George Washington proved his mettle to the British when they tried to split the colonies. Britain had fallen prey to its own errors and the personalities of its commanders. With the defeat of Gentleman Johnny Burgoyne at Saratoga Britain decided to replace William Howe with Henry Clinton. When Clinton was forced to withdraw from Philadelphia by the arrival of 5,000 French troops he looked south for victory.

Clinton made two assumptions: Georgians were against the war and that he could take control of the lightly populated colony with a smaller force. Using a plan first proposed by Henry Kirkland, Clinton ordering British forces north from Florida and an expedition south from British-controlled New York. Clinton expected Loyalists to begin joining his men almost immediately. The troops from New York, under the command of Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived at Tybee Island on December 23, 1778. They were a month late. Forces from St. Augustine under the command of Augustine Prevost joined them and together they marched on Savannah.

American forces in Georgia under General Robert Howe include local militia and Continental soldiers. As the British forces attacked the American line the militia fled. Without the militia there is little the Continentals can do. They retreat in an orderly manner, leaving the small community to the British oppressors. American losses total 100 men with 450 captured. British lose 9 men, with 17 wounded. The combined British force took Augusta early in 1778. Henry Clinton bragged he had captured and completely controlled the first of America's 13 states.

Even as Clinton was talking about his success, the plan began to fall apart, mostly because of the distance between Augusta and Savannah and an active resistance movement in Georgia that would disrupt the movement of goods between the two cities. At the end of January, 1779, Augusta commander Archibald Campbell decided to withdraw back to Savannah.

Next: Battle of Kettle Creek

Introduction to the American Revolution in Georgia
Acts of War
End of the French and Indian War
Sugar Act; Stamp Act
Liberty Boys; Virginia Resolves
Radical Georgia Unites
Tea Act and Tea Party
Movement towards Independence
Battle of the Rice Boats
On to Independence
Declaration of Independence
Problems in East Florida
British Take Savannah and Augusta
Battle of Kettle Creek
Battle of Brier Creek
Battle of Savannah
Dark days for Georgia
End of the Revolution
Chronology of Georgia events

American Revolution In Georgia
Georgia's role in the American Revolution

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Acts of War
Battle of Brier Creek
Battle of Kettle Creek
Battle of Savannah
Battle of the Rice Boats
British Take Savannah and Augusta
Dark days for Georgia
Declaration of Independence
End of the French and Indian War
End of the Revolution
George Washington
Introduction to the American Revolution in Georgia
Liberty Boys; Virginia Resolves
Movement towards Independence
On to Independence
Problems in East Florida
Radical Georgia Unites
Sugar Act; Stamp Act
Tea Act and Tea Party

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