The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-07-04
WAR STORIES.
The Dramatic Siege and storng of Savannah During
War with England
Helen Harcourt in Sunny South.


admiral, Count b E.,aing, then oper.
atlng against the British among the
West India islands, to give all the as
siatlnce IN his power to the young re-
public. Both France and England
had possessions among these rich is
lands, and vigorous war was being
carried on amidst their waters by Ad.
mlral Byron, on the part Of the Fog
lish, and Count D Estaipg, on the
part OF the French. The latter had
just iuet and defeated the English
fleet, disabling SO many of its ships
that they had been compelled to seek
shelter in one Of their ports to repair
the damages inflicted by the French
guns. Having thus checked active
operations against the French islands
for several weeks, at least, D Estaing
turned his attention to the needs OF
his American allies. He had received
urgent requests from General Lii coln,
commander of the continental forces
in the South; from Governor Rut.
ledge, of South Carolina, and from the
French consul at Charleston, to coope-
rate with the Americans in an assault
on Savannah, then occupied by the
British.
Under these circumstances, D'Es-
taing sailed for the coast of Georgia.
=" arrived off the Savannah river, the
'ow1 lying Is miles from its mouth,
on September 8, with fleet Of twenty
two ships of the line, and eleven fri
gates, carrying 5000 soldiers. D'Es-
taing's arrival WAS such a complete
surprise to the British that a ship of
the line, the Experiment, of fifty
guns and three frigates, fell into the
hands of the French admiral. The
Experiment, by the way, must have
been launched under on "unlucky
STAR The readers of our recent &C.
count Of How the Strange Battle Of
Fort MouItrie Was Fought and Won"
will recall the fact that she was one Of
the British ships that were call tat.
tered and torn by the fierce guns of
little Fort Siouitrie. The entire feet
suffered severely on the occasion, but
the Experiment probably the worst.
Her sides were riddled and crushed,
aud her decks slippery with the blood
OF the 100 men Of her crew who were
killed or wounded. She had narrow
ly escaped capture by the Americans,
only to fall into the hands Of her hated
enemies, the French.
Arrangements had previously been
made by D Estaing with the American
general, and the news Of his arrival off
Savannah was sent, by swift vessel,
70 Charleston. D Estaing was to land
3,0OU men at Beaulieu, on September
II, and Lincoln was to cross the Sa.
vannah river a: 1.nhly's fcrry, on the
same day. win 1000 of his troops
and effect jun otiol with the French.
man. -
The town Of Savannah was at this
time the headquarters of General Pre-.
yost. the British commander in the
South; Anticipating no danger at
this time, he had weakened his garri-
son by detachiug several com pauies to
occupy outlying posts at exposed
points 10 the. State, and worse stilI,
had left u considerable force with Col.
onel Maitland. at Beaufort, s. g. As
soon as the French feet was sighted
off the coast General Provost sent
swift messengers to Colonel Maitland
and to all the outlying Georgis posts
within reach with the order to return
to Savannah with all possible speed.
This order was successfully carried
out BY all posts 10 the State. except
BY the sick and wounded Of the Sun
bury garrison, who were captured by
he Americans. g.. ....
On the night of September IL Count
D'Estaing Landed 5000 of bis men a,
Beaulieu. On the next day, without
for the arrival of: General
Lincoln, he, summoned the garrison of
Savannah to surrender, in the name Of
he king Of. France. General Provost
believed 10 the time, worn axiom chat
all is fair in love and in' war. He
vas desirous Of gaining time, that
Colonel Maitland might join him.
His reply to the summons. .herefore.
vas worded in suoh manner as Ia IL |
give D Estaing the impression that lie |
Intended to capitulats without dght. |
ng. Under this belief, she French !
admiral granted his request for truce II |
II = twenty.four hours. Thea, in !
oreathless snspenae, the shrewd Brit.
Ist1 general watched the hours 20 By,
knowingtha il Maitland with his
Felsome reinforcement, had not reach. |