Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-12-29
The D~fences of Savannah

Assuming that General Sherman can.
lures Savannah, of which there seems +
not the slightest doubt, he will gain, by 4
The victory, large amount of war ma,
terial which has been collecting at tina
point ever since the rebellion broke out
Fort McAllister mounted twentv.on.
heavy guns. Forts Lawton and Lee on I
the Savannah, mount as armament In
the aggregate, scarcely less than that of
McAllister. Fort Jackson on the sa-
vannah, two miles below the city. has
it is understood, not less than thirty
guns of heavy calibre The ram Georgia.
a heavy iron-plated vessel, lies grounded
about four miles below the city, with
her six heavy guns in position. Prob.
ably halfa.dozen other works, mounting
in the aggregate, twenty four guns, are
on either bank of the river. In addition
to these we may estimate the field artil.
lery under General Hardee, and the guns
mounted in the eathworks defending
Savannah on the west aud northeast
lines, at not less than fifty in the aggre-
gate. We thus have a total Of one huh.
bred and sixty-two guns of all calibres
which must come into the possession OF
General Sherman and Admiral Dahlgren
upon the capitulation of the city. We
assume that the forts and their deieuCes
below Savannah will fall upon the sur
render of the city, for the reason. thai
the forts will thus be rendered unten-
able, as were Forts Jackson and ST.
Philip after the surrender OF New Or
leans. There are scarcely any vessels
of value in Savannah river; the craft
plying upon that stream being prinCi-
pally small steamers, not above the
average value of our smallest tugs.
The Savannah river is entered by a
channel leading in from seward near
Tybee Island, and between that island
| and Hilton Head island. Its first de-
fence is the Martello Tower, long since
in the possession of our forces. Next
| comes Fort Pulaski, which was reduced
| in 1862. From Fort Pulaski the river
tends to the northward, and westward
with water for vessels drawing fiftee
feet OF water. Elba island, four miles
| from Savannah, divides the river, the
main chief channel running on the up
per side of the island. On the south
side of the island, and near its middle
is the entrance to St. Augustine creek
| at which is the outer picket station O
| the rebels, and from that point COmmu
nicaton is kept up with Fort jackson
| and the battery Georgia by means of tel
egraphic and other signals. At tn.
! head of Elba island, known as -four
mile point" the river makes one detoul
to the southwark of west, and here lie;
the ram Georgia, a hopeless cripple ant
hard and fast aground.
THE RAM GEORGIA.
The Georgia is an iron plated vessel o
| the Merrimac and Tennessee class bu
| in her infancy she was found to be
very poor vessel, and was grounded a
Four Mile Point, with her guns point
ing down the channel. She is said tt
| be fully Differed and manned and mount
ing battery of six heavy guns, which
command the spike Instructions whicl
are placed few rods below her on bot
sides of the channels.
| FORT JACKSON.
Fort Jackson is situated on the RICH
bank of the river, one mile from tn
Georgia and three miles from the city
1t was constructed by the United State
engineers; but for some time previou
to the rebellion was not fully garrisoned
but since that time it has been strength
ened, additional guns mounted and pu
in a most complete state Of defense. 1t
armament has been estimated at twent
guns.
OTHER WORKS.
It has been reported from time to tim
that Fort Jackson was further strength
ened by out works on points on tn
main land, extending from abreast "fou
mile point" to the port, and thence t
the city, two or three small redoubt
had been thrown up.