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Georgia
On the late-SIEGE of Savannah.
(Continued from our paper of the stb in/}.)
THIS vety great difcdvantage attended
the gaml-n, that the com
mand of one inch of g'rcund in the
country beyond the teach of cur can
non ; and the enemy being matters of
nil the avenues by land and water, we were cut off
from all intelligence and every kind of with
out the lead hope of fuccours and relief, ualcfa from
a B.itiii squadron, which was so little txpefted that
we were rather under an apptehenfian a reinforce
ment from New. York; which at any orher aitrts
might have been fufEcient to fubJue the neighbour
ing province, wonld fall an easy prey to the French
fleet, the extensive confeqnencas es which were eahly
fertfeen, and not probably would cot only have
rendered all refinance vain, but greatly endangered
nil the red of the British pofltffioni. The lof* of
the Experiment anil Ariel, and tbofc brave Comman
ders. Sir James Wallace and Capt. Mackei aie, was
an additional misfortune, and reported with such
circumftanees as were very far from railing ourfpi-
Tits. Our hopes of the speedy arrival of troops were
then at an end, though we Kill comforted our (elves
fche expefted reinforcement was fife, and at a future
day might yet reach us to be serviceable. Nor were
we altogether without fears left the Corke fleet with
provifiaas fhauld at that time came on the coast, the
taking of which might also hava provad very fatal.
1 The naval forco of the cnamy waa so exceedingly out
of companion superior to ours* that, in the 3b:'ence
of the Vigilant and font of our best cruisers, to
pteferve our own waa the utaoft ai.d aim >tt more
than hope for, and meeting with n* ob
ftruftion m v lha river, it was in tbeir power to come
and moor* within cannon (hat, and keep up what
fi e against ns they pieafed. Works that may hereaf
ter dispute the entrance of Back River not having
beou then ereftej, nor any force upon Hn'ehinfoVe
Island l'ufiicient to repel a dsfeent, (o that it was ge
nerally thought those that went upon that iftar.d far
and fafety were lather in mere danger, f
captivity at Iralt, than those that abode in their
boulea, or were employed within the lines. No op
‘ portion could be made to the enemy's landing qr ap
proach, **>d as they were in poffrffion of Hdf-Mmn-
Bluff, Thunderbolt, and Brewton’s, they had every
convenieney to land thtir artillery; and to b i g th t,
and every neceffffy of war, to their camp utimo
lefted, uoobferveu, and at the (hart distance of only
/fw# or three miles. As we were cut off from fire*
, wood and pravifi jns, it was obvious that * blorkade
(night be fatal, even the’ we repellrd an affault} and
the* our works were facb that we feared nothing from
Americans, whose intentions of an attack hid longbeen
talked af, yet,when a Fienclt feaaad land force appear
ed, a feene waa oocneJ which waa very unrxpefted. It
tnuft be acknowledged that our works, however (kil
fully planned end executed, were not such that brave
veteran troops might not have attacked them with
great profpeft of (uccefl. Savannah is not impreg
nable from (auction, and a much smaller French fo.se
often succeeded again* placet milch stronger, and by
9 coup-de-main carried fortrefos of more strength than
Savaunalutt auy time of the siege. It was also ei
pefted (he French would lose no time, but endeavour
te make themselves matters, by every method tn their
Sower, as quick at possible, [eft a Brjtifl, fleet
tould appear, or the season disable them from keep
ing on the coast. Under such ciicumftances, when
we bad the mS favourable terms tehope for from a
speedy fur.ender, and every thing tv fear io CBfe we
failed in cur defence, the refoJutian, worthy of
* Genera! Prevoft and his brave CfHcers and Army,
and correlponding with the wifhet of the Militii, was
cheerfully entered into, to aft like Britons, who
knew what-they owed thetr Kirgaud Country, .-J
how much was at stake, and to defend the place,
caufr, lives, and liberty, to the 1 rft drop of their
blood. That there might be feme perfont in town
fofpcfted of wilhing well to the enemies, and ready
to give them intelligence, or even afliftance, couid
pot prevent, but unleft such fufpiefons were altoge
ther groundless, certainly heightened the meiits of
such a refelution. <
k The raoft vigorous exertions How became necefft
ry, and perhaps never did troops sad militia j .in
more generally and heartily to the defence of any
place. Since the raiflog of the siege I have not heard
if a Angle militiaman within the lines who was ac
(ufed by his Officer, or tried by a Coiin-Martial,
for tcing a coward or defaulter; a lufficient praaf
ihat there was either no room for complaint, or
that a fair and open charge of miffiehaviour could
net b: supported. Nameless (labs agaieft unnamed
perfvnt dtferve no great at ten tie'. In confenquence
w a proclamation from his Excellency th: Gover-
. r’ . .... .
SAVANNAH: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1779.
■or, who took his (hare in the danger and fatigue
of the siege, the militia turned out, fcveral Gen
tlemen not Itsble to militia duty afted as volunteers,
and were greatly f|tviceable} and Engineer De
partment mutt be mentioned with particular honour t
It was viflbie and truly aftoniftiing how our works
were improved, that we rose ttronger every mor
ning, and that our defences were enlarged and
strengthened from night to oight, Alfiduity and per
severance did great things, and, without derogating
from the merits of any, while thkfe works, raifedin
so (hrt a thus, sh til continue to exist upon ground
or paper, the (kill, aea!.joduftry, valour, and in- *
defatigable application, of MAJOR MUNCRIEF,
the dhtef Engineer, can never want
meitt, and will be remembered with gratitud&rsbile a
person remains alive that reaped the blSfent"Of hie
aftivity and presence in a place so much indebted to
him for its preservation. Evety building that might
fiffWd flicker to the befl'ger*, or be hurtful to the
* btfiegtd, was pulled down; ‘‘ thirteen good re
doubt* were f>on ere At J round the town, and fifteea
gun batteries, containing about 76- pieces of can
non, 18, 9, and 6 pouoaerf, were raffed between
the redoubts, Theft batteries were manned by the
ffflors of the (hips of war, tranfportt, and mer
chantmen, in the rivsr 5 befits which there werjt
feveiai 4. pounders properly placed without batteries,
and 5 Held pieces.” Such were our works, chiefly
raffed fines the appearance of theenemy, on the land
fide, which, as they required the whole flreagth es
our garrison to defend, it was a happinefi that the
enemy did not know or improve our (kuatioit to
wards the river, which we locked upon as the weak
elt of the whole, and itaft capable es defence.
(To be continued at leisure.)
GEORGIA, (T.
The PRESENTMENTS of the Grand
Jurors for the Province aforefaid,
at the Court of Scfiionf of C>yer and
Terminer and General Gaol Delive
ry, begun and holdeii at Savannah
on TUefday the fourteenth Day of
December, One thousand seven hun
dred and seventy-nine, before the
Honourable Anthony Stokes,
Esquire, Chief-Juftice, and the
Honourable Martin Jollie, Ef
'quirej Aftiftant Judge.
\l/E the Grand Jurors of our Sovereign
.?V Lord the KING, for the Body of tb
said province, upon our oath*, present;
, I. As a grievance, the ruinous condition of
thechimnies in the town of Savannah, whereby
the Uvqs and properties of the inhabitants, and
ethers, are ex poled to conltant danger from
fire and other accidents.
11. We present, as a grievance the filth and
nastiness of the llrecte, and the fliuny flaughtsr
htfufes in the town.
111. We piefent, as a grievance, the inde
cent praftice of burying dead, bodies in various
parts of the town and its environs, and not con
fining it to the ufutl place appointed for that
solemn purpose. ‘o
iy. We present, as m grievance, the great
number of Negroes that are fufiFered to stroll a
bout, both in town and country, many with
fLe-arma and other effe:.fivs weapons, esmmit
ting robberies and other enormities, to the
great terror and annoyance of the inhabitants
thereof; and we recommend that thoeemploy
ed upon publick service ihauld Wear fome badge
or mirk of dillinftioa whereby they aay be
kr.own.
We present, as a grievance, the want of
a house of confinemeitt aid coirc&ion for Ne
groes.
yi. We present, as a grievance, thd present
rcincus condi.lon of the high rwads and bridges,
aid the want of proper boa:s and attendance at
the pcblick ferries. <
;.;t YII. We present, as s grievance, the went
of a place fur the reception of th# poor,, from
which want the community iofei a anaber of
ufeful who pi as and die in the at me ft
•
R6* k h
Gazettd
distress, deilitufi of attendance and the ton*
non necefiaries of life.
VIII. We lament the want of an Aflembly,
whereby all our grievances night be redrefied,
and the Civil Sftablilhident fixed in its proper
Channel. ♦ ,
And, lastly, we return oar thanks to hiir .
Honour the Chief-Jnftice for his excellent
Charge delivered et the opening of the present
Selfians, and requell that the fame, together
with these our Presentments, be pabliftted it
the next Gazette. *
JQHN MJJRRAY, Foreman, (L. 6.1
PATRICK CROOKBHANKB, (L. 8.)
THOMAd TALLSMACH, - (L. S.)
JOHN HENDERSON, (L. S.V
ALEXANDER M GOtJN, 8.)
JOHN MILNER, - (L*
. JAMRS BtICHANNAN,
ALEXANDER WYLLY, (L. S.)
ROBERT-WILLIAMS POWELL,*(L. S.>
OWEN OWENS, (L. 8.)
JOHN-DANIEL HAMMERER, (L. S.)
WILLIAM DUGUID, (L. S.)
JAMES STEPHENS, (L. S.)
JAMES BUTLER, (L. 8.)
DECEMBER 18, 1779,
The following ORDERS were made
by the Court on the foregoing Pre
sentments:
Ordered, That the Atterney-Geaeral d$
turn as many of the laid presentments into biile
of indiftmtnt as the nature of the said fcveral
prefi ntmeots will admit of.
And it ts further Ordered, That the
Clerk of the Crown do cause a copy of the said
p refill tmtnti, with these orders, te be laid be*
fore his Excellency the Governor, the Honour
able Council, and before the next General
Aflemblv i and de also cause a copy of the sane
to be iaferted in the Gazette.
By the Court,
T6HN SIMPSON, P. & 0. C.
Crown-Office, 20th December,. 1779.
‘the CHARGE of the CrtiEf-JusTici
to the Grand Jury at the present
Sefiions, which was drawn up in 4
Hurry, and is too inaccurate for thq
Publick Eye j but it is irtferted out
of Refpeft to the Define of the
Gentlemen of the Grand juryj who
were pieafed to think too favour*
ably of it.
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,
|T gives me g-at (atitfaftian to rtfl ft, that the rq*
* duftion of th*s province, by h(s Majesty’s arms;
affords me an opportunity of meeting you here at
this time. Io June and December Stffiorie, 1775,
when a fat of bad men were huirying this province
fall into rebellion, I did, in my Chargee to the
Grand Jury, point out to tbeauditnee, then effem
bled, the danger of subverting the King’s Govern
ment, and the many evils that would eafue there,
from, ae, ia that case, no mac’s life, liberty, es
property, wonld be fife 5 for I had previoofly de
termined, with God’s afliftance, to aft an open, de
cisive part, and not betray the trull thrt was repefed
in me ; and I have the happioeft to fay, tbst no man
can eccufe me of diflembliog in a (ingle inftaßcfjj
or of aftiog a double pajh. HoWever, Gentlemen,
I (hall no longer detaio yon with a melancholy te
trofpeft of what was tranfrfted in this province,
before I left it, 00 being exchanged, but congratu
late you, and all that hear me, on the happy errata
tint have taken place bate within the cetnvafs of
an year. The reduftion of this country by the King'*
anna has relieved his fubjeft* hers from such tyran
ny and oppression as would have disgraced eve*AfiA
itfelf. Many men who, before the rebellion, barf
neither reputation or property, afterwards becaaw
rulers in the land, and, by fraud and rapine, ac
quired great wealth. Theft who would not abjnro
e gracious Kiog, to wherb they owed aa#
under whom they enjoyed the mildest Government
in the world, were elthev impeiftned or
and their property yu confifcated. Immefft funa
es money wen emitted, fnfficieot te Have hdaSP
’ V A ‘ h h
[*• 43-J
