ed obstinacy with which the contest was maintained, had diminished the confidence which had been felt at the commencement of hostilities; and when the pacific propositions of 1778 were rejected, the resolution seems to have been taken to adopt, for the future, a plan of operations materially different from that which had been so long and so unsuccessfully pursued.

It seems to have been determined in the British cabinet, that possession of the islands about the Hudson should be maintained; but that their arms should be principally directed against the southern states, which were less capable of resistance, and on which a very considerable impression might with great certainty be made.

It was not unreasonable to suppose that the influence of this impression would extend itself northward; but, however this might be, the actual conquest and possession of several states, when negotiations for a general peace should be entered into, would give a complexion to those negotiasions, and afford plausible ground for insisting to retain territory already acquired. It seemed possible to regain the more rich, though less populous country of the south, however the war might terminate with respect to the northern and middle states. Of the succeeding campaigns, therefore, the most active and interesting operations were in the southern country.

Lieutenant

Lieutenant-colonel Campbell, who sailed from the Hook about the end of November, escorted by a small squadron under the command of Commodore Hyde Parker, reached the isle of Tybee, near the Savannah (the river which separates Georgia from South Carolina) on the 23d of December; and in a few days the fleet with the transports got over the bar, and anchored in the river within the light-house of Tybee.

The command of the southern army, composed of the troops of South Carolina and Georgia, had been committed to Major-general Robert Howe. In the course of the preceding summer he had invaded East Florida. The diseases incident to the climate made such ravages among his raw soldiers, unused to the precautions necessary for the preservation of health, that, though he had but little more than seen an enemy, he found himself compelled to hasten out of the country with very considerable loss. After this disastrous enterprise, his army, consisting of between six and seven hundred continental troops, aided by a few hundred militia, had taken post in the neighbourhood of the town of Savannah, then the capital of Georgia, situated on the southern bank of the river bearing that name.

The country about the mouth of the river is one tract of deep marsh, intersected by creeks and cuts of water, impassable for troops at any time of

the

the tide, except over causeways extending through the sunk ground.

Without much opposition Lieutenant-colonel Campbell effected a landing at Gerido's plantation, about three miles below the town of Savannah; upon which Howe drew up his army half a mile east of the town, across the main road, so as in some degree to flank it. His left was secured by the river; in addition to which it was strengthened by the fort of Savannah-bluff, behind this wing, in manner of a second flank. Along the whole extent of his front was a morass which stretched to his right, and was believed by him to be impassable for such a distance as effectually to secure that wing. A bridge, over which the road through this morass led, had been taken up, and a trench had also been cut across the causeway, for the purpose of further embarrassing the advance of the enemy. The town of Savannah, round which were the remains of an old line of entrenchment, covered his rear. One piece of artillery was placed on his right, one on his left, and two occupied the traverse across the great road in the centre of his line.

In this position he expected the enemy; and such were the advantages of his situation, that, notwithstanding his inferiority of numbers, he might, without being over-sanguine, count on being able to maintain his ground.

After

After reconnoitring the country, Colonel Campbell advanced on the great road leading to Savannah, and about three in the afternoon appeared in sight of the American army. While making dispositions to dislodge it, he accidentally fell in with a negro who informed him of a private path leading through the swamp round the right of the American lines, into their rear. Of this route, which seems to have been entirely unknown to General Howe, he immediately determined to avail himself. The situation of the ground was favourable to the execution of this determination. enabled him to conceal in part the movements of his troops, and to detach to his left a column under Sir James Baird, entirely unperceived by Howe.

It

As soon as Sir James cleared the swamp, he attacked and dispersed a body of Georgia militia, which gave the first notice to the American general of the danger that threatened his rear. At the same instant the British troops in his front were put in motion, and the artillery began to play upon him. A retreat, which had now become extremely difficult, was immediately ordered. The continental troops were under the necessity of running across a plain, in front of the corps which had been led into their rear by Sir James Baird, who attacked their flanks with great impetuosity and considerable execution. Those who escaped retreated

up

up the Savannah, and crossing that river at Zubly's ferry, took refuge in South Carolina.*

This victory was complete, and decisive in its consequences. About one hundred of the Americans were either killed in the field, or drowned in attempting to escape through a deep swamp in their way. Thirty-eight officers and four hundred and fifteen privates were taken. Forty-eight pieces of cannon, twenty-three mortars, the fort, with all its military stores, a large quantity of provisions collected for the use of the southern army, and the capital of Georgia, fell, on the day of the action, into the hands of the enemy. These advantages were obtained at no other expence than the loss of seven killed and nineteen wounded.

No military force now remaining in Georgia except the garrison of Sunbury, whose retreat to South Carolina was entirely cut off, all the lower part of that state fell into the hands of the enemy, who adopted measures to preserve the conquest they had made. A degree of lenity seldom experienced in the course of the war by the vanquished, was used towards the inhabitants generally. Their property was spared, and their persons protected. To make the best use of the victory which had been obtained, and of the favourable impression

* At a late period of the war a court of inquiry was ordered on General Howe, who acquitted him of all blame.

VOL. IV.

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produced