Georgia Campaign

Essential Facts

• Dates: 1778 to 1782.
• Key Battles: First Battle of Savannah, Battle of Kettle Creek, Battle of Briar Creek, Siege of Savannah, First Siege of Augusta, Second Siege of Augusta, Wayne’s Expedition.
• Key American Leaders: Robert Howe, Benjamin Lincoln, Samuel Elbert, John Ashe, Elijah Clarke, Andrew Pickens, and Andrew Williamson.
• Key British Leaders: Augustine Prevost, Archibald Campbell, Mark Prevost, Alured Clark, Alexander Leslie, Thomas Brown, John Boyd, and Daniel McGirth.
• Part of: American Revolutionary War.

Key Details

• The Georgia Provincial Congress met in Savannah in July 1775. Archibald Bulloch was elected President, and George Walton was elected Secretary. In December 1775, Walton was elected President of the Council of Safety.
• On August 2, 1775, the Sons of Liberty confronted Thomas Brown, a wealthy plantation owner who lived near Augusta. Brown declared his loyalty to the Crown, but said he would not take up arms against his neighbors. He was tied to a tree and exposed to a fire, which burned the soles of his feet, earning him the nickname “Burnt-foot Brown.” The Sons of Liberty proceeded to tar and feather him. After recovering, Brown sought revenge and organized a Loyalist militia group, commonly known as “Brown’s Rangers.”
• After British forces arrived in January 1776 to seek food and supplies, the Provincial Congress fled to Augusta.
• British and American forces clashed near Savannah in the Battle of the Rice Boats (March 2–3, 1776).
• Georgia became a state when it adopted a constitution in February 1777.

Overview

In February 1778, the United States and France concluded two treaties establishing an economic, political, and military alliance between the two nations (see Franco-American Alliance). Soon after, French officials mobilized naval and ground forces and sent a fleet to the West Indies. 

To counter the French, British officials sent their own fleet to the West Indies and devised a new strategy that focused on maintaining control of New York City and capturing the Southern Colonies. While this meant they would have to withdraw troops from Philadelphia (which they captured in September 1777), they firmly believed that more Americans in the Southern Colonies were loyal to the Crown than in any other region. Because of this, they expected that a strong military presence would encourage the Loyalists to join the British war effort.

The plan of the “British Southern Strategy” involved concentrating military forces around New York City in the North, sending forces to conquer Georgia first, and then moving northward into the Carolinas. Once the Southern Colonies were firmly under British control, British officials intended to take Virginia.

By doing this, Britain would have control of New York City, the most important port city in the North, and the most important port cities in the South, including Savannah and Charleston. British officials assumed that if the war ended under such conditions, the United States would only include New England and possibly portions of New York outside the city.

To prepare for the campaign, General Henry Clinton, commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, withdrew his army from Philadelphia and marched northward to New York City. General George Washington and the Continental Army emerged from their winter encampment at Valley Forge and pursued Clinton’s Army. They clashed at the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse (June 28, 1778), an intense, day-long battle that ended in a stalemate. While Washington prepared his army to attack the next day, Clinton withdrew and completed his march to New York. Washington followed and stationed his army in northern New Jersey. At this point, the war in the Northern Theater became a stalemate.

In late 1778, Clinton initiated the first stage of the plan by sending three expeditions to invade Georgia, reinforce the defenses in East Florida, and invade the Spanish colony in western Florida.

• Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell and 3,500 men sailed from New York to Georgia.
• Major General James Grant and 5,000 men sailed from New York to St. Lucie.
• Brigadier General John Campbell and 1,300 men sailed to Pensacola, Florida.

Once Grant arrived in Florida, General Augustine Prevost had orders to lead an expedition from St. Augustine northward to Savannah, where he would join Campbell. While the expeditions were sailing southward, Prevost sent an advance force into Georgia to harass Patriots and seize food and supplies.

• Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost led this small army of regulars, Loyalists, and Native American Indian warriors from Florida into Georgia to carry out the raids.
• He sent Colonel Lewis Fuser to Sunbury to create a diversion and distract American forces.

Lieutenant Colonel Prevost intended to join Fuser at Sunbury, the second-largest port in Georgia. From there, they would be in a position to threaten Savannah from the south.

After pushing past American troops at the Battles of Bulltown Swamp and North Newport Bridge, Prevost approached Midway, where American forces left a deceptive letter in a church indicating reinforcements were on the way. The trick worked, and Prevost withdrew.

Meanwhile, Fuser landed at Sunbury and started a siege against Fort Morris, which was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John McIntosh. Fuser demanded McIntosh’s surrender, to which he declined, challenging Fuser to, “Come and Take it!” Fuser refused to attack and withdrew to East Florida. Afterward, General Robert Howe led his troops to Savannah to defend it against Campbell’s impending attack.

Campbell landed downriver from Savannah on December 23. Six days later, with the help of a local enslaved man, he moved through the swamps, outflanked the Americans, and attacked. In a battle that lasted roughly an hour, Campbell routed Howe and the Americans and captured Savannah. 

General Prevost arrived soon after and took command of the garrison. A month later, he sent Campbell to capture Augusta, Georgia. Although American forces harassed him during the march, Campbell captured Augusta on January 29, 1778. Campbell occupied Augusta, and Loyalist recruits marched to join him. 

To counter the Loyalist recruits, American forces gathered in the region, preparing to engage them and prevent them from joining Campbell. When Campbell learned of this, he decided to abandon Augusta and return to Savannah. These actions led to a series of skirmishes and battles that culminated in a British victory at the Third Battle of Briar Creek on March 3, 1779. Afterward, British forces returned to Augusta, occupied the city, and were firmly in control of Georgia.

In September 1779, an Allied army of American and French forces laid siege to Savannah. After failing to convince the British to surrender, the French commander, Vice Admiral Charles Henri Comte d’Estaing, insisted on launching an assault on British defenses. General Benjamin Lincoln and his officers reluctantly agreed.

On October 8, the Allies launched the attack by targeting the Spring Hill Redoubt. During the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Marion planted the flag of the 2nd South Carolina and a French flag on one of the redoubt’s parapets. Despite this, the British retained their positions and eventually overwhelmed the Allies, forcing Lincoln and d’Estaing to call off the attack and retreat to their siege lines. The siege continued until October 18, when the French decided to withdraw. Without their support, Lincoln decided withdraw and return to Charleston. With the victory, the British retained complete control of Georgia.

After Lincoln’s Army returned to Charleston, General Henry Clinton sailed from New York, laid siege to the city, and captured it, along with most of Lincoln’s Army, in April 1780. Soon after, Clinton returned to New York and left General Charles Cornwallis in command, with orders to complete the conquest of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Congress responded by sending General Horatio Gates to take command of the remnants of the Southern Army and engage Cornwallis. Gates rushed to attack, and Cornwallis destroyed his army at the Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780). With the victory, the British controlled nearly all of South Carolina.

In September 1780, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke and Lieutenant Colonel James McCall led an expedition that laid siege to Augusta. The operation failed, and the British remained in complete control of Georgia.

For most of the next year, the war in the Southern Theater shifted to South Carolina and North Carolina. 

• Cornwallis prepared to invade North Carolina and sent Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalists westward into the Backcountry to warn the frontier settlements against taking up arms and to recruit Loyalists. Outraged by Ferguson’s threats, the leaders of the settlements joined forces, pursued Ferguson, and destroyed his entire command at the Battle of Kings Mountain (October 7, 1780). Without Ferguson’s protection, Cornwallis returned to South Carolina.
• In December 1780, Nathanael Greene took command of the Southern Department. Working with Daniel Morgan, Greene divided his army and sent Morgan westward. British forces followed, and Morgan struck a decisive blow against them at the Battle of Cowpens (January 17, 1781). 
• For the next four months, Cornwallis and elements of his army chased Greene through the Carolina Backcountry. Although the British won several key battles, they lost men and used up supplies, forcing Cornwallis to abandon his Backcountry outposts.
• Greene and Cornwallis fought at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (March 15, 1781). Although Cornwallis won, his army suffered heavy casualties, and he withdrew to Wilmington, North Carolina. Greene’s Army survived and continued to attack the remaining Backcountry outposts.

In April 1781, Cornwallis moved his operations into Virginia, believing that if he took control of the state, he could win the war. While Cornwallis eventually settled in at Yorktown, Greene responded by sending his forces into the Carolina Backcountry and Georgia Backcountry to attack British outposts.

Greene sent Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke and General Andrew Pickens to attack Augusta. Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee and his cavalry, along with Major Pinketham Eaton and his North Carolina Militia, joined them. The Americans captured Fort Grierson and Fort Cornwallis, near Augusta. British forces abandoned the city and retreated to Savannah, the last British stronghold in Georgia.

In September 1781, American and French forces converged on Yorktown and initiated a lengthy siege. After three weeks, they forced Cornwallis to surrender, and the British Army formally stacked its arms on October 19. Although this was the last significant battle of the war, hostilities continued on a small scale and carried over into Georgia.

General Anthony Wayne commanded an expedition to drive the British out of Savannah; however, he lacked the necessary troops to launch a direct assault. Elements of Wayne’s Army clashed with British forces, including Loyalists and Indian warriors, starting in January 1782. 

By June, Loyalists and Indians started to abandon the British war effort, leaving the British garrison in Savannah isolated and providing Wayne with an opportunity to attack Savannah. British officials asked for a truce in Georgia, which would allow them to continue to occupy the city. American leaders denied the request, and the British decided it was best to evacuate Savannah. 

After six months of Wayne operating in Georgia, the British evacuated Savannah on July 10 and 11, allowing Wayne to march into the city and occupy it. This action effectively ended British control of Georgia and brought the Georgia Campaign to a close.

History

Battle of Fort Barrington, Georgia (March 13, 1778)

Fort Barrington, then known as Fort Howe, was an American defensive position that guarded the Altamaha River in Georgia. In March 1778, Colonel Thomas Brown and his men, Brown’s Rangers, crossed the river and launched a surprise attack on the fort. They quickly overwhelmed the Americans and took prisoners. Brown sent a message to General Augustine Prevost requesting reinforcements to advance further into Georgia. When Prevost refused, Brown burned the fort and withdrew.

• Date: March 13, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Invasion of East Florida (April–July, 1778)

In April 1778, Colonel Samuel Elbert led his Georgia Continentals in a successful attack on two British ships, the Hinchinbrook and the Rebecca, at Frederica on St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, and seized control of the town. 

Afterward, General Robert Howe, commander of the Southern Army, sent Colonel Andrew Williamson and 1,100 militia to reinforce Elbert. Howe took the rest of his army and moved toward Georgia.

• On May 9, Howe’s Army reached Fort Howe on the Altamaha River.
• Howe remained there until food and supplies arrived from South Carolina.
• On May 27, Howe crossed the river and set up camp at Reid’s Bluff, Georgia.

Howe asked the Governor of the Patriot government, John Houstoun, for support. Houstoun proved difficult to work with and provided more support to the Georgia Militia than to the Continental Army, including the Georgia Continentals.

• Howe’s Army reached Spring Branch on June 14.
• Howe and Houstoun met, and Houston promised he would send Georgia Militia units to reinforce him.

Meanwhile, Thomas Brown sent Captain James Moore and a contingent from Brown’s Rangers to harass Patriot settlements in the South Carolina Backcountry. Brown’s movements led to a brief engagement on June 17 in which the Americans captured some horses and took a prisoner.

On June 19, Howe and Elbert met at the Great Santilla River and joined forces. At this time, Williamson had still not arrived, and neither Howe nor Elbert knew where he was.

Captain Moore and the Rangers were camping on the banks of the Ogeechee River when some of them deserted and informed local Patriots of the camp’s location. The Georgia Militia ambushed the camp, routed the Rangers, and captured Moore. Afterward, the militia and Creeks executed Moore.

Howe’s Army crossed the Satilla River on June 23. Houstoun, leading Georgia Militia units, joined him soon after. The two argued over who was in overall command of the American forces. Houstoun refused to take orders from Howe, and they decided to operate separately; however, both targeted British forces in East Florida.

• Howe marched to attack Fort Tonyn on the St. Mary’s River.
• Houstoun marched to engage a British expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost, which was moving northward from St. Augustine, Florida, toward Georgia.

On June 29, Howe marched to Fort Tonyn, which had been deserted and burned by the British. Howe left troops at the fort. The next day, June 30, elements of both Houston’s and Howe’s commands clashed with Brown’s Rangers and regulars from Prevost’s expedition at Alligator Creek Bridge. The Americans were driven off and withdrew.

In the week that followed, Williamson finally arrived with the South Carolina Militia, but his men refused to take orders from anyone but him. Howe, Houston, and Williamson were unable to agree on a plan of attack. 

With Howe’s men suffering from a food shortage and smallpox, his officers voted to abandon the mission. They withdrew on July 14, and the lead elements of the Southern Army arrived at Charleston on July 30.

This expedition was the third and final attempt by American forces to capture East Florida.

• Date: April–July, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Battle of Nail’s Fort

In August 1778, a party of Creek warriors attacked settlements in Wilkes County, Georgia, and tried to capture Nail’s Fort. Captain Joseph Nail organized the militia and successfully defended the fort. Following this attack, South Carolina officials sent Colonel Andrew Williamson and South Carolina Militia units to defend the area’s settlements.

• Date: August 25, 1778.
• Winner: United States.

Lincoln Replaces Howe

After General Robert Howe returned to Charleston, rumors spread that he was having an affair with a local woman. Because of this, the delegates from South Carolina and Georgia asked Congress to replace him as the Commander of the Southern Department. Congress agreed, and Benjamin Lincoln of Massachusetts replaced him on September 25, 1778. Howe remained in command until Lincoln could make his way to Charleston and officially take command.

Raid at Midway Meeting House

In November 1778, British Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost led a force of roughly 750 men, including British regulars, Loyalists, and Indian warriors, northward into Georgia from Florida. 

On November 19, he crossed the Altamaha River, intending to march to Midway and then on to Sunbury, roughly 30 miles south of Savannah. 

• Prevost intended to raid Midway and Newbury for cattle.
• To distract American forces in the area, he sent Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Fuser to threaten Sunbury.

On November 20, Prevost carried out his raids, seized cattle, and then marched toward Sunbury to join forces with Fuser.

• Date: November 20, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Skirmish in Bulltown Swamp

Colonel John Baker gathered his Georgia Continentals at Sunbury to defend the town. Baker left Colonel John White in command and took his mounted militia to engage Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost and slow his advance. 

On November 22, 1778, General James Screven and reinforcements joined White at Sunbury. Upon arrival, Screven took command of the American force.

Two days later, on November 22, Baker engaged Prevost at Bulltown Swamp. The British drove the Americans back and followed them to North Newport Bridge.

• Date: November 24, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Skirmish at North Newport Bridge

After driving the Americans out of Bulltown Swamp, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost continued his march to Midway. At North Newport Bridge (present-day Riceborough Bridge), the Americans stopped and fired on the British for a second time. Once again, they failed to slow the British advance. Prevost and his men pushed through and continued their march to Midway.

• Date: November 24, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Battle of Midway (Spencer’s Hill)

After pushing through the Americans at Bulltown Swamp and North Newport Bridge, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost approached Midway, where General James Screven and Colonel John White had prepared for his arrival.

• They had their men build a breastwork across the road into Midway from the south, and they mounted two small artillery pieces on it.
• They also moved to set up an ambush at the Midway Meeting House, which was on Spencer’s Hill, about a mile and a half south of town.

As Prevost closed in on the town, a local Loyalist, Colonel Daniel McGirth, by coincidence, suggested he should set up an ambush for the Americans at Midway Meeting House. Prevost agreed and devised a plan of attack:

• Brown’s Rangers would hide at Midway Meeting House.
• The main force would assault the breastwork and fall back.
• Prevost expected the Americans to pursue him, and he would lead them into Brown’s ambush.

Brown’s Rangers were in position when the Americans, led by Screven, arrived. The Rangers heard the Americans and opened fire on them. Screven was shot multiple times and mortally wounded. The Americans responded by retreating to the town, with the Rangers in pursuit.

Prevost responded to the outbreak of the battle by advancing his column up the road to provide support for Brown’s Rangers. When he entered the battle, the Americans shot his horse out from under him. Seeing Prevost fall, the Americans rallied. Prevost quickly found another horse, rallied his men, and drove the Americans toward Midway.

In a desperate attempt to distract Prevost, Colonel White forged an order that made it appear as though Colonel Samuel Elbert was waiting just outside of town to launch a surprise attack on the rear of the British force. White also sent Lieutenant Colonel John McIntosh and roughly 125 Continentals to Sunbury.

British troops found the letter and delivered it to Prevost. It convinced him that he was about to fall into a trap. The British withdrew, allowing White and his men to maintain control of the road to Sunbury.

Prevost sent Colonel McGirth to Sunbury to see if Colonel Lewis Fuser’s expedition had arrived. When McGirth reported that Fuser was not at Sunbury, Prevost decided to return to Florida. During the return march, the British burned most of Midway and destroyed homes and plantations.

• Date: November 24, 1778.
• Winner: United States.
• Also Known As: Battle of Spencer’s Hill.

Action at Fort Morris (First Sunbury)

After being delayed by strong winds, Colonel Lewis Fuser and his troops finally landed at Colonel’s Island near Sunbury on November 25, 1778. They disembarked, marched to Sunbury, and occupied the town. Fuser sent scouts to find Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost and gather information on the American garrison at Fort Morris.

• Fort Morris was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John McIntosh. 
• Fuser was unaware that Prevost had already turned back toward Florida.

McIntosh did not know Fuser was in Sunbury until his men spotted the British scouts. He had his artillery batteries open fire on the town, but the British had taken refuge in the homes and were unharmed.

The next morning, Fuser sent a message to McIntosh, demanding his surrender, and informing him that he expected to be joined by Prevost. McIntosh refused and challenged him, “We, Sir, are fighting the battles of America, and therefore disdain to remain neutral till its fate is determined. As to surrendering the fort, receive this laconic reply — come and take it!”

When Fuser’s scouts returned, they informed him that Prevost had withdrawn. Fuser’s orders had been to create a diversion in support of Prevost’s cattle raids, not to engage the Americans. With no additional support, he decided against further action and withdrew. His troops boarded their transports and returned to Florida around December 1.

• Date: November 25–December 1, 1778.
• Winner: United States.
• Also Known As: First Battle of Sunbury.

Battle of Four Mile Point

On December 17, the inhabitants of Charleston, South Carolina, spotted ships from Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell’s Expedition from New York.

General Robert Howe, who was still at Charleston, decided to take his men, approximately 850, including Continental Army soldiers and Georgia Militia, southward to defend Savannah. Two days later, on December 19, General Benjamin Lincoln arrived at Charleston, where he found the state of the defenses and the Southern Army in disarray.

Thirty-eight ships from the British fleet, commanded by Commodore Hyde Parker, arrived at the mouth of the Savannah River around December 23. Some of the ships started sailing up the river toward John Girardeau’s Plantation, called “Brewton Hill,” which was the only viable place to land troops.

On December 28, four warships led the way to Girardeau’s Plantation, followed by smaller troop transports. Georgia forces sent two ships, under the command of Commodore Oliver Bowen, to engage the British at Four Point Mile. Bowen’s ships engaged the British for two hours, but were unable to stop the landing.

The British troops spent the night on the ships. From there, they could see campfires burning near the plantation, indicating American forces were waiting for them.

• Date: December 28, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Battle of Girardeau’s Plantation (Brewton Hill)

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell landed his troops at Girardeau’s Plantation on December 29, 1778. An advance force, led by Captain Charles Cameron, moved forward to start engaging American forces. Cameron’s men had to march over a causeway, which rose approximately 40 feet over rice paddies between the landing and the plantation.

Captain John Carraway Smith and about 40 South Carolina Rangers were defending the plantation. The men took defensive positions in the plantation’s buildings and waited for the British to arrive.

When the British were about 100 yards away, the Americans fired on them, killing Cameron and three others. The rest of Cameron’s command rushed forward and carried out a bayonet attack. The Americans quickly withdrew and made their way to Savannah.

• Date: December 29, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.
• Also Known As: Battle of Brewton Hill.

Capture of Savannah

After Lieutenant Colonel Campbell learned that General Benjamin Lincoln was preparing to lead American reinforcements into Georgia, he decided to push forward and attack Savannah.

• Campbell had 3,100 men and outnumbered the Americans four to one.
• He had the advantage and did not need to wait for General Augustine Prevost to join him.
• Campbell was concerned that if he waited for Prevost, Lincoln would arrive first, making the task of capturing Savannah far more difficult.
• Campbell’s forces marched toward Savannah, and American forces led by Major Francis Moore harassed them. 

At Savannah, the defensive fortifications were in disrepair, so General Robert Howe positioned his troops, about 850 Continentals and Georgia Militia, about a half mile south of Savannah, on the road to Girardeau’s Plantation. There were swamps on both sides, which he hoped would protect him against an attack on either side and would keep the British in front of him. 

• Howe had a strong defensive position, but he knew that Campbell outnumbered him.
• Howe sent scouts into the swamps to look for passages that the British could use to attack his flanks. 
• The scouts reported that there were no passages.

During the British advance, Quamino Dolly, a local enslaved man, informed Campbell of a hidden passage through the swamp on the right side of the American line. Campbell used this route to launch a two-pronged attack against Howe on December 29, 1778.

Campbell sent the main body of his army to attack Howe’s front, and also sent a contingent through the swamp to attack the Americans on their right side.

• The Americans fled toward Savannah as the British approached their front line.
• As they fled, British forces emerged from the swamp and attacked.
• The American retreat turned into a panicked escape, and many of them fled into the swamps, where some drowned trying to escape.
• Howe and some of his officers escaped and made their way to South Carolina.

Campbell captured Savannah, burned the homes of Americans who supported the Patriot Cause, and waited for Prevost and his army to arrive from Florida.

• Date: December 29, 1778.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Skirmish at Zubly’s Ferry

On January 1, 1779, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell led some of his troops up the Savannah River, 20 miles north toward Purrysburg, South Carolina. 

During this march, Campbell learned from locals that the Americans were taking enslaved people from the plantations of Georgia Loyalists and transporting them to South Carolina.

• Campbell chose a group of black men, armed them, and sent them ahead to find the American troops who were seizing the slaves. Campbell referred to the leader of this group as a “Confidential mulatto.”
• He instructed them to plead with the Americans to “…send over the Boats and save his Master’s Slaves from falling into the hands of the King’s Troops.”
• Campbell followed and hid his men in the woods.

Upon finding the Americans, the slaves called out to them. The Americans sent several boats across the river to transport the slaves from Georgia to South Carolina. When the boats arrived on the Georgia side, the British opened fire, seized the boats, and then recovered nearly 90 slaves.

• Date: January 1, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Lincoln Takes Command

On January 3, 1779, five days after fleeing Savannah, General Robert Howe officially turned command of the Southern Army over to General Benjamin Lincoln. By this time, Lincoln was near Purrysburg, South Carolina, and Howe joined him there.

South Carolina and Georgia officials also made changes to improve coordination of the American war effort in the South.

• President Rawlins Lowndes of South Carolina organized three new militia brigades under the command of Richard Richardson, Stephen Bull, and Andrew Williamson. 
• The Georgia Executive Council, tired of John Houstoun’s antics, elected Lyman Hall as Governor of Georgia.

Battle of Sunbury (Second Sunbury)

Following the British victory at the Battle of Savannah, General Augustine Prevost, marching north from Florida with a force of 2,000 men, laid siege to Sunbury and Fort Morris. The 200-man American garrison under the command of Major Joseph Lane surrendered on January 10, 1779. Afterward, Prevost renamed Fort Morris to Fort George and then joined Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell at Savannah.

• Date: January 6–10, 1779.
• Winner: United States.
• Also Known As: Second Battle of Sunbury.

First Skirmish at Briar Creek (First Battle)

In late January, General Augustine Prevost sent Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell to capture Augusta and recruit volunteers. South Carolina Militia forces under the command of General Andrew Williamson harassed Campbell’s column as it advanced.

On January 25, 1779, Campbell sent a contingent of light infantry and South Carolina Loyalists ahead to secure the bridge at Briar Creek, Georgia. When they arrived, they found American troops were there, preparing to burn the bridge. Before they could do so, the British force attacked. After an hour-long battle, the Americans withdrew, and the British saved the bridge.

• Date: January 25, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.
• Also Known As: First Battle of Briar Creek.

Battle of Burke County Jail

As Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell’s force marched toward Augusta, Georgia Militia forces, led by Major General John Twiggs and Lieutenant Colonel William Few, gathered at the Burke County Jail to slow his advance.

Campbell sent Colonel Thomas Brown and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Robinson, along with about 230 Loyalists, to the jail to free Loyalist prisoners. Most of the Americans were sleeping inside the jail when the British force arrived and attacked on January 26, 1779.

Although they were surprised, the Americans held their ground. Reverend Silas Mercer recited Bible verses to inspire and encourage the men to keep fighting. 

The battle lasted into the early evening and ended. Brown suffered a serious injury to one of his arms during this battle. The British withdrew the next morning and rejoined Campbell. The Georgia Militia forces emerged from the jail and went to join Colonel Samuel Elbert’s command.

• Date: January 26, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Second Skirmish at Briar Creek (Second Battle)

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell left a small garrison of roughly 50 Loyalists to guard the bridge at Briar Creek. On January 26, 1779, a small force of 30 South Carolina Militia approached the bridge, unaware that the Loyalists held it. The Loyalists engaged the Americans, drove them away, and held the bridge.

• Date: January 26, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.
• Also Known As: Second Battle of Briar Creek.

Battle of Fort Henderson

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell’s force continued toward Augusta. After marching for nine miles on January 29, 1779, Campbell decided to stop and allow his men to rest. That night, he sent Lieutenant Colonel John Maitland and troops to Telfair’s Plantation, along with some of Brown’s Rangers.

• It was a 17-mile march, and put Maitland and his men within a mile of Colonel Samuel Elbert and American forces near Fort Henderson.
• Campbell intended to follow the next morning and told Maitland to fire his artillery at daylight, to let him know that he was in position.

Campbell resumed his march at 2:00 a.m. and arrived around 4:00. By this time, the Americans were gone, because they had seen Brown’s Rangers scouting the camp. The Americans marched toward Fort Henderson on Spirit Creek, and Campbell pursued them.

• 200 of Elbert’s men were inside Fort Henderson.
• Campbell had his artillery open fire on the fort. 
• After 10 minutes, the Americans abandoned the fort and fled.

Campbell took possession of the fort and then rested there overnight. Campbell resumed his march to Augusta the next morning.

• Date: January 30, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Capture and Occupation of Augusta

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell marched into Augusta on January 31, 1779, and took control of the town without any opposition. He used it as a base of operations for roughly two weeks.

The capture of Augusta extended British control from the coast into the Georgia Backcountry. The occupation aimed to rally Loyalist support, enforce royal authority, and cut off American resistance in the interior. 

• General Augustine Prevost and Campbell established defensive posts, required the people to sign Oaths of Loyalty, and relied on Loyalist militia to maintain order. 
• While some inhabitants supported British rule, others resisted or fled.

The enforcement of British authority exposed the limits of British control, as harsh measures and Loyalist violence increased resentment.

• Date: January 31, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Boyd’s Expedition

Colonel John Boyd (sometimes referred to as James Boyd), a Loyalist, was working his way through the Carolina Backcountry toward Augusta. 

• Boyd left Savannah in January 1779.
• He traveled to North Carolina, where he recruited Loyalists and then marched toward Wilkes County, Georgia.

Boyd had about 350 men with him, including Major William Spurgeon, near Spartanburg, South Carolina. On February 5, they broke camp and started marching toward Augusta. During the march, Lieutenant Colonel John Moore and around 250 North Carolina Loyalists joined them. 

• According to some accounts of Boyd’s efforts to “recruit” Loyalists, his men were not all recruited. Boyd coerced and forced some to join him, especially escaped convicts.
• Boyd and his men carried out raids on Patriot property during the march.

The threat posed by Boyd and his men to the inhabitants of the Carolinas and Georgia who supported the Patriot Cause increased resistance, as American forces gathered and harassed his expedition; however, they were unable to stop its advance.

• The main force pursuing Boyd consisted of South Carolina Militia units led by Captain Josiah Greer and Lieutenant Colonel Robert McCrery.

Incident at Augusta

Following the engagement near Fort Henderson, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell returned to Augusta. Meanwhile, General Andrew Williamson and his South Carolina Militia units camped on the opposite side of the Savannah River, at Fort Moore’s Bluff. 

While Williamson was waiting for reinforcements to arrive, he sent raiding parties across the river to attack British forces. Campbell prepared a counter-attack and had some flatboats built to carry his men across the river.

On February 3, Williamson sent Lieutenant William Butler and a patrol across to see what the British were building. They encountered a British sentry, whom Butler shot and killed. In the heat of the moment, one of Butler’s men, known by the name Vessels, brutally mutilated the sentry’s body.

• Williamson had Vessels arrested and sent to Purrysburg, where General Benjamin Lincoln questioned him.
• Vessels told Lincoln the British had brutally murdered his son.
• Lincoln released him.

In the aftermath of the incident, rumors spread among the British that the entire patrol had joined in the mutilation.

Skirmish at Kiokee Creek

At Augusta, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell received information that some of the American forts on the frontier were willing to surrender to him. Campbell dispatched Major John Hamilton with North Carolina Loyalists to visit the forts and accept the surrenders.

• Colonel John Dooly led his Georgia Militia from South Carolina into Georgia to intercept Hamilton in Wilkes County, Georgia.
• Hamilton learned of Dooly’s approach and set up an ambush near Kiokee Creek, 30 miles north of Augusta.

On February 6, 1779, Dooly’s command tried to cross from South Carolina into Georgia. While the Americans were crossing the Savannah River, the Loyalists ambushed them. The Americans returned to South Carolina, where they joined with Colonel Andrew Pickens and his South Carolina Militia. Afterward, Dooly and Pickens pursued Hamilton.

• Date: February 6, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Siege of Carr’s Fort

Major John Hamilton continued his mission to visit American forts and accept their surrenders. The last fort was Carr’s Fort, at the confluence of Beaver Dam Creek and the Little River. 

Hamilton demanded the fort’s surrender, but the Americans refused, knowing that Colonel Andrew Pickens was on the way to reinforce them. Hamilton responded by attacking the fort and capturing it before Pickens arrived.

• Pickens and his men were pursuing a Loyalist patrol, which fled to Carr’s Fort.
• Pickens did not know Hamilton had captured the fort.

Pickens arrived at Carr’s Fort on February 8, 1779, found Hamilton and his men outside the fort, and attacked. Hamilton and his men took refuge in the fort, and Pickens initiated a siege.

When Pickens learned that Colonel John Boyd and his Loyalists were marching in his direction, he abandoned the siege and went to intercept Boyd at Cherokee Ford. Afterward, Hamilton left the fort and took his prisoners to Wrightsboro, Georgia.

• Date: February 8–10, 1779.
• Winner: Inconclusive.

Skirmish at Middleton’s Ferry

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell sent two contingents of troops to Middleton’s Ferry, 17 miles northwest of Augusta, and Brownsborough, 10 miles further.

• Captain Moses Wheatley took about 40 of Brown’s Rangers to Middleton’s Ferry to guard the crossing.
• Captain Robert Philips, one of Brown’s Rangers, took 20 South Carolina Loyalists to Brownsborough to watch for American forces.

Colonel Leonard Marbury of the Georgia Continentals led the American forces in the area. His command was known as the Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers.

On February 9, 1779, Wheatley took about 20 of his men on a scouting mission. Marbury responded by sending about 13 of his men in pursuit.

• Wheatley and his men stopped to cook a meal.
• The Americans rushed into the camp and captured everyone.
• The Americans took the prisoners to the Burke County Jail.

The Americans recognized one of the prisoners, Lieutenant Aquilla Hall, a South Carolina native known to have aided a Cherokee war party in an attack against American forces. The Americans took Hall to Ninety-Six, South Carolina, where they hanged him in April 1779.

• Date: February 9, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish at Brownsborough

Colonel Leonard Marbury led some of his men to Brownsborough, where Captain Robert Philips and his men had made their camp. The Americans rushed into the camp, but Philips and his men put up a fight and pushed them back. The British pursued the Americans, took some as prisoners, and seized supplies.

• Date: February 9, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Standoff at McGowan’s Blockhouse (Cherokee Ford)

Colonel John Boyd and his Loyalists were marching toward Cherokee Ford, where they intended to cross the Savannah River into Georgia and continue to Augusta. 

McGowan’s Blockhouse, an American outpost, overlooked Cherokee Ford. Lieutenant Thomas Shanklin and eight Georgia militiamen were guarding the blockhouse, with orders from Captain Robert Anderson to prevent any Loyalists from crossing. The blockhouse had two swivel guns.

As Boyd approached the blockhouse, he sent Shanklin a message saying he would not attack if Shanklin let him pass. Shanklin refused this offer. 

While this was happening, Captain James Little and 40 Georgia militiamen arrived to reinforce Shanklin. Boyd made the same offer to Little, who refused, and sent a message to Anderson, requesting reinforcements.

• Boyd and his officers met to discuss the situation.
• Anderson received the message, gathered men, and marched to the blockhouse.

Even though he had more men than the Americans, Boyd decided to avoid hostilities. He marched about five miles north to cross the river at Vann’s Creek in present-day Elberton, Georgia. Boyd was unaware that Colonel Andrew Pickens and Colonel John Dooly were also bearing down on him.

• Date: February 11, 1779.
• Winner: United States.
• Also Known As: The Standoff at McGowarn’s Blockhouse is the first part of the Battle of Cherokee Ford.

Battle of Vann’s Creek (Cherokee Ford)

After Colonel John Boyd and his Loyalists withdrew from McGowan’s Blockhouse, they marched upriver to the crossing at Vann’s Creek.

While Captain James Little was following Boyd, units from the South Carolina Militia, led by Captain Robert Anderson, Captain William Baskin, Captain John Miller, and Captain Joseph Pickens, joined him. Together, they had roughly 120 men, while Boyd had around 500 to 600.

The Americans, with Anderson in command, arrived at the crossing first, on the Georgia side of the river. They hid along the bank; however, vegetation partially blocked their line of sight. 

• Boyd and the Loyalists started crossing, but at multiple locations. The men crossed on rafts, and their horses swam.
• Anderson only saw them crossing at one location and ordered his men to open fire. The gunfire gave their position away to the rest of Boyd’s force.
• The Loyalists flanked the Americans, forcing Anderson to order his men to retreat.

Anderson led his men back to McGowan’s Blockhouse, where they met up with Colonel Andrew Pickens and Colonel John Dooly, and resumed the pursuit of Boyd.

• Date: February 11, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.
• Also Known As: The Battle of Vann’s Creek is the second part of the Battle of Cherokee Ford.

British Forces Abandon Augusta

Around February 12, 1779, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell decided to leave Augusta and return to Savannah. He made this decision due to the lack of Loyalist support and the growing size of American forces in the area. General Benjamin Lincoln dispatched three contingents of American troops from Purrysburg:

• General Andrew Williamson and 1,000 men were across from Augusta, at Fort Moore’s Bluff.
• General Griffith Rutherford and 800 men went to the Black Swamp.
• General John Ashe and Colonel Samuel Elbert marched to reinforce Williamson. Ashe had 1,400 North Carolina Militia under his command, and Elbert had 100 Georgia Continentals. Ashe led the reinforcements, and they arrived at Williamson’s position on February 13.

Before leaving Augusta, Campbell decided to use his newly constructed flatboats to make one last attack on the American forces at Fort Moore’s Bluff. After four slaves escaped from Augusta and crossed the Savannah River to the South Carolina side, the Americans were alerted, and they started firing across the river.

Campbell abandoned the attack, completed his preparations, and marched out of Augusta around 4:00 a.m. on February 14. He marched 25 miles to Boggy Gut Creek, set up camp, and waited for new orders from General Prevost. 

Williamson responded by sending around 300 men to harass the rear of Campbell’s column during the march to Boggy Gut Creek.

Battle of Kettle Creek

While Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell was marching away from Augusta, Colonel John Boyd and his Loyalists were marching to join Captain John Hamilton at Carr’s Fort. Boyd did not know that Hamilton had abandoned the fort, that Campbell had abandoned Augusta, or that Colonel Andrew Pickens and American forces were following him.

• Boyd still had 500-650 men in his command, far less than the 6,000 British officials expected.
• Pickens had around 350 men.

Boyd broke camp on the morning of February 14, 1779, and marched two miles to Kettle Creek, where he found some cattle grazing. Needing food, Boyd and his men stopped and proceeded to slaughter and butcher some of them.

American scouts, led by Captain James McCall, were following Boyd’s column. When it stopped for the cattle, McCall sent a messenger to Pickens to inform him. Pickens organized his men into three columns and approached Boyd’s camp. While they were surrounding it, some of the Americans fired their guns, alerting the Loyalists to their presence.

• The Americans rushed into the camp, and an intense battle started.
• Boyd took about 100 men up a hill, where they built a breastwork.
• Some Americans flanked Boyd’s position on the hill and fired.
• Boyd was shot and fell, mortally wounded.

When Boyd fell, his man panicked and fled. Major William Spurgeon took command of the Loyalists, and they retreated across Kettle Creek. Once they were across, Spurgeon reorganized them.

• The Americans followed, and the two sides continued firing at each other.
• After roughly half an hour, the Loyalists retreated. 
• The Americans did not pursue them.
• Spurgeon and the Loyalists joined Lieutenant Colonel Campbell’s command on February 18.

The American victory at Kettle Creek increased support for the Patriot Cause in the Carolina Backcountry and Georgia, as volunteers joined the ranks of General Benjamin Lincoln’s army at Purrysburg. It also reduced Loyalist morale in the region. 

Lincoln had between 6,000 and 7,000 men under his command, so he decided to take the offensive and attack Augusta.

• Date: February 14, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish at Herbert’s Store

On February 17, 1779, Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell marched from Boggy Gut Creek to Odom’s Ferry on Briar Creek. At the ferry, he had his men build a makeshift bridge to cross the creek. They also built a redoubt to defend the crossing.

General John Ashe was following Campbell and sent troops to harass the column. On February 18, Ashe’s men burned the other bridges that crossed Briar Creek and engaged the British garrison at Herbert’s Store. The Americans routed the British and captured around 200 horses.

• Date: February 18, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish at Thomas’s Plantation

On February 22, 1779, Colonel Leonard Marbury and his Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers were escorting their prisoners from the Skirmish at Middleton’s Ferry to the Burke County Jail.

Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell sent Lieutenant Colonel John Thomas and 150 Loyalists to intercept Marbury and free the prisoners.

Marbury countered by riding to Thomas’s estate, where there was a small guard of about five men. Marbury took the guards as prisoners and retreated.

• Date: February 22, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Battle of Briar Creek

Although most of his men were inexperienced militia, General John Ashe continued his pursuit of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell and crossed into Georgia on February 25, 1779.

Two days later, Ashe found the British had burned the Freeman-Miller Bridge over Briar Creek. The bridge was necessary to cross the creek, which was close to the Savannah River and surrounded by a deep swamp.

Ashe ordered his men to start rebuilding the bridge while he waited for reinforcements from General Benjamin Lincoln and General Griffith Rutherford to arrive. Ashe intended to resume the pursuit when the reinforcements joined him.

General Augustine Prevost wanted to take advantage of Ashe’s delay and ordered Campbell to launch an attack. To support the engagement, Prevost sent reinforcements, including his brother, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost. After Prevost joined Campbell, they devised a plan to attack Ashe’s camp.

On March 3, the British moved into position and attacked. They were within 150 yards when Colonel Samuel Elbert’s Continentals moved out and fired on them. 

During the fight, a gap appeared in the American line. The British took advantage of the gap and rushed into it with their bayonets fixed. The militia forces on the line panicked and fled. Elbert and the Continental Regulars held their ground, but the British surrounded them, forced them to surrender, and captured them.

Ashe tried to rally his men, but too many of the militia fled for the swamps and the Savannah River. Although many of them were able to escape by crossing the river on rafts or by swimming, some of them also drowned. Ashe led the survivors four miles to Matthew’s Bluff, where he joined General Rutherford.

The Americans suffered heavy casualties in the battle, roughly 30%, which was their worst defeat in the Southern Theater at the time. Army officials court-martialed Ashe for being unprepared for an attack. 

The next day, March 4, British officials issued a proclamation declaring that Georgia was once again under their control. 

• Date: March 3, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Royal Government Restored

On March 4, 1779, British officials reestablished the Royal Government and appointed Lieutenant Colonel Mark Prevost as Lieutenant Governor.

• Prevost called on Loyalists to join the British war effort.
• In July, Governor James Wright, Lieutenant Governor John Graham, and Chief Justice Anthony Stoke returned to Savannah and assumed control of the government.

Skirmish at Fort Morgan

Following the Battle of Briar Creek, Colonel John Thomas and Major Henry Sharp led troops to gather Loyalist Militia at the Burke County Jail. 

Some of Brown’s Rangers were supposed to meet them there; however, Thomas and Sharp learned of the approach of American forces and withdrew.

The Loyalists went to the British outpost at Paris Mills, while Major Sharp led his dragoons to Fort Morgan on the Ogeechee River, in present-day Bulloch County, Georgia. They captured the fort and withdrew. 

Colonel Leonard Marbury of the Georgia Continentals and the Georgia Regiment of Horse Rangers pursued Sharp.

• Date: March 1779 (exact date is unknown).
• Winner: Great Britain.

Battle of Abercorn Creek

In March 1779, rumors spread that two British ships were in the water near Abercorn Creek, close to Purrysburg. Captain Robert Campbell and two Georgia ships, Congress and Lee, were sent to investigate.

• The Georgia ships briefly ran aground.
• The British ships were alerted to their presence.

By the time Campbell arrived, the British had reinforced their position by placing an artillery battery on the south side of the Savannah River. Despite this, Campbell attacked. 

Early in the battle, the Congress ran aground. The ships fired on each other for about three hours. After the British killed Campbell, the Americans abandoned both ships and withdrew.

• Date: March 20, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Battle of the Crossroads

Colonel Leonard Marbury continued the pursuit of Major Henry Sharp and his dragoons. Sharp decided to stop, turn around, and engage the Americans. He attacked their camp, but did not destroy Marbury’s command, and withdrew. Marbury resumed his pursuit.

Loyalist Militia led by Colonel John Thomas tried to ambush Marbury’s command. The Americans captured Thomas’s advance force, and then decided to end the pursuit of Sharp’s command. Afterward, Marbury rode to meet up with Lieutenant Colonel Ely Kershaw and his South Carolina Militia. 

Marbury was in the northern Burke County when Loyalists surrounded him and took him and 30 of his men as prisoners.

By this time, Lieutenant Colonel John Twiggs and his Georgia Militia reinforced Colonel Kershaw. The two of them decided to march to the Burke County Jail and attack the Loyalist outpost there. Sharp responded to this threat by moving to attack Kershaw and Twiggs.

On the night of March 21, 1779, Sharp and Major William Spurgeon led an attack on the American camp at “The Crossroads” at Beech Island, southwest of Augusta.

• Most of the Americans fled.
• The ones that stayed were able to drive the Loyalists away.
• During the battle, the Americans mortally wounded Sharp and killed Spurgeon.

Following this battle, Lieutenant Colonel Augustine Prevost sent a message, asking American leaders to declare neutrality. They refused, and hostilities continued around Augusta.

• Date: March 21, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Battle of Rocky Comfort Creek

After Lieutenant Colonel Augustine Prevost moved into South Carolina, he sent Creek warriors to raid frontier settlements in both South Carolina and Georgia, and then join Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell in Augusta. 

After this force, led by Captain David Taitt, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, crossed the Ogeechee River, General Andrew Williamson sent Colonel Andrew Pickens, Colonel LeRoy Hammond, and Colonel John Dooly to intercept it.

When the Creeks found out that Americans were pursuing them, they decided to abandon the mission and return to South Carolina. On March 22, 1779, at Rocky Comfort Creek, a group of Americans led by Hammond attacked the Creeks, routed them, and took prisoners.

• Date: March 22, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Lincoln Marches Toward Augusta

Despite the American loss at the Battle of Briar Creek, General Benjamin Lincoln pushed forward with his plan to drive the British out of Georgia. He wanted to march northward up the Savannah River with 4,000 men, cross to Augusta, and advance on Savannah through the Georgia Backcountry. He left General William Moultrie with militia forces to defend Purrysburg and Black Swamp, while General Andrew Williamson remained at Augusta. Lincoln left Purrysburg on April 20, 1779, and reached Augusta on April 29.

Prevost Attacks Purrysburg

After General Benjamin Lincoln Purrysburg, General Augustine Prevost decided to move into South Carolina and threaten Charleston. Prevost believed this diversion would force Lincoln to change course and move to block him from reaching Charleston.

On the night of April 28–29, Prevost left Savannah, crossed over to Purrysburg with 3,000 men, and launched a surprise attack on the American camp. The British drove the Americans off and started their march to Charleston.

• General William Moultrie and American forces retreated and reorganized at Coosawhatchie, 40 miles slightly northeast of Savannah, on May 1.
• They burned bridges behind them to make it difficult for the British to cross waterways.
• Prevost continued his pursuit.
• Lincoln sent Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens with some North Carolina Continentals to reinforce Moultrie.

Moultrie moved the main force eastward to Tullifinny Hill. However, the rear of his column was moving slowly, so he sent Laurens, the Continentals, and troops from the South Carolina Militia to defend them and slow Prevost’s advance toward Charleston.

• Prevost pushed ahead to Charleston, driving American forces back.
• On May 6, Lincoln abandoned his plan to attack Savannah and started marching back to Charleston to defend it from Prevost.
• Prevost arrived at Charleston Neck on May 11.
• American leaders carried on prolonged negotiations that gave Lincoln time to reach the city.
• Prevost withdrew and returned to Savannah, but not before he engaged American forces at the Battle of Stono Ferry (June 16, 1779).
• Lincoln and the Southern Army remained at Charleston.

Appeals to Vice Admiral d’Estaing

As the summer of 1779 approached, General Benjamin Lincoln and other American officials sent requests to Vice Admiral Charles Henri Comte d’Estaing, who was conducting operations against British forces in the West Indies. 

• They asked him to bring his fleet to the mainland to help them regain control of the Southern Colonies.
• He agreed and sailed for Savannah in early September.
• Upon hearing this, General Augustine Prevost ordered British forces at Sunbury, Georgia, and Beaufort, South Carolina, to march to Savannah.

Skirmish at Midway Meeting House

On Sunday, June 27, 1779, Colonel John Baker led American forces in an attack on Colonel Daniel McGirth’s command at Midway Meeting House. Baker routed McGirth and took prisoners. Afterward, Baker took the prisoners to Augusta and sent Colonel John Twiggs and his men to James Butler’s plantation to see if British forces arrived to retaliate for the attack.

• Date: June 27, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish at Butler’s Plantation

On June 28, 1779, Captain Jacob Muller led nearly 50 British regulars onto Butler’s Plantation. Colonel John Twiggs only had about 35 men with him, as the rest were out on a foraging mission.

• Despite being outnumbered, Twiggs and his men pushed the British back.
• Muller was mortally wounded and ordered his men to execute a bayonet charge.
• The Americans poured heavy fire on the British, forcing them to retreat and withdraw.

The Americans pursued the British and captured all but two of the survivors. Twiggs paroled them and sent them to Savannah. Muller died two hours later.

• Date: June 28, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish in Wilkes County

Colonel Benjamin Few led his Georgia Militia into the Carolina Backcountry to protect settlements. In early July 1779, they engaged an Indian war party, defeated them, and took two prisoners.

• Date: July 1779 (exact date unknown).
• Winner: United States.

Skirmish at Ebenezer

In July 1779, Sergeant William Jasper of South Carolina asked for permission to harass Lieutenant Colonel Augustine Prevost’s expedition, while it was returning to Savannah, having failed to take Charleston. General Benjamin Lincoln approved the request.

Jasper led his troops to the British outpost at Ebenezer, Georgia, to visit his brother, who was serving in the British Army. While visiting, Jasper took notes on the outpost and sent them to General William Moultrie.

Jasper returned to the outpost a few weeks later and took Sergeant John Newton with him. While they were in the camp, American prisoners arrived, escorted by guards. 

Jasper’s brother told him that guards were taking them to Savannah, where the British would hang them. Jasper and Newton decided to organize a rescue mission.

• On July 21, the prisoners and their guards started the march to Savannah.
• Jasper and Newton set up an ambush.
• When the guards stopped to rest, the two Americans surprised them and killed two.
• The other guards surrendered.

Jasper and Newton rescued the prisoners and took them back across the Savannah River into South Carolina.

• Date: July 21, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Battle of Lockhart’s Plantation

On August 14, 1779, a small force of 25 Loyalist Militia, led by Colonel Daniel McGrath, encountered approximately 150 Georgia militia and dragoons, led by Colonel John Twiggs, near Lockhart’s Plantation. The Americans killed or captured nearly all of the Loyalists before. At the same time, a contingent of men from Twiggs’s command captured 16 men who were driving a herd of cattle to Savannah.

• Date: August 14, 1779.
• Winner: United States.

Naval Skirmish off the Coast of Savannah

The French fleet under the command of Admiral Charles Henri Comte d’Estaing was making its way to Georgia, where it planned to join with General Benjamin Lincoln’s Army and initiate a siege against the city of Savannah, hoping to break it free from British control.

On September 3, the British ship Rose sailed out to investigate reports that the French fleet was near the coast. Three days later, on September 6, the French captured another British ship, Polly, which was sailing to Quebec. The French commandeered the ship, which was blown off course that night, toward the mouth of the Savannah River, where it anchored.

The Rose captured the Polly, and the British interrogated the French crew; however, they misled the British about the size of the fleet.

• Date: September 6, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Siege of Savannah (Second Savannah)

Admiral Charles Henri Comte d’Estaing’s French fleet anchored at Tybee Island, at the mouth of the Savannah River, on September 8, 1779. General Benjamin Lincoln started his march to Savannah on the same day.

D’Estaing started landing his troops on September 9 at Beaulieu Plantation, about 14 miles from Savannah. The landing was interrupted by a two-day storm, so the French did not complete it until the 12th. 

Once the landing was complete, French troops marched to Savannah. American forces led by Colonel Casimir Pulaski met them on the 15th and joined the march. Pulaski was leading his cavalry, Pulaski’s Legion, and Continental troops.

• D’Estaing and Pulaski arrived at Savannah on September 16.
• Lincoln and his men arrived later in the day on the 16th. In total, Lincoln had more than 2,000 men, bringing the full strength of the Allied force to around 6,000 troops.

While d’Estaing waited for Lincoln, he opened negotiations with General Augustine Prevost regarding the surrender of the city. He sent a message that said it would be “absolutely impossible and useless, due to the Superiority of the forces attacking him by Land and by Sea” to defend Savannah. D’Estaing also created controversy by asking Prevost to surrender “to the arms of the King of France,” rather than to the United States. 

• Prevost asked for 24 hours to respond, which gave him time to complete defensive works.
• D’Estaing agreed, and forces set up their camps around Savannah.

After British reinforcements led by Lieutenant Colonel John Maitland arrived from Beaufort, South Carolina, Prevost told d’Estaing that he would not surrender. D’Estaing responded by having his men build trenches and move artillery into position.

• Hostilities started around September 16, when Pulaski’s Legion surprised a party of Loyalist Militia at Ogeechee Ferry. Pulaski captured roughly 50 prisoners.
• On September 24, the Allies started digging siege trenches, and Prevost routinely sent small parties of troops out to harass them. 

By October 3, the Allies had 53 heavy cannons and 14 mortars in battery positions placed within range of the British line, and the bombardment of Savannah started on October 4. The Allied ships in the river also opened fire on the city.

• The damage to Savannah was significant, killing some civilians. 
• Prevost sent a message to the Allied commanders, asking them to allow the women and children to leave the city.
• The Allies rejected his request because they believed Prevost would use the time to strengthen his defenses.

On October 8, d’Estaing told Lincoln he would have to withdraw from Savannah soon because he was running low on supplies. It was also hurricane season, and if one blew in from the Atlantic, it would destroy his fleet. 

The Allied officers held a council of war. Although many of the officers opposed it, d’Estaing decided to launch a ground assault on Savannah the next day, with the center of the attack on the Spring Hill Redoubt, on the right of the British line.

The Allies attacked early on October 9, but thick fog and darkness created confusion, and the attack was uncoordinated. The British fired on the Allies as they approached, slowing the advance.

• Lincoln led about 600 South Carolina Continentals toward the Spring Hill redoubt, followed by Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Mclntosh and his men. When they reached the redoubt, there was brutal hand-to-hand fighting.
• D’Estaing led his men forward three times, but the British stopped him every time. D’Estaing suffered at least two wounds but continued to fight.
• Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens and his men also pushed forward, and Lieutenant Colonel Francis Marion was able to plant the flag of the 2nd South Carolina and the French flag on the parapet of the redoubt. However, the British pushed Laurens and Marion back. British forces captured the South Carolina flag and killed Sergeant William Jasper.
• Pulaski, seeing the situation was desperate, ordered his men to ride into battle. One of the British batteries fired on them, hitting Pulaski with grapeshot and mortally wounding him. When he fell from his horse, his men stopped their attack and returned to their position in the rear.

After about 45 minutes of fierce fighting, Lincoln and d’Estaing called off the attack and retreated to their siege lines. At this point, some of the French officers suggested ending the siege. The Americans disagreed. D’Estaing agreed with the Americans, and the siege continued.

• Allied and British leaders agreed to a brief truce, so they could bury their dead and tend to the wounded.
• The French increased tensions with the Americans by blaming Lincoln for refusing to allow civilians to evacuate Savannah. 

The French decided to give up the siege and marched back to their ships on October 19. Soon after, Lincoln marched back to Ebenezer and then to Charleston.

The British victory at Savannah solidified their control of Georgia and paved the way for the offensive that would capture Charleston and most of South Carolina in 1780.

• Date: September 16–October 18, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.
• Also Known As: Second Battle of Savannah.

Skirmish at Savage Point

On October 1, 1779, during the Siege of Savannah, Colonel John White and his Georgia Continentals captured a contingent of British troops led by Lieutenant James French who were marching to Savannah. Moses Kirkland and South Carolina Loyalists were with Lieutenant  French.

• White was on patrol with four other men.
• They found the British camp and set what looked like campfires around it.
• White and his men rode around the campfires, shouting instructions.
• They tricked Lieutenant French into thinking a large force was surrounding him.

White met with Lieutenant French and told him he had to keep his men in the forest, because they were prepared to destroy his entire command. Lieutenant French agreed to surrender.

White and the others escorted all of the prisoners to Savannah, where they boarded ships and sailed to Charleston, and arrived on November 10.

• Date: October 1, 1779.
• Winner: United States

Skirmish at Gillivray’s Plantation

On October 16, 1779, during the Siege of Savannah, a skirmish took place at Gillivray’s Plantation, near the city. A group of black Loyalists was defending the plantation. They held their positions until they ran out of ammunition.

• Date: October 16, 1779.
• Winner: Inconclusive.

Capture of the Betsey off the Georgia Coast

On October 26, 1779, a British ship, Guadeloupe, was blown off course while sailing to Georgia, and into the path of the French fleet that had departed Savannah. The Guadeloupe escaped, and another British ship, Roebuck, joined it.

The Guadeloupe and Roebuck captured an American ship, Betsey, which was under the command of Captain Samuel Spencer.

• Date: October 26, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Capture of the Myrtle and Rutledge on the Tybee River

On November 5, 1779, two American ships, Myrtle and Rutledge, were on their way to Savannah, unaware that Allied forces had departed. The British captured both ships near the mouth of the Tybee River. The British took the Rutledge, renamed it Viper, and added it to the Navy.

• Date: November 5, 1779.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Capture of the Tiger off the Georgia Coast

On December 8, 1779, a British Privateer, the Tiger, was captured by a French ship off the coast of Georgia. Both ships joined the French fleet that was sailing to the Caribbean.

• Date: December 8, 1779.
• Winner: French naval forces allied with the United States.

Siege of Charleston

After General Benjamin Lincoln and the Southern Army returned to Charleston, General Henry Clinton organized a large expedition for the purpose of engaging Lincoln and capturing the city. Clinton sailed from New York and laid siege to the Savannah from April 1 to May 12, 1780.

• Lincoln was forced to surrender the city and more than 5,000 American troops.
• It was the most significant defeat suffered by American forces during the American Revolutionary War and a major turning point in the conflict.

With the victory, the British had complete control of Georgia and most of South Carolina. Clinton returned to New York and left General Charles Cornwallis in command, with orders to complete the conquest of the rest of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

• General Horatio Gates replaced Lincoln and organized a new Southern Army.
• Cornwallis destroyed Gates’s Army at the Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780).

With the Southern Department of the Continental Army in disarray, General Andrew Pickens, General Thomas Sumter, and General Francis Marion organized Patriot forces and carried out attacks on British outposts and supply lines in the South Carolina Backcountry. These men kept the American war effort going in the Southern Theater, although Georgia remained under British control.

First Siege of Augusta

In May 1780, General Andrew Williamson withdrew from Georgia and returned to South Carolina, allowing British forces to reoccupy Augusta with a garrison of Loyalists and Indian warriors. The garrison was under the command of Colonel Thomas Brown and Lieutenant Colonel James Grierson.

In September 1780, Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke and Lieutenant Colonel James McCall decided to mount an attack on the British garrison at Augusta.

• McCall recruited about 85 men from the Ninety-Six District in South Carolina.
• Clarke gathered roughly 350 men from Wilkes County, Georgia.
• They combined forces at Soap Creek, 40 miles northwest of Augusta.
• They divided their forces into three columns and advanced on Augusta, undetected by the British.

On September 14, the left column of the American force, led by Major Samuel Taylor, attacked an Indian camp near Hawk’s Creek. The Indians fled to a fortified trading post about a mile and a half from Augusta known as “White House.”

Brown and Grierson responded by gathering men and going to join the fight at White House. Clarke and McCall countered them by capturing Fort Cornwallis and Fort Grierson. They left troops to hold the forts and then joined the siege at White House. The Americans conducted a four-day siege. Although they cut off the water supply, they were unable to assault the fort because they ran out of ammunition. 

On September 18, British reinforcements led by Colonel John Harris Cruger appeared on the Carolina side of the Savannah River. Their arrival forced the Americans to abandon the siege and withdraw.

When Clarke withdrew, he marched 200 miles into the mountains of the Carolinas. General Charles Cornwallis responded by sending Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist command in pursuit of Clarke. Patriot militia forces in the “overmountain” settlements countered by joining forces and attacking Ferguson at Kings Mountain, South Carolina, on October 7, 1780. The “Overmountain Men” routed Ferguson’s command, killing him in the process. The American victory was a major turning point in the war, as it forced Cornwallis to alter his plans for invading North Carolina.

• Date: September 14–18, 1780.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Second Siege of Augusta

By the spring of 1781, the Southern Department was under the command of General Nathanael Greene. While his army was at Ninety-Six, South Carolina, he sent Lieutenant Colonel Elijah Clarke and General Andrew Pickens to attack Augusta. Lieutenant Colonel Henry “Light-Horse Harry” Lee and his cavalry, and Major Pinketham Eaton and his North Carolina Militia joined them.

• Colonel Thomas Brown commanded 330 Loyalist militia and 300 Creek Indians defending Fort Cornwallis.
• Fort Cornwallis was on the northwest side of Augusta, about 150 yards from the Savannah River.
• A smaller British post, Fort Grierson, stood half a mile west of the main fort. It was under the command of Colonel James Grierson.

During the advance on Augusta, American forces captured key British outposts in South Carolina, including Fort Motte (May 12, 1781), Fort Granby (May 15, 1781), and Fort Galphin (May 21, 1781).

The American commanders decided to attack Fort Grierson first, as it was the smaller of the two British posts defending Augusta.

• American forces assaulted and captured Fort Grierson on May 22.
• The garrison did not surrender, but fled the fort and went toward Fort Cornwallis.
• Clarke’s troops cut off the escape route.
• Intense fighting took place, during which the British killed Major Eaton
• Colonel Grierson surrendered but was shot and killed in the aftermath.

The Americans turned their attention to Fort Cornwallis. They used traditional siege tactics, but Brown and his men refused to surrender. Finally, the Americans built a “Maham Tower,” a wooden structure that rose above the fort’s walls. On June 1, American troops climbed the tower and fired down into the fort with muskets and a cannon.

• On June 4, American forces gathered for a final assault on the fort.
• Brown agreed to discuss surrender terms before the attack started.
• After a full day of negotiation, Brown surrendered on June 6.

The liberation of Augusta from British forces freed the Georgia Backcountry from British control. With the city freed, Georgia’s Patriot government reestablished itself at Augusta.

• Date: May 31–June 6, 1781.
• Winner: Great Britain.

Wayne’s Georgia Expedition

In January 1782, General Nathanael Greene sent General Anthony Wayne and an expedition into Georgia to restore American control to the entire state.

• On January 12, 1782, Wayne crossed the Savannah River with 100 dragoons led by Colonel Anthony White and a detachment of artillery.
• Colonel Wade Hampton and 300 South Carolina mounted infantry, and Colonel James Jackson and  170 Georgia militia, joined Wayne.

Wayne lacked enough men to take Savannah and asked Georgia officials to raise an African American regiment, but they denied his request. Wayne’s expedition also suffered due to a lack of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. Despite these disadvantages, Wayne pushed forward.

Lieutenant Colonel Alured Clarke, the British commander in Georgia, responded to Wayne’s advance by implementing a scorched-earth policy. He ordered his forces to burn anything they could not carry with them to Savannah.

• On January 22–23, 300 Creeks tried to attack Wayne’s camp but mistakenly engaged his main force at 3 a.m.
• After a fierce fight, the Americans drove the Creeks away, while killing their leader, Guristersigo.

Meanwhile, Governor John Martin offered to pardon Loyalists who surrendered to Wayne before March 15. On February 25, A group of Loyalists tried to capture Martin at Augusta. Although they failed, they did seize some horses and supplies.

Lieutenant Colonel Clark called for reinforcements and sent Captain Thomas Brown to find a band of Upper Creeks led by Emistisiguo and escort them to Savannah. Brown sent Captain Donald Cameron ahead with about 30 of his Rangers.

• An American patrol led by Major Francis Moore found Cameron and his men.
• The Americans attacked and drove Cameron back to Savannah.
• During this battle, which is known as the Skirmish at the Altamaha River, the British killed Moore.

Brown continued to wait for the Upper Creeks, so he sent Captain James Ingram to Ogeechee Ferry to see if he could connect with them. On May 20, Wayne learned of this and sent Captain Alexander Parker and Colonel Anthony Walton to intercept Ingram. Lieutenant Colonel James Jackson found the British at Harris’s Bridge on Ogeechee Road.

• Around 10:00 p.m., Parker’s men encountered Ingram’s on the road.
• Parker asked for the countersign, but Ingam ignored him.
• Ingram did not realize the enemy was approaching him.
• Parker easily captured all but one of the men from Ingram’s command.

Two hours later, Brown arrived with some of his Rangers, supported by Captain James Atwood of the King’s American Regiment.

• Atwood encountered American dragoons on a causeway.
• The dragoons attacked and pushed the British force back toward Savannah.

Following these skirmishes at Harris’s Bridge and Ogeechee Ferry, Wayne marched to Ebenezer, Georgia.

On May 24, a British officer led a group of Cherokee warriors in an attack on the American camp near Sharon, Georgia. The Americans inflicted heavy casualties on the Cherokees and drove them away.

Emistisiguo and his Upper Creek warriors moved through Georgia, undetected by the Americans. On June 23, they decided to attack the American pickets at Three Sisters, outside the camp at Ebenezer, Georgia. Earlier that day, Wayne decided to spend the night at the outpost, and was artillery with him. When he arrived, he relieved the troops to allow them to rest and replaced them with fresh men.

• The Upper Creeks attacked a sentry, who fired a warning shot.
• American forces quickly mobilized, including the artillery.
• The Upper Creeks rushed into the camp and drove the Americans in front of them.
• Wayne thought the attackers were British troops from Savannah.
• He rallied his troops, shouting, “Victory or death!” and led a bayonet charge.
• The Americans killed Emistisiguo, and his warriors fled.

Afterward, Loyalists and Hessian troops started to abandon the British Army at Savannah. This left British officials with no choice but to seek peace.

• British General Alexander Leslie requested a truce with General Greene, who rejected it.
• Clarke and Royalist Governor James Wright also suggested a truce to Wayne, who declined.

The British decided to evacuate Savannah. American forces agreed to allow them to leave before occupying the city.

• The British regulars embarked for Charleston and New York.
• Around 2,500 white and 4,000 black civilian refugees went to Tybee Island and Cockspur Island. 
• Many Loyalists eventually ended up in Florida. 

After six months of siege, the British evacuated Savannah on July 10 and 11. After the British left, Wayne marched in with his Continentals and occupied Savannah.

One final skirmish took place at Skidway Island on July 25, when Lieutenant Colonel James Jackson and his men clashed with a group of British Marines.

• Date: January 12–June 12, 1782.
• Winner: United States.
• Also Known As: Second Siege of Savannah.

AP US History (APUSH)

Alignment

The Georgia Campaign is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:

• The American Revolution (1754–1800), APUSH 3.5

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

• Cashin, Edward J. Augusta and the American Revolution: Events in the Georgia Back Country, 1773–1783. 1975.
• Coleman, Kenneth. The American Revolution in Georgia, 1763–1789. 1958.
• Greene, Francis Vinton. The Revolutionary War and the Military Policy of the United States, 1911.
• Neilan, David. The Francis Marion Papers, Volume 1. 2025.
• O’Kelley, Patrick. Nothing But Blood and Slaughter: The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas, Volume 1, 1771–1779. 2004.
• O’Kelley, Patrick. Nothing But Blood and Slaughter: The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas, Volume 4, 1782. 2005.
• Ward, Christopher. War of the Revolution. 2012.