The force included Scarborough, Cherokee, Siren, Tamar, Hinchinbrook, smaller vessels, transports, and a few hundred regular soldiers intended to load and secure provisions. Despite its number of hulls, this was not the heavy punitive squadron Wright imagined: most vessels carried modest batteries and only the larger warships had meaningful marine detachments. The approach through the Back River exposed the difficulties of operating warships in shallow water when Hinchinbrook grounded under militia fire. The militia lacked boats with which to board her, however, and the gun-brig floated free on the next tide. British troops then crossed Hutchinson Island and seized merchant vessels carrying rice before Savannah raised the alarm.
Notable Point · 1:10:43-1:16:42
A provisioning squadron meets Savannah’s militia
The British arrived with a mixed squadron and transport force, while Colonel Lachlan McIntosh organized the local response.