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4 THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, SAVANNAH, GA. By Very Rev. Joseph D. Mitchell, V.G. Catholics in Revolutionary Days. Although the organization of a Catholic Parish in Savannah did not take place until after the War of the Revolution, it is fitting to connect our brief ac count of the early Catholic settlers in Georgia with the “parish period” by a separate article on the part that Catholics took in Savannah during the War for American Liberty. There is no record of Catholics figuring in Savan nah’s history during this war until the memorable at tack upon the city by the French and American troops in 1779. It is a well-known fact that despite the enthusiasm displayed by so many of her citizens in the American cause, a great many of the people of Savannah were British sympathizers. This was due in great measure to the fact that Georgia was still in her infancy as an English colony; there were comparatively few native Americans among her people, and the colony owed much to the English for their expenditure of money and other helps in keeping the town and colony alive. Nevertheless, those who espoused the cause of the colonies in their revolt against the “mother-country” were very active. Frequent meetings were held at Tondee’s Tavern, and the Liberty Pole erected there became the rally ing point of the American patriots. The colony of Georgia was represented in the signing of the Decla ration of Independence; the citizens seized a store of ammunition and captured a British supply ship off Tybee; the Governor himself was made prisoner and banished from the town; and for a time Savannah seemed to be completely under the control of the patriots. But the triumph of the Americans was short-lived. In 1778 Savannah was easily re-captured by the British and remained in their possession until the close of the war. On the 6th of February, 1778, through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, a treaty was made by the struggling colonies with France, by which the inde pendence of the thirteen colonies was recognized. This being interpreted as an act of war by England, a fleet under the command of Count D’Estaing was sent over to blockade the British fleet in Delaware. This was the beginning of the French activities in the war. On September 9, 1779, the American forces under General Lincoln and the French under Count D’Es- taing laid siege to Savannah in the effort to capture the tov/n. The siege lasted for a whole month, and for a time the town was subjected to an almost con tinual bombardment from the French fleet in the Sa vannah River. On the 9th day of October it was de cided to take the town by storm, and then occurred the famous assault whicti ended so disastrously to the French and American forces. It was in this battle that Count D’Estaing was se verely wounded, Sergeant Jasper was killed, and Count Pulaski received his mortal wound. It is esti mated that the French and Americans lost over a thousand men, of whom 600 were French and Catholics. It is not our purpose to enter into any detail con cerning this, one of the most bloody engagements of the war. The battle took place outside of the town, as it then existed, but in what is now one of the busiest and most important localities of the city. The Central of Georgia depot occupies a large part of the ground where the fiercest fighting occurred, and St. Patrick’s Church, at Liberty and West Broad Streets, is not far from the spot where Pulaski fell from his horse, struck by a cannister shot fired from the last gun of the bastion. General Lincoln wished to renew the attack, but Count D Estaing would not hazard another attempt; so the French fleet returned home, and the American forces moved to Charleston. The dead were buried where they fell, and the wounded were taken off the field where most of them died later and were interred under what is now oc cupied by streets and buildings and railroad yards in the western part of the city. It is related that in 183 7, when the ground was cut down to fill in the place where the Central of Georgia station now stands many relics of that sanguinary conflict were found along with remains of the dead. Thus, under Savannah’s soil rest the mortal remains of over 600 Catholic soldiers who gave their lives in the effort to make Savannah and America free. Their names are mostly unknown, and their graves unmarked, but their memory will ever remain with our people. In this memorable engagement there are two of the Catholic faith who figured so prominently that it is but right that they should receive special mention Count D’Estaing, of France, and Count Pulaski, of Poland. Count Casimir Pulaski. This hero of the American Revolution was born at Winiary, Poland, March 4, 1748. He was the eldest son of Count Joseph Pulaski, and received his military training as a youth in the Guard of Charles, Duke of Courland. Under the leadership of his father, he was one of those who formed in 1 768 a “Confedera tion of the Bar” for the liberation of Poland from Russian tyranny and oppression. His life for the en suing six years was one constant series of brilliant exploits, successes and failures, hair-breadth escapes, but all fruitless endeavors, to accomplish the freedom of his native land. He was compelled in 17 72 to flee to Turkey, and later to France. On the 17th of October, 1776, he offered his ser vices to Benjamin Franklin in the cause of America, and landed in Boston in July, 1 777. His signal ser vices in the American Army in the Jersey campaign led to his forming, with the approbation of General Washington, what is known in history as “Pulaski’s Legion.” This was in 1778. The famous “banner of the legion” was purchased by him from the Mora vians, of Bethlehem, and was not presented as a gift, as is popularly supposed. His gallant defense of the city of Charleston in May, 1779, led to his being given the command of both the French and American cavalry in the assault (Continued on Page 13.)