The Battle of Savannah September–October 1779

In late 1778, the British shifted the Revolutionary War south, where there was more loyalist support. Lt Colonel Campbell was sent to Savannah, Georgia, where, in December 1778, he routed the American rebel forces. Brigadier General Prevost joined him and was tasked with persuading loyalists to join the British cause. After pursuing minor campaigns, the British were forced into a counteroffensive against joint American-French forces, who wanted to reclaim Savannah. On 23 September, after the British failed to surrender, the Continentals, under Brigadier General Lincoln and Vice-Admiral d’Estaing, began their offensive. On 4 October, they launched an ineffectual bombardment, which failed to hit Savannah’s fortifications. On 8 October, an assault on the Spring Hill Redoubt failed, with Brigadier General Huger’s French forces becoming mired in swamp to the west. Only the South Carolina Continentals made it to the defence lines, where they were repelled. It was a British victory.