 viisT, TO .SI iiui;.m,i;h iii.MsKi.f n, riiE Aiims of iiis .M.\,ii:.stv tii*: Ki.vii m' I'u.vnck," 
 The Count was flushed with the victory which he had recently won by the defeat of Lord 
 .Macartney at Grenada. Compare .hmnwl ,./ /I,, Sirjr of Sncnmah. Il!rhi,,t.,i,\ h',„,„l 
 G<i:.,tl<, No. \V:a, Dec. II, 177!l. 
 
 ■ A truce of only twelve hours scorns t.) have been originally contemplated. It was 
 subsequently extended, however, until the afternoiui of the 17th, 
 
IH 
 
 siHtiH or SA r.i.v.v.i// 
 
 177!>. cih- Colonel Mnitliiml. witli ^*ix liiiiiilrtil Scotclmicii wliom lie Iia.l 
 liroii-li) I'lDiii I'orl Ifoviil.' I''iimll_v I'lvvo-' uiihwims tliiif he has df- 
 ciiU'd to (Icic'liil llilll.xrir.-' 
 
 Sc'pt. MiiikIiiii. 'V\\v s(|iiailrnii olM. (Ic Mpivcs rcMiiiiu'H its niu'lionifrc. 'I'lic 
 'JIttli. tVifiiiti's /.(( Fni-hun'c 11)1(1 /.<' liliuirlii anchor oil' Ossaha in the divisiun 
 of M. dc la Motti'-iiiiinct. 'I'ht')' oliscivr on hoard the (Icncral's sliip 
 tlic siL'nal to hind their troops: whicli eomniand is exceuteil. 
 
 2l8t. TiKsiliu). Diirin'; tiiis, and tiie siieeeediny seven or ei-lit days, (Vesl 
 
 troops iVoni the llt'et iirrivt- in ciuiip. 
 
 I 
 
 oo 
 
 I Hi 
 
 I. ]\((hi(Kilii_i/. At seven o'clock in liie morning' onr camp is moved to 
 
 I CnlMiicI Miiilliiiid wii!< Hi H.'iiuliiit wh.'ii lie was siiirj cil di tliu rclicliif S.iviuuiali. 
 
 H.' bniii-lil Willi liiiii adi hirliiiu'iit nf iilioiil fiulit Imiiilivil im^ri, l-iuiiteimiit Coloiiul 
 ('iii;;iT, with liis Miiall fdiiaiiaiid, liail iJivviim.il)- leiiain'd tniiii Siiiiliury and united liix 
 forces witli tlioso of Ocriorid JVevcwt. 
 
 -' '• On (he evening' of the IClh Cdldnel Maitland arrived at Dawfiiskie, and, findin- the 
 
 paiisa^'e up the river in jmsH'ssi f the l-'reneh. he wa.s dldijxed t.i resiirt t<i surne other 
 
 way (.f •;ettiii;,' irjlci the town. While he was endiarra,s.se.| in this dilheiihy, fortune threw 
 into liis hands .some nei/ro DshiTnien who were well aei|iiainted with all the creeks throu-h 
 the marsh, and who informed him of ii passaj,'e called Wall's cut, through Scull creek, hy 
 which sniall boats eould jiass at hi;ih water. The tide and a thick fo- favored the exc'eu- 
 tion (if his plans and enabled liini with -reat dithenlly to -et throu-h. On the ensuin;.' 
 ■''•'■I'' " '"' 'eaelnd the town, unpcreeived by the i'Vcnch. 'J'he aeiinisition of this for- 
 midable reeiiforeement, lieaded by an .'xperienccd and brave ofliecr, clfecled u complete 
 change in the dispirited garrison. A sigmil was made, and three cliecrs given which rung 
 fnJiii one end of the town to the other." [M'Vatl'a llUlmi/ o/ Cunjin, vol. n, j, L'.'t.'i.'] 
 Compare lliiiiKjUm'x Jini/iil (iiKittr. No. ii.'U, Dec. II, 177!), 
 
 Thus strcn,i;thened, I'revost who had procrastinated in order that he might coMcentrate 
 wiihin the lines of Savannah ihi.s formidable detachnimt with its gallant and experienced 
 conimuuder, immediately responded "the unanijnous Determinatimi has been that though 
 we cannot look upon our Tost as absolutely impregnable yet, that it may and on-ht t(j be 
 defended : therefore, the evening fiun to be lired this Kvening, at an ilour belore Sun- 
 
 d(jwn. shall be the Signal I'or rci imencing Hostilities, agreeable to your Ivxcellency's 
 
 I'ropo.sal." During the Confederate struggle for Imlependenee, this Wall's cut afforded 
 the United States Gun Itoals the means of entering Savannah river in the rear of I'ort 
 
 i'ulaski. wilhuut encountering the fire of its batteries; thereby c plulely isolating that 
 
 fortification, and covering I'ederal wiuking parties engaged in the erection of investing 
 bnttcrioa at \'enns's point and on the mirth end of IJird's island. 
 
s //■:/;/: of' s.l IM.V.V.I/A 
 
 19 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 ^1 
 
 Iji'.K a \i>ni\hy six luiiidivil toiscs [I'JOO yunls] ili.^lniit iVom (lie city of 
 Siiviinimli. Tlii.s city, .situiitcd on tiu! .soiitiicni hank of a river ol* tlio 
 .xMinr name, appcarH to he liuilt, witli considcraMc rc^nlarity, oC wood 
 ami luicli, npon a nniforni plain witii a samiy soil, and if< hounded on 
 tlie south hy n forest of thinly scattered pines, and on the north hy the 
 river Sii vaniiali. Froiu east to west it Inw an extent of ahout nix hun- 
 dred toises [lliOO yards], and in depth is eonsideral.ly narrower. It 
 did not seem to us that it [lossessed puhlic huildiii-s other than a tem- 
 ple [chiu'ch] which occu[)ies a central position.' On the ri;;ht and left 
 are two swami)s which render it inaccessihie from those directions. 
 The enemy, with a frij- ate carrying' uine-po(nider guns, and two galleys 
 armed with eighteen poun<lerguns, stationed in the river at the western 
 extremity of the city, had nothing to fear from the rear, or from the 
 right and left. It was noeossary therefore to i)rovide for the defense 
 only of the front or .southern exposure of the city. [lero the enemy 
 had an entrenchment and .several batteries, the approach to this en- 
 trenchment heing deli'mled hy a hut is, pidiMndes, and vhcruHj' dc /Hm: 
 These works were strengthened hy three redoubts i)Iaced triangidarlv 
 at the extremity or western part of the line, and two mortar batteries, 
 eiU'h moimting three or four pieces, which alforded a cross lire with 
 two other redoubts erected in advance of the left of the entrenchments. 
 Such was the situation of the enemy at the time of our arrival ; but 
 the Knglish improved the interval employed by us in the erection of 
 our counter l)atteries, by strengthening their position and by throwing 
 up new works. 
 
 Our army which had taken up the line of march at sovon o'ehu'k in 
 the morning to form a new camp six hundred toises [1200 yards] dis- 
 tant from the city, arrived at eight o'clock at the place of encampment. 
 It was a wood of scattered pines through which we coidd okserve the 
 
 I The ruioroMce is pr.ibably to C/irixl Church; that is tho nrUjlmd Umhiin.i, whirli of- 
 cupioJ tlio sito ol' tlio prtwnt slnii'ture. Thu city of .'^.•iv.iniiiili eouhl not, iit tliis time, 
 b.mst of more than lour Imndiml and tliirty houso.'i. Using the present names of the 
 streets, its boundaries were the ii^you the north, LUioiln MrcH on tho east, Hmilh linmd 
 street on tiie south, und Jeferm, »lre,:t on tho west. Outside the limits indicated, were 
 some scattering Iiouses ; particularly to tlie east und west. 
 
20 
 
 SIKGK OF SAY AX XML 
 
 1779. lioiises of Savammli. Iloro tlio troe.x wore cut down lor a space suni- 
 cieiit to aceoimiUKlatc tlie I'licainpniont, which occiipiod about sixteen 
 liundred toises (::J200 yards), connnencing at tlie swamp to tlio enemy's 
 right, or (m the west of the eity, and extending to the swamp on ids left, 
 or on the east of tlie city. Quiet reigned on the northern side of the 
 city looking toward the river, in whieii the armed store-ship LoTndte, 
 carrying a battery of twelve poinulor guns, and the two galleys mount- 
 ing eighteen and twenty-four pounder guns, had a second time taken 
 position to hold in cheek the Kngiish frigate and two galleys which con- 
 stituted the only force the enemy had iu that quarter. 
 
 The sole intention of the General was so to dispose his army as to 
 completely invest the city on its southern side. The American troops, 
 numbering twelve hundred militia, two regiments, and one hundred 
 and thirty hussars and dragoons connnanded by Count Tulaski, were 
 encamped on the right of the city, resting upon the swamp which bor- 
 ders it on that side. The division of .M. de Noailles, composed of nine 
 liundred men of the regiments of Champagne, Auxerrois, Foix, Guade- 
 loupe and Martinique, camped to the right of the Americans. 
 
 The General's division, comprising one thousand men of the regiments 
 of Candjresis, Ilainault, the volunteers of Herges, Agenois, Gatinois, 
 the Cape, and I'ort au Prince, and the artillery, Mas on the right of the 
 division of Noailles and formed the centre of the French ari'ny. 
 
 Dillon's division, composed of nine hundred men of the regiments of 
 Dillon, Armagnac, and the Vohniteer Grenadiers, was posted on the 
 right of the General. 
 
 To the right of Dillon's division were the powder magazine, the cat- 
 tle depot, and a small field hospital. 
 
 0,1 the rigiiL and a little in advance of the depot were the quiirtcrs 
 of the dragoons of Conde and ol' 13elzunce, numbering fifty men and 
 commanded by M. Dijean. 
 
 Upon the same alignment and to the right of the dragoons, was M. 
 de liouvrai with his ^'olunteer Chasseurs numbering seven hundred and 
 fifty men. 
 
sii:ge of savaxxmi. 
 
 21 
 
 177!). To tlio riglit, and on.' luiiidrod toisos [liOO yards] in advance of .AF. 
 dc Rouvnii, was M. Dos Franiais, commanding tlio CJivnadicr Voluii- 
 tcers and two hundred men of dilTorcnt n-imonts. Hi; ellcctually 
 closed the right of our army and rested upon the swamp whicli bounded 
 tlie cily on the east, or its left. 
 
 One perceives from these dispositions that Savannah was completely 
 shut in from tiie front, in rear, and on each side. 
 
 Independently of the frigate La Truile' and the two gallejs which 
 had reascended the river until within cannon shot of the city, the fri- 
 gate Ln Chlmere and the armed store ship La Jiricole, which it was 
 found impossible to carry up the river to a point whence the city could 
 be bombarded, served to cut olT all communications with the islands 
 formed by the numerous river-mouths which bathe the coast ol" Georgia. 
 Having established our camp, we took possession of a largo and beau- 
 tiful house, distant two leagues from the city and situaied at a place 
 called Tlumder-bolt bluff- on the bank of an outlet of the Savannah 
 river, that wo might here locate our hospital. This served afterwards 
 as the point from whi.'h we communicated with the (loot; it being more 
 accessible and nearer than IJeaulieu, which was abandoned. 
 
 Sept. Waotmhtij, iit nine o'clock in the evening, M. do Noaiiies orders M. 
 
 22nd. doGuillauiiie, lieutenant of Crenadiors in the regiment of Guadeloupe, 
 with fifty men detailed from the differi'ut regiments composing the di- 
 vision of Noiulles, to take possession of an advanced post of the enemy. 
 M. Guiilaiime, carried away by his courage, disregards the instructions 
 of the Viscount do Noaillos and, being incautious, rushes straight upon 
 the enemy, attacking with full force a post which should have Ijoon cap- 
 tured by surprise. The enemy perceives and balUes his attempt. 1 [e is 
 repulsed i)y a very lively fire of artillery and musketry. M. do Noaillos, 
 who followed clo.sely to sui)port him, appears in person on the spot and 
 
 I This vessel anchored in the fiaek river, nearly ojiposite llie eity of Savannah, and 
 fired across t!.e .^astern end of llut.'hin.son's island. The -alleys were posted lower down 
 the river and williin cannon shot of (he enemy's eastern lines. 
 
 •-' In the .MSi. written Tuiuln-htdllilitf. 
 
22 SIEGE OF SAVAXXAIT. 
 
 1779. seoiiis tlmt success was impotssiblo, ordtM's a retreat during which we 
 lose lour soldiers of the regiment of Guadeloupe. M. de Grangies. a 
 second lieutenant of the regiment of Port an Prince, who was with him, 
 and several men are wounded. 
 
 On this occasion M. Koger, of the advanced guard, has two men 
 killed and two wounded. 
 
 Sept. Thtrsihi/. At three o'clock i-.M. a trench is opened one hundred and 
 2;]rd. lil'tj toises [.'JOU yards] from the enemy's works. Si.K companies of 
 
 picked troops are detailed for the protection of the working parties, 
 
 who complete their labors before daylight without being disturbed by 
 
 the enemy who had not observed their operations. 
 
 M. de Rouvrai, colonel of the Volunteer Chasseurs, commanded in 
 
 the stead of M. de Dillon who was sick to-day. He had for his second 
 
 oHicer iM. Udune, lieutenant colcjuel of the army. 
 
 24th. 
 
 Fi-ichii/. At seven o'clock in the morning, when a thick i'og whidi 
 arose at daylight had disappeared, the enem^- perceiveil our works 
 and made a sortie with six hundred men to attack us. They are 
 repulsed at the point of the bayonet and driven back to their entrench- 
 ments. Our imprudence in leaving our trench to pursue them exposed 
 us to the artillery fire of their redoubts and batteries, and caused the 
 loss of seventy men killed and wounded; among whom were several 
 olllcers. It is believed that the enemy sustained a loss equally great.^ 
 
 M. de Sauce, an artillery odicer, reconnoiters a position on the left 
 
 ' Tlie Kiifilish aecoiiiits affirm that tliis sortie was made with throe companies of J.ight 
 JriCantry, unJer Major Graham, lor tiie purpose of eutiein- the Kreuch out of their lines 
 so that something like a eorrect estimate of the besiogin}; forces might bo formed. It is 
 claimed that the scheme succeedod. AFajor Graham was pursued by a heavy column of 
 French wjldiers who, pressing him closely, wore drawn within range of the Kiiglish bat. 
 teries which delivered a galling fire. The liritish acknowledge a loss of twenty-olie killed 
 and wounded. Among the former was Lieutenant .McPhcrson of the 71st regiment. 
 
 See also, Ramsny's IHalori/ of the. lifvoliilion, He, vol. II, p. :i7. 'I'renton, .Mixrr.-X.xxv. 
 
 ("omparo nidwjluns h\i,ol (;„::rltr, N^). .TM, Dec. 11, 1770, in which the English 
 casualties are reported at "I !<ubaltern and 3 I'rivates killed, and I.', woun.led," \hc 
 French loss is estimated at " 11 OfEecrs and 145 Privates killed and wounded." 
 
SJEOE OF SAVAXXAJf. 
 
 23 
 
 1779. of our trench .siiitiiblc for the locution of a buttery. He commences its 
 construction at night hill, and completes it beibrc day. 
 
 Sept. At seven o'clociv on Saturday morning this battery, with four 
 25th. embrasures in which only two eighteen pounder guns had been mounted, 
 opens fire upon the city with little ell'ect. Nevertheless, the General 
 orders this battery to be remodelled so as to mount twelve 18 and 12 
 pounder guns : further, that anotlicr battery, to contain thirteen 18 
 pounder guns, should be constructed on the right of the trench, and 
 that no hring should take place luitil everything was finished. lie 
 also directed that a bomb battery of nine mortars should be located 
 one hundred toises [200 yards] to the left and a little in rear of the 
 trench, by the side of which it was decided to erect a battery of six IG 
 poiuider guns for the Americans. 
 
 Monihijj. At one o'clock in the morning, the enemy sends a strong 
 detachment to make a close reconnoissance ol" our trench. It is dis- 
 covered and compelled to retire. 
 
 The same day we are informed in camp of the capture of tlie ship 
 Experiment,' of fifty-four guns, by tlie .Sw/lftairr. .She was loaded with 
 supplies for Savannah, with wine, beer, rum, cloth, and seven hundred 
 thousanil [nnuKh of army rations. She also carried a general ollicer- 
 who was to have supplanted Provost in the connnand of Savannah. 
 
 We commence the battery on the right of the trench, at the same 
 time vigorously pushing the construction of that on the left, and prose- 
 cuting our work upon the bomlj battery. Tlie enemy does not perceive 
 our operations, and gives us but little annoyance. At imlf past twelve 
 o'clock at night a patrol, composed of some ol' our soldiers and work- 
 men, causes a very sad mistake. Despite the precautions of M. de 
 I'ont-devaux, the oHicer of the day, and M. de Tr(:'cesson, second in 
 
 I This sliip, coiniiiiUKloil by Sir Junius WMms, was captiirod on the '.'Ith. Having 
 h)st hcf bow-spi-it aiul masts ii, a gale eucouiitcred during her passage from Xcw York" 
 slio couUl iiU'cr but I'eoblo n'sistanoo. 
 
 ■-' iMajiir tienoral (iartli. 
 
24 
 
 SI ECU-: OF SAVAXXAII. 
 
 1779. conniiaiid. Ave were nnublo to prevent the troops in the trendies, who 
 were under the impression tliat they saw tlie enemy approaching in 
 force, from delivering a heavy lire upon our working parties, which 
 entailed upon us a loss of fifteen men, kilU'd and wounded. The same 
 error is repeated at four o'clock in the morning, the fire from the 
 trenches being however, of shorter duration and less lively, and the 
 laborers on this occasiim sufi'ering a loss of only two men. The alarm 
 created by this tiring spreads through our camp, and M. de Noailles 
 advances, Avith his division in colimin, through the mortar battery to 
 a point between the trenches and the city with the intention of inter- 
 cepting the sortie, lie ascertains the mistake and causes his troops to 
 return.' 
 
 Oct. Saiunhij. The ship Lh Tnnk and the galle3s open a heavy can- 
 
 2nd. nonade upon the citj- with little elfect. 
 
 3rd. 
 
 to 
 
 4th. 
 
 At midnight, on Monday, the bombardment begins. 
 
 Ciiptaiii M'Call* gives u.s a tlilloront vor-i.ui uf tliis alTaii-. 11 
 
 It ceases at 
 
 esays: " On the uiiilit 
 
 of the L'Tt). .Ma,i„r Arcl.ibald M'Artlair. witli a ,lc(a.Omicnt of the 7Ist rogiincnt. made a 
 sortR. to attack the allies in some liattorios which they were fo.istruetiiig to mount some 
 heavy cannon. After coiumeneing the attack briskly, he retired uuperceived. The 
 French attempted to gain his left flank, and the Americans his right. .M'Arthur retired 
 so suddenly and silently that the right and left ol'the allies commenced a brisk lire upon 
 each .ither, and several lives were lu.st before the mistake was discovered. 
 
 - The allied army opened the h.imhardment with lllty three pieces of heavy cannon and 
 fourteen mortars. Stedmau'.t J/is/ony „/ ih,- Anu-rhnn War, vol. Il, p. 127. j.ondon, 
 nni. Compare Lr,'s Mmairs, ,tr., vol. i, p. 1(1,^, Philadelphia, 1812. ])r. Hamsay 
 states that " the besiegers opened with nine mortars, thirty seven pieces of cann„n from 
 the landside, and si.xteen Ir.mi the water." Jfislan/ ,./ //„• J{.i-oh,liuu, .1,:, vol. n, p. 38. 
 Trenton, .miktlxx.w. Compare dor^hm', llUlury nf the UiilNd Slohx, ,t,:, vol. nt, p. 
 328. London, .mdcci.xx.wiii. M,„..h,il!'s Llfi of Wufhlwjtu,,. vol. iv, p. !HI. I'hila- 
 delphia, ISIl.j. 
 
 ]{y a shell from the bomb batterv „l I) mortars, Ensign I'ullard of the .^ec.md I!allali,m 
 of Gen. De Laneey's tirigade was killed in a house on the ]!ay. A daughter of .Mrs. 
 Thonip.son was killed in the same locality by a solid shot. 
 
 In couimcuting upon the ell'ect of the bombardment, T. \\ . Moore, who was an aid-de- 
 
 * lli.-t'n-!i of nem-ni.,, vol. ll, ),. i.-,l). Sec also «,(/»(«;, \, Ill^tni-ii „f t/„ .1 mrri.-ai, ]V,n: v,,). ii, 
 !>. I','7, 1,oii(!(in, ITOl. ruimmii's Jlhtory of thv Iktvlutioit ,(,-., v..l.' ii, ji. ;i8, Trciil,.n, Mi.c n.x.v.w' 
 donlon'a Hhtory of the United States, etc., vol, iir, p. ;c>8, London, Mucc i.x.xxviu. 
 
S11:GE OF SAVAXXAH. 2,') 
 
 HTO^ two o'clock, bj order of M. do Noaillos, because tlie mis-directed bomb.s fell ' 
 in great iuiiiiber.s in the trench which he conunanded. This bad firing ' 
 was occasioned by a mistake of a ship's steward who had sejit to the 
 cannoneers a keg of rum instead of a keg of beer. 
 
 Oct. 
 4th. 
 
 Momhuj. At i'our o'clock in the morning, the enemy's beat of drum 
 at day-break furnishes the signal fur unmasking our batteries on the 
 right and lel't ol' the trench, and that of the Americans to the left of 
 the mortar battery, and we begin to cannomule and bombard the city 
 and the enemy's works with more vivacity than precision. The can- 
 noneers being still under the influence of rum, their excitement did not 
 allow them to direct their pieces with proper care. Besides, our pro- 
 jectiles did little damage to works which were low and constructed of 
 sand. The ellect of this very violent lire was fatal only to the houses 
 and to some women who occupied them.' 
 
 Protected by their entrenchments, the enemy could not have lost 
 many men, if we may judge from the effect of their lire upon our works 
 which had been constructed liastily, and with far less skill and care 
 than tlieirs.- 
 
 All our batteries ceased firing at eight o'clock in the morning that 
 we might repair our left battery which had been shaken to pieces by 
 Its own fire. A dense, fog fiivors our workmen. We open fire again 
 
 camp to General I'revost durin- tl.c siojro, sajs that the town was t.,rn to pieces by the 
 shells and shot, and that the sliricks of women and ehiUlron were lieard on every side 
 " .Many poor eroatures," he adds, "were killed in trying to get in their cellars, or hide 
 themselves under tlie bluff of Savannali river." 
 
 ' During tile progress of the siege, considerable diimage was done to buildiiL-s and per- 
 sonal property in the town of Savannali, by the fire from the investing batteries \nion- 
 other premises, the quarters of Anthony Stnkes, (^hief .Justice of the colony, were burned 
 by a siiell from the allied army, and most of his papers were destn.yed. IVmi- ,>f the 
 (\m.UM„m oflh,- BnlM Chm.., r/c, I'reface iii,also p. 110. I,ondon, MDCCI.XXXIII 
 
 - In or.lcr to avoid the projectiles, (Jovernor Sir James Wright and Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor John Graham, on the 4th of October, moved out of the town and occupied a tent 
 next to Colcinel Maitland's. on the right of the British lines. 
 
26 'SUJGI-J OF SAVAXXA//. 
 
 rn^ at ton o'cliKk in tliu niornino-, aiul continuo it with little intoniii.ssion 
 
 until Ibnr o'clock iil'tcr midnight.' 
 Oct. ("iiinioniuling aiul honibariling at long intervals. Wc begin to lose 
 
 6th. conlidence upon discovering that all this heavy firing will not render 
 
 the assault less dillicult. We should not have constructed works. In 
 
 doing so we allorded the English time to strengthen theirs. We regret 
 
 that we did not attack on the very first day.- 
 
 1 .■ 
 
 7th. rhnrsihy. A very lively cannonade. We bonihai'd and throw car- 
 
 casses into Savannah which set the city on fire ibr the third time. 
 
 ' Tho liombardiiieiit of tl.c 5th wa.s um.s..ally severe. -A Mulutlo .Man and tl.rco 
 Nejiiues were killed in the Lieutenant Governor's ("eliar. In the Jiveninjr, the House of 
 the Late Mrii. Lloyd, near the Church, was burnt hy a shell, and seven Xejiroes lost their 
 Lives in ii. WhiLst the House was on I'ire, one of the hottest Cannonadin-s lliey had yot 
 made was kept up to prevent I'eoplc from extiufiuishin.L: the Flames. In the \i-ht another 
 Shell tell thn,u-h Mr. Laurie's House in liroughton Street, which killed two Women and 
 two Children who were under it." Ii!r!w,tnns Royal Gur.vltc, No. 3;U, Dec 11, \"\) 
 
 ■-' When the French Heet Hrst appeared off the (Jor-i.-i coast the Kn-lisl'i had but twenty- 
 three pieces of cannon mounted upon their works amund Savannaii. On the day of the 
 assault one hundred and twenty-three guns were in jinsition.* Intelligent Ifritish oilieers 
 who were present during the siege, admitted that the Froich army alone could have' 
 carried the c.ty in ten minutes, without the aid of artillery, had the assault been made at 
 the earliest moment. 
 
 The energy and skill displayed by the Knglish in strengtheninir their old w,uk« in 
 erecting new ones, in dismantling tlie vessels of war in the river and placing their -'uus 
 in battery to the south, east, and west of Savannah, and, above all, the introduction of 
 Colonel .Maitlaiid's forces into the city at a most opportune moment, leHect great credit 
 upon those charged with the defense 
 
 If. in.stead of parleying, D'Kstainghad insisted upon an immediate response to his sum- 
 mons for surrender, the probabilities are that I'revost would have acceded to his demami 
 Had he refused, there is little doubt but that the investing army could immediately 
 have swept over the half finished entrenchments, and restored the capital of Georgia 
 to the possession id' the itevolutionists. Helay proved fatal to the enterprise. 
 
 * '^te.lman ■■ asserts that wlien the Fivi.rh (ir.st l„mle.l •• not more tl.an ten or twelve |,i..c,.s of 
 arnllery a|,|w«re,l upon the fortifi..ations „t Savunnal. ; but so ineessanllv did the .r,„.,is„„ l„bor in 
 strenjrtheningaial enlariring the .,1,1 works, and in erecting new n-douhl's an.l l,atteri,-s thai l,ef„re 
 the con,.lusioi. of th.' siep. near one liundred pie.es ..r.ann.m w,.r.- ni..iinl...l " 
 
 ■■ On ih.. «p|,r.«,.-h ..r ih,. Fn.nch," says <f..neral Henry I,..,.. •• lew guns w..,v ni,mnt,..I in ,h,. 
 w.,iks.,l Ih,. lM,..iny ; Imt sn..h had Imtu the vast exertions ..t li..n.T»l I'levosl, that n.nv n.arlv 
 """ '"""''•' '-li'Ii-'-''"! calihers wer.' in lull array," M, „n,ir., .1,:, vol. i, ,,. in:) }M,iIu.l..l,,hiu 
 
 " Ilhtvnj n/l/it Armriaiii ]y,ir. viil, ii, |) lis. I,uii.l.iii, 17!ii, 
 
SIE<; !■: () F SA VA XX. I /A 27 
 
 wi Wo coii.stnict ii now tvenrh in a.lvanoo of onr loft battory to persuade 
 
 Oct. 7. !''^' ^■"^■'"•^ *'"^^ ^^'"' ^" ""'' '"^ ■>■'''* contomplato an assault, but that our 
 ■ intention is to push our approaches up to his works. 
 
 Stii. 
 
 Fn</(,//. We cannonade and bombard feebly. The onomy does little 
 more, lie seems to be husbandin- his strength for the anticipated at- 
 tack. Informed of all that transpires in onr army, he is cognizant of 
 the trilling effect produced by his fire upon us in our trenches. Every- 
 thing forces us to tiie conclusion that we must, on the morrow, make a 
 general assault upon the city. The length of time requisite for the 
 operations of a siege, the exhaustion of the supplies of the (leet, and 
 the pressing dangers resulting from our insecure anchorage decide the 
 General to take this step.' 
 
 
 idem. Provost asks permission of M. D'Estaing to send from the city the 
 women and children, several of who-n had already boon killed by our 
 bombs and cannon balls.'^ To this request the Count rotiu-ns a refusal.^ 
 
 ' On the n.orni,,;. „f the 8th Major l/KnCant, with five u.en, despite a brisk lire from 
 he I5r,.,sh hues, succeeded i,. kindlius the a/.,,!,:.. The dampness of the atmosphere 
 however, and the .noisturo of the newly felled trees prevented the success of this bold 
 undertaking. See A>r,m«,/.s /fi,ton, of the Ueoolnthn, etc., vol. Ii, p. 38 Trenton 
 MDCCl.xxxv. Cotupare a„„/on, llktory of the UalUd Slate,, .^c, vol iir p 3'>y 
 Jjondon, MDccr.xxxvni. ' ^' 
 
 ^Captain .lohnSin.pson of the Ceorgia Loyalists was killed by a ..•ape shot, while 
 walkM.j; in Major \Vr,.hfs redoubt. Buri, ,he day n.any houses were dama-^ed '^ Th e 
 f.n.,, .o,UuH.ed ve,-yhotallXi.ht,auda great nun.ber of Shells were thro';vn; one of 
 ^vl,.ch fell ,n,o the Provost, killed two Men on the Spot, and wounded nine others son 
 of when, died s,„ee. Another burst in the Cellar, uu,ler the Ofliee of the Oo.un.issioner 
 
 (.hums k,l ed one Negro, and wounded another." U;,-i.,t.„,, R„,,„l Oa.ette, No. 334 
 
 l-'t,C. 1 X , 1 I j iF, ' 
 
 'On the :i!.th of SeptMnber " (leneral Mcintosh solicited (leueral Lincoln's permis- 
 sw.n to send a flag. w,th a letter to General I'rovost, to obtain leave for Mrs. Mclnlo-h 
 and h,s lan.,ly, and such other fen.ales and children as n.ight choose, to leave (he town 
 dunng .he s,ege or until the contest shouhl be decided. .Major .Fohn Jones, aid ,o (icn- 
 eral Mc nfnsh, was the bearer of the flag and letter, and found Mrs. Mcintosh and family 
 -n a cellar, where tluj bad been conliued several days. Indeed, tho.se damp apartn.ents 
 lunnshcd the only safe retreat for females and children during the sic^e General Pro 
 vo.«t refused to grant the request, in.agining that it would restrai.. the bcsic^e-s from 
 
SIKGK OF SAVAXXAf/. 
 
 Sdturdaij. At niiilniglit.' we takf arms and tlic ariiu- is lortiicd in 
 tlnvo (•(.luiiiiis; tlic (irst. coiiiiiiiiiKk-d hy M. Dillon, under the rienenil, 
 the second by M. de Steding, eolonel of intantry, and the third, in- 
 tended as a reserve corps, hy the Viscount de Noailles. The Americans, 
 by themselves, constituted n third column of attack; and the troops in 
 the trenches, commanded by M. de .Sahliere, supported by the chasseurs 
 of Martinique, were to make a sortie for a feigned attack. The van- 
 guard, under the command of M. de Betisy, moved in front of the 
 (ieneral's column. It was ordered to take possession of a redoubt on 
 the right capable of inilicting injury on the (Ieneral's column which 
 would be obliged to pass it in making its attack upon the enemy's 
 entrenchments. 
 
 At this [loint the cohunn of M. de Steding was to incline to the left, 
 separate it.self from the other cohnnns, cross the road leading to 
 Augusta, and assault a battery and the entrenchments on the enemy's 
 extreme right occupied by Scotch troops under the couunand of .M. de 
 Maitland. The American column was to move above the Augusta 
 road and make its attack between the two French columns 
 
 When these three columns, each divided into three ba' talions, should 
 respectively arrive at their dill'erent points of attack, they were directed 
 to form themselves so that they might present to the enemy three di.s- 
 tinct heads of columns of attack. M. de Noaille.s, with his reserve 
 
 lliruwinj; bjuibs and i-artMsses aiiiDii^' the liouso., to set them (Jii firo." M'CilCs U'-unjln, 
 V(j1. II, J). L'fiO. 
 
 Doubtless this refusal, euupled witli the faet tliat I'revost liad taken ailvantayo of the 
 truce, consequent upua the demand for a surrender of the eitv, to slrenixthen bis ])osition 
 and introduce reinforcements, influenced the commanders of the allied army in rejeetin" 
 an aii|ilication,so humane in its character, which otherwise would cert:iinly have received 
 their imm.Mliatc sanction. Such is the intimation given in the letter of refusal returned 
 by Count D'lOstaing and General Lincoln. 
 
 "This humane rciiucst," says Dr. Kanisay,* was, from motives of policy, refused. The 
 combined army was so conlident fjf succe.>*s, that it was suspected a desire of sceretinir the 
 plunder lately taken from the inhabitants of .'^outh Carolina was a considerable olijeet 
 covered under the specious veil of humanity. It was also presumed that a rcfus.d w.iuld 
 expedite a surrender." 
 
 1 i,c. at 12 o'clock I'.M on Triday. 
 
 *IIi»tiinj i'ftliL li, ru'iilion, , t<-., vul, ii, p. 0,9. Trrntirn, mihci.xxxv. 
 
Sli:(;i-: OF SA IM.V.V.I/A 
 
 29 
 
 
 n"70^ corps, was t(M)(Tni)v an ('inincMuv from wliirli lH'n)nl(]()I)S(M-v<Mnvrvtl^ 
 ^ that should transpiiv. In tlic event of success lie was to advauco to 
 the most suital)le points ; and. in case of a reverse, cover the retreat. 
 He had field artillery with him. 
 
 By three o'cdock in the morning all our dispositions had been per- 
 fected. At the head of M. de Stedin-'s column were posted sixty vol- 
 unteers selected Ironi all the corps : and M. Roman, a Freiudiman. and 
 mi ollicer (.f the American Artillery, was put in command of them. 
 This ollicer assured us that he had built the defences of Savannah and 
 was acquainted with all its environs.' He is charged with the cmiduct 
 of this column. We commence marching hy the left to attack the city 
 on its right, where its western side, as we have before intimated, is 
 fortified by three redoubts located triangularly. The troops in the 
 trenches were ordered to make the false attack a (luarter of an hour 
 betbre day, and to engage the enemy prior to the commencement of 
 the true attack. The columns marched by divisions, with easy gait 
 and leisurely, that they might arrive at the point of attack at Uie 
 designated hour. 
 
 Upon emerging from the woods M. de Steding asks M. Roman how 
 far his point of attack was from the redoubt which the vanguard was 
 
 ' M. H„„K.„ evi,lo.itly rHcTrcl to the Cortitications which had been cuustructod hy (he 
 
 Amer,ca„s l„r the prnteotio ' .S>va,.Mah, then the capital of Georj^ia, prior to the c-iure 
 
 .he cty by ( „lonel Campbell in Deccnber 1778. The resistance offered by IJcncral 
 Howe, on this occa.sion, wa. feeble and confused. Unable to retain po.sscssion of the city 
 the An.cncans retired with a lo.s of about one Innulred killed on the Ueld or drowned in' 
 the retreat, and thirt.y-ei.^h. otlieors and four Inuulred and tlfiocn privates captured 
 l'orty-c,j:bt cannon and twcniy-thrce n.ortar.s fell into the hands of the enemy* It 
 would seen, that for s.me time after this capture the Knglish did not materially Jilter or 
 .tren^then the works which they found existing upon the eastern, western, and southern 
 e.xpo.sures ol the cty. fpon the appearance of the I'reneh fleet, however the utn.n.t 
 acfvity was displayed. In addition to the garrison, between four and five hundred 
 negroes were put lo work upon the lines; and, so rapidly did the labor progress, that 
 betore the [• reach and Anu'rican batteries opened f,re, the IJritish had raised around the 
 tmvn thnteen substantial redoubts, and fifteen gun batteries, u.ounting eighty pieces of 
 cannon these batteries were manned by sailors from the Fowey, the IJo.se, and the 
 Keppei, and by mariners and volunteers from other sliips and transports in the river 
 Hesides these guns in fi.xed positions, field pieces were distributed along the line. 
 *See Hammy, HUl.ry uf the ll,,..l„tl,.n, ,t.:. vol. „, ,,. (i. Tr,-nt,.n. mikxi.xx.vv. 
 
30 SIKdi: OF S.W.WXAll. 
 
 1 mO. to assault. M. Roman, wlio (•oniniandcd tlicsc sixty voliintoors .simply 
 in tlic rapacity ol" a fjiiidc. replied lie Iciu-w iiotliiiif,' licyoiid his own 
 eonimand, that he was unac(|iiainted witii tlie siirroiindiiif's of the city, 
 tiiat the works had hccn altered since the enemy had taium po.ssession 
 of them, and that ho woidd act as guide no lonfjer. 
 
 At live o'clock in tiie mornini;; tiie three columns, wliicli had observed 
 a similar order of march, arrived within about eif,dity toi.ses [1(10 yards] 
 of tiie edge of tiie wood which borders upon Savannali. Here tlie 
 liead of column was halted and we were ordered to form into platoons. 
 Day begins to dawn and we grow impatient. Tliis movement is 
 scarcely commenced when we are directed to march forward, (luick 
 time, tiie vanguard inclining a little to tlie right, tlio column of M. de 
 Steding to the left, and the column of tlu( General moving straight to 
 the front. M. de Noailles, with his reserve corps, proceeds to a small 
 eminence from wiiicii lie could observe all our movements and repair 
 to any point where the exigencies might demand his presence. 
 
 At iialf past five o'clock wc hear on our right and on the enemy '.s 
 left a very lively (ire of musketry and of cannon upon our troops from 
 tlie trenches who iiad commenced the false attack.^ A [\'W minutes 
 
 ' Oil tilt' iii^:lit lit' tlio Sth iif Ootolier, .Iiuiics Curry, .sor^'oiuit iiiiijur of tlio Cliarleatuu 
 Groiiadiors, dcseited to tlie eiioiiiy and ooiiiiiiuniciited to the Kii^'lisli the geiicnil pliiii of 
 attack concerted by the comiiiaiidors of the allied army. Thus advisicil of the true cha- 
 racter of the a.ssault, and informed .jI' tin; point where the frciiuiiie demonstration would be 
 made. I'rcvo.st, leaviiij,' only a .small foii-e to -uard the left .if lii.s works, r -■entrated 
 his troops near the Sprinu'-ll ill and Khene/.er batteries, anil placed I, ieutenant Colonel Jlait- 
 laud in command of that portion of the line, (leneral Isaac Huj,'er wa.s ordered, with five 
 hundred men drafted from -the militia of the first and second brigades, general William- 
 son's, and the first and second battalions of Charleston .Militia," to march to the left of 
 the enemy's lines and remain as near them as he possibly eoulil, without being discovered, 
 until four o'clock in the tnorniiiir. at which time the troops from the trenches were to 
 begin their attack upon the Hritish entrenchments. He was then to advance and attack 
 as near the river as practicable. Altlmngh this was intended simply as a feint, should a 
 favorable opportunity offer, he was to improve it and push into the town. 
 
 .\ftcV wading half a mile tliroiigh the rice field whii-h bordered the city on the east, 
 General linger rcaehcil his point of attack and, at the appointed time and place, niiidc 
 the as.sault. The enemy was on the alert, lie was received with music and a heavy fire 
 of cannon and mu>kctry, before which he retreated with a loss of twenty-eight men. Xo 
 other demonstration was made by this command. The attack by the troops I'roni the 
 
sii:ai: of ,v.i vaxxmi. 
 
 31 
 
 17711. iirtci'wanJs \vi' aro (liscovLTod hy tlu- I'lK'iiiy'.s .sciitiiu'ls wlio lire a few 
 8liots. Tlio (ii'iRM'al now ordfi's an advance at double (juick, to slioiit 
 VIrc k lioij, and to beat tbe charge.' The enemy oi)en.s upon uh a 
 veiy bri.sk lire of artillery and nuisketry which, however, doeis not pre- 
 vent the vanguard from advancing ui)on the redoubt, and the right 
 column upon the entrenehnients. The ardor of our troopss and the 
 dillicultie.s ollered by the ground do not permit u.s long to preserve our 
 rank.s. Disorder begins to prevail. The head of the colunni pene- 
 trates within the entrenchments but, having marched too quickly, is 
 not supported by the rest of the column which, arriving in confusion, 
 is cut down by di.scharges of grape shot from the redoubts and batteries, 
 and the musketry lire from the entrenchments. We are violcntlv 
 repulsed at this point; and, instead of moving to the right, this [Dillon's] 
 colunni and the vanguard fall back toward the left. Count D'Estaiii" 
 receives a musket shot almost within the redoubt, and M. Ik'tizi is 
 here several times wounded. 
 
 The column of M. de Steding, whidi moved to the left, while tra- 
 versinga muddyswamp full of brambles, lo.se.v its fonnation and nolonger 
 preserves any order. This swamp, upon which the enemy's entrench- 
 ments rested, formed a slope which .served as a glacis to them. The 
 firing is very lively ; and, although this column is here most seriously 
 injured, it cros.ses the road to Augusta that it may advance to the 
 enemy's riglit which it was ordered to attack. On this spot nearlv all 
 the Volunteers are killed. The Karon de Steding is here wounded. 
 
 trcnolR'S, upon the centre of the HrllLsh lines, wa.^ feebl)- iniiintained and projneed no 
 inipre,s.sion. It \va.s repulsed hy the troops under tlie command of J-ientenant Colonel 
 Hamilton of llie .North Carolina regiment of Loy;lli^ts. 
 
 1 Dr Itanisay* as.serts tliat the real attack upon the .'^iiring.Ilili battery was made with 
 three thousand five hundred Krench troops,. -ix hundred Continentals, and three hundred 
 and fifty of the Charleston .Alilitia. 
 
 To the hrave and ueeoinplished soldier, fiieulenant Colonel Maitland, did General I're- 
 vost assign the defense of his right, the post of honor and of danger. 
 
 *lli.4,ir,i „f the Hce.ftuti.m. tir.. vol. ir, p. ili). Trenton, mik, i.\xxv. Compar,' M.ir^luiir^ I i/c 
 u/ iri-.«///».'/MH, vol. IV, p. Ull. I'liiladi-lpliia. ISO.-,. 
 
 ThisslHIi'ini.ntof the slrenKlli of the ussanlling cihinms is adoptod hy Dr. (fonlon, Ulistory 
 of the Lhidd SltiUa,de.,\o\. n\,\\'AW>. l.ondon, .MDtci.xxxviii.) 
 
32 
 
 SIHdl-: OF .V.ITM. V.V.I//, 
 
 1770. Till' coliimii iifM. IVKsliiin-r, and tlif kiiuIm'iI vimfiiiiinl which hud rc- 
 '~^ tivati'd to till" left, at rived here as soon as the coliiimi of M. di' Sti'din<j; 
 and thivw it into uttiT conrusion. At this nionu'nt cvcrytliin^r is in 
 siiiii disorder that tlic rorrnatioiiH are no loii;;er preserved. The road 
 to Aiif,Mista is ehol<ed ii|). Jt here. Iietwc en two iiiipraetieahle morasses, 
 consists of an artilieial causeway upon which all our soldiers, who had 
 disenjiaged themselves from the swamps, eoUected. Wo are crowded 
 together anil badly pressed. Two eighteen poinider gnns. upon field 
 carriages, charged with eannister and [»laced at the head of the road, 
 caus(> terrible slaughter. The musketry fire from the entrenchments 
 is concentrated upon this wpot and upon the swamps. Two English 
 galleys and one frigate' sweep this point with their broadsides, and the 
 redoubts and batteries use only grai)e shot which th(>y shower down 
 upon this locality. Notwithstanding all this, our ollicers endeavor to 
 form into columns this nniss which docs not retreat, and the soldiers 
 themselves strive to regain their lanks. Scarcely have thoy commenced 
 to do this, when the General orders the charge to be beaten. Three 
 times do our troops advance ch mtmc up to the entrenchments which 
 cannot be carried.- An attemi)t is nuide to penetrate through the 
 swamp on our lelt to gain the enemy's right. More than half of those 
 who enter are either killed or remain stuck fast in the mud. 
 
 The American column advanced, in good order, to its point of attack. 
 At the first discharge of a g\ni, two-thirds of the Virginia militia detach 
 thenhselves from it. (July three hundred men of the regular regiments 
 and I'ulaski's dragoons remain ; and, altiiough repul.sed with .severe loss, 
 
 I The aniiud lirii; (icriiiaiin! dt'liveroil a galling lire. 
 Tho low casualties Hiportod in the Uriti.-li ranks, and the terriljle slaughter with 
 whieh tho assaulting colunuis were punished, advise us how adniinihly I'reviist had pro- 
 tected his troops by cnlrenchnients and redouhts, and how skillfully and rapidly the 
 besieged handled their muskets and field and siege pieces. 
 
 The loss sustained by the Knglish was remarkably small, (ieneral I'rev.ist reported 
 U) killed, Oli wounded,! missing, tS deserted : total !.■).■>. Captain T. \V. .Moore, aid 
 to (ieneral I'revost, in a lett.T t^i his wile under date Savannah, November Itli, ITVll, 
 estimates the entire loss in killed, wounded, and mif^sing during the sie«e, at lOli; and 
 Sledman says, " tho loss of the garrison, in tlie whole, did not exceed one hundred and 
 twentv." 
 
sii:i!i: OF s.\ I ■. I. V.V.I//. 
 
 :;:{ 
 
 
 
 ^70^ rMiini n'lK'iitcdly to \\w assiiiilt. (Iiiis fiiniisliiiin- n |,ii||iMi,l illiislnitioii 
 ^ of tlii'ir viilor.' 
 
 'Tlic priiciiiatiiiM liy tho Aliiniciii InrcoH in tlii.s iijcnii.ral.li^ u».-iuilt iH mi> »M(lly 
 i);ii"r.Ml by our unknowti writer, ihnt. in (lio intorcst ..ririitli iiiid iih ii proper H,ip|.|,.i,„.,it 
 to tlio niirralivc!, w.) cinnot rolrni.i from prcMtilin- Ww. lollnwiiif,' cxtrm't Iroin an account 
 
 proparwl by Major TbonniH I'in.kio'y •^ who wax prcninl ami an carnc>.t actor in the hi ly 
 
 tictails of this untortnnatc anil ill consiih'rcii attempt. 
 
 '• The I'rench troopn were to bu ilivided int.> three columns, the Aniericann into two, 
 th« headi of which weru t.. bu ponied in a lino, with proper intervulH nt the cdKu of the 
 wood adjoinin;; the open space of live or six hundred yards between it ami the enemy's 
 lino, and at lour o'clock in the morninjr, ii little betore daylight, the whole was, on a 
 sifiiial hoinj? !,'iven,to rush forward and all:iek the redoubts and batteries op|„,s,.d to' their 
 front. 
 
 •• The American column of the ri^tht, which adjoined the Fremdi, wer.! to be ),rccodod 
 . Ly I'ulaski, with his cavalry and the cavalry of ,'*'onth Carolina, and were to lollow the 
 I'Venoh until they approach the ed-e ,d' the wood, when they wee to break off and taku 
 their posili m. 
 
 "This ccduu.n was c.mpo.se,] of llie l,i-ht Infantry under Colonel l,aurens. of the '.'d 
 ]{e-iment of .South Carolim,, and the l.st llaltali<m of (.'harlestoii Militia. The second 
 American column eimsi.sted of the 1st and .".th .South Can.lina l!.-in.ents, commande,! by 
 liri-ndior (loueral Melntosh of <loor;;ia. A corps of Krcnch West India Troo-is. under 
 the Viscompte de Noailles, the Artillery, and some American Militia, formed the reserve 
 umler (ieneral Mneoln. 
 
 '■A faint attack by the .South Carolina Militia and (ieorjrians. under liri-adier ( ieneral 
 Ilugcr, was orderei' to he nuole on the enemy's left; but. ir.sUad of the' I'rench troops 
 being piiradod ho as to march otf at four o'clock, it was lu'ur lour bch.re the bead of that 
 column reached our front. The whole army then marched towards the i-kirl of th(^ w.mmI 
 in one h,n« eolnn,n, an,l as fh. . r.,a.d,ed the open space were to break .rft' into the 
 dillercnt eolunuis, as ordered, for ^he attack. Hut, by the tiuio the first French eohium 
 had arrived at the ,ipeu space, the day had fairly broke, when Count D'Estainj:. without 
 waitin- until the other columns bad arrived at their po,ition, placed bim.MJf at" the head 
 of the lirst column arid m.^hed lorward to the attack. ]!ut this body was so severely 
 galled by the j.'rape shot from the batteries as they advanced, and by both grajie shot and 
 muskerry when they reached the Abbalis, that, in spite of the effort of the officers, the 
 column got into confusion and broke away to their left toward the wood in that direction | 
 the sec.md and the third French columns shared sueeessiv.dy the same fate, bavin- the' 
 additional di.sciiuragoment of seeing as they marched to the attack, the repulse and lu>s 
 of their eomrules who had |ireeeile(l them. 
 
 ■• Count I'ulaski who, with the cavalry, j.reeeded the right column of the Americans 
 proceeded gallantly until stopped by the Abbatis and, before he eoul.l I'oree through it, 
 received his mortal wonml. In the meantime, Colonel l.aurens, at the bead of the Lb'ht 
 Infantry, followed by the L'd .South Carolina liegiment and 1st liattalion CharkMou 
 
 *Sei. (u,rd,)H« .\iuc,h,U» „f lla .\i,u riciii, H,culiiti„n. ImcIcCs reprial, v,il. 
 
 18UJ. 
 
 Ill, p. ','•,'. lirooklyn, 
 
 5 
 
34 
 
 sii:(;e of savaxxa//. 
 
 1/79. (IciuTal I'liliiski Ikmt receives u long barreled musket shot in his 
 '^^ thi-ii.> 
 
 >J 
 
 mil 
 111 
 
 Mililia, iittiickcil llio t^iirin;: Hill nnluiilt. <rof into the ditcli and plantod flio ooKirs (if the 
 LM lio'.'iiiicnt (111 the liunii, but the imiaiiet was tiio high I'lir thein tn scale it iiiiiier so 
 heavy a lire. ami. alter iiiueh Mlanj;hter. ihej- were driven out ol' the ditch. When Ceiieral 
 ]'ula,-^ki wa.s ahuut to he removed I'roui the Held, Colonel ]>. Horry, to whom the command 
 of the cavalry devolved, asked what were liis directions, lie answered, ' follow my Lan- 
 cers to whom 1 have };ive y order of attack.' But the l.anceis were so severely -ailed 
 
 by the enemy's lire, that Ih.y also inclined olf to the left and were followed by all the 
 cavalry, bieakinj; thronyh llie American column who were attacking the Spring Hill re- 
 doubt. ]iy this time the :id American column, headed by General .Mcintosh, to which 
 1 was attached, arrived at the foot of the .Spring-llill redoubt, and such a scene of con- 
 i\i.-ion as there appeared, is not often ei|iiallcd. Colonel Laurens bad been separated IV 
 that part of bis coinniand that had not entered the Siiring-llill ditch by the cavalry wl 
 had borne it before tliini into the swamp to the left, and when we marched up, inquired 
 i/ wc /mil mn tlum. Count O'l'lstaing was wounded in the arm, and endeavonriug to 
 rally his men, a lew of whom with a drummer he had collected, (ieneral .Mcintosh did 
 not speak French, but desired me to inform the eonimander-in chief that, his column was 
 i'resb and that he wished his directions where, iiiidi^r picsent circumstances, he should 
 make the attack. 'J'lie Count ordered that we should move more to the left, and by no 
 uieans to interfere with the troops he was endeavaring to rally; in pursuing this direction 
 we were thrown too uinch to the left, and before wo could reach .Spring-Hill redoubt, we 
 had to pass through Vaiiiacraw swamp, then wet and boggy, with the galley at the mouth 
 annoying our left Hank with grape shot, \\hile struggling through this morass, the 
 tiring slacked, and it was reported that the whole army had retired. 1 was sent by 
 (ieneral .Mcintosh to look out from the Spring-Hill, where I found not au assailant stand- 
 ing. On reporting this to the General, he ordered a retreat which was eflected without 
 much ln,-s, notwithstanding the heavy lire of grape shot with which we were followed." 
 
 I'erhaps the most inleiligeiit ami suKlierly account of the ojierations during the sice 
 of Savannah, and of the causes which conspired to bring about the signal disaster cu- 
 countered by the allied army, is that penned by General Henry Lee* His n'sumi' is 
 coniprehciisive, his military criticisms are just. 
 
 ' Captain McCall .says ( lli^lurij of a,:on/i,i, vol. ii. p. 2(J7) : '• Count I'ulaski attemiited 
 to pass the works into the town, and received a siiin// ciihiioii nhot in the groin, of which 
 he fell near the abiittis." Dr. Stevens {^lliatunj of Giunjia, vol. II, p. 23.'),) asserts that 
 when Tulaski fell before the lines of Savannah, he was carried back a little distance, and 
 tliat |lr. .lames J.iynah of ( 'harlestou extraeted Irom his groin an inm ijriipc xhot. The 
 operation, which was exceedingly paiiiliil, was borne by I'ulaski "with inconceivable 
 iorlitiide." This grape shot, as late as l,^,jil,was said to have been still in the po.ssc.-ision 
 of the Lynali family. 
 
 Colonel I'aul iientalou (/'«/«.•'/.■/ nimliiutui i(c., p. 'Z'J), alhrms that I'ulaski, while 
 
 ' Mimvira of the War in the Suiithi ni Drjiinlmnil. vol. r, pp. llll-ll:J. I'liiluclolpliiu, K><ri. ('uin- 
 IMin- ISnlld'H Jliitiiry i>f the W'tir /;/' the Jnilijiehdi nee tif the I'nili.d i<tiite.i I'f Ann neii, vol, ii, pp. 
 '.iO;J-'JI(). .Ni'w lluvi'ii, is;t(i. Miirfh'illx /.if, of \\it«hiii!/ton, \-ii\.l\. p. '.Ki.i I .■xi/ : I'liiluilclpliia, \mr>. 
 
-SVAY/A' OF SAVAKXAII. 
 
 35 
 
 ^77!)^ Stiindiiig ill the road loiuliiig to Augusta, and at a most exposed 
 point, the General, with perfect seif-possessiun, surveys this slaughter, 
 demands constant renewids of the assault and, although sure of the 
 bravery of his troops, determines upcjii a retreat only when he sees 
 that success is impossible. 
 
 We beat a retreat which is mainly edected across the swamp lying 
 to the right of the Augusta road ; our forces being entirely, and at short 
 
 nth.,npfinfrto[,enotra(ct„tl,o Fron.h column ,n„l..,- D'RMtain..' wind,, in the sw.unp wa. 
 subject,.,! t„ a i..ur,ler,M,.s fire, reeoivod a ..,/■/,-,/ shot in the upper part ,)r hi.s right tlii-h 
 Alter the assault wa« „ver, he '• was oaveye,! on b„a.J the United States bri-, the ]]Ci, 
 t,i go round t„ Charle.ston. They remained s„n,o day.s in the Savannah river ; and durin-' 
 that time, the n,„,,t skillCul surgcms in the Krenidi fleet attended on Count Pulaski ft 
 wa.s found unpossible to establish suppuration, an,l gangrene was the oonse,,uen<.e. .fust 
 as the ll„.y got out of the river J'ulaski breathed his last, and the eorpse iuin.o.lialelv 
 beean.e so offensive that his offieer [(.'aptain Hentalou] was eon.pelled. though reluetantlv 
 (o eonsign to a watery grave all that was u,)w hift upon earth of his beloved and ho,,orJd 
 coiuuiandor. 
 
 Major Kogowski thus ,les,.ribes Pulaski's final eharge. '■ For half an hour the .n.ns 
 n,are, and bloo.l flowed abun,lantly. S.eing an opening between the eneu.y's w^rks 
 I ulask, r,.s„lve,l, w,th h,s Legion and a su«all detachn.ent of Georgia cavalry, to elnu-c 
 through ,.„ter the e,ty, confuse the ene,ny, and cheer the inhabitants with good tidin "s 
 (.eneral J.,ncoln approved the daring plan. Imploring the help of the Ahnighly I'ula."ki 
 shouted to Ins n,.m •■ For.var,!," and we. two hundred strong, r,„le a. lull sped after him 
 the earth resounding under the hoofs of o,n- chargers. For the first two minutes all went 
 well. We sped hke Knights into the peril. Just, however, as we pa.ssed the gap 
 between the two batteries, a cross fire, like a pouring shower, confused our ranks [ 
 
 looked around. Oh \ sa,l , uent, ever to be remembered \ Pulaski lies prostrate on .he 
 
 ground. 1 leapcl towanls him. thinking possibly his woun,l was not ,lanv'er,ms, but a 
 >^uuM,r .!„„ had p.eree.l his thigh, and the blood was also flowing from his breast, proba- 
 bly from a .seen,! wound. Falling ,m my knees [ tried to rai.se hi.n. lie saM in a faint 
 vo.ee. Jesus . Mana \ Joseph I Further, 1 knew not, for at that moment a musket ball 
 ..'razing my scalp blinded me with blood, and I fell to the ground in a state of insensi- 
 bility. ^- * ;,: ,^ ^ 
 
 In ninn,,,.,,,-. G.,::,,U~, Count Pulaski is said to have been mortally wounded by ^' a 
 liiuiiii' fhnl III /lis Groin." •' 
 
 Count Pulaski, at the hea,l of two hundred horsemen, was in full gallop ridin-^ into 
 the town, between the rcloubfs, with an intenti,ui of ohariiinir in the rear, when he re- 
 eeive, a n,,u-tal wound Such is the language of Ur. llamsay;* writing only a few years 
 aft,... the death of this intrepid iiarti.saii. 
 
 Wim/uiiyluii, vol. IV, p. 102. I'tiiliulelpliiu, IsOo. 
 
 Mi),(i,.';\\vi[i. M,irsU,iWs Life of 
 
•^fi SIKGI'J OF SAVAXXAir. 
 
 Vp'i^ riingo, exposed to the conceiitnited fire of the entrenchments which 
 constantly increases in vehemence. At this juncture the enemy show 
 themselves openly upon the parapets, and deliver their (ire with their 
 muskets almost touching our troops. The General hero receives a 
 second shot.' 
 
 Ahout lour hundred men, more judiciously led by the Baron de Sted- 
 ing, retreated without loss by following the road to Augusta and turn- 
 ing the swamp by a long detour. 
 
 M. de Noailles, anxious to preserve his command for the moment 
 when it could be used to best advantage, orders his reserve corps to 
 fall back rapidly. Unless ho had done this it would have suffered a 
 loss almost as severe as that encountered by the assaulting columns, 
 the ellect of the grape shot being more dangerous at the remove where 
 it was posted than at the loot of the entrenchments. Accompanied 
 only by his adjutant, he ascends an elevation fifteen paces in advance 
 of his corps that he might with certainty observe all the movements of 
 the army. His Adjutant, M. (Jalignon, is mortally wounded by his 
 side. 
 
 When the Viscount de Noailles perceives the disorder reigning in 
 the cohunns, he brings his reserve corps up to charge the enemy: and, 
 when he hears the retreat sounded, advances in silence, at a slow step 
 and in perfect order, to afford an opi)ortunity to the re^julsed troops to 
 reform themselves in his rear. He makes a demonstration to penetrate 
 
 I Al'tor the lutroat of tlio iiss;niltitii; cciluiiins tVom the ri,t;ht of the BritLsh linos, eiglity 
 men l-iy dead in tlie diteh iinJ on the parapet of the redonht lir.st attacked, and ninetv tlirec 
 within the abattis. The attaek upon the Kbonezer Hatteiy, the Sprinjr-llill mhmbt, 
 and on the redouljt in whieli Cuionel Mailland liad located his liead-i|naiteis, was niaih' 
 with the utmost gallantry and impetuosity. 'J'wo stamlards were planted by the allied 
 forces upon tlie Hbenei!(!r redoubt ; one of wliieli was captured, and the otlior brought 
 ofl' by the brave Sergeant .la.sper. at the uioniont suffering from a mortal wound 
 
 Count D'Estaing, during the conduct of this assault, received two muskec shots, one in 
 tlie arm and the oilier in the thigh. 
 
 •• 'J'hi! Ditch." says an eye wiiiiess. " was filled with Dead, .-ind In Front, for .">ll yards, 
 the Field was covered with .Slain. .Many hung dead and wounded on the .Vbattis ; and 
 for some hundred yards without the Lines, the I'lain was strewed with mangled IJodics, 
 killed by our (Jrape and Langridge." 
 
SlEdE OF SAVAXXAII. -x- 
 
 1770. within the ontronchmoiits in case the mcmy should leave them, and 
 ^""^ prepares to cut them off in that event. Under these circumstances he 
 encounters some loss, but the anticipated sortie would have caused the 
 total destruction of our army. That the enemy did not make this ap- 
 prehended sortie is to be attributed to this excellent disposition of his 
 forces, and this prompt nianieuvre on the part of the Viscount de 
 Noailles.' 
 
 The fragments of the army hastily Ibrm in single column behind the 
 reserve corps, and begin marcliing to our camp. M. de Noailles con- 
 stitutes the rear guard and retires slowly and in perfect order. 
 
 Towards eight o'clock in the morning the army was again in camp, 
 and a cessation of hostilities for the purjjose of burning the dead and 
 removing the wounded was proposed and allowed.- 
 
 Upon an inspection of the returns, the Major General ascertained that 
 we had lost in killed and wounded. 
 
 French soldiers, 7G0 men 
 Frenc'h ollicers, 01 " 
 
 Americans ■]12 " 
 
 ■ total, 1133. 
 
 M«jor t.lasior ot el.o tiOtl. rcgi.nout wlio, will, tho ,n-on:ulier.s .„,] reserve n.nrines 
 was supporon, the pou.,,s a^suiled, did „..ke a sortie lr,„n tl.o liriu.h lines when thj 
 order h,r retreat w.s ,Mven hy the e„n,nu,nd..r of the allied arn.y. He struck General 
 Melntoshs colun,,, ,„ tho flank an.I pursued the retiring troops as far as the abattis. 
 
 f;'^ ^' ;'" '^^ j'^'-'-V "/ Georula, vol. ,i, p. 208. Compare Lee'. Mcmous of thr ^yar 
 ^nthe Mr,, J.,,,,,,,,,;,,, ,„,, v„|. ,, p. 108. Philadelphia. 1812. ^fu■sha/l's IJf, ,f 
 Ila.«/(,»./^yH, vol IV, p. 102. I'hiladelphia, 180.-,. "^ 
 
 ■^This truee l:,,sted from ton o'clock in the nioniin- until f,ur P.M. 
 
 •' The agsrosato loss encountered hy the allied arn.y during- the progress of the sie-e 
 
 " -" - Hl.ed, k.lled and Wounded. Dr. Itau.say , //,V,..y ,/,/.- 7?,.,W„/,-„„, ,,,., ...d. 
 DT^in a H "'r,'"^^^^]. ;'-«'•'«■ "'^'^ t'- --"I'ing columns under .'ount 
 
 u.el 'ti. t "='.'"-^'' •'.'^- "^"■^'' :''J ""• ^'->' "'« — y.s ttre n.ore than lifty-tive n.in- 
 u s a d tha dur,„g tlu.s ..h„rt „me the French had i;;iT n.en killed and wounded, and 
 he Continentals 2.,, . ■• I„ ,hi, un.<ueeessful attempt," .«ays Marshall (A//,. ./ W.,hn. , 
 
 non, and the Charleston .M.ht.a. who. though nniled with then, in danger were more 
 o u e ., ,,.„^^„^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^, ^^0^. ,. 
 
 killed and 1' '7 , . '' '" " ^""""' "''>'■ ''"''' "'"' "'« l'™"*-"'' '"^t i" 
 
 kdled and wounded upwards ol liUO men, and tho An.ericans ab.mt dOO. '■ Our troops," 
 
38 
 
 SIEaiC OF -S'.ir.LVAM//. 
 
 n79^ It was dillicult to persuiido ourselves tluit wo could, with about three 
 "^^ thousand men, capture a city surrounded by entrenchments, strength- 
 ened by abattis and chevaux de (rise, and defended by a garrison of 
 four hundred and fifty men. Nevertheless, the bravery and stubborn- 
 ness exhibited by our troops, and their nrninesa in defeat, assure us 
 that Savannah would have been ours if, instead of besieging, wo had 
 attacked it, sword in hand, (he very day of our arrival, and if Count 
 D'Estaing had not been deceived by the guides and ollicors who, despite 
 the emphatic remonstrances of Noailles and Broves, induced him to 
 locate his point of attack at a place where it was iujpracticable. 
 
 .ap(ioneral Moulfio, (J/, „,.,>,,, ,/,■, vnl, ,i, p. II, \ow York, 1 8U1'). '^ romainoj before 
 the lines, in tins hot lire, fifty-live minutes; the (5enorals, seeing no prospoet of suceesa 
 were eonstra,ne,l to order a retreat;, after having ti:i7 b'rcneh and 437 Continentals killed 
 and wounded." 
 
 " The t'reneh. killed and wounded, were rated at seven hnndn-d men. The .\n.eriean 
 regulars suffered in proportion: two hundred and forty hoing killed and wounded, while 
 the n.ilMia from Charleston, their companions in danger, lost one captain killed and six 
 privates w.iunded." ( A.-A- JAm'.,V,s vol. I. p. 101). I'hilnlelphia, ISll',. When driven 
 out of the ditch and compelled to retreat, Stedmau asserts (llUton,,.fih.- Am., -Iran W.,,- 
 voL II, p. i:!I, LoiKhui, 179-t). that the assailants left behind them, in killed and wounded,' 
 (),!/ ol the iM-eneh troops and L'lil of the Ainerieans. 
 
 The f. Mowing are the names of some of the Continental and .Militia ollici-s killed and 
 wounded ou the 'Jth of Uctoher, 1771». 
 
 '''"''''''''• •^'•U"r -'ohn Jones, aid to (lenl. Mernlo.sh. 
 
 Second Regiment, .M;,j„r .M„tte, and Lieut^ Hume, Wiekhani and IJu.^h. 
 '^"'"'•'1 •' Major Wise, an,l Lieut, liailey. 
 
 Genl. Williamson's Brigade. Cajitain IJeiaud. 
 Charlestown Itegiment. Cajitaiu Hhepherd. 
 South Carolina Artillery. Captain Donnom 
 
 Charles I'riee. a volunteer, SerL,". Jasper 
 WdU.NDKli. lirigadier (lencral. Count I'ulaski, rnoitally. 
 
 .Major 1/Knfant. Captains lieiitalou, (uiesand llog(jwski. 
 Seeond llegimeut. Captain Uoux. and Lieut\ Gray and I'etrie. 
 ''''"'''^' " Captain t'arrar and l,ieut'. Caston and Oesausure. 
 
 f^ix'li " Captain Bowie. 
 
 Virginia Levies. Lieutenants I'arker and Walk( r. 
 Light Infantry. Captain Smith .,f the :M, Capt^ Warren and llogiui of the oth, 
 
 Lieut. \'leland of the I'd. and l,ieut. I'arsons of the ,"ith. 
 South Carolina Militia. Captains Davis and Tieville ; Lieutenants Monneau, Wilkie, 
 Wade and Wardel. 
 Lieutenant Edward JJoyd. Mr. Owen. 
 
sn:aK of ,.avaxxaii. 
 
 39 
 
 ^779. From tliis moim-nt wc tlioiiglit only of rotrcat. For a Ion- time it 
 ~' was unknown in tlu« army wiu'ther this would Ijo consninniatod by 
 way or Charlestown or Tluindorbolt-bliifi: Several deemed it safer to 
 retreat by land, but the manifold inconveniencics of that route, in con- 
 nection with the exhaustion of our troops, fatigued by so many and 
 great labors, determined M. D'Plstaing to take his departure by sea. 
 
 To MM. de Dillon and Xoailles, eomman.ling the army, he'^entrusts 
 the conduct of the retreat. The General him.self was lying wounded 
 at Thunderbolt, to which place, in obedience to his own order, he had 
 been conveyed.' 
 
 ' ^Vlnl. it is difficult to roeoncilotho conflicting estimates which have bcon handed down 
 to us ot the lorces actually enga^'ed .luring t!>e Sicgo of Savannah, we sulunit the follow- 
 mg as the most accurate we have been able to prepare, after a careful comparison of the 
 uiost relnible authorities at coniuiaiul. 
 
 PritKXdTIl .IF TIIK FllK.NCII AkMV ...M.MAXDKl. IIV Col'N r D'KsTAINn. 
 
 1. X,.„;ilr,\ Dirmw,, composed of the regiments of (.'hampagne, Au.xcr- 
 n>is, l-'.iix, (Jua.leloupe aiul Martinique, 
 
 2. r/i, Pir/.iono/ Cwiiil D-E./uii,;/, coniposi'd of the regiments of Cam- 
 brcsis, llainault. the Volunteers of JJerges, Agenois, (iatinois. the Cam. 
 I'.utau I'rin.-e, and the Artillery ' 1 000 
 
 :!. I)M,u\-. J)!r;,:ou. compose.l of ihe regiments of ])illon, Aruia-nac, and 
 the \'iphintcir (ircnadieis, 
 
 ■i. ?'''' />'•''.'/''"''.■-•':/'' ''»./o,«,/,/7i,/,„„,r, under thccommandof.M.Dcjean! 
 
 i). Tlf I "/'("^ '/• C7<.(.«.i«',s commanded by .M. do Itouvrai, 
 
 ti. Tlu- an,„„n„- Vohmtra-, and men of other regiments commanded by 
 
 M. des Framais, .... 
 
 8. 'I'o these shonhl, probably, be a.lded the M„rmr, ,„„( S.ulor, from the 
 
 fleet, detailed lor .special labors, to the nun.ber of 
 
 OUG men. 
 
 'JOO 
 
 50 
 
 T.")0 
 
 ;!5(i 
 
 Total, . . . , 
 
 STttK.N.i-ni ,U' TIIR AmKIII.AN A ll.M V COM M ANDKI, HV ( I K.NKItAI, LiNCOI.N. 
 
 1. ('.).NTr.NKNrAl, Tii.mi.s. including the fifth regiment of S.mth (^iro- ) 
 Una Inlantry. . . ' I 
 
 -'. lll;V\VAI!ll's .XuTll.r.KKV, ... 
 
 I!. ClIARl.Ksl.iV \'oi,I NTEKItS AMI .Mn.ITI A, 
 ■I. liK.VKIlAI. \\'i1,1.IA.MSI).n's UlUCiAUK, 
 
 T). liMUMK.Nrs.,r (ii.;.muiA .Militia eomman.led by ('„l„n"els Twigg.s 
 
 500 
 ■1150 
 
 IOO:i men. 
 05 '■ 
 
 :!t;< 
 
 anil lew. 
 
 ti. Cavai.iiv under command of lirigadier (iencral Count Pulask 
 
 'I'otal, 
 
 I'wiggs I 
 
 150 
 
 L'.lL' 
 
40 
 
 SIKGK or SAVAXXMI. 
 
 1779. 
 
 fuencii tuooi's, 
 Amkuica.n " 
 
 KkCAI'IIM LATIciN. 
 
 TuTAi, Strenqtiiof tmk Ai.r.iF.n Amu-, 
 
 415G 
 2127 
 
 0,583 
 
 Antlu.ny Stokos,* Cliicf Justiou of the Colony of Goor^iia, who was inSavannuh dmiiiK 
 tlio siege, estimates the besieging foiee at about 4.")()0 I'reneh and 'IMO Anierieans. 
 
 In the I'aris Gazette of January 7, 17S(I, the besieging forees are enumerated as 
 follows. 
 
 FllKNC'II TUOOI'S, 
 
 1. Eurojiciim: draughted from the regiments of Ar- ~ 
 iiiagnae, Champagne, Auxermis, Agericris, tiatinois, 
 Cambresis, llaynault, I'oix, Dillon, M'alsli, le Cap. la 
 Guadehiupe, la Martini(|ue, and Port an I'rinee, a l.»e- 
 taehment of the Koyal Corps of Infantry of the Marine, 
 the Volunteers of Vallclle, the Dragoons, and lotJ 
 Volunteer Grenadiers, lately raised at Cape Franeois. 
 
 2. Vuhnd: Volunteer Clias.seurs, Mulattoes, and No- 
 groes, newly raised at Saint Domingo, 
 
 American Tiuioi's, 
 
 2il7l) 
 
 1 
 
 515 
 2,000 
 
 Total, 
 
 . 5.,524 
 
 In his enclosure to Lord George Germain un.ler date of \ovcmber 5th, 1770 Governor 
 Sir James A\ right, reports the liritLsh forees within the lines of Savann.-ih durin.- the 
 siege, "ineluding Regulars, Jlilitia, Sailors and Volunteers," as not cxeeedin.^ twenty- 
 three hundred and fifty men fit for duty. ]{y tlie legend ace.unpanying I-ukMrs '■ Pl.,n 
 ofth,' i>,,.,r „/ Siivamuihr printed at Charing Cro>s (mi the 2d <,f I'ebruarv 1784 we are 
 .nlormed that the total nun.ber of Knglish troops "ineluding soldiers, sean'.en and militia 
 garrhsomng the forts, redoubts, and epaulments, and fit for duty (,n the 9th of October 
 177SI," was twenty-three hundred and sixty. 
 
 '' The force in Savannah under General I'revost," .siys (he excellent historian Stcdman 
 iIM..n, of the Am,nr„n ]Var, vol. „. p. 1:;7, London, 1704), "did not exceed two 
 thousand five hundred of all sort,, regulars, provincial corps, seamc.,, n.ilitia, and 
 volunteers." 
 
 Dr. Kamsay, {Ilistor,, of th: Rn-olultm,, rlr . vol. ii, p .|(., Trenton, MDCn.xxxv ) 
 states that •■ the force of the garri.son was between two and three thousand, of which about 
 one hundred and fifty were militia," General Moultrie in his Mnwir., (vol ii pp -H- 
 42. ) substantially adopts this statement. •• This British force," according to the estimate 
 of (.'apta.n Hugh MeCall, (J/;..t„r>, of Gronjia, vol. i,, p 270,) " consisted of two thou- 
 sand eight hundred and fifty men, including one hundred and fifty militia, some Indians 
 and three hundred armed slaves." In li;,h„,i,.n\ a„„,lr it is a,sscrted that the entire 
 strength of the Knglish garri,son on duty, ineluding Regulars, Militia, Volunteers and 
 Sailors, did not exceed 2,;!50 men. 
 
 * View ofth, CoiMtuti.m .,f the Hvitbh Colouic,, etc.. j,. 110, J„„„Ion, mik , i.xxx,,,. 
 
SIEGK OF SAVAXXA//. 
 
 41 
 
 1779. Ill the repulse of tlie I'reiieh mid Anieiicans un the right cf the Kiigli,h hues, tlio 
 *>—v—' ''"""Willi; I5riti»h truop.s were iiiaiiily cngiigetl. 
 2.S disiuiiuiiled Dragoons 
 28 Battalion men of tlio GOth 
 
 regiment. 
 54 South Carolina Loyalists 
 
 90 of Colonel Hamilton's North Carolina'' " 
 
 Jioyalists. 
 75 Jlilitia under Captains Wallaee, Tal 
 
 lemach and Polhlll, 
 
 holding the redoubts on the Khenczor 
 road whore the brave Captain Tawse, 
 commanding, tell. 
 
 in the redoubt where Colonel .'Nfaitlanil 
 was. 
 
 71 Grenadiers (jf the tJOth Jieginient 
 37 Marines. 
 
 31 Sailors under the eonimand of Cap- 
 tains .Manley and Stiel. 
 
 417. 
 
 ) Ordered to support the redoubt bravely 
 |- charging the Allied Army when the rc- 
 J treat was sounded. 
 
 1 In the Spring Battery of six guns. 
 
 General Tluger's attack upon the left of the British lines w.as repulsed by troops under 
 command ol Colonel Cruger and Major Wright. ^ J i- 
 
42 
 
 1779. 
 
 sii:(it: or s.\ vaxxaii. 
 
 Eiiuiiumlnm uj Otfurrs ' wimiidcd Ihc -lAlh 11/ Sip/ewhcr, 1770, 'il fl,c first AHack 
 oil Ihc Ti'iUili, iind (liiriiifj l/u i'/'u(//-(>-.v i if I In: Siiyc 11/ ,':>(if(iima/i. 
 
 
 Names. 
 
 Grades and Heg 
 
 nients. 
 
 M. 
 
 Aiuoran 
 
 Cajitaiii in Dillon 
 
 's f(!giment. 
 
 
 (lu Correau 
 
 idem. 
 
 
 
 
 do la .Mothe 
 
 " " the 1-0 
 
 gimeiit 
 
 (if Champagne. 
 
 
 Petiteu 
 
 liiid Lieut. " 
 
 (( 
 
 « a 
 
 
 Boi.snior 
 
 Captain " 
 
 it 
 
 " Armagnae. 
 
 
 JJe.-^cure!? 
 
 liiid Lieut. " 
 
 a 
 
 H i. 
 
 
 Du CJres 
 
 Lieuteimnt " 
 
 it 
 
 " the Cape. 
 
 
 l)e Cii'fuil 
 
 Cajitaiu " 
 
 u 
 
 " Catinuis. 
 
 
 Vaiiul 
 
 Jiieuteiianl " 
 
 u 
 
 ii It 
 
 
 (']]' do Tciurville 
 
 Lieutenant " 
 
 <( 
 
 it a 
 
 
 Graiigios 
 
 :ind Lieut. " 
 
 t( 
 
 " Port au I'riiiee. 
 
 
 L> iiii'iierice 
 
 Lieutenant •' 
 
 >• 
 
 " Mai'tiiii(iue. 
 
 
 Roeli 
 
 OiHeer ot'Artillei 
 
 y- 
 
 
 Total, 
 
 1.^. 
 
 ' The iiauifs of tiiese officers are liere yivcn witliipiit niter;. tinli. anil yiA as they are 
 spelt iij tlie iiianuseript. 
 
j 
 
 SltXli: OF S.\ VAXXAII, 
 
 43 
 
 1779. 
 
 Ojficcrs ,n,n,„U;l the <)//, ,,/• Orhhcr, 1770, before S^icannah. 
 
 XiinicH. 
 
 Grades 
 
 and He 
 
 ginients. 
 
 M M. Cuiiiif D'E.staing 
 
 (Joiioral. 
 
 
 
 Do Foiitaiigos 
 
 Major Goiioral. 
 
 
 
 l)u Itetizi 
 
 Coloiiol, and soeond in 
 
 ooniniand of tlio roginiont of 
 
 
 ( iatinois. 
 
 
 
 Do Stoding 
 
 Colonel of infant 
 
 IT. 
 
 
 Do I'liovillo 
 
 1 Aide Major ot'D 
 
 iviHioii, 
 
 mortally wounded. 
 
 Chalignon 
 
 <i ti 
 
 (( 
 
 '( 11 
 
 Bouliin 
 
 Cai>taiii of the (! 
 
 roniidiers of Arniagnae. 
 
 Grillcre 
 
 Captain " " Ruginient 
 
 (1 (( 
 
 Bari'is 
 
 <1 1> u 
 
 u 
 
 " Augonoi.s. 
 
 St Sauveiir 
 
 Lioiitoiiant " 
 
 (i 
 
 u u 
 
 Chnussepred 
 
 " u 
 
 a 
 
 (; (( 
 
 Moi'i'go 
 
 ■2d 
 
 (. 
 
 11 It 
 
 Chamson 
 
 Lioiitoiiant " 
 
 u 
 
 " Cainbresis. 
 
 Coleau 
 
 " u 
 
 u 
 
 11 11 
 
 Boozol 
 
 Lieutenant of tlie 
 
 Regiment of Cambrosis. 
 
 Oration 
 
 2i\ " " <i 
 
 u 
 
 " ILiinanlt. 
 
 Labarre 
 
 Lieutenant of tlio 
 
 Dragoons of Condo. 
 
 Ouello 
 
 Captain " " 
 
 liegiment " Dillon. 
 
 Doyoii 
 
 Lieutenant " " 
 
 (k 
 
 11 11 
 
 Doloy 
 
 OtHoer " " 
 
 a 
 
 >i 11 
 
 Cli' (Jo Termoi 
 
 Cadet " " 
 
 (i 
 
 11 11 
 
 Duiiiouries 
 
 Lieutenant " " 
 
 u 
 
 " tlio Cape. 
 
 Dosornbrages 
 
 '• 11 u 
 
 (( 
 
 11 11 u 
 
 Delbos 
 
 I'd " " " 
 
 .( 
 
 U l( 11 
 
 Desnoyers 
 
 Major " " 
 
 (( 
 
 " Guadeloupe. 
 
 Roger 
 
 Captain " " 
 
 t( 
 
 11 It 
 
 Xoyollos 
 
 Captain attaclied 
 
 to tllO H 
 
 aff of Uefimenf nf fiiyaAa 
 
 loupe. 
 
44 
 
 1779. 
 
 SIEVE OF SXVAXy.Xll. 
 
 Cunlinualhi) of Officers wouiukd the Wk nf Oetohcr, 1779, bej'uvc Savannah. 
 
 NntnoH. 
 
 Gnules and Uoijiments. 
 
 M M. D'Anglemoiit 
 De Uousson 
 J5uilly (Ic Meuagor 
 r)ucloH 
 
 Lieutciirtiit of the chasseurs of Guadeloupe. 
 
 ■ij X i' a i< (t i( 
 
 li'u'uteuant of the Kegiiiu'iit of I'ort an Prince, prisoner. 
 " " " Vohiiitoor Cliasseurs. 
 
 Total, 
 
 . ai. 
 
 liecapitulation of Officers killed duriiuj the Proyress of the Siege. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Grades and Regiments. 
 
 MM. l>cvcrii).()nt 
 
 (Juartor Mastoi 
 
 of the Regiment of Gatinois. • 
 
 ] )e xMalherbe 
 
 OtKcer 
 
 " " " " Champagne. 
 
 Blandeau 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
 " " " " Augenois. 
 
 Justamon 
 
 (( 
 
 (( u ;< a it 
 
 Fondprosc 
 
 •Id " 
 
 " " Volunteer Grenadiers. 
 
 De Seiice. 
 
 Captain of Artillery. 
 
 Tital, 
 
1770. 
 
 ^7AV,/; Of .SVll.LVA.l// 
 
 4.) 
 
 (>IJh-n:« mc,l nn the m of ()rf,J„r, 177fi, M, J),o/ „j ih A 
 
 lldvk. 
 
 N'ames. 
 
 ^rlM. Brow 
 
 iJallu'on 
 
 J)cstinville 
 
 Molart 
 
 Stancoy 
 
 Taf 
 
 Ciiiillaume 
 
 Do Montaigii 
 
 Boisiicuf 
 
 Du Perron. 
 
 Grades and Resjimonts. 
 
 Major of Dillon's negiinoiit, Colonel ,)nnrantry. 
 
 Midsliipnian. 
 
 Second l.ientcnant of the Xavv. 
 
 liieutonant of the Uegimuiit of Annagnne. 
 
 -•' " " " l>ragooiiH of Condi';. 
 
 Lieutenant" " Keginient of Dillon. 
 
 " " <ironadiers of Guadeloupe. 
 Captain " " Chasseur;* " « 
 
 Lieutenant" " Regiment of Port an Prince. 
 Captain on Staff-duty. 
 
 Total, 
 
 10. 
 
4*; 
 
 1779. 
 
 sii:(!t: 1)1' .V.I I .i.N.v.i//. 
 
 Conlinunlion of the Jierapitulolion, 
 
 Totiil killi'il iinil wounded, 
 
 W'oillldtil. 
 
 
 
 Killfd. 
 
 
 
 tlu' J (til .•^c'litt'iidn'r, 177!i. 
 
 10 
 
 
 the -Jllli Si'|itcllll)iT, . 
 
 4 
 
 
 '• :2r)tli " . . 
 
 1 
 
 
 •• J.')tll " 
 
 . 1 
 
 17. 
 
 " Uli Ootohor, . . 
 
 ! 
 
 44. 
 
 " L'dtli 
 
 . 1 
 
 
 " (Itli " . . 
 
 1 
 
 
 " nth Oftok'i-, 
 
 . 11 1 
 
 
 " Htli " . . 
 
 :;i 
 
 
 
 
 
 01. 
 
 Jieriipi'tii/'ifmn u/ Ojlicny and Snh/nrs kiHal hikI irmDufal at the Siege <if Sm-nnnah. 
 
 Frencli. 
 
 Killed, . 
 Wotinded, 
 
 ■Ml 
 
 . 444 
 
 8:21 men. 
 
 Americans. 
 
 Killed, .... Vl^ 
 Wounded, . . . ;}00 j ''1- '"*-'"• 
 
 Total, 
 
 1133. 
 
siKdi: or ,v.i r.i. V.V.I//. 
 
 W 
 
 nrO^ Dm-in- Sunday wr mv ...rupi..,! ii. .lismai.tli,,.. ,„„. hattorius. and 
 Oct 10 "^'^ u»dif*tnik'd by tho enoiny. 
 
 lUli. M. do Dillon, in acknowli-dgnioi.t ..f tli.> luinianity with wliich 
 (Icncral IVcvost has troatrd ..ur woun.I.'.l. .,.n.!.s iiini ,i mrssa-c tiiat 
 Ik- can icnmvc l.i.s wilr from Savannali. l'.vv..,st d.-lay.s a rc^ponne, 
 and, wlirn he i.sa,smiivd ofour int.'iitinn to rctn.at, tlu.nks tlio (IcniTal. 
 
 14th. Thmmhu,. Wodotail two in.n l.vd mu.I uinrly-two men Ih.ni ti.e 
 ivfrinu>nt,s of Anna-nac and An.xcm.is, and from tho Marines, to pro- 
 ctHMl to til., cncniy's lolt, or to ti.c ..astrrn sid.- of tlu- citv. to ent od' 
 coniinnnications with thr road to Caiiston's crook whoro'thu army is 
 to omI)ark. Tiio.so two hundred and ninety-two men are divided into 
 three detaeliment.s, and occupy three post« on tlie «ame line. 
 
 1-JtIi. Fn,hti,. Doubtless appr(>lionding an attack from onr now posts, 
 the enemy erects a work on his loft. 
 
 idem. M.de JJreti-ny' arrives from Tjiarlostown and proposes that the 
 General should send there nine hundred Kreueii troops. This the 
 General refuses to do. Since tlu' !)th of October d.-sertions, which 
 ceased almost entirely after our batteries commence.l playing, 
 incroa.scd constantly. Every day several soldiers desert from tl^o 
 diileront regiments. - 
 
 The Virginia and Georgia .Militia withdraw by land, and there 
 remain with the army only the two American regular regiments and 
 Pulaski's corps. ' 
 
 10th. At lialf past four o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, an alarm is 
 
 ' lie l„i.l l,c.cn mainly iustniinoi.tiil i„ influoiiem^ Cmnt D'Estain^- to uiulurtake thi., 
 expcditiim against Savannali. 
 
 ■•'Tiu' fact that these ilesorlinns .lecirro,!, is distinctly e,irr„bnn.tei| l)y the Kn-lish 
 aceoiuits. 
 
 ••'The Aniei-ica.i lurccs under command of General Lincoln retreated by way of Khen- 
 ezer, and cro.ssed Savannah river at /.uldy'.s ferry. 
 
48 
 
 S //:•(!/■: OF SAVAXXA//. 
 
 1779. eausod by imiski'try iiring bctwcoii the Amoricaiis. and tlic English 
 Oct 1() ^^ ''" ^'"^'^ ^''^' '^"'1''"^'^'^ to conic ont to get water. 
 
 17th. Suvdai/. M. dc Dillon issues orders that the cooking pots and 
 cam]) utensils should be removed, and tents struck the next day at 
 ten o'clock. On Saturday, the UUli. the dangerously wounded arc 
 end)arked I'or Charlestown, and those who were sullering from slight 
 wounds are ^jlaced on board the various vessels of the lieet. 
 
 18th. Muuihij/. At h'w iM'lock in the morning, the wagons take up the 
 tent.s and camp nteu'^ils to transport them to the point of embarkation. 
 Sentinels are posted all around our camp to prevent desertions. 
 
 idem. All our troops, upon which the advance guard iiad fallen back, are 
 under arms in front ol' tlie cam[) at eight o'clock in the evening. Our 
 departure is retarded in ct)nsequence of the non-return of the American 
 wagons. At eleven o'clock the Americans take up their line of march 
 to the left, and we to the right. 
 
 At one o'clock in tlu^ morning we arrive at oui' old camp at 
 Rouvrai. situated ahout two miles south of the eastern part of Savan- 
 nah, where we bivouac for I lie night. 
 
 Five comiianies of (Irenadiers and ("luisseurs, guarding the trenches, 
 join the rear-gu;ird at the moment of our departure. The two hun- 
 dred and ninety-two men. detaciied on Wednesday the I'ourtcenth of 
 this month, and posted to tiie icM of the enem_\- wlit're they had l)ecn 
 diviile(l into tiiree detaclnneiits and ccaistltutcd the van-uiuard of our 
 army, had Ik'cii r(dit'\('(l b_\- the (irenadiers and tlu' (^'iiasscurs. 
 
 At three o'clock on Tuesday morning tiie retreat of the Ameri'ians. 
 by land, to Charlestown being regarded sai'i' from interruption ])y the 
 enemy, all our jiosts are I'vacuated iind tlie army begins its march I'or 
 tli> place of emljarkation. siluatecl on Causton's ci'eek.' an arm of tlie 
 Savannah rivi'r. 
 
 ' Written Cusloihiil,- in llic iii;i]iiiscriiit. KiiiciiiilV lainlini; w:is si:iiH-Ii' 1 iis tlio |iiiiiii 
 wlieiiee tlu; tniops wlTc I'mivcyccl in sniall IkkiI.- {<• tlu: llt'ot. 
 
SnXlK OF SA VAX.VJI/. 4<) 
 
 n79^ An-iviii- there at five o'clock, wo find our caini) alroadj establi.shed 
 upon Caustoii's creek, and we commouce to put our troops on board tlio 
 ships. 
 
 Oct. 
 
 2()th. The greater portion of tlie army is embarked. 
 
 21.st. Thumluij. (Jauston's creek and all (ieor-ia are I'vacuated. 
 
 24tli. SuwJai/. Departure of the Fkr Rodrlf/iir. with the merchant vessel, 
 under her convov, whicli she escorts to the northei-n part ol' the c( 
 tinent. 
 
 s 
 )n- 
 
 2uth. Departure of M. de la Mothei)i(piet for the Leeward islands, with 
 the ships L'A,niih,il, Le Mai/n!jh/i>e anil Lc licjlevlii. 
 
 idem. The ships Lc Jhlw.^fr, Lc Sphln.,; La DuuJrnu:. Lc Vcmhiut, L Artcskn, 
 Lc Vaiijcnr, and Lc Diwphin Ihti/al receive orders from .M. D'Kst.ini: 
 to sail for the Chesapeake, under the command of IM. de (Jrasse. 
 
 2(itli. Tiusdni/ morniu- Lc Fc„>/aiit and Lc J)lii,lr„u wei-ii anciiors and 
 [irepare to sail in the afternoon. L< Jtohiisl, and Lc Sj.lnn.r do the 
 sauu- thin-. The otiier ships comixisiuji' liie ilivision of ."M. de (irasse 
 were preparin- (o sail and follow him at a jiiven siuual, but tliev 
 receive orders from M. D'Kstaing not to dei)arf until thev IkuI l)een i'ur- 
 nished with his final instructions. 
 
 2Stli. rinn-s,la>/, at four o'clock iu the afternoon, the Lan-uedoc loses one 
 of her cables. Slie is forced to cut the otlier. and -els undrr wav 
 sifinalliug that she cannot coufoi-m to iiei' proper position. J.c T„n„<tiit 
 and Lji Produce encounter a similar accident a moment later, and are 
 likewi.se com])cllcd to set sail. 'I1ic uorth-north-west winds vecrinu 
 to the north-east, bein- verv violent and e.vposin- the licet to constant 
 dannige, tietermine X, Vchjuh; L'Artcxhn and Lc Lhuiphh, /,'„//„/. , 
 the evt'niug of the 2l)|li. to make readv for .<ea. 
 
 ui 
 
50 
 
 SIECE OF &AVANKAU. 
 
 1779. Sdtnrdoy, those three vessels spread their sails and depart for the 
 Chesaijeake. 
 
 Oct. 30 
 
 31st. 
 
 Sunday morning a conncil of war is convened on board Le Vengeur, 
 at which it is decided that we will beat to the windward for fonr days 
 and wait for M. de Grasse, the division connnander, and that at the 
 expiration of this time we will determine what further course shall be 
 adopted. 
 
 Nov. 
 1st. 
 
 Mondii)/, at six o'clock in the morning, we observe .«onie ships to the 
 windward which we suppose to be the ves.sels of M. de Gras.se. When 
 the day l)reaks we ascertain that they are our own frigates, one of 
 which, La Jimideme, joins us and accepts the proposition we submit that 
 it should accompany us to the Leeward islands to m hich locality a 
 council, held the same day on board Le Dauphin liuyal. decides that 
 we shall proceed immediately by the most direct cour,>*e. 
 
 This morning we sighteil the s((uadron La Pruceuruh which, under 
 sail, was waiting lor the Count D'Estaing with whom it had not yet 
 fallen in. AVe. that is Le Vemjeur, LArtedcn, Le Dauphin Jioijal and 
 La Boudeu.se sail for the Leeward islands, steering for the Cape south- 
 east one quarter east. 
 
 12th. The ship La Jioudtune, parts company with us and sails alone for 
 Grenada, her port of destination. 
 
 16th. At eight o'clock on Tue.sdai/ morning we came in sight of the island 
 of Jiarbuda lying six leagues to the south. 
 
 17th. Wedncuddi/, at six o'clock in the morning, we saw Antigua distant 
 live leagues to tiie .^^outli-west. 
 
 18th. Thursday, at six o'clock in the evening, we sighted Desirada. seven 
 leagues to the south-west. 
 
SIKCE OF SAVAXXMI. 5] 
 
 1779^ Fridni/. M. do Retz detaiiiH a craft whioli wo overhaul below the 
 j^,^^""^ i«liin J of Dcsh-ada. It is a Dutch vessel, ol' a susspieious character, 
 coming from Surinam. 
 
 :Oth. We double Desirada at nine o'clock on Saturday evening. 
 
 19 th 
 
 21st. Siutilui, we come in sight of Guadeloupe and Dominica, and double 
 
 Mariegalanth 
 
 Such was the termination of our enterprise against Georgia ; and 
 however sad its residts may have been, it cannot be denied that it 
 has proved productive of some advantage. 
 
 The French army has destroyed the resources which the English 
 could have drawn from the Province for besieging Charlestown ; and, in 
 retarding the execution of their design against that city, has afforded 
 it an opportunity for placing itself in a posture of defense. 
 
 The city of Savannah has sullered much from the effect of our 
 bombs and cannon Ijalls.' 
 
 In consecpicnce of the considerable captures they made, both on land 
 and sea, our fleet and army were aljundantly su])plied with subsistence 
 without cost to our King. 
 
 Tile English lost a ship of fifty-four guns with seven hundred thou- 
 sand pounds o( stores on board, a frigate, and several merchant vessels 
 richly freighted : and were compelled to burn in the river another 
 frigate and several vessels.- 
 
 ' It is ostiinaled that ali.iut (.110 tliousiiml sliclls .■iml twenty carcassrs woro llirown into 
 the city duriu'; the 8ioj;o. liy llie lattorsovcral linusos wore CDnsunncl, anKiii- ilieni that 
 of Mrs. l,loyd near the ehiireh, and that of Mr Laurie on Hron-lilon street. Solid shot 
 wa.s also freely used. 
 
 - The followini: liritish vessels were captured by the I'reneh Heet while upon the ( ieor"ia 
 coast: the ship h'rjirrimriii of 'lO Lruns, havinj; on board .Maj.ir (ieneral (iarlh, thirty 
 thousand pounds sterling, and a lar;;e ((uantity of army stores ; the ship Ari>/ of 20 ■,nin8 • 
 the Mj/rtlr, a victualler; the Cliiimjiinn. a store ship; the ship F,imc ; the ship 
 
52 
 
 Sli:aE OF SAVANXAll. 
 
 If 
 
 1779. Finally. \V(> destroyed Fort Tybee, where we took a piece of ordnance, 
 ' ' the only gun the enemy had there abandoned. 
 
 Viilory, richly freighted; and several small sloops, schnniiers and coasting vessels laden 
 with rice and flour. Two privateer sloops, of 10 guns each, and three schooners were 
 taken in Ogeecheo river by Colonel White. 
 
 The ships /.'rwc and SdniiiiHih and four transports were sunk in a narrow part of the 
 channel of the Savannah river, below the city. 8ovoral vessels were also sunk above the 
 town, and a boom was .'stretched across the channel to prevent the French and .\incrican 
 galleys, which passed up the north liranch of the river, from rounding Hutchinson's 
 island and attacking from that direction. 
 
 The Rmii was sunk on the (lanlni lunih-, on the liOth of .September, to obstruct the 
 river against the ascent of the French fleet. 
 
SI 
 
 
EXTRACT 
 
 JOURNAL OF A NAVAL OlIICER 
 
 IN tup: fleet 
 
 COUNT I)I]STAIN(^. 
 
 I 7 8 2 . 
 

JOUKXAL OF A ^^VVAL OFFICER. 
 
 Seitembki!, 1770. 
 
 0.1 tlio .second of September, becau.se of its proximity to land of 
 which no reconn„i.ssanco had been made, the Meet came to anchor off 
 tlic coast of Florida.' It had pas.sed through a vioUmt gale which drove 
 several of the vessels out to sea. Those which held to their anchors 
 sullered much, .scmie of them having been disabled by the loss of their 
 rudders. Le VaUhnd had hers broken, which was immediately repaired 
 with .some spare side-planks. Areanwhile, she was steered by the ap- 
 paratus invented by Olivier. The General sent some frigates, under 
 the protection of two ship.s, to reconnoitre the land, and ordered them 
 to bring back some pilots. LIphhjenk which, with the C6,'^8, was 
 cruising round about the ileet, captured three prizes, the Victory of 
 eighteen guns— a large ship loaded with public stores, clothing and 
 shoes— a brigantine, and a schooner Ireighted with cloth. 
 
 La Ghimfrc, V Amazonc and le Gutter; protected by le Ma<jmfique and 
 le Sphinx, returned bringing American pilots IVom the port of Charles- 
 town. We all set sail immediately, navigating with caution during 
 the day on account of the nearness of the land, and coming to anchor 
 at night. 
 
 ' Ocori'lii. 
 
.•)S sii:<;k or s.\ v.wxmi. 
 
 Whliicsihii/, till' Sth of Sc[)t('iiil)i'i'. we iiiiiili' tlio coiist of Kluridii.' 
 Tliiit cvi'iiiiig tlio lliTt aiiclioivd within tlirct- ioiiuiu's of tlic liglit-iKUisc,-' 
 at till' cntriini'o of tlif Saviiiiiiiili rivor in New (icorgia. Of all tiu-ir 
 foi'diiT pdsscssioiis ill liiis (jiiarlcr ol' the Soiilli, tiic Kiiglisli iicid only 
 Savannali ami Saint Aiiguntiiii'.'^ 
 
 The Goiioral had liccn adviwd by M. do Bivtigny, nil old iiiiinkotci'i 
 of the King, and at [irosi'iit in the sci'vii'o of the Anicricans, that the 
 English had lu-gU'ctcd to forlity Savannah wliifli tlu'y hail (;ai)tnrc'd 
 from till' Aincrii-ans in tiii' neighborhood of ('liark'.><to\vii, that tlii'y 
 wi'i'o witiiuut the iiii'ansofik'fL'iidiiig thi'iiisclvi'.-i. and had but fi'W troops; 
 that if he bail no otbcr s[)i'i'ial cxpi'dition in couti'iiiplation lit' i-ould 
 luaki' this one cit jxt-^.^mit. and that it would ocrasioii him Imt littk' di'- 
 lay. Till' ambition of Count DKstaing is easily excited. Filled with 
 the sole idea of suecess, be is inclined to undertake any e.\peditioii, how- 
 ever dangerous it may be. 
 
 lie bad reieixcd i)ositi\i' orders to return promiitly to l''raiice. One 
 cannot doul)t but that the Mar(|uis de IJouille, cognizant of these 
 instructions, liattered himself that, after D'J'lstuing's departure, he would, 
 with the assistance of the snuadron of Count de (irasse stationed at 
 Martinitpio, retake Saint fjucie during the winter. There are strong 
 reasons for lielieviiig tiial .M. DEstaing perceived his design ; and that 
 Avisliing to deprive liim of the means of executing it, he determined to 
 carry with him the idi icest of the colonial troops, and, with all the 
 naval Ibrces to undertake expedition after expedition during the winter 
 season. 
 
 We took possession of such small craft as attempted to escape from 
 us aliiiig the coast. The (leiieral wished to debark his troo[)s that 
 nigbt, but found that the place where be proposeil to land tbeiu, and 
 which with twentj-iive men be bad himself reconnoitered, was an 
 isli'-,d.^ lie then determined to place all his troops, forming a corps 
 
 ' SliuuliJ be (iouri;!!!. 
 ■-' Uii tlie iiDi'th cud nl' 'I'vln'i' island. 
 
 •' llurin^;tlu! ruviilutiimur^- war .St, Augu.slino constitutud nn iiii|i'ii'laiil di'imt and ^('/('«/ 
 d'lijijiiti I'ur the IJritisli inrces in tlioir Diiorutiuiia ayiiiu^t the Soullifin .Stales. 
 ■' Greut Tjbee i.*laiid. 
 
 I 
 
s/ /■:<;/■: or s.\ im.v.v.i//. .yj 
 
 of iilioiit I'oiir tliousiuid iiifii, iiii'liidin^j; ci^lit ImiikIiviI iVci! imiliittocs 
 tiik>'ii mill ("iilislcd ill lilt' colony of Saint Doininj,'!), on hoanl si\ .sliips 
 (■ntriist<'(l to the ('oinniiind of M. dc la Motlt'-I'ifiiu't, with instrnctions 
 to |iinc('cd six leagues I'lirtlicr south to the river Saint Maiy,' and tliero 
 diseiiiharlv. He was to earn with him nearly all the loiij^ hoats of the 
 vessels left at the first anchorage. The (Jhevalier dii Humain was 
 ordered to enter the river with his I'rigate, and two store siiijjs armed 
 witii eighteen pounder guns, and as many lighters as possible, and 
 advance as near the city as was practiealile. The Crigates were engaged 
 in guarding the various passes. Le S'tijithdn- and A Fl>r Ji'o(/,if/iie 
 lilockailed Port Koyal. 
 
 Having made these dispositions M. D'Kstaing, on the llth of Sep- 
 teiuher, accompanied the six ships of M. de hi Motte-Piipiet, leaving 
 the cominaiid of the ileet to the Count de Uroves. He anchored that 
 evening at the mouth of the .*<aiiit -Mary'; and, during the night, 
 deharUed with lil'teen hundred men; each soldier, in obedience to his 
 orders, carrying [jrovisions and water iijr three ilays. 
 
 The row-boats having accomplished this first landing- wore desirous 
 of returning to the ships that tiiey might bring the remainder of the 
 troops. Some of the long boats and canoes which, despite liie bad 
 weather, obstinately determined to leave the river in obedience to the 
 positive instructions of the General, who knew not the dilliculties which 
 confronted them, perished. * .* * 
 
 The liad weather lasted until the 18th. It was impossible to con- 
 tinue the disembarkation. Not even a canoe could be sent asiiore. 
 Nearly all the vessels, moored on the open coast, were forced to set 
 sail and go far out to sea to escape destruction. 
 
 For six days Count D'Est ling remained on sJiore, with fifteen hun- 
 dred men having only their guns, some rounds of ammunition, and 
 throe days rations, destitute of tents and baggage, exposed to a con- 
 stant rain, and near enough to the enemy to apprehend an attack 
 
 ' Wtmimi river. 
 
 - KtlVcti'd at l!(';iuliLMi. 
 
<'»0 Sli:(lh: OF SAVASSMI. 
 
 ciicli iiiHtaiit. iMirtiiimU'ly the fiiciiiy wiw igiioriiiit oftlic .situation of 
 our troops. 
 
 Atliisttlio \voiitiuTi«Tiiiittcil HM toliiii.sli tlic(l."liiirkiitioii;uii(l('()mii 
 D'Kstaiiig, witliDiit loxiiif,' a inoiiu'iit, advanced upon the onciny whom 
 111" round fntrtMR'iu'd bidow tiic city of Savannah. With the tow troop-x 
 under his coniniand hi' c-onld not attai'ii with iiopt> of succchs. Many 
 iiavc tiiou^iht lie shoidd, unth-r tiio ciivunistanccs, have then rcrni- 
 harki'd. it i.s ciTtaiu, liad lie doni' so, he woidd iiavc followed u wiser 
 phin, (or iiis entire fleet wa.s lying exposed upon the coast. Hut this 
 is judgment after event, M. D'Kstaing could rely on the cooperation 
 of the Americans. Major ( leneral Prevost seemed inclined to surrender. 
 In a conference he announced that he wouhl, to save ids honor, make 
 an apparent defense; hut Colonel Mekleii ' who with seven hundred 
 men, threw himself into the place hy way of Saint Augu.stine creek,- 
 changed all at onc(! these pacific disjro.sitions. 
 
 Count D'Estaing opened a trench at half nuLsket range of the English 
 entrenchment, with a fearlessness characteristic of his valor. Cannons, 
 mortars. Ixunhs and the necessary nuuiitions of war were wanting. The 
 lleet, which w as to supply these, was moored six leagues from Savannah.'' 
 During the month of Septeml)er the weather was constantly unpropi- 
 tious. Often for live and six consecutive days we were unable to send 
 our row-boats to sea, and the ships were compelled to continue under 
 sail for iear ol' being driven upon the coast. Count D'Estaing dis- 
 played great courage in exposing so considerable a (leet, moored on the 
 high seas, for two months, to the danger of shii)wrcck upon the coast 
 from the south-east winds. It was not until .Monday, the Iburth of 
 October, that the cannons and mortars were in position and ready to 
 open lire. 
 
 During this period the ships had not Ijeon inactive. On the eleventh 
 of September, after a protracted engagement, V Aukcoii. captured the 
 frigate Arid of twenty guns. The Chevalier du lUunain with hi Bricole 
 
 ' .^liiitland. 
 
 - lI'K/r.s cul, and iho Surniiui/t river. 
 
 3 Spelt ill the narrative iSni-iiiinh. 
 
silun: OF s.wAxsMi 
 
 fil 
 
 and 1,1 Tnill, |,u.l iMlvaiiccd iip tin- river iiikI tunvd the Knulisl, frivriiti' 
 /iV*v,. and .sovcrid nicrdmnt vcss.-ls t.. I.urn llu^nisclvcs. H.- alnt. tu.,U 
 |mM,HfHsi..n (.f ,1 sl.ip hul.'n with titnhcr for nmsts. T.ikin- ndviinl;.-.' 
 -fhiKli wiit.-r li.'...lvan<'.',l ca.-li lid,., lM.in-..nfr,i;r,.,l i„ a .sU-ady nmliiot 
 with th.. Kn-lish gallovH whi.'h harranscd him ni^l.t and day to Hurh a 
 d(-rc(. that the Hipfainn of thu two Anicrioan -alleys who wero actinfr in 
 '•nn.vrt witli liini f,nvw weary of the continuons {v^\x\. (),u. ..f tJH'ni 
 I'ad his K-alh.y seiMvtly scuttled l.y a saih.r t<» whom he promised a 
 Inni.lred half crowns if he w.nld sink it to the l,ott.)m. Comin- to a 
 knowled... of this Caet, the Chevalier dn Ifnmain himself assumerh-om- 
 "iMMd of the vess..|. IJein- iinal.le t.. advane.. any further with liis 
 IVi^ate. on aceo.mtof the shallowness of th.; water, he anchored hi Tmlte, 
 whi.'h dr.-w h'ss wat.'r than his fri-ate, within cannon shot of the 
 Kn-lish entr..uchments and of the city, and tired day and night upon 
 the camp. 
 
 On the 137th of Septemher the Chevalier de CiJetendo, commanding 
 Iv Lk'vly, l,y a rus.. and in genuine corsair style, captured two large 
 •ships, on.. Ireightcl with (.revisions, and the other with anchors and 
 cables, which rei-orted that they weiv un.ler the escort of the ship 
 Erprrimmf which was accompanying a convoy to Savannah, and irom 
 which they liad l.een separated by a g.'de. Upon receipt ol' this intel- 
 ligence three of our ships were detached to cruise oif Port ]iuya\. 
 
 On the lilth the frigate la Ce.r^s made herself master of a large ship 
 loaded with provisions, mider the escort of the Experiment. This prize 
 and those which pre<-eded it could not have been more seasonable. 
 The navy was beginning to need provisions and was obliged to econo- 
 mi/e in everything, particularly in water which was doled out in a 
 crucd way even to the sick. Neglect had oc.uirr.Ml in this important 
 particular; no use having been made of the American boats which had 
 come to us, suitable for the navigation of the river, and lor which the 
 king was at no charge. 
 
 The navy is sullering everything, anchored on an open coast and 
 liable to bedriven ashore by the south-east winds. Happily we have had 
 
(;2 
 
 SIF.aE OF S.\ VAXXAII. 
 
 only iiiists i)f wind from tlio nortli-cnst wliicli injnrcd sovon of onr sliips 
 in tliciriMuldors. S 'vrral iiiivi- lost nil tlicii- iincliors. and most ol'tlicni 
 lii'^c hfcii m'cntly cndaniauiMl in their rii/uin;;-. I'lu' s<Mirv\' raiics with 
 snch severity that W(> tiii'ow into tiie ."ea. each day, thirtv-live men. 
 
 AVe have ro kind of relVeshinents to ;iive the siek : not vwn lixniiuc. 
 hy reason of 'he lack ol' water. There was no way ol' alleviating;' the 
 misery ol'our poor sailors who. wantinu' coats, destitnte of linen, with- 
 ont shoes, and ahsolntely naked, had nothim: to eat except salt pro- 
 \isions which nnuh'th/m die of thirst. 'I'he hread whicdi we [)ossessed. 
 ha\inji been t\ro yt'ai's in stoi'c. was so mnch decayed and worm eaten, 
 and was so disaLireeahle to the taste, that e\i'n the domestic animals on 
 hoard wonid not eat it. I']ven this had to he distrilnited in scanty- 
 rations for fear that the snpply wonId uiterly fail. IJehold a part of 
 the friiihtful pictnro of the crntd and miserable condition of onr crews 
 dnrin,^' the continuance of the Sii\u.-e of Savannah, upon which the 
 Count l>'l']stainii- was so intent thai he appeared to ha\'e iMitirely for- 
 gotten his vessels. The few sailors who were in condition to work the 
 ships, were -weak, of a livid ct)lor, with the marks of death painted on 
 their faces, and I'onid not l)e viewe<l without compassion. Dnrini;- the 
 niiilit occurring between the "Jlth and the "Jotli of September, our 
 vessels in cruising pw.' an alarm to the tieet by comini;' to anchor 
 suddenly in onr midst wIhmi we were not on the look out for them. 
 
 'I'Ik- reason for this haste pi'o\'eil very airreealjle to ns in our 
 deplorable situation. Tlioy brought intelligence of the capture of the 
 ICxjH riiiii III, a ship of lil'ty guns, by A Sdi/i/fnirr wlii(di fell in with her 
 oif Port l>''val. wholly disnnisti'd and incapable ol ollei'ing an\' resist- 
 ance. This vessel was conveying ollicers for the armv ol' Savannah. 
 She carrie(l iNFajor (leneral (Jarth who was coming to relieve (ieneral 
 Provost. What was of greater value, however, was the pay lor the 
 army at Savannah, siv hun(h'ed and sixty thousand silver livres of 
 Fraiic". This news alforded ns the greatest pleasnie, We learned 
 from tile [trisoners, taken on this shi[), that she had sailed from .New 
 York in ctnuoy with llirec thousand troo|>s for Savannah, escorleil b_) 
 llii'ee ships of the line. ,\1. de Proves, accompanied by four ships, 
 
f 
 
 Sli:i!l-: OF ,V.l \A.\.\A//. 
 
 63 
 
 iMiii.xL'd iiK'i'xsiuilly to iiitorcci.t tliciii. Tin's convoy was uii(loiil)U.(ll\- 
 warned of its ihuigcr, as it never mmle its a|ipeaiiuu:e. 
 
 Let us ivtiini to tlie sic-e. On tiie l23nl of Sei)teinlKT (lie Kn-lisli 
 made a sortie npon onr workln-parties. .M, de Kouvre who eonnnanded 
 the livneh. havin- under him Lieutenant ('oionel M. O'Diuie. repulsed 
 them vigorously. M. O'Duiie was drunk. His natural eoura-e and 
 theexeilenient caused i)y the wine carried him lieyondthe proper linuts 
 which had hecn prescril.ed. Jlis indiscreet iuii)etuosity cost us one 
 hnnilivd and lifly men placed /lurs ,/, r,,i,i/Hif. i)l' \\\utm I'orty were killed, 
 struck down in their retreat l.y the enemy's artillery. To replace this 
 loss tiieCeueral ordered up I'oin hmidred marines from the lleet. under 
 Ihocomnuind of their own ollieers. This weakened the lleet still more. 
 From that time it was in no condition to li-lit,oven it' an occasion had 
 present, .,1 itself and I'.iron' had made his a|i|.earance. 'J'he Lieutenant 
 of the navy who commanded this cor|)s of f(nir hundred men. took rank 
 in the trenches as a superior ollicer. and conuuanded in his tui'n. 
 
 M'/inliti/, the Ith of Octoi,, i\ onr cannon and mortar l)atteries com- 
 menced to lire. Our cannon [iroduced no elleet U[)on the enemy's eu- 
 treuchmeiits constructed of sand and with slopinu' glacis. The halls 
 made no holes, lint simply hnried themselves. Onr l.omhs succeeded 
 a little hetter. 'I'he ( ieiieral caused careas.ses, lilK-d with turpentine, to 
 be thrown into the eit_\. which .scNcral times .set it on lire. These har- 
 rassed the Kn-lish who had their wives and children shut in. .-xposed 
 to all the horrors of the sie-e. The Chevalier du liumain remained 
 upon the side towards the ,<ea. with two -alleys and In 7>«//c. who.se 
 stray shots, ])a.s<ing over the camp, traversed the streets of the citv. 
 
 'I'he jMiMli-l, attem|ited to .■ncam|i their wonum and children on a 
 small island.' The Chevalier dii lliimain made a de.M-ent lle-re at the 
 .same time and compelled them to return to the city. S'cin- no other 
 idteniative. they a.hlres.sed themselves to Count D'Kstain-'. prayin- 
 l)ermission t(. send out their women and children. This reipu'st he 
 refused lMrau.se, if granted, there was lik.'lihood of the prolongation of 
 
 ' 'i'lli< I•:lluli^ll .VdlriirMl, 1,1, 111 Hvinl], 
 
 -■ lliili-liiiiscjn's isliiiicl. 
 
■ 
 
 64 SIEGE OF SAY AX X Air. 
 
 tl,e siege ..!• whid, l.o began to grow weary. Many women l.owever, 
 lolt the city and presented themselves of their own accord at the French 
 camp. It was necessary for us to tak(> good care of thorn as tiiey vvere 
 unwilling to return. General Provost, whose generosity and hn.uanif y 
 towards French prisoners have never been denied, had given thei'n 
 tokens of attention and goodness which could scarcely have been ex- 
 pected from an enemy. This c,.ndiu>t on his part was, without doubt, 
 due in great measure to his wife. ]>oni French. It was jestingly re- 
 marked by a member of parliament that our gallantry could not1.e do- 
 nied even in our manner of nuiking war, and that the prettiest woman 
 of the city came to test the ellect of our lK)ml)s. 
 
 The desperate and pitiable condition of onr lieet, depri\-ed of two 
 thirds of its equipment and anchored in a position where, by the 
 admission of the prisoners, an Knglish s.p.adron had n(>ver dared to 
 renuiin lor eight hours even in the most beautilid weather, decided Count 
 DFstaiug— seeing that his cannon could ellw't no i.racticable breacli — 
 to make a sudden assault. 
 
 The enemy had not loss than Ibur thousand men within tlieir 
 entrenchments, including some militia upon whom they could rely.' 
 In all, M. D'Estaing had not three thousand troops upon wiu,m he 
 could count, and about eighteen hundred Americans, among whom 
 was a suuUl nund)er of regulars commanded by Pulaski, a Pole. 
 
 Orders were issued for the troops to be in readiness to march to the 
 assault upon the entrenchments ai four oVlock in the morning of the 
 (•th of October. In accordance with the instnu'tious given" by M. 
 D'Fstaiug, arrangements were nuido during the night by M. de 
 Fontanges, Major (ieneral of the army and Colonel of the Volunteers 
 of the Cape, lie has been generally blamed for having, at two oclock 
 in the morning, and at the moment of nuuvhing, divided and subdivided 
 the companies of Grenadiers, placing over them ollicers, stnuigers to 
 the oorps, and with whom they had no personal ac(piaintance. ^Majur 
 Brown of Dillon's regiment, in representing the consequences, condemned 
 ' An over estimate, as we have already (^eeii 
 
i 
 
 SIKOE OF SA VAX.XAir. (;;, 
 
 the gononil urder ol' attack. His advice wa.s not taiveii. The result 
 proved tliat he was correct, but he hini.seir lost iiis Hie on tiiis occasion. 
 M. D'Estaing caused a false attack to be made upon the entrenchnient.s 
 on our right, near a strong battery; at the same time he led the assault 
 upon our left, having to pass tlirough a morass in wiiicli our soldiers 
 mired to tlicir knees, at the end of which was an abattis of trees, most 
 diliicult CO pass through, and swept by the enemy's artillery. It was 
 evident beyond a dt)ubt — and we wei-e advised of the I'act soon after- 
 wards — that the enemy hail been informed by an American' of all 
 our dispositions and of the hour ol' tlie attack. We may add to this 
 statement the further circumstance that the British troops had larw 
 white cockades and shii-ts over their coats, mIucIi were precist-ly the 
 prescribed nuirks by which we were to recognize each other during the 
 conflict. 
 
 The General' encountered the fire of the enemy's artillery charged 
 with grape-shot, which cut his column to the centre. iVrceivim.' that 
 his column was recoiling, the General passed to its head and. with his 
 bravest men, inarched in advance up to the abatis. He was followed 
 by only tliree or four hundred Cirenadiers and many ollicers. This 
 littl<' troop, led by the General, ru.shed up to the entrenchments and 
 ellected a lodgment in the ditch in such a position that tlic English 
 could not bring their guns to bear upon us. Here a hand to hand 
 conllict ensued. These brave men were not .seconded. Tiie rest of 
 the column, entangled in the swamp, was mowed down by tlie eneiiiv's 
 artillery, in the face of which it could not advance. 
 
 In traversing the abattis, through which he had forced his way with 
 great ililliculty. the (ii'iieral ivceived two severe wounds. Nevertheless, 
 he still retained strength and courage sulllcieiit to mount his horse and 
 in peix.n order a retreat. It was in retiring that these brave (Irena- 
 diers. who had penetrated even into the ditch, were cut to pieces by 
 the grape-shot from tiie artillery of the English, who lired packets uf 
 
 ' Sorsri'aiit Miijui' Curry. 
 -' CnMllt |)'Kstililii;. 
 
■'■1 
 
 66 
 
 SIEGJ-J OF SAVA.VNAH. 
 
 scrap-iron, the blades of knives and scissors, and even chains five and 
 six feet long. The Chevalier du Rumain attempted to make a demon- 
 stration with his galleys in the direction of the river ; but, encountering 
 insurmountable difficulties, accomplished nothing. 
 
 Our loss was considerable. By the returns rendered, six hundred 
 and eighty men had been put hors ,/e comhit ; of whom sixty-four werr 
 officers. Among the latter twenty-two were either killed in action or 
 died shortly thereafter. 
 
 Our troops, without exception, extolled the bravery of the American 
 Regulars commanded by Pulaski. With astonishing gallantry they 
 returned twice to the assault, planted their Hags upon the parapet of 
 the entrenchments, and rallied in good order after having lost their 
 chief, wounded to the death. As for the militia, they lied in a cowardly 
 manner in the woods even before the action commenced. During the 
 cessation of hostilities which ensued. Colonel Meklen ' absolutelv wished 
 to count our dead and wounded before extending to them any relief. 
 The loss sustained by the English was very small. They had only 
 fifteen men killed. This is not remarkable, when we consider the man- 
 ner in which they were entrenched. 
 
 The General with his two wounds, that in the leg being very serious, 
 would not suller himself to be carried. He rode on horseback to the 
 villageof Thunderbolt- in company with Major General de Fontanges, 
 who had received a gini-shot wound through the body. Here the Gene- 
 ral remained until his return to his ship on Monday the 18th of Octolu'r, 
 having given orders lor the retreat which was accomplished the same 
 evening, under the direction of M. de Dillon, in the long-boats and 
 barges from the Ueet, and without interruption by the enemy. Two 
 days previously the Americans had retired, taking up their line of 
 march for Charlestown. 
 
 When the fleet was iidbnned of tlu' repul.se of our aruiy in the as- 
 sault of the !lth, in addition to all our distresses le Jf„,/„ijl>ji>r sprung 
 a leak and we were iinal)le to iVee her IVoui water with all the ship's 
 
 ' .Maitland. 
 
 ■•' Ppolt Tliinii/fi-/,/iii- in (he .Iimnia!. 
 
 
SIEGE OF SA\AX\A/f. 
 
 ()7 
 
 pumps wliioh won; worked diiy and iiijrht witliout iiiturmisision. Wc 
 wcro ooiii[)ellL'd to stay her aj!,aiiist a merchant vessel while we dispatched 
 to laud our row-boats which constituted our only means lor procuring 
 succor. 
 
 Our situation had lu'comc terrible and dishearteninji. W(! were 
 obliged to receive on boaiii many wounded, with no rel'resliments to 
 oirer them, without even linen with wiiicii to dress their wounds, iuid 
 were forced to leave as quickly as possibk'. for a tiiousand reasons, the 
 least of which was imperative, with no point of relief nearer than the 
 Chesapeake, one inmdi'ed iind lifty lea.uues away, and with winds nearly 
 always contrary. 
 
 Moreover, the Cieneral desired at once to take his final dejiiirture 
 from Savannah for Ki'ance. witii iiis squadron of I'rovence. Water, con- 
 se(piently, was necessary. We at length tniind the means of procuring' 
 it from the river at low tide, brackisii as it was. Necessity, the nu)ther 
 of industry, made us accomplish in four d;iy> what we had not lijr two 
 months ventured to attempt. 
 
 The(,'ount de Gras.se. with his squadron of eight ve.^^.sels carrving our 
 wounded and those alllicted with the scurvy, was dispatched for the 
 Chesapeake. Thence he was to sail for the Windward islands. .M. de 
 la Motte-Picpiet with three ships, including /,,• Mnijiii/if/iit in an unsea- 
 worthy condition, was commissioned to reconduct to the (,'ape what 
 remaiiK'd of the troops which had been drawn from that colonv. Tiu' 
 frigates were ordereil to ('arry to Crenada and Saint Vincent the 
 detachments of llain;udt and Foix. Tiie Chevalier du Rumain. with 
 his frigate and two arnu'd store-ships, had Charlestown as his point of 
 destination. It is believed that he was charged with the defense of 
 that place in casi' ol'an attack. 
 
 The ships of Provence were manned for navigation with all the 
 prisoners, who were forc(Ml to work in view of present necessity. Just 
 as the (ieneral had matured all his plansa wind-storm arose — unfortunate 
 circumstance which can happen only at sea — in con.sequence of which 
 he was compelled to .set sail without issuing the orders re(iuisite for 
 
(18 
 
 Sli:(!E OF SA V A XX Ml, 
 
 caiTviug out tho arninov.iu.nts lie had made. * * * 
 
 The wind storm which loivod the General to set sail on the !2Sth of 
 October erased on the ;)()th ; an.l on the 31st the Count <le Hroves 
 convened tlu' captains and consnitc.l as t.. what course should he 
 a.loptod in case M. D'Kstaing ,lid not aj,ain make his appearance. 
 Upon this supposition, an.l without takint;- into considcrati.m the time 
 winch n,id.t he nec..ssa>T li.r hin, to rejoin us. it was unauinmuslv 
 resolved that we should s.d sail that ve.w eveninj,. takin^r s,.a-room 
 sonu. lea^.ues (o ll„. windward, and that after cruisiuu' several days 
 waitinu- ti.r the (ieneral. sh.udd he un| appear, w would steer lor 
 France: M. IVKstain- havin,- intimated his desire U^ return thith.'ras 
 quiekl_\- as possilile. 
 
 1 pcnnit myseirio observe, in this connection, that the ...mdition of 
 the weather giving no occasion Ibr alarm an.l b..ing even fav,.rable t.. 
 M. D'Estaings rejoining us. it was necessary that we shoul.l at least 
 allow hnn tiu.e to do ,.o. an.l hol.l our.^.dves in readin..ss to .sail upon 
 tlie first appearan.r.,ra storm. Ir .s..em,..i pn.babK. that .M. D'Kstaiie.' 
 lacked anchors, having let go the only tw.. which he had. in tlie h.,p'e 
 that they woul.l take tirm hold an.l prevent him from b,.ing tbnH.,1 to 
 .-ea. It was therelbre more than likely that h,. woul.l return t.. take 
 
 >'l' '1h' small..r of thes.. anchors, ev.., if 1 i.l n..t n.m.. back to fnnM, 
 
 g.vu,g his orders. The two .lay. spent in waiting Ibr him. while we 
 were obeying his instructions, were ma.Ie pn.lital.le t.. th,. public service 
 in that they were eniployed in raising the anchors of th.. ships whi.^h 
 had been .'.anpelled to cut them. 
 
 On th.. ;;ist M..le i5r..vs g.,t und.'r way with a p.irtiou of his ..hips, 
 and came t.) auch..rhalf a league to the windwaril of his lirst amdioraue.' 
 The next .lay th.. .,th..rs s..t sail to app,.ar here n.. nmr... leavi'ui^ 
 I'Arkl. laden with nudattoes, without destination. M. d,, Ku.nain was 
 still in the river, not having received his ..rders. Th.. frigates, uu.ler 
 the comman.l .)f M. .le Marigny, dcparte.l for (iremula. 
 
 The lirst night we wei'.. under way. with nmst beautiful weather, 
 h MarseiUoU an.l Iv Z.'l.' s..parate.l themselves from us and steere.l 
 together f,.r Franc... /.. Tu,n„n,t and h, Prora.rc were already ab.sent, 
 
SIHdl-: OF SA VAXXMI. 
 
 f)9 
 
 liiiviii.ii; boi'ii ohligt'd to jiet under way four hours iifti-r Ir Ldiii/uf.dor. 
 M. d'-' ]}r()vos, having cruised I'uur and twenty hours only, at ten 
 o'clock in tlie morninfi- of the 2d of November sailed away with seven 
 vessels, ineludinji' the Krj,rn'iiieiif and the frijiiite /'Atiiii::ij/ii'. Thus is 
 the tleet, by reason of its forced separation from the (ieneral. divided 
 and subdivided into so many piirts that, without the intervention of a 
 miracle, it appears (piite impossii)le that eatdi vessel will iirrive sah,'ly 
 at her destination. 
 
 The enterprise a,i;iiiust Snvannaii seemed to cost France ilcar wIk'U 
 we consider the coiidltidii of ull'airs it liiMULiht aliout. The ('ount 
 D'Estaing was all the more inexcusable beciiUM' lie expost'd our colonies 
 to a similar ex|)editiou ; leiiviui;' the Windward islaiuls without protec- 
 tion and Jiliandoned to themselves, thus all()rdiu,t; the English, stromr 
 in this (piiirter. an op[)i)rtunity. had they so wished, at an\- tim<' 
 within thi'ce months of retaking them, perhaps oi' recapturing Saint 
 Vincent and even (irenada — where tluy would lia\e enjoNcd excellent 
 winter hariior — and of attacking Martiniipie enfeebled iiy having her 
 troops contiinially withdrawn to |)artici[)ate in these expeditions. Whv, 
 after the battle of (irenada. did he desire to reuuiin, instead of returnin"' 
 to France as an escoit to the couNoy, iu obedience to orders from the 
 (.'ourt. leaving Count de Crass.' in the Windward islands with bis 
 eight vessels to pnitect them and confirm the (■on([uests he had come 
 to make '.' 
 
 Covetous of glory, excited by his successes, and easily seduced b\- au 
 invitation from the siein- de IJretigny who uuule him believe that the 
 (•(MKpiest ol' Savannah was an easy matter. Count D'Fstaing was unable 
 to resist a desire. I'ising siqierior to the ha/.ard. to attem[>t to add new 
 triumphs to those which be bad already achieved. 
 
 If zeal, activity, eagerness, and ambition to accomplish great deeds are 
 worthy of recompense, never will France be able sulliciently to acknow- 
 ledge her obligations to Count D'Estaing. With nnudi intelligence, 
 he possesses the enthusiasm and the lire of a man twenty years of aue. 
 Enterprising, bold even to temerity, all things appear possibU^ to him. 
 lie fancies no rei)resentations which bring home to him a knowled-e of 
 
7(» 
 
 .S7/.7;A' Oh' SAXAXXMl. 
 
 «l'iJu'..Itie.s. Whoever .kre.s to deseribe them as lornmlahle. is illy 
 received. He wishes every one to view an.l think ofhis plans as lie does 
 Ihe sadors believe bin. inhuman. Many died upbraiding him with 
 then- m..sery, and unwiUin. to pardon bin,; but this is a reproach 
 i>"-ident to his austere mode of life, because he is cruel to himself We 
 liave seen him sick and attacked with .scurvy, never desiring to make 
 u«e „t any reme.lies. working night and day. sleeping only an hour 
 after d.nner, his head resting upon bis band.., .sometimes lying down 
 but without undre.s.sin"- ' 
 
 Thus have we observed Count D'Kstaing .luring this campaign. 
 1 HM-e ,s not a man in bis fleet who wuuld believ,. that be has endured 
 all the (at.gue whi..b he has uudergon... When 1 am now aske.l if he 
 •s a good general, it is didicult for me to respond to this in.p.irv Jle 
 committo,l nnu.b to eban..e and played largely the game of haxard. 
 5.it that he was energetic, adventurous almost to rashness, indefati..a- 
 Me m bis enterprises which be ..onductcl with au ardor of wbi,.b had 
 wo not followed him we could have formed no conception, and that to 
 "11 this be added much intellect, and a temp,.- which imparte.l ..reat 
 austerity to his character, we are forced to admit. 
 
 i