The approach of the hurricane season determined the French Admiral to take refuge, with his fleet, at Hispaniola, where he received an urgent call to unite with the Armies of America in recovering the Province of Georgia. Elated with his success at Grenada, he anticipated to himself the glory, not only of driving the British from this Colony, but of exterminating them from every post which they occupied along the sea-coasts of that Continent. There was not, to appearance, a force sufficient to stem his ambitious views; but they were opposed and frustrated by a spirit which often compensates the want of numbers.
D'Estaing's arrival on the coast of Georgia, early in September, was marked with a partial success by capturing the Experiment, of 50 guns, after a gallant defence on the part of Sir James Wallace. Unaccustomed to such an event as the capture of an English two-decker, it was considered as a favourable omen, and swelled his presumptuous hopes.
The appearance of such an armament struck wonder into General Prevost and the Garrison of Savannah, which were intended as the first victims to its power.
General Lincoln, with the Rebel Army from South Carolina, hearing of their new allies, moved towards Georgia, to combine in the attempt.
General Prevost issued orders to concentrate his detachments, and began to add to his works. Captain Henry, of the Royal Navy, commanded that force in the river Savannah with much zeal.
It became expedient, upon the nearer advance of the French Fleet, to move the ships of war close to the town, to land the guns and Seamen, and to incorporate their Marines with the Grenadiers of the 60th Regiment.
After D'Estaing had debarked his army of 5000 men, he instantly marched against Savannah, without waiting for Lincoln, and desired the Garrison to surrender, on the 16th of September. General Prevost solicited delay in answering his summons; in order to give time for his outposts to join him.
During the critical interval of 24 hours, which were allowed, that brave and active Officer, Lieut. Colonel Maitland, whom I have formerly mentioned, reached Savannah with a force of 800 men, after having encountered obstacles and difficulties of the most trying kind. Already, during the campaign of 1779, had he shewn himself most consummate in all the requisites of a Soldier, by the stand he made at John's Island with a handful of men, against ten times his numbers, under General Lincoln. That deed alone was enough to fix his military fame, which acquired additional glory by his wading march from Beaufort, to the relief of Prevost. In this, few men could have equalled, and none surpassed his undaunted fortitude and steady perseverance. It was the means of saving Georgia and its Capital.
Such were his personal fatigues and anxieties to reach the scene of his future duties, that both struck at the vitals of his existence, which afterwards closed a life long valuable to mankind by habitual exercises of the most amiable benevolence, and happy to himself by the approving consciousness of its having never been stained by dishonour. The activity of his spirit, however, buoyed him up under every bodily suffering, while Savannah was besieged by the enemy.