The Battle of Savannah
Forward: I’m currently have a number of ideas and really seeing what sticks at the moment. I had this idea for a few years now and decided its time to really try a non-ASB timeline as I really need to get to more parts of the board.
French Privateer Ship, La Croyable, Off the Georgia Coast, July 19 1798
The French privateer had been praying on US and British merchant shipping off the Georgia Coast for the past two weeks now. However the day before had come a bad storm that had badly damaged the ship. The captain who was taking stock of the ship doubted he could make a friendly port with the sorry state of his ship. As he and his second and command were overlooking the map they saw only on port that they believed they would have a chance to make repairs needed to their ship so they could make a friendly port. The captain put his finger on it, “We have to make for Savannah.”
His second in command spoke up, “Sir we are all but at war with the Americans. Is that a wise move sir?”
“Sure it is. The Americans area weak people who don’t even have a standing navy and an army that is laughable. We will go to Savannah. We will do are repairs and if we so happen to find anything of value we will take it. Its not like they even have a fort system to guard them so, helm come to new bearing…”
Savannah Two Days later
The people of Savannah were in shock as the French privateer made its way closer and closer to the harbor. They knew what had been happening to their ships that had sailed out to trade as the stories made it back into port. They also knew that there was no help coming from the federal government either. The Army was no were to be found as they were elsewhere training which they badly needed. The Navy, well no one in Savannah really knew where the fuck the navy was at the moment, but they doubted if they would so up to help. Only a few US Marshals were in town and they were more for keeping the law, not combat. Then there were the other federals in town the Revenue Cutter Service and they were there to collect tariffs not combat. The city held its breath as the French privateer made its way into port.
Deputy Marshal Allen Summers was currently in charge of the small marshal’s group in Savannah. He was watching the French ship come into port. Behind him were about six other deputy marshals armed with their muskets as the city made its way into port. Allen turned to the mayor, “Sir I think we should call out the militia.”
“Why?” The mayor asked. “Surely the French aren’t crazy enough to sack Savannah?”
“Sir, I wouldn’t put it pass them. My men will try to take the French into federal custardy. However I doubt they will be peaceful about it. That ship has at least 100 men, mostly likely all of them are armed. I have seven men including myself. If they fight back I will need help to take them down or they will sack the city just out spite.”
The mayor thought about it for a moment or two. He really didn’t like the idea of being dragged into a war with the French. However if he failed to call out the militia and they did sack the city it would be his head and he knew it. He would be thrown out of office. He mostly likely would never be able to show his face again in the city and he knew it. He had been born in this city and he was going to die here. “Very well Marshal. Call out the Militia.”
It still took sometime for the La Croyable to reach the docks of Savannah. This was time the Georgians of the city rally to form the local militia. But they were a bunch with no training and officers who were elected by their own men. Even though they were to train one a month in drill no one really showed up to these drills. Even by the time the La Croyable docked the militia was more an armed mob than a military combat unit. Even with the fact they needed more time to form up Deputy Marshal Summer who had become the de facto commander ordered the militia to start moving to the docks.
The crew of the La Croyable noticed that the docks were all but vacant of people. It had been an challenge to dock the ship but they had done it. Now they were going about finding what they needed to repair their ship so they can go back to their job. At the moment the captain was still unsure about sacking the city, but he was going to take what he needed to fix his ship.
Deputy Marshal Summer want into a crew member of the La Croyable about 45 minutes after the two groups started to move. However Summer didn’t speak French and the Frenchman didn’t speak English. The two started to yell at each other in tongues neither understood. Then the person who fire first was lost to history. Maybe it was a panicked militiaman. Or maybe it was a French Privateer. No one knows for sure. But the effects would have a lasting effects as it would prove that the US could not ignore what happens in Europe and force the US on to the world stage against her will.
Thoughts? Keep going? Or try again?
Forward: I’m currently have a number of ideas and really seeing what sticks at the moment. I had this idea for a few years now and decided its time to really try a non-ASB timeline as I really need to get to more parts of the board.
French Privateer Ship, La Croyable, Off the Georgia Coast, July 19 1798
The French privateer had been praying on US and British merchant shipping off the Georgia Coast for the past two weeks now. However the day before had come a bad storm that had badly damaged the ship. The captain who was taking stock of the ship doubted he could make a friendly port with the sorry state of his ship. As he and his second and command were overlooking the map they saw only on port that they believed they would have a chance to make repairs needed to their ship so they could make a friendly port. The captain put his finger on it, “We have to make for Savannah.”
His second in command spoke up, “Sir we are all but at war with the Americans. Is that a wise move sir?”
“Sure it is. The Americans area weak people who don’t even have a standing navy and an army that is laughable. We will go to Savannah. We will do are repairs and if we so happen to find anything of value we will take it. Its not like they even have a fort system to guard them so, helm come to new bearing…”
Savannah Two Days later
The people of Savannah were in shock as the French privateer made its way closer and closer to the harbor. They knew what had been happening to their ships that had sailed out to trade as the stories made it back into port. They also knew that there was no help coming from the federal government either. The Army was no were to be found as they were elsewhere training which they badly needed. The Navy, well no one in Savannah really knew where the fuck the navy was at the moment, but they doubted if they would so up to help. Only a few US Marshals were in town and they were more for keeping the law, not combat. Then there were the other federals in town the Revenue Cutter Service and they were there to collect tariffs not combat. The city held its breath as the French privateer made its way into port.
Deputy Marshal Allen Summers was currently in charge of the small marshal’s group in Savannah. He was watching the French ship come into port. Behind him were about six other deputy marshals armed with their muskets as the city made its way into port. Allen turned to the mayor, “Sir I think we should call out the militia.”
“Why?” The mayor asked. “Surely the French aren’t crazy enough to sack Savannah?”
“Sir, I wouldn’t put it pass them. My men will try to take the French into federal custardy. However I doubt they will be peaceful about it. That ship has at least 100 men, mostly likely all of them are armed. I have seven men including myself. If they fight back I will need help to take them down or they will sack the city just out spite.”
The mayor thought about it for a moment or two. He really didn’t like the idea of being dragged into a war with the French. However if he failed to call out the militia and they did sack the city it would be his head and he knew it. He would be thrown out of office. He mostly likely would never be able to show his face again in the city and he knew it. He had been born in this city and he was going to die here. “Very well Marshal. Call out the Militia.”
It still took sometime for the La Croyable to reach the docks of Savannah. This was time the Georgians of the city rally to form the local militia. But they were a bunch with no training and officers who were elected by their own men. Even though they were to train one a month in drill no one really showed up to these drills. Even by the time the La Croyable docked the militia was more an armed mob than a military combat unit. Even with the fact they needed more time to form up Deputy Marshal Summer who had become the de facto commander ordered the militia to start moving to the docks.
The crew of the La Croyable noticed that the docks were all but vacant of people. It had been an challenge to dock the ship but they had done it. Now they were going about finding what they needed to repair their ship so they can go back to their job. At the moment the captain was still unsure about sacking the city, but he was going to take what he needed to fix his ship.
Deputy Marshal Summer want into a crew member of the La Croyable about 45 minutes after the two groups started to move. However Summer didn’t speak French and the Frenchman didn’t speak English. The two started to yell at each other in tongues neither understood. Then the person who fire first was lost to history. Maybe it was a panicked militiaman. Or maybe it was a French Privateer. No one knows for sure. But the effects would have a lasting effects as it would prove that the US could not ignore what happens in Europe and force the US on to the world stage against her will.
Thoughts? Keep going? Or try again?
