December 29
British Forces Capture Savannah in Revolutionary War
British Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell’s expedition seized the vital Georgia port through a rapid flanking attack that routed a smaller American garrison under Major General Robert Howe.
Summary
By late 1778, British strategy in the American Revolutionary War shifted toward the southern colonies, where Loyalist support was believed to be stronger. Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell led a British expedition of roughly 3,500 troops, including Highlanders, Hessians, and Loyalists, in a surprise amphibious assault on Savannah, Georgia. American defenders under Major General Robert Howe numbered fewer than 1,000 and were quickly overwhelmed after the British landed upstream and attacked from multiple directions on December 29. The city fell with minimal British losses, giving the Crown a vital southern port and foothold. Howe retreated northward, leaving Georgia largely under British control for the next several years.
Context
Following the American victory at Saratoga in 1777 and France’s entry into the war as an ally of the colonies, British leaders reevaluated their strategy. In March 1778, Secretary of State for the Colonies George Germain instructed General Sir Henry Clinton to shift focus toward the southern colonies, where officials anticipated stronger Loyalist backing and a chance to restore royal authority more readily than in the North.
What Happened
Clinton organized an amphibious force of roughly 3,100 men in New York and directed Brigadier General Augustine Prevost to advance northward from British-held East Florida. Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell sailed with this contingent, which included the 71st Highland Regiment, Hessian troops, and New York Loyalists. The expedition reached Tybee Island at the mouth of the Savannah River on December 23, 1778, and began landing operations near Girardeau’s Plantation.
Aftermath
Savannah remained under British occupation for more than three and a half years. A combined Franco-American siege in the autumn of 1779 failed to dislodge the garrison, and British forces withdrew voluntarily only in July 1782. Major General Robert Howe was relieved of command of the Southern Department shortly after the defeat.
Legacy
The capture marked the opening success of Britain’s southern campaign, which aimed to exploit presumed Loyalist strength and secure coastal bases. While the move initially expanded British control over Georgia and facilitated later operations, the southern theater ultimately proved costly and contributed to the decisive reversal at Yorktown in 1781.
Why It Matters
The capture secured a major southern base for British operations, prolonged the war by shifting focus to the South, and enabled further campaigns that eventually led to major battles like Camden and Yorktown. It demonstrated the effectiveness of combined naval and land tactics in the conflict.
Related Questions
Why did the British launch a campaign in the southern colonies in 1778?
British planners believed Loyalist sentiment was stronger in the South and hoped to regain control of Georgia and the Carolinas after setbacks in the North.
How large were the opposing forces at Savannah?
Campbell commanded approximately 3,100 British, Hessian, and Loyalist troops; Howe had fewer than 1,000 Continentals and militia.
What tactics allowed the British to capture the city so quickly?
Campbell used local knowledge to find a path through swamps that outflanked Howe’s defensive line south of Savannah.
How long did the British hold Savannah?
British forces occupied the city from December 1778 until they withdrew in July 1782.
What was the immediate result for American leadership in the South?
Howe was relieved of command of the Southern Department following the loss.
Related Portfolio Site
US Military Atlas: Major battle in U.S. military history during the Revolutionary War
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Sources
- British capture Savannah, Georgia, History.com. Accessed 2026-07-08.
- December 29, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-07-08.