SAVANNAH, GA
\sɐvˈanə], \sɐvˈanə], \s_ɐ_v_ˈa_n_ə]\
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was settled in 1733 by Oglethorpe, as the first settlement in the colony. In the Revolution it was captured by the British. In December, 1778, 3000 British under Colonel Campbell attacked Savannah. Howe, the American commander, held out against a force three times his own until a negro guided the British to the American rear. The British lost but twenty-four, and secured the capital of Georgia and 400 prisoners. In September, 1779, the French under D'Estaing and the Americans under Lincoln undertook the siege of Savannah. The plan was to make two real and two feigned attacks before dawn. The plan miscarried. A brave but unavailing assault was made, in which Sergeant Jasper distinguished himself by rescuing his colors, though twice mortally wounded. After an obstinate struggle of fifty-five minutes the assailants were driven back. The British loss was trifling. The French and Americans lost about 800 men. Estaing sailed away and Georgia was left in the undisputed possession of the British. In 1864 the city was occupied, after ten days' siege and fighting, December 10 to 21, by Sherman as the finale of his celebrated march to the sea. Sherman's army was 60,000 strong. Hardee held Savannah with 15,000 Confederates. After great difficulty experienced in approaching the town, Sherman began his investment December 10. On the 12th, Hazen was sent with his division of the Fifteenth Corps to capture Fort McAlister, since Sherman desired to communicate with the Federal fleet, which lay off Savannah under the command of Dahlgren. Hazen took the fort, which was manned by 200 Confederates and had twenty-three guns, after about fifteen minutes of desperate assault, and communication with the fleet was established. Thereupon Sherman summoned Hardee to surrender, but the latter refused. Sherman accordingly put his siege guns in position and prepared for assault. Hardee, seeing himself about to be surrounded, evacuated the city on the night of the 20th by means of a pontoon bridge.
By John Franklin Jameson
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