Savannah's Early History
Founding of Georgia's First City
Savannah-Georgia's First City
Sailing up the Savannah River, James Oglethorpe began his plan of settling the area for the English know now as Savannah, Georgia. Savannah was the first planned city based on a grid system int he newly established colony of Georgia. Savannah was founded off what is now the Savannah River on Yamacraw Bluff inn 1733 by General James Oglethorpe as a debtors colony and buffer colony between South Carolina and Florida. Savannah quickly grew and became a major port for the selling of cotton. It also played a role in the Revolutionary War and again in the Civil War.
James Oglethorpe
Primary Source for Picture: http://stu.westga.edu/~jjacks12/historical_georgians/assets/james_oglethorpe.jpg
Oglethorpe's Plan
Establishment of Georgia 1
Establishment of Georgia 2
Establishment of Georgia 3
British Charter for the Colony of Georgia
Yamacraw and British Working Together
Tomochichi and the Yamacraw
Primary Source of Image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tomochichi.jpg
Battles of Savannah
Seige of Savannah
Savannah played a huge role during the Revolutionary War in the battle called the "Seige of Savannah". Due to its Port and strategic location, the British had quickly taken Savannah. This was a join Franco-American endeavor led by the Polish Casmir Pulaski. However, the British held strong and ended winning the day is this pivotal second battle for Savannah.
Primary Source:
Savannah and the Civil War
Defense Map of Savannah During the Civil War
Union Soldier Entering Savannah
Slaves shown in Savannah during Civil War
The following is a telegram sent by General Sherman to President Lincoln concerning the progress of Sherman's 'March to the Sea.' The success of this campaign helped clinch the 1864 election for Lincoln.
SAVANNAH, GA., December 22, 1864
(Via Fort Monroe 6.45 p.m. 25th)
His Excellency President LINCOLN:
I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.
W.T. Sherman,
Major General.
Primary Source: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/primarysources/general-sherman-to-president.html
William Sherman's March to the Sea and Presentation of Savannah to Lincoln
As the Civil War raged, Sherman marched through Georgia, laying a path of waste from Atlanta winding to the Sea. As Savannah saw the destruction Sherman was bound to inflict on her, she decided to welcome General Sherman with open arms. Due to this, Sherman decided to spare Savannah, and he gave it to Lincoln as a Christmas Present.
The Yellow Fever Epidemic
Primary Source: 1876 – “Yellow Fever” – Nelly K. Gordon. From the Gordon Family Papers, MS 318