Little Books of Savannah

Alright! Here we are celebrating the 237th birthday/anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. In Savannah, this is a big deal because Georgia was one of the original 13 colonies, and went on to become one of the original 13 states. Since Savannah was the first city in Georgia, and was fast becoming a major port as well as an important line of defense, it became the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. The British had taken Savannah in December 1778 with relative ease, but on October 9, 1779, a joint Siege of Savannah by American and French forces (which were heavily reinforced by 500 Haitian volunteers) to take Savannah back from the British resulted in losses so heavy that the Revolutionaries were forced to retreat. Thus Savannah stayed in the hands of the British until the end of the war.

Most of this Revolutionary history is little known because it is Early American history and is shadowed by Savannah’s huge part in Civil War history. That is why I wanted to mention it here as we go out to celebrate our Freedoms. They were not easily won. And have not been easily kept. Many have fought and died to get us where we are today. But it all started back there on July 4, 1776 when the American Revolution got under way. So when you’re recalling Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, and Francis Scott Key this weekend, think about Kasimir Pulaski, Sgt. Jasper, and those 500 Haitians who fought here in Savannah in 1779. And be grateful for the life we have. It could have been altogether different but for Perfect Divine Order. For more info, check here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Savannah

Peace and Happy Fourth of July.

(In case you were unaware, Savannah was given to Abraham Lincoln for Christmas in 1864 after having burned Atlanta and most everything else between on his March to the Sea. But we’ll talk about that some other day.)