After the British fleet assumed formation, it immediately launched an attack on the American artillery near Savannah.
The Americans had built a fort near Savannah, but it had become quite outdated. The cannons there were still 76 mm muzzle-loaded rifled guns, which were no longer cutting-edge. This rapid development of artillery technology meant that what was once considered advanced weaponry had quickly become obsolete.
British Army soldiers landed on a nearby beach and began their assault on the fort, while the Navy bombarded it from the sea to cover the Army's attack.
Most of Georgia's militia had been sent north to fight against the Canadians, leaving the fort severely understaffed. Not only was there a shortage of personnel, but the number of cannons was also insufficient since many smaller guns had been taken north with the militia.
Moreover, being a weekend, many soldiers and officers were not present at the fort. Thus, the British encountered little resistance and quickly captured the fort. Following this, British warships sailed directly into the harbor.
British transport ships docked at the port, and British Army soldiers, bayonets fixed to their rifles, disembarked onto the docks.
A few Georgia militiamen attempted to resist, but the British warships immediately suppressed their resistance with close-range cannon fire.
A large contingent of British forces landed and quickly advanced into the city. Sporadic gunfire was heard throughout the city but was swiftly silenced. By 3 p.m., thanks to a successful raid, the British had gained control over the entire city.
The British then implemented a "scorched earth policy." They sealed all the warehouses in the city and inspected the contents. Anything useful was loaded onto ships. As for the merchant ships in the harbor, those in good condition were "requisitioned" by the British. Those deemed unfit for use were not wasted either. The British employed temporarily conscripted American laborers to dismantle numerous buildings in the city. The bricks and other materials were loaded onto these ships.
After three days, the British had essentially looted everything of value in Savannah. By then, over ten thousand Georgia militiamen, hastily conscripted, began to close in on Savannah.
General Arthur Wellesley spent these days preparing a simplified version of the "Joseph Defense" outside the city. The American assault crashed against it, leading to heavy losses.
This rumor not only caused unrest among Georgia's soldiers but also alarmed the soldiers from South Carolina and North Carolina, as they were just north of Georgia. Now, with the British fleet moving northward, their cities were the next targets.
Thus, the demands of the Georgia regiment became the demands of all state militias, and even President Jefferson could not ignore them. Frankly, the political stature of the American president at that time was much lower than in later periods. In modern times, even a controversial president could find ways to make governors comply, but in that era, the president had no leverage over the state militias or governors. If Georgians declared "Georgia First" and took their troops home, there was nothing the president could do.
Therefore, President Jefferson personally went to the front lines near Cleveland to discuss with General Andrew Jackson, the commander of the Tennessee regiment and the American forces outside Cleveland, and Colonel Sevigny, the chief advisor of the French advisory group, to hear their opinions.
"In the current situation, having lost control of the seas along the coast, we can only switch to full defense," Colonel Sevigny said. "It's a pity the United States hasn't built a railway along the coast. If we had such a railway, our coastal defense would be much easier.
As for your question, Mr. President, about whether we can launch a total assault to retake Cleveland, I must say that it is impossible. It exceeds the capabilities of our army. Even the French army would have to pay a tremendous price to quickly break through such a defense. I don't mean to underestimate the American army, but the training and equipment level of the French army surpasses that of the American army. If you, Mr. President, insist on resolving the Cleveland issue quickly, then after solving it, you will not have enough forces left to strengthen coastal defenses."
"What do you think, General Jackson?" President Jefferson asked.
"A direct attack is impossible," General Andrew Jackson replied. Although known for his boldness, he had realized after these days of fighting that charging head-on against the "Joseph Defense" was suicidal.
"However, Mr. President, retreating could also be dangerous. If the enemy takes advantage of this to counterattack, our retreat could be troublesome. But this also presents an opportunity. We could pretend to retreat, set a trap, and then catch the pursuing British off-guard. This way, we could safely withdraw," General Jackson added.
"But this too requires time. In fact, getting the soldiers back will take time. It seems inevitable that our coastal cities will suffer damage. Additionally, Mr. President, I suggest you order mines as quickly as possible for harbor defense. It might be too late for the southern cities, but for the northern ports, especially those inside Chesapeake Bay, if we act fast enough and rely on mines, we can protect them," Colonel Sevigny also suggested.
Chesapeake Bay is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean extending from south to north into the American continent. The bay is 311 kilometers (193 miles) long and 540 kilometers (325 miles) wide, making it the largest bay in the United States. Many important American cities, such as the capital, Washington, D.C., and the major port of Baltimore, are located here. The entrance to the bay is less than 20 kilometers wide, with the narrowest part in the middle being about six kilometers wide. The navigable channels within the bay are even narrower. With enough mines, it's entirely possible to block the British fleet from entering Chesapeake Bay.