Stiles/Akin
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
The Seige and Evacuation of Savannah,,,
by Colonel Charles C. Jones Jr.
Commander of Artillery.
December 19-21, 1864
During the 19th and 20th, our artillery and infantry fire was heavier than it had been on any previous days. The hour of evacuation being near at hand, a more liberal expenditure of ammunition was sanctioned, and the fire from the batteries increased at every available point until the shade of night on the 20th settled upon the contending lines. In obedience to instructions from artillery headquarters, the ammunition chests of the light batteries were thoroughly replenished and all available animals were exchanged for retiring such of the unattached guns as could be transported. All field guns of inferior quality were exchanged for superior pieces where they could be secured.
On the evening of the 19th, an order was issued for the evacuation of Whitemarsh Island. After spiking the guns and destroying the carriages and ammunition at Turners rocks, Gibson’s Point and on the line of lunettes across the island without attracting the notice of the enemy, the troops from their locality were dispatched over the pontoon bridges across the Savannah River to cooperate with General Wheeler in holding the enemy in check on the Carolina shore. Upon this retreat, all bridges connecting Whitemarsh Islands with the mainland were destroyed.
The garrison from the Savannah River batteries, from Fort Bartow, and from Fort Thunderbolt, having spiked their guns, destroyed their carriages and there own the ammunition into the water, concentrated at Fort Jackson at 8 O’clock on the evening of the 20th whence, under the command of Colonel Edward Anderson they were conveyed by steamer to Screven’s Ferry and marching the same night to Hardeeville ( South Carolina) They were accompanied by the crew of the Confederate Ironclad CSS Georgia- CPT Gwathmey- that floating battery having been scuttled by her officers. The guns having been spiked and carriages broke and ammunition destroyed at Isle of Hope, Rose Dew, the garrisons repaired to Savannah and the same night crossed the pontoon bridges, the artillerist from Beaulieu and Rose Dew moving forward to Hardeeville while the dismounted cavalry from the Isle of Hope reported for duty to General Wheeler.
From the western lines, our troops were quietly withdrawn in order and at hours indicated in the circular issued by General Hardee. There was no confusion and all movements were executed promptly and in silence. Abandoned guns were spiked their carriages disabled and all ammunition destroyed so far as we could without attracting the attention of the enemy in our immediate front. To conceal our operation, occasional firing was maintained until the latest moment. Forty-nine pieces of field artillery with limbers, caissons, forges, battery wagons, and baggage wagons were safely withdrawn and transported over the pontoon bridges. Without halting in Savannah, the retiring confederate army pursued its march for Hardeeville South Carolina, which was designated as the place of rendezvous.
The destruction of the ammunition on the western lines was not commenced until after the withdrawal of the infantry and was cautiously performed by the artillerists. The guns were not spiked until the last moment. With several rounds of ammunition on hand, they were ready for action while the ordinance stores and equipment’s which could not be retired were being rendered useless. The field return on the morning to the 20th of December 1864, showed in the trenches, on the detail duty, and in the fixed batteries along the water approaches to the city, an aggregate of 9,089 men of all arms, present for duty.
The Ladies gunboat or ironclad Georgia was sunk at her moorings abreast of Fort Jackson, by her crew on the night of the 20th. The ironclad Savannah, Captain Brent, being unable to proceed to sea in consequence of the torpedoes in the river and a strong gale setting from the northeast, after having, on the morning of the 21st, remained for some time in the neighborhood of Screven Ferry where a detail was engaged in the removal of some of the quartermaster and commissary stores and having returned artillery fire of the enemy in the bay was burnt nearly opposite Willink’s shipyard.
The steamers Isondiga and FireFly were burned by the Confederates in Back River. Several gunboats, Macon, Sampson, and Resolute had been dispatched upriver prior to the siege and the Ida had been captured.
The gallant Commodore Tattnall, having in-person superintended the destruction of most of his vessels, led his sailors and marines to Hardeeville marching at the head although suffering from rheumatism.
In order to deaden the sound, rice straw was thickly strewn over the pontoon bridges. By 3 o’clock on the morning of the 21st, the rear guard of the Confederate army had crossed over into Hutchinson Island and the evacuation was complete.
Engineer troops shortly afterward detached the flats, cutting holes in them and sending them adrift.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul of General Hardee’s staff was ordered to take command of a small force and after seeing that the pontoon bridge was destroyed to collects such stragglers and cross by way of Screven’s ferry. This command was detailed to preserve order until the last moment. No disturbances occurred during the night. Just before sunrise he withdrew his pickets and having collected all stragglers embarked on board the steamer Swan for Screven Ferry. As the boat got underway, the advanced guard of the enemy appeared on the bay.
It was not until half past 3 o’clock on the morning of the 21st that our abandonment of the western lines was discovered. Orders were at once issued to advance the pickets on the left of the Federal line and to press forward into the city. By six o’clock AM, General Geary’s division had entered without opposition and the city of Savannah was in possession of the Federals.
Near the junction of the Louisville and Augusta Roads, and about half-past four o’clock in the morning of the 21st, the Honorable Richard D. Arnold, Mayor of Savannah and a delegation from the Board of Aldermen, met that officer and through him made a formal surrender of the city just evacuated by the Confederates.”
by Colonel Charles C. Jones Jr.
Commander of Artillery.
December 19-21, 1864
During the 19th and 20th, our artillery and infantry fire was heavier than it had been on any previous days. The hour of evacuation being near at hand, a more liberal expenditure of ammunition was sanctioned, and the fire from the batteries increased at every available point until the shade of night on the 20th settled upon the contending lines. In obedience to instructions from artillery headquarters, the ammunition chests of the light batteries were thoroughly replenished and all available animals were exchanged for retiring such of the unattached guns as could be transported. All field guns of inferior quality were exchanged for superior pieces where they could be secured.
On the evening of the 19th, an order was issued for the evacuation of Whitemarsh Island. After spiking the guns and destroying the carriages and ammunition at Turners rocks, Gibson’s Point and on the line of lunettes across the island without attracting the notice of the enemy, the troops from their locality were dispatched over the pontoon bridges across the Savannah River to cooperate with General Wheeler in holding the enemy in check on the Carolina shore. Upon this retreat, all bridges connecting Whitemarsh Islands with the mainland were destroyed.
The garrison from the Savannah River batteries, from Fort Bartow, and from Fort Thunderbolt, having spiked their guns, destroyed their carriages and there own the ammunition into the water, concentrated at Fort Jackson at 8 O’clock on the evening of the 20th whence, under the command of Colonel Edward Anderson they were conveyed by steamer to Screven’s Ferry and marching the same night to Hardeeville ( South Carolina) They were accompanied by the crew of the Confederate Ironclad CSS Georgia- CPT Gwathmey- that floating battery having been scuttled by her officers. The guns having been spiked and carriages broke and ammunition destroyed at Isle of Hope, Rose Dew, the garrisons repaired to Savannah and the same night crossed the pontoon bridges, the artillerist from Beaulieu and Rose Dew moving forward to Hardeeville while the dismounted cavalry from the Isle of Hope reported for duty to General Wheeler.
From the western lines, our troops were quietly withdrawn in order and at hours indicated in the circular issued by General Hardee. There was no confusion and all movements were executed promptly and in silence. Abandoned guns were spiked their carriages disabled and all ammunition destroyed so far as we could without attracting the attention of the enemy in our immediate front. To conceal our operation, occasional firing was maintained until the latest moment. Forty-nine pieces of field artillery with limbers, caissons, forges, battery wagons, and baggage wagons were safely withdrawn and transported over the pontoon bridges. Without halting in Savannah, the retiring confederate army pursued its march for Hardeeville South Carolina, which was designated as the place of rendezvous.
The destruction of the ammunition on the western lines was not commenced until after the withdrawal of the infantry and was cautiously performed by the artillerists. The guns were not spiked until the last moment. With several rounds of ammunition on hand, they were ready for action while the ordinance stores and equipment’s which could not be retired were being rendered useless. The field return on the morning to the 20th of December 1864, showed in the trenches, on the detail duty, and in the fixed batteries along the water approaches to the city, an aggregate of 9,089 men of all arms, present for duty.
The Ladies gunboat or ironclad Georgia was sunk at her moorings abreast of Fort Jackson, by her crew on the night of the 20th. The ironclad Savannah, Captain Brent, being unable to proceed to sea in consequence of the torpedoes in the river and a strong gale setting from the northeast, after having, on the morning of the 21st, remained for some time in the neighborhood of Screven Ferry where a detail was engaged in the removal of some of the quartermaster and commissary stores and having returned artillery fire of the enemy in the bay was burnt nearly opposite Willink’s shipyard.
The steamers Isondiga and FireFly were burned by the Confederates in Back River. Several gunboats, Macon, Sampson, and Resolute had been dispatched upriver prior to the siege and the Ida had been captured.
The gallant Commodore Tattnall, having in-person superintended the destruction of most of his vessels, led his sailors and marines to Hardeeville marching at the head although suffering from rheumatism.
In order to deaden the sound, rice straw was thickly strewn over the pontoon bridges. By 3 o’clock on the morning of the 21st, the rear guard of the Confederate army had crossed over into Hutchinson Island and the evacuation was complete.
Engineer troops shortly afterward detached the flats, cutting holes in them and sending them adrift.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul of General Hardee’s staff was ordered to take command of a small force and after seeing that the pontoon bridge was destroyed to collects such stragglers and cross by way of Screven’s ferry. This command was detailed to preserve order until the last moment. No disturbances occurred during the night. Just before sunrise he withdrew his pickets and having collected all stragglers embarked on board the steamer Swan for Screven Ferry. As the boat got underway, the advanced guard of the enemy appeared on the bay.
It was not until half past 3 o’clock on the morning of the 21st that our abandonment of the western lines was discovered. Orders were at once issued to advance the pickets on the left of the Federal line and to press forward into the city. By six o’clock AM, General Geary’s division had entered without opposition and the city of Savannah was in possession of the Federals.
Near the junction of the Louisville and Augusta Roads, and about half-past four o’clock in the morning of the 21st, the Honorable Richard D. Arnold, Mayor of Savannah and a delegation from the Board of Aldermen, met that officer and through him made a formal surrender of the city just evacuated by the Confederates.”