[Sidenote:  St. Lucia taken by the British.  St. Vincents and Grenada by the French.]

The Count D’Estaing and Admiral Byron, having sailed about the same time from the coast of North America, met in the West Indies, where the war was carried on with various success.  St. Lucia surrendered to the British, in compensation for which the French took St. Vincents and Grenada.  About the time of the capture of the latter island, D’Estaing received reinforcements which gave him a decided naval superiority; after which a battle was fought between the two hostile fleets, in which the Count claimed the victory, and in which so many of the British ships were disabled that the Admiral was compelled to retire into port in order to refit.

The earnest representations made on the part of the United States had prevailed on the cabinet of Versailles to instruct the Count D’Estaing to afford them all the aid in his power; and the present moment seemed a fit one for carrying these orders into execution.  Letters from General Lincoln, from the executive of South Carolina, and from the French consul at Charleston, urged him to pay a visit to the southern states; and represented the situation of the British in Georgia to be such that his appearance would insure the destruction of the army in that quarter, and the recovery of the state.

[Sidenote:  Count D’Estaing with his fleet arrives on the southern coast of America.]

Yielding to these solicitations, the Count sailed with twenty-two ships of the line, and eleven frigates, having on board six thousand soldiers, and arrived so suddenly on the southern coast of America, that the Experiment of fifty guns, and three frigates, fell into his hands.  A vessel was sent to Charleston with information of his arrival, and a plan was concerted for the siege of Savannah.  D’Estaing was to land three thousand men at Beaulieu on the 11th of September, and Lincoln was to cross the Savannah on the same day with one thousand Americans, and effect a junction with him.

The town of Savannah was, at that time, the head quarters of General Prevost.  Apprehending no immediate danger, he had weakened the garrison by establishing several out-posts in Georgia; and by leaving Colonel Maitland with a strong detachment in the island of Port Royal, in South Carolina.

On the appearance of the French fleet, expresses were despatched to Colonel Maitland and to all the out-posts, directing the troops to repair without loss of time to Savannah.  These orders were promptly obeyed; and, on the 10th of September, the several detachments in Georgia had all arrived in safety, except the sick and convalescents of the garrison of Sunbury, who were intercepted.

[Sidenote:  September.]

[Sidenote:  Siege of Savannah by the combined armies.]

On the 11th, General Lincoln reached Zubly’s Ferry, and, on the 15th, was assured that the French had disembarked in force.  A junction of the two armies was formed the next day before the town of Savannah.