From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol II. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
A correspondent in Philadelphia, gives the following account of this affair:—”Scarcely had the enemy retired from the back parts of Georgia, when a fleet and armament entered Savannah River, and on the 29th of December, about three thousand men landed within two miles of the town of Savannah. A proper disposition of the few Continental troops (about six hundred, under Colonel Elbert) we had there, was made to oppose them, but the game day, about noon, the enemy doubled the colonel’s right flank, and very near cut off his retreat, which, however, he effected through a very heavy fire of the enemy for near a mile, but with the loss of many men either killed or taken. Colonel Elbert and a Colonel Grimke escaped by swimming a creek. The enemy soon after took possession of Savannah. The last accounts from the above quarters say, that our troops had retired to a place called Ebenezer, forty miles up the river above Savannah, where they were waiting for reinforcements, which were on their march from the Carolinas to join them. It is impossible to ascertain the design of the enemy in this expedition so late in the season —whether to take up their quarters for the winter, to procure provisions, or to be joined by the force from Florida. But certain it is, that the inhabitants of the State of Georgia will be greatly distressed by this visit.—L. W. Elliot.