Siege of Charleston

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Template:Campaignbox American Revolutionary War: Southern

The Siege of Charleston is one the major battles which took place towards the end of the American Revolutionary War in which the British began to shift their focus towards southern colonies. From 1777 to 1778, the British had a considerable amount of success, namely in the state of Georgia with the Siege of Savannah. The amount of battles won in the south by the British in 1779 immensely increased in the following year, when they victoriously swept up through South and North Carolina.

After failing to achieve any advantage in the north in 1779, the government instructed Sir Henry Clinton to head a combined military and naval expedition southward. He evacuated Newport, R.I. (October 25), left New York in command of the German general Wilhelm von Knyphausen and in December sailed with 8500 men to join Prevost at Savannah. Charles Cornwallis accompanied him, and later Lord Rawdon joined him with an additional force. Marching upon Charleston, Clinton cut off the city from relief, and after a brief siege, compelled the American general Benjamin Lincoln to surrender on May 12. The loss of this place and of the 3000 troops was a serious blow to the American cause. The apparent submission of South Carolina followed. In June, Clinton returned to New York, leaving Cornwallis in command, with instructions to also reduce North Carolina.

Meanwhile an active and bitter partisan warfare begun. The British advance had been marked by more than the usual destruction of war; the Loyalists rose to arms; the whig population scattered and without much organization formed groups of riflemen and mounted troopers to harass the enemy. Little mercy was shown on either side. The dashing rider, Colonel Banastre Tarleton, cut to pieces (April 14, 1780) a detachment of Lincoln's cavalry, and followed it up by practically destroying Buford's Virginia regiment near the North Carolina border {at the Waxhaw Massacre}. On the other hand, daring and skillful leaders such as Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter kept the spirit of resistance alive by their sudden attacks and surprises of British outposts. Hanging Rock, Ninety-Six, Rocky Mount and other affairs brought their prowess and devotion into notice. By the month of August 1780, with the main British force encamped near the North Carolina line, the field seemed clear for the next advance.

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