The general paused long enough to permit other comments, and then added, “I want my orders carried out thoroughly and quietly. This will not be the first time that British and Hessians have beat a greater superiority of both French and Americans. I rely firmly on the spirit and steady coolness of you and the troops we have the honor to command.”

Brown was impressed by the thoroughness of the general’s preparations, thrilled by his final words, and honored to be treated equally with the other officers and entrusted with major responsibilities in their presence. For some reason, the general’s words about d’Estaing’s ambition and desire for glory remained with him, and he hoped that the French general would not wait to form a true partnership with the American forces moving down from Charles Town. He would not be surprised if the French demanded surrender as soon as their troops were ashore.

Within a few days after the arrival of the French fleet, they had heavy artillery in place to begin a long-range bombardment of the town, and zigzag trenches were beginning to move out of the marshlands and toward the British defenders. When American troops reached the river and completed the encirclement of Savannah, the British realized that their situation was hopeless.

In a meeting of the leaders, Brown was able to report from his informant that a hot debate had erupted between the Americans and French. Indicating the character of the two leaders, Lincoln favored the slow and methodical tightening of the noose with a classical siege until the British were forced to capitulate, while d’Estaing was increasingly insistent on marshaling all their forces and taking the city by storm so that he could make an early departure for France. The initiative and final decision rested with d’Estaing, and he was strongly supported by the flamboyant Polish general Count Casimir Pulaski.

What the British needed was time, and Wright and Prevost began a series of delaying tactics while implementing their original plans. Brown got word to Maitland in Beaufort, who began moving along the coast toward Savannah. Four hundred and twenty slaves were taken from nearby plantations, delivered to Moncrief, and began digging the required entrenchments. Almost a hundred cannon, ranging from six to eighteen pounds in caliber, were removed from ships and downriver emplacements and mounted on bluffs overlooking the river, and defenses against direct attacks were hastily erected around each battery. Despite all this activity, it was inevitable that the American and French forces would prevail just by using the long-established technique of a persistent siege. Lincoln crossed the Savannah at Zubly’s Ferry and Lachlan McIntosh joined him from Augusta, prepared for a joint American attack. Colonel Elijah Clarke and one hundred militiamen, including William Few’s company, were eager to fight and volunteered to serve under McIntosh.