Savannah expedition

Battle of Savannah
Part of the American Revolutionary War
Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell (portrait by George Romney, c. 1792)
Date December 29, 1778 Location Savannah, Georgia 32°03′03″N 81°06′14″W / 32.05083°N 81.10389°W / 32.05083; -81.10389Coordinates: 32°03′03″N 81°06′14″W / 32.05083°N 81.10389°W / 32.05083; -81.10389 Result British victory
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Robert Howe	Archibald Campbell
Strength
850 infantry and militia 4 artillery pieces	3,100 infantry and militia unknown artillery
Casualties and losses
83 killed 11 wounded 453 captured	7 killed 17 wounded

The Capture of Savannah, or sometimes the First Battle of Savannah (because of a siege in 1779), was an American Revolutionary War battle fought on December 29, 1778 pitting local American Patriot militia and Continental Army units, holding the city, against a British invasion force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell. The British seizure of the city led to an extended occupation and was the opening move in the British southern strategy to regain control of the rebellious Southern provinces by appealing to the relatively strong Loyalist sentiment there.

General Sir Henry Clinton, the commander-in-chief of the British forces based in New York City, dispatched Campbell and a 3,100-strong force from New York to capture Savannah, and begin the process of returning Georgia to British control. He was to be assisted by troops under the command of Brigadier General Augustine Prevost that were marching up from Saint Augustine in East Florida. After landing near Savannah on December 23, Campbell assessed the American defenses, which were comparatively weak, and decided to attack without waiting for Prevost. Taking advantage of local assistance he successfully flanked the American position outside the town, captured a large portion of Major General Robert Howe's army, and drove the remnants to retreat into South Carolina.

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