The Siege Of Savannah

I am surprised that a lot of people, including Savannahians, do not know much about the Siege Of Savannah.  It was the second bloodiest battle of the Revolutionary war.  It is also known as the battle of Spring Hill Redoubt.  The Redoubt was a small fort made of earth and wood that the British built to protect Savannah from the Revolutionarys. When George Washington visited Savannah in 1791 he was deeply distressed that the earthworks were not being preserved on this historic battlefield.  He stood there in a very pensive mood as Lachlan McIntosh, one of the soldiers that fateful day, talked about the battle.  The Americans and the French lost that day. They were not able to take Savannah from the British and Savannah remained in British hands until the end of the war.  One of the most famous Polish officers was killed during the battle, Casimir Pulaski. Also, Sgt. William Jasper, the hero of Fort Moultrie was killed.  William Jasper became famous in South Carolina when he rescued his regimental flag from the ground and attached it to a cannon rammer.  Once he showed that bravery the Patroits started to win and the British began to pull back. However, at the Siege Of Savannah, Jasper rescued the flag from a fallen lieutenant and was mortally wounded while raising it for the battle.  There is a replica of the Springhill Redoubt near the visitors center.  I think George Washington would be proud to know that it has been recreated and placed near the original battlefield.  He hoped that something would be done to give future generations a chance to see the price that American and French Patriots paid for our freedom. 

The Sons Of Liberty

Whenever I go to the Pink House restaurant I think about the history of Savannah, especially the history of the Revolutionary war.  The Pink House use to be the home of Liberty Boy James Habersham, Jr.  His father, James Habersham, helped George Whitfield found Bethesda Orphange which is still in existance today.  Habersham was very loyal to the British crown but his heart was very distraught because all of his sons, Joseph, John, and James, Jr., became leaders in the Revolution. His son, Joseph, actually walked into the Governor's mansion on Telfair Square and placed the royal governor under house arrest on January 18, 1776. The Liberty Boys would meet at Tondee's Tavern and they also had secret meetings at the Pink House to come up with plans to stop the dreaded "taxation without representation."  In protest they hung up an effigy of Sir James Wright, the royal governor, and also an effigy of the stamp agent.  Later, some citizens formed a mock funeral cortege with an effigy of King George III inside the coffin.  The Declaration of Independence was read for the first time inside the Colonial council meetinghouse on Reynolds square, and read again in front of the Liberty pole at Tondee's Tavern.  The sons of Liberty changed King Street to President Street, and they changed Prince Street to Congress Street.  Tondee's Tavern which was in operation from 1770 to 1785 burned down, but the Pink House, circa 1777, still stands and it's the only mansion to survive the great fire of 1796.  The upper levels are a restaurant and the lower level, that use to be the Planter's Bank, is now an amazing underground tavern. 

If I had an endless supply of money....

This is a post I have been wanting to write for over 3 years.  If I had an endless supply of money I would tear down the Chatham County courthouse and put Liberty Square back where it was. Then I would build 18th century style houses around the square.  Then I would tear down the Civic Center and put Elbert Square back where it was and then Savannah would have all 24 squares again.  Then I would build 19th century style houses around that square.  I heard another tour guide mention the idea and I was excited to learn that I was not alone!  Hopefully one day it will come to fruition.  The Civic Center and the Courthouse do not look like any kind of architectural treasure.  Just demolish it! Some great concerts have been performed there such as Prince opening for Rick James in 1980, and L.L. Cool J coming to town on the Def Jam Tour in 1987, but who cares!  Atlanta tore down the Omni and built a better venue, Philips Arena.  Rebuilding the two lost squares would rewind the clock back to 1820, and restore Savannah to its original glory!