Struggles in the South
By 1778, the British realized that bringing the American colonies back into the empire would not be easy. Following the failure at Saratoga, the British abandoned their operations in the Middle colonies and focused their efforts towards the South. As a result, the British changed their strategy and planned a hard-hitting offensive to finish the war. The British concentrated their efforts in the South, where there were many Loyalists. They hoped to use British sea power and the support of the Loyalists to win decisive victories in the Southern states.
The British "Southern Strategy" commenced in late 1778 with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, which was followed in 1780 by operations in South Carolina that included the defeat of the Patriots at Charleston and Camden. The surrender of Charleston marked one of the worst American defeats of the war. The British captured some 5,266 prisoners, 311 artillery pieces, 9,178 artillery rounds, 5,916 muskets, 33,000 rounds of ammunition, 212 hand grenades, 49 ships and 120 boats, plus 376 barrels of flour, and large supplies of rum, rice and indigo.
At the Battle of Camden, British General Charles Cornwallis won a major victory over "the hero of Saratoga" General Horatio Gates. Although the Americans had far more troops than the British, Cornwallis was able to defeat Horatio Gates in humiliating fashion. Following the defeat, Gates never held a field command again. Major General Nathaniel Greene, rated next to George Washington as the most able and trusted Colonial officer of the Revolution, was given command of the southern army and started recruiting more troops.
Although General Charles Cornwallis found early success in the South, he soon found out that he could not control the large areas that he had conquered. In addition, the British received far less support than they originally expected from Loyalists in the Southern colonies. Instead, as British troops moved through the countryside, small forces of Patriots attacked them. These groups of soldiers appeared suddenly, struck their targets, and then disappeared. This hit-and-run technique of guerrilla warfare caught the British off guard. One successful guerrilla leader, Francis Marion, operated out of the swamps of South Carolina. Known as the the Swamp Fox, Marion was quick and smart. One British colonel grumbled that "the devil himself" could not catch Marion.
After the victory at Camden, South Carolina, the British moved northward through the Carolinas. In October 1780, Americans forced the British to retreat at the Battle of Kings Mountain, halting the success of the British in the South. As mentioned earlier, Nathanael Greene replaced Horatio Gates as commander of the Continental forces in the South. Rather than lead an all-out attack on Cornwallis's forces, Green split his army in two. In January 1781, one section of the army defeated the British at Cowpens, South Carolina. Another section joined the guerrilla raids. Greene reunited his forces in March to meet Cornwallis's army at Guilford Courthouse, in present-day Greensboro, North Carolina. Although Green's army was forced to retreat, the British sustained great losses in the process and abandoned the Carolina campaign.
How did the Patriots gain success in the South after early set backs? Nathanael Greene engaged in a strategy of avoidance and attrition (weakening) against the British. The two forces fought a string of battles, most of which were tactical victories for the British. In almost all cases, however, the "victories" strategically weakened the British army by the high cost in casualties, while leaving the Continental Army intact to continue fighting.
The British "Southern Strategy" commenced in late 1778 with the capture of Savannah, Georgia, which was followed in 1780 by operations in South Carolina that included the defeat of the Patriots at Charleston and Camden. The surrender of Charleston marked one of the worst American defeats of the war. The British captured some 5,266 prisoners, 311 artillery pieces, 9,178 artillery rounds, 5,916 muskets, 33,000 rounds of ammunition, 212 hand grenades, 49 ships and 120 boats, plus 376 barrels of flour, and large supplies of rum, rice and indigo.
At the Battle of Camden, British General Charles Cornwallis won a major victory over "the hero of Saratoga" General Horatio Gates. Although the Americans had far more troops than the British, Cornwallis was able to defeat Horatio Gates in humiliating fashion. Following the defeat, Gates never held a field command again. Major General Nathaniel Greene, rated next to George Washington as the most able and trusted Colonial officer of the Revolution, was given command of the southern army and started recruiting more troops.
Although General Charles Cornwallis found early success in the South, he soon found out that he could not control the large areas that he had conquered. In addition, the British received far less support than they originally expected from Loyalists in the Southern colonies. Instead, as British troops moved through the countryside, small forces of Patriots attacked them. These groups of soldiers appeared suddenly, struck their targets, and then disappeared. This hit-and-run technique of guerrilla warfare caught the British off guard. One successful guerrilla leader, Francis Marion, operated out of the swamps of South Carolina. Known as the the Swamp Fox, Marion was quick and smart. One British colonel grumbled that "the devil himself" could not catch Marion.
After the victory at Camden, South Carolina, the British moved northward through the Carolinas. In October 1780, Americans forced the British to retreat at the Battle of Kings Mountain, halting the success of the British in the South. As mentioned earlier, Nathanael Greene replaced Horatio Gates as commander of the Continental forces in the South. Rather than lead an all-out attack on Cornwallis's forces, Green split his army in two. In January 1781, one section of the army defeated the British at Cowpens, South Carolina. Another section joined the guerrilla raids. Greene reunited his forces in March to meet Cornwallis's army at Guilford Courthouse, in present-day Greensboro, North Carolina. Although Green's army was forced to retreat, the British sustained great losses in the process and abandoned the Carolina campaign.
How did the Patriots gain success in the South after early set backs? Nathanael Greene engaged in a strategy of avoidance and attrition (weakening) against the British. The two forces fought a string of battles, most of which were tactical victories for the British. In almost all cases, however, the "victories" strategically weakened the British army by the high cost in casualties, while leaving the Continental Army intact to continue fighting.