1779. fecreting the plunder lately taken from the South-Carolinians, was a confiderable object covered under the fpecious veil of humanity. That the commanders were fufpicious, confidering the ftratagem Prevoft had practifed after being fummoned, is not ftrange. It was also prefumed, that a refufal would expedite a furrender. The period being long fince elapfed which the count had affigned for his expedition, and the engineers informing him, that more time must be spent if he expected to reduce the garrifon by regular approaches, it was determined to make an affault. This measure was forced on d'Estaing by his naval officers, who had remonftrated againft his continuing to rifk fo valuable a fleet in its prefent unrepaired condition, on fuch a dangerous coaft in the hurricane feafon; and at fo great a distance from the fhore, that it might be furprised by a British fleet. These remonftrances were enforced by the probability of their being attacked by a British fleet completely repaired, with their full compliment of men, foldiers and artillery on board, when the fhips of his moft christian majesty were weakened by the absence of a confiderable part of their crews, artillery and officers. In a few days, the lines of the befiegers might have been carried into the works of the befieged: but under thefe critical circumstances no further delay could be admitted. To affault, or to raise the fiege, was the only alternative. Prudence dictated the latter: a fenfe of honor adopted the former. The morning of the 9th 9. was fixed for the attack. The preceding night, one James Curry, formerly a clerk at Charlestown, but now fergeant major in their volunteer company, went into Savannah with a plan of the attack. Two feints were 1779. made with the country militia; and a real attack a little before day light on the Spring-hill battery with 3500. French troops, 600 continentals, and 350 of the Charleftown militia, headed by count d'Estaing and gen. Lincoln. They marched up to the lines with great boldnefs but a heavy and well-directed fire from the batteries, and a crofs fire from the gallies threw the front of the column into confufion. Two ftandards however (one an American) were planted on the British redoubts. Count Pulaski, at the head of 200 horfemen, was in full gallop, riding into town between the redoubts, with an intention of charging in the rear, when he received a mortal wound. A general retreat of the affailants took place after they had ftood the enemy's fire for fifty-five minutes. D'Eftaing received two flight wounds; 637 of his troops, and 234* continentals were killed or wounded: of the 350 Charlestown militia, who were in the hottest of the fire, 6 were wounded, and a captain killed. Gen. Prevoft and major Moncrieff have defervedly acquired great reputation by this fuccefsful defence. There were not ten guns mounted on the lines on the day of the fummons, and in a few days the number exceeded 80. The garrifon was between 2 and 3000, including 150 militia. The damage it fuftained was trifling, as the men fired under cover, and few of the affailants fired at all. It loft no other officer than capt. Taws, who defended the redoubt where the standards were planted, with the greatest bravery. Inftead of mutual reproaches, which too often follow the failure of enterprises, depending upon the co-operation of different nations, the French and Americans had their con The returns made to general Lincoln. It was 779 fidence in and esteem for each other increafed. While the fiege of Savannah was pending, a remark→ able enterprise was effected by col. John White of the Georgia line. Previous to the arrival of d'Estaing on the coaft of Georgia, a captain of Delancey's 1ft batta lion had taken post with about 100 American royal regulars near the river Ogeechee, about 25 miles from Sa+ vannah. There were also at the fame place five British veffels, four of which were armed, the largest with 14 guns, the fmalleft with 4, and the whole manned with about 40 failors. Col. White, with fix volunteers, including his own fervant, made them all prisoners. On September the 30th, at eleven o'clock at night, he kindled a number of fires in different places, adopted the parade of a large encampment, practifed a variety of other ftratagems, and fummoned the captain to furrender; who was fo fully impressed with an opinion, that nothing but an inftant compliance could fave his men from being cut in pieces by a fuperior force, that he made no defence, The deception was carried on with 1779. made with the country militia; and a real attack a little before day light on the Spring-hill battery with 3500 French troops, 600 continentals, and 350 of the Charleftown militia, headed by count d'Estaing and gen. Lincoln. They marched up to the lines with great boldnefs: but a heavy and well-directed fire from the batteries, and a crofs fire from the gallies threw the front of the column into confufion. Two ftandards however (one an American) were planted on the British redoubts. Count Pulafki, at the head of 200 horfemen, was in full gallop, riding into town between the redoubts, with an intention of charging in the rear, when he received a mortal wound. A general retreat of the affailants took place after they had ftood the enemy's fire for fifty-five minutes. D'Estaing received two flight wounds; 637 of his troops, and 234* continentals were killed or wounded: of the 350 Charlestown militia, who were in the hottest of the fire, 6 were wounded, and a captain killed. Gen. Prevost and major Moncrieff have defervedly acquired great reputation by this fuccefsful defence. There were not ten guns mounted on the lines on the day of the fummons, and in a few days the number exceeded 80. The garrifon was between 2 and 3000, including 150 militia. The damage it fuftained was trifling, as the men fired under cover, and few of the affailants fired at all. It loft no other officer than capt. Taws, who defended the redoubt where the ftandards were planted, with the greatest bravery. Inftead of mutual reproaches, which too often follow the failure of enterprises, depending upon the co-operation of different nations, the French and Americans had their con * The returns made to general Lincoln. It was 779 fidence in and esteem for each other increafed. While the fiege of Savannah was pending, a remark→ able enterprise was effected by col. John White of the Georgia line. Previous to the arrival of d'Estaing on the coaft of Georgia, a captain of Delancey's ift batta→ lion had taken poft with about 100 American royal regulars near the river Ogeechee, about 25 miles from Sa+ vannah. There were also at the fame place five British veffels, four of which were armed, the largest with 14 guns, the fmalleft with 4, and the whole manned with about 40 failors. Col. White, with fix volunteers, including his own fervant, made them all prifoners. On September the 30th, at eleven o'clock at night, he kindled a number of fires in different places, adopted the parade of a large encampment, practifed a variety of other ftratagems, and fummoned the captain to furrender; who was fo fully impreffed with an opinion, that nothing but an instant compliance could fave his men from being cut in pieces by a fuperior force, that he made no defence, The deception was carried on with |