Camp Near Savannah, 3d October, 1779

My Dear Polly:

The express not setting off yesterday, gives me an opportunity of writing you again. I expected we should have begun with bombs and cannonading this morning; but as matters are not quite ready, we shall not begin before this afternoon, when we shall open with twenty-six pieces of battering cannon and thirteen bombs. I am in hopes, in the course of twenty-four hours' play on their different redoubts, that they will think it prudent to surrender; and if they should not, God knows what will be the consequence. Many valuable lives must be lost in taking the town by storm, the last resource. We are just upon the move -- the scene will shortly open. We have the prayers of the Church, and I hope, from the justness of our cause, that God will decide in our favour.

Your affectionate

John Jones

Camp Before Savannah, 4th October, 1779

My Dear Polly:

This being a very favourable opportunity, I cannot omit writing you. I still keep my health, and am in high spirits. Last night, at twelve o'clock, we began to open our bomb battery, and this morning, at five o'clock, we began with our battering cannon -- a sight that I would not miss seeing. We are still at it, and I do not expect that we shall cease for forty-eight hours. At the end of that time, I hope Savannah will have surrendered. I feel most sincerely for the poor women and children; God only knows what will become of them. I can form no idea at present when we shall get into Savannah. I am of opinion the enemy will make a very vigorous and desperate defence, and it is more than probable that we shall be driven to a disagreeable necessity of storming. Count D'Estaing is now embarked seriously in this matter, and his honour will not allow him to withdraw; so that, at all events, we must reduce Savannah. I heartily desire to see the day when I can inform you of our success. But pray do not be unhappy on my account, and believe that if it is my fate to survive this action, I shall; if otherwise, the Lord's will must be done. Every soldier and soldier's wife should religiously believe in predestination. What shall I do for clothes? I have but one pair of breeches left.

Your affectionate

John Jones

Camp Before Savannah, 5th October, 1779

My Dear Polly:

The enemy still being obstinate, and not knowing how long they may continue so, I must beg favor of you to send off Ishmael immediately, on Black Sloven, with a pair of thick breeches, my blue coat, and three ruffled shirts, without stocks, and one pair of black silk breeches. Ishmael is to go no farther than Mrs. McPherson's at Indian Land, where Jacob will meet him. I have sent home my English horse: he has been very sick. The time I have been absent from you appears almost an age. As soon as this importaint affair is over, I shall immediately return home.

Your affectionate husband,

John Jones

Camp Before Savannah, 7th October, 1779

This letter, my dear wife, will be handed you by Ishmael, I expect. I am sorry that it is not in my power to congratulate you on our safe arrival in Savannah. The enemy still continue very obstinate, and a more cruel war could never exist than this. The poor women and children have suffered beyond description. A number of them, in Savannah, have already been put to death by our bombs and cannon. A deserter has this moment come out, who gives an account that many of them were killed in their beds, and amongst others, a poor woman, with her infant, in her arms, was destroyed by cannon-ball. They have all got into cellars; but even there they do not escape the fury of our bombs, several having been mangled in that suposed place of security. I pity General McIntosh; his situation is peculiar. The whole of his family is there. We have burnt, as yet, only one house; but I expect this night the whole will be in flames, Count D'Estaing being determined they shall no surrender at discretion. We keep up a most incessant cannonade and bombardment, and this evening we shall carry on our approaches within pistol-shot of the enemy's lines. We are hourly expecting that they will strike, though many, with myself, are of opinion they will not, until we compel them by storm. Their investment is complete, and the seige a regular one. I think the mater so near a conclusion, that I doubt if Jacob will return from Mrs. McPherson's in time. They want of thick clothes has been the means of my taking a great cold. We have been very unlucky with respect to the weather -- a continued rain, and now very cold.

Adieu, my good wife, and believe me to be, with sincerity, your ever affectionate,

John Jones

Source:
White, George, Rev. Historical Collections of Georgia, Pudney & Russell, New York, 1854, pp. 535-536

Submitted by Bob Franks