Appendix
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF ALLIED OPERATIONS AGAINST SAVANNAH IN 1779
August 16, 1779. Vice-Admiral Charles-Henri d’Estaing sails from Cap François in San Domingo in command of a large fleet with four thousand land troops aboard. The French plan of operation was to touch at Charlestown or some point to its south in order to render military assistance to the Americans in that quarter in response to their many appeals. The Toulon squadron, which d’Estaing had brought to America the year before, was to sail on to France via Halifax and Newfoundland at the completion of a brief campaign.
August 21. Conference of officers is held on the flagship Languedoc. Sealed landing orders are delivered to commanders of troops.
August 22. Merchant convoy departs from fleet bound for France, leaving 22 ships of the line, 10 frigates, a cutter, and several transports in d’Estaing’s expedition.
September 1. Several faster vessels are dispatched to Charlestown to apprise the Americans of the arrival of French land and naval forces and of Count d’Estaing’s willingness to co-operate with them against the British army in the South.
September 2. A gale encountered by the fleet off the coast of Georgia cripples a number of the French ships, preventing the expedition from proceeding further northward for the time.
September 3. English discover the French vessels en route to Charlestown off Tybee Island. D’Estaing’s emissary, the Vicomte de Fontanges, arrives at Charlestown late at night.
September 4. Council of War is held at Charlestown between French and American officers and officials and a plan is agreed on for joint operations against British-held Savannah. General Lincoln promises, barring unforeseen contingencies, to have 1,000 troops in Georgia by September 11th. South Carolina militia is called up by Governor Rutledge. General Prevost sends dispatch to Lieutenant Colonel Maitland in command of the British garrison at Beaufort ordering him to evacuate that port and proceed to Hilton Head Island and thence to Savannah. French fleet is reunited off Georgia after storm.
September 5. Orders sent to Colonel Maitland are intercepted by Americans in Skull Creek. Another dispatch is sent this day by General Prevost to Beaufort, directing troops to remain there but to be ready to move at a moment’s notice if Maitland should learn from any source that Savannah is real objective of the French.
September 6. Contingent of American troops leaves Charlestown for Combahee. Governor and Council at Savannah order slave owners to furnish slaves and tools for work on defenses around the town. Captain James Moncrief with a hundred British troops is sent to Tybee Island to strengthen the post at the mouth of the Savannah. Vessels which were dispatched to Charlestown rejoin the French fleet, bringing back pilots and American guides.
September 7. D’Estaing directs Count Albert de Rions to block Port Royal and anchor a vessel at the mouth of the Broad River in order to cut off the British troops at Beaufort, a mission which that officer is unable to accomplish when his American pilot refuses to carry the Sagittaire into Port Royal Sound. Main body of French fleet appears off Tybee Island where 42 sail are counted by the British.
September 8. General Benjamin Lincoln leaves Charlestown to join his army. Expresses are sent by Prevost ordering evacuation of outlying British posts. At sunset four French frigates cross the bar and anchor before Tybee. British warships retire up the Savannah River.
September 9. D’Estaing makes a descent with a few soldiers on Tybee Island and finds fort at mouth of Savannah River abandoned and burned by English. Prevost sends dispatches to General Clinton and to Admiral Byron advising them of the presence of French fleet off Savannah. British troops are assigned to posts around the town. Count d’Estaing returns to the flagship Languedoc and reviews the French troops assembled in long boats preparatory to their embarking on the Diadème, Annibal, Sphinx, Provence, and Fantasque in order to move southward for projected landing along Vernon River.
September 10. Effectives of Sunbury garrison under command of Colonel John H. Cruger reach Savannah. Cannon are landed from British ships for use on defenses.
September 11. A few of Pulaski’s cavalry cross the Savannah River ahead of the American army in order to reconnoiter the vicinity of Ebenezer, twenty-three miles west of Savannah. English sloop Ariel of twenty guns captured by M. de La Pérouse, commanding the frigate Amazone. French landing craft enter Ossabaw Sound. D’Estaing orders the Truite, Chimère, and Bricole to proceed up the Savannah River as close to the city as possible.
September 12. Handicapped by the lack of boats, Americans begin passage of Savannah River at Purysburg. Lincoln sends message to d’Estaing from Zubly’s Ferry. Colonel Maitland sails in evening from Beaufort via inland water passage with 800 troops comprising the British garrison at that place. Count d’Estaing at the head of the initial contingent of French troops lands at night at Beaulieu, fourteen miles south of Savannah.
September 13. French vanguard advances to a road crossing three miles from Beaulieu. General Lachlan McIntosh’s units effect junction with main force under Lincoln, making a total of approximately 1,500 American troops. General Prevost issues message of encouragement to his men. Heavy squall at night leaves tentless French soldiers in bad state.
September 14. French continue to debark at Beaulieu. British put hundreds of slaves to work under direction of Captain James Moncrief on the ring of defenses around Savannah. The four original redoubts become thirteen. English sailors and marines are ordered ashore where they are incorporated with the land forces.
September 15. French troops move up on Savannah in force, led by Count d’Estaing. General Lincoln learns that d’Estaing’s army is ashore and accelerates his march on Savannah. Americans march from Ebenezer to Cherokee Hill, ten miles from town. British complete landing of cannon from the vessels.
September 16. Count d’Estaing sends Captain O’Moran into Savannah with a summons to surrender. British drag out the negotiations by asking for terms and for further time to consider question of capitulation. At noon Maitland’s troops arrive at Savannah by water after finding a way into the Savannah River through the creeks behind Dawfuskie Island. British hold a Council of War in afternoon at which it is determined to defend the city. American army arrives before Savannah and encamps at Millen’s plantation. General Lincoln remonstrates with French for calling on British to surrender to the arms of the King of France. D’Estaing grants Prevost’s request for a truce which was to terminate at the firing of the evening gun next day.
September 17. Count d’Estaing writes to General Lincoln informing him of the granting of a suspension of arms. Allied commanders go to Brewton Hill where they watch last of Colonel Maitland’s troops enter Savannah. The addition of the Beaufort garrison raised the total British strength to about 2,350 regulars, provincials, sailors, and militia. There were also 200 armed Negroes and 80 Creek and Cherokee Indians among the defending forces.
September 19. D’Estaing and Lincoln reconnoiter British defenses. American galleys exchange fire with English vessels in the Savannah River.
September 20–21. More troops are debarked at Beaulieu, bringing total French strength at Savannah to around 3,500. Rose and other English vessels are sunk in Savannah River in order to block the channel. British burn houses and barns near flanks of lines to prevent their affording protection to Allies.
September 22. French army in three divisions (d’Estaing’s, Dillon’s and de Noailles’) encamps in new location, east of the Ogeechee Road. Americans, now 2,000 strong, pitch camp to the left of the French, their posts extending to McGillivray’s Plantation on the Savannah River. Savannah becomes completely invested. French begin to land heavy cannon and mortars at the new base established by them at Thunderbolt on St. Augustine Creek, five miles from city. Skirmish takes place at night between French troops and an advanced English post.
September 23. Allies entrench themselves during night only three hundred yards from center of Prevost’s works.
September 24. British Light Infantry under Major Colin Graham makes a morning sortie against French works and briefly takes possession of advanced trench. Heavy losses among French troops (12 officers and 85 men, killed and wounded) result when they pursue the enemy too close to English lines. Count d’Albert de Rions commanding the Sagittaire captures H.M.S. Experiment off Hilton Head with General George Garth, army pay-roll, and large amount of supplies aboard. A merchant ship under convoy of Experiment is captured on same day by the Cérés.
September 25. Allies continue erection of batteries and extend their entrenchments closer. Savannah is shelled by American galleys in river and by a French land battery. British battery at Trustees’ Garden repels American galleys.
September 26. Major de Browne, commanding French trenches, causes an alarm in Allied camp when his troops fire at night on what d’Estaing called an imaginary enemy. He is reprimanded by his General for drinking on duty and promises to reform.
September 27. British begin the demolishment of the big barracks at center of their lines and in next two days convert lower portion of it into a strong breastwork. A number of casualties among French result when a working party is mistaken by them at night for an enemy patrol.
September 28. French flute Truite anchors in Black River nearly opposite the city. Situation of fleet and dissatisfaction there are indicated by attacks on Count d’Estaing in the journals of M. de Bougainville and other French naval officers during this period.
September 29. British decline request on behalf of General McIntosh that his family, as well as other women and children in Savannah, be permitted safe conduct from the besieged town.
September 30. Erection of three French batteries and one American battery progresses.
October 1. Savannah is cannonaded by the Truite and the American galleys with little effect. By a ruse Colonel John White and Captains Elholm and Melvin with four American soldiers capture over a hundred troops of the Sunbury garrison on the north bank of the Ogeechee under command of Captain Thomas French. Five vessels are also taken by White.
October 2. Cannonade of city by the Truite.
October 3. Bombardment of town is commenced late at night by French batteries. Many shells are thrown into Savannah by 37 cannon and mortars.
October 4. Governor Wright and Lieutenant Governor Graham move their quarters to a tent in British lines near Spring Hill. Ensign Pollard is killed by a shell in a house on the Bay. Four Negroes are killed in the cellar of Graham’s residence. Seven more lose lives in a fire started by a shot that struck a house near the Church.
October 5. Bombardment continues, causing considerable loss of life and damage to property in Savannah. Two women and two children are killed in the cellar of the Laurie house on Broughton Street. Shell which struck the provost kills two men and wounds nine more. Little damage is done by Allied batteries to the British fortifications. Allied generals consider plans for an attack on the lines.
October 6. General Prevost’s request that women and children be allowed to go aboard vessels down Savannah River under French protection until end of the Siege is declined. Pulaski sends suggestions to General d’Estaing respecting his ideas as to plan of attack. Carcasses are thrown into Savannah and a house is set on fire.
October 7. Shelling of Savannah continues. House in which Chief Justice Anthony Stokes resided is destroyed by fire, and as a result he loses several slaves and most of his papers. Over a thousand shells fall on city during five days of bombardment.
October 8. Decision is reached by Allies to attack British lines on following day. Plan is agreed upon, over considerable objection by some French officers, for principal assault to be made on the Spring Hill redoubt and the works to its north along the British right flank where Colonel Maitland commanded. False attacks were to be launched by the French at the center, by the Americans on the left, and by the Chevalier Durumain from the Savannah River itself. Major L’Enfant makes gallant but futile attempt to ignite the abatis in front of British works. Day passes in preparation for attack. Deserters or spies warn British of plans.
October 9. Allied troops take arms at midnight. D’Estaing reviews his troops at 2 A.M. before marching out of camp. Shortly after daybreak two columns of French soldiers, led by a vanguard, with a column of Americans and a corps of reserve (approximately 3,000 troops in all) make an assault on British lines at Spring Hill. Allies are repulsed with heavy losses after fifty-five minutes of fighting. False attacks at other points are quickly turned back. Count d’Estaing, who was wounded twice during the assault, turns command over to Colonel Dillon and rides to Thunderbolt. Truce is agreed on for burial of dead. Casualties among French total 11 officers killed and 35 wounded with 140 rank and file killed and 335 wounded. Total losses among American regulars and militia is 231 of whom 21 officers were killed or mortally wounded and 16 officers wounded. British losses on October 9th totalled 3 officers and 15 men killed and 1 officer, 3 subalterns, and 35 of the rank and file wounded. Count d’Estaing informs Americans of his intention to raise the Siege immediately.
October 10. Dismantlement of the French batteries is commenced.
October 11. French Council of War is held at which a majority of officers express opinion in favor of a retreat by way of Charlestown. The wounded Casimir Pulaski dies at sea en route to Charlestown.
October 12. Vicomte de Noailles dictates a letter to d’Estaing, which is signed by Count Dillon, protesting the General’s decision to retreat by way of Thunderbolt. Governor Rutledge writes to Count d’Estaing urging that Siege not be abandoned.
October 13. D’Estaing adheres to his plan of retreat but directs departure from Causton’s Bluff near Thunderbolt. French enter into formal convention with Americans as to details of retreat.
October 15. American militia depart. M. de Brétigny arrives from Charlestown and proposes that French send 900 troops there. D’Estaing refuses. Heavy desertions among the French.
October 18. American regulars break camp and retreat on Zubly’s Ferry, the sick and the artillery having been previously evacuated. French depart later and encamp that night at cross-roads leading to Brewton Hill. Count d’Estaing returns during day aboard the Languedoc.
October 19–21. French troops embark unmolested at Causton’s Bluff and return to the ships on the coast.
October 22. General Lincoln, who had reached Charlestown the previous evening, sends report of Siege to Continental Congress.
October 24. Colonel de Noailles and Lieutenant Trolong Durumain visit Savannah in connection with exchange of prisoners.
October 25. M. de La Motte-Piquet’s squadron, including the Magnifique, departs for Leeward Islands. D’Estaing completes draft of his Observations or Notes on Captain O’Connor’s Journal of the Siege of Savannah.
October 26. Lieutenant Colonel John Maitland dies at Savannah. M. de Vaudreuil sails with Fendant and Diadème for Chesapeake Bay.
October 28. Gale forces Languedoc to set sail eastward and Tonnant and Provence are shortly forced to follow. Several French naval captains are left behind without sailing orders.
October 29. Governor Wright issues a proclamation for a day of public Thanksgiving for the victory.
October 31. French vessels in Savannah River reach Cockspur Island. Count de Broves convenes naval Captains and it is determined to set sail.
November 1. Frigates under command of Comte de Marigny depart for Grenada.
November 2. Last French ship clears bar and departs from coast of Georgia.
December 5. Count d’Estaing having arrived at Brest after difficult passage sends report of the expedition to Georgia to M. de Sartine, Minister of Marine.