ncessant fire upon the town. By this time the besieging army,
reinforced by the militia of South Carolina, under Governor Rutledge,
amounted to nearly 10,000 men, while General Prevost's whole force did
not exceed a fourth part of that number. The batteries played upon the
town for five days, during which time no visible impression was made
upon the works, and but little injury was done to the houses. In the
midst of this firing, indeed, Prevost had contrived to mount nearly
one hundred guns, and all the open or weak parts of the town were
strengthened with impalements, traverses, abattis, and redoubts, the
last being constructed of green spongy wood and trunks of trees, with
the interstices filled up with mud and sand. Perceiving that he made
no progress, d'Estaing became impatient and alarmed, for he feared that
while he was taking Savannah, the British fleet in the West Indies might
capture all the French islands. His officers also suggested that if
the British fleet were to follow them to the Savannah River, the effect
might be fatal while so many were employed in the siege; and that if
they remained at the stormy season of the year upon that insecure coast,
the fleet might be scattered by storms, and destroyed piecemeal by the
British ships. Under these circumstances, contrary to the advice of
General Lincoln, the count resolved to try the effects of an assault
by storm, and on the morning of the 9th of October he made the rash
attempt. Before daybreak, after a heavy cannonade and bombardment,
and an unsuccessful attempt to set fire to the abattis, the French and
Americans, to the number of 5000, advanced to the right of the British
lines. They advanced in two columns; one being led by d'Estaing and
Lincoln, and the other by Count Dillon, an Irishman in the service of
France. The column under Dillon, mistaking its way, became entangled
in a morass near the fortress, and exposed to its fire; and while great
numbers were slain, the rest were unable to form. The other column
advanced against a redoubt, but as soon as it was discovered, the allies
became exposed to a continual blaze of musketry from its guns, and to
a murderous cross-fire from the adjoining batteries, which mowed down
whole ranks, and threw the head of the column into confusion. Other men
were urged on to fill up the gaps; and the column at length got to the
foot of the redoubt. Here the conflict became more dreadful than ever.
For a few minutes the Fren