thing this afternoon, they were sure within the distance. I have the honour to be, &c.

A. PROVOST." COUNT D'ESTAING TO GENERAL PROVOST.

Camp before Savannah, September 16, 1779. “SIR—I consent to the truce you ask: it shall continue till the signal for retreat to-morrow night the 17th, which will serve also to announce the re-commencement of hostilities. It is necessary to observe to your excellency, that this suspension of arms is entirely in your favour, since I cannot be certain that you will not make use of it to fortify yourself, at the same time, that the propositions you shall make may be inadmissible.

"I must observe to you, also, how important it is that you should be fully aware of your own situation, as well as that of the troops troops under your com. mand. Be assured that I am thoroughly acquainted with it. Your knowledge of military affairs will not suffer you to be ignorant, that a due examination of that circumstance always precedes the march of the columns, and that this preliminary is not carried into execution by a mere show of troops.

"I have ordered them to withdraw before night comes on, to prevent any cause of complaint on your part. I understand that my civility in this respect has been the occasion that the Chevalier De Cambis, a lieutenant of the navy, has been made a prisoner of war.

"I propose sending out some small advance posts to-morrow morning: they will place them

selves in such a situation as to have in view the. four entrances into the wood, in order to prevent a similar mistake in future. I do not know whe ther two columns commanded by the viscount De Noailles and the count De Dillon, have shewn too much ardour, or whether your cannoniers have not paid a proper respect to the truce, subsisting between us; but this I know, that what has happened this night, is a proof that matters will soon come to a decision between us one way or another. I have the honour to be, &c.

D'ESTAING."

General Lincoln's army reached the Savannah river on the 12th, but the difficulty in procuring boats took up two days in crossing the river and swamp, which were three miles wide. Having effected it at Zubley's ferry, on the morning of the 15th, he marched to Cherokee hill, about eight miles above the town, where he was joined by ge. neral M'Intosh, with the Georgia continental troops, and by colonels John Twiggs and B. Few, with part of their regiments of militia. The next morning general Lincoln marched to Millen's plantation, three miles from the town on the Ogechee road where he established his head-quarters, and proceeded directly, to pay his respects to the count D'Estaing, and fix on the plan of future operations. The count suggested, that necessity had compelled him to offer the services of his king to the United-States at this unpropitious season of the year, where it would be unsafe to haza

ard the fleet long upon the coast, in consequence of the hurricanes with which it had usually been visited, and that these circumstances had rendered it necessary for him to lose no time in summoning the commander of the British troops in Savannah to surrender.

The answer to this summon had not yet been received from general Provost, and the count expressed gratification that general Lincoln had arrived in time to unite with him in the terms of capitulation, in case the enemy should surrender, of which he entertained but little doubt.

General Provost exercised great military judg ment, in soliciting twenty-four hours for consideration, because he calculated with great certainty that within that time, colonel Maitland would arrive with eight hundred troops from Beaufort. There is but little doubt, that on this event rested all his hopes of saving the garrison. When the fleet first appeared off the coast, the enemy had but twenty-three pieces of cannon mounted upon the redoubts and batteries, to defend an extent by land and water of near three miles. It appears that the count D'Estaing was not well informed, as to the geography of the country, or he certainly would have ordered the frigates to take their stations farther up the river, so as to have commanded the inland passage from Carolina and cut off the communication. If general Lincoln was acquainted with the advantages which the enemy could take of this circumstance, he proba

bly thought it unnecessary to communicate it to the count, having sent him a number of pilots who were acquainted with the coast and inland communications; consequently, thought any additional information unnecessary.

On the evening of the 16th, colonel Maitland arrived at Dawfuskie, and finding the passage up the river in possession of the French, he was obliged to resort to some other way of getting into the town. While he was embarrassed in this dif ficulty, fortune threw into his hands some negro fishermen, who were well acquainted with all the creeks through the marsh, and informed him of a passage called Wall's cut, through Scull creek, by which small boats could pass at high water. The tide and a thick fog favoured the execution of his plans, and enabled him with great difficulty to get through on the ensuing afternoon he reached the town, unperceived by the French. The acquisition of this formidable re-enforcement, headed by an experienced and brave officer, effected a complete change in the dispirited garrison. A signal was made and three cheers given, which from one end of the town to the other. In the afternoon the following letter was addressed by general Provost, to the count D'Estaing.

rung

"Savannah, September 17, 1779, "SIR-In answer to the letter of your excel. lency, which I had the honour to receive about twelve last night, I am to acquaint you, that hav ing laid the whole correspondence before the

king's civil governor, and the military officers of rank, assembled in council of war, the unanimous determination has been, that though we cannot look upon our post as inexpugnable, yet that it may and ought to be defended: therefore the evening gun to be fired this evening, at an hour before sun down, shall be the signal for re-commencing hostilities, agreeably to your excellency's proposal. I have the honour to be, &c.

A. PROVOST.”

The assistance of the negroes, who had been collected from the country, contributed greatly to hasten the preparation for defence: those people having been accustomed to the use of the hoe and spade, in the cultivation of rice, and possessing constitutions adapted to the climate, were con stantly employed in the ditches. The soil was also favourable to the enemy, being composed en. tirely of light sand.

The disappointment occasioned by a compli ance with the propositions of Provost, and losing the golden opportunity by delay, was a source of severe mortification and chagrin to the combined army. The favourable moment for reducing the fortress by assault, had been suffered to pass away unimproved, under the practice of deceptive pretexts. Though every exertion had been made to bring up the cannon and mortars from the sea coast, none had yet arrived, except some light pieces of field artillery. The British works, which had been commenced with great skill, were