D/D Lei C/613 - letter

This is a letter written to Holt Leigh in Wigan circa. 1780, with news of American rebels in Georgia and the Siege of Savannah.  The Siege took place during the American War of Independence (1775-83) from 16th September 1779 - 18th October 1779.  The following transcription of letter is not complete as some of the names of the people and places have not yet been transcribed. [ ] denotes words not yet transcribed.

      '[Dear Brother]

      An express is just arrived from General Clinton with an account that [DG--] has landed his whole force with 100 pieces of cannon in Georgia on the 9 Sept,

      that he was joined be the rebel General Lincoln, when they made for the town of Savannah, garrisoned chiefly with [Boomingly] and besieged it for a whole month -

      after that they attempted to storm it but were repelled with such slaughter of the rebels [-] , having lost not fewer than 1500 men - we only 42 - fewer than [91] [ - -]

      remained before the town on [-] of preparing for a 2nd attack, but on that day he [-] embarked by [- -] [- -] privately away and announcing [DG--] is arrived in France

      with one ship only The [P-] [-----].

 

Notes - General Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer of the Continental Army.  Although we have not transcribed the name Charles Hector Comte d'Estaing (Admiral d'Estaing), the French commander joined with Lincoln at the Siege of Savannah.