Battle of Briar Creek

Battle of Brier Creek
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Map from the Georgia State Historical Marker. Created by Clyde D. Hollingsworth, it shows the movements of British and Patriot forces along the Savannah River and Brier Creek.
Date March 3, 1779 Location Screven County, near present-day Sylvania, Georgia 32°48′42″N 81°28′58″W / 32.811631°N 81.482829°W / 32.811631; -81.482829 (Brannen's Bridge on Brier Creek)Coordinates: 32°48′42″N 81°28′58″W / 32.811631°N 81.482829°W / 32.811631; -81.482829 (Brannen's Bridge on Brier Creek) Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
John Ashe Samuel Elbert (POW)	Mark Prevost
Strength
1,100 infantry and militia	900 infantry, cavalry, grenadiers, and militia
Casualties and losses
at least 150 killed, unknown wounded, 227 captured	5 killed, 11 wounded

The Battle of Brier Creek was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on March 3, 1779 near the confluence of Brier Creek with the Savannah River in eastern Georgia. A Patriot force consisting principally of militia from North Carolina and Georgia was surprised, suffering significant casualties. The battle occurred only a few weeks after a resounding American Patriot victory over the British at Kettle Creek, north of Augusta, reversing its effect on morale.

Following the entry of France into the American Revolutionary War in 1778, the British focused their attention on the American South, which they had not paid great attention to in the early years of the war. The British began their "southern strategy" by sending expeditions from New York City and Saint Augustine, East Florida to capture Savannah, Georgia late in 1778. The New York expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived first, and successfully captured the town on December 29, 1778.

When Brigadier General Augustine Prevost arrived from Saint Augustine in mid-January, he assumed command of the garrison there, and sent a force under Campbell to take control of Augusta and raise Loyalist militia companies.

...
Wikipedia