When political dissent evolved into armed

revolution in America, Oglethorpe's colony

had only been in existence for four decades.

Georgians confronted the same political and

economic issues associated with British

taxation as the more established colonies. A

general deterioration of Royal authority

intensified when news of armed resistance

at Lexington and Concord (Massachusetts)

reached Savannah in May 1775. On July 4,

1775, Georgia's second provincial congress

convened to determine the colony's future.

Delegates decided that Georgia would join

the other 12 colonies to unite against the

British Crown.

(Pictures included ;Sons of Liberty at Tondee's

Savannah Tavern,"American Liberty"-

American Flag Flown Over Georgia &

HMS Rose)

HMS Rose was a 6th rate frigate stationed in Savannah

during the British Occupation. The Rose was in the river

below Savannah to obstruct navigation when the French fleet

arrived in September 1779.

Battle of the Rice Boats

In January 1776, Royal navy vessels entered the Savannah

River. Captain Andrew Barkley only proposed to purchase

supplies, but Savannah Whigs flatly refused. Barkley sailed upriver

and through Back River capturing 26 merchantmen at the northwest

end of Hutchinson Island. Georgia malitia frustrated the raid, but the

rice boats were captured. Americans torched several in hopes that

the burning craft would drift into the British anchorage. Despite

their valiant efforts, Barkley made his way downstream through the

Back River with the prize vessels in tow.

British Attack on Savannah December 28, 1778

By 1778, the British altered their strategy to subdue the

American rebellion. An army of over 3,000 British regulars, German

mercenaries and American Loyalists sailed from New York to capture

Savannah. Under the command of Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell, the

expedition would use the city as a base of operations against Patriot

forces in the South. The British advance into Savannah was virtually

uncontested by the surprised Georgia Continentals. For the duration

of the war in America, Savannah was an occupied city.

American Attempt to Liberate Savannah

On September 11, 1779, American forces under command of

Gen. Benjamin Lincoln and Count Casimir Pulaski rendezvoused

northwest of Savannah. The following day, Count Charles-Henri

d' Estaing's French fleet debarked 3,200 French, Irish and Haitian

soldiers who marched on Savannah to support the American attack.

Allied forces chose to lay siege to the city and and unleashed a five-

day bombardment. Unfortunately, there was little damage to the

British defenses. Savannah remained under British control for more

than six months after Gen. Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. George

Washington at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781.

Marker is on East River Street, on the right when traveling west.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: