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British troops occupy Savannah, Georgia

The Capture of Savannah (also known as the First Battle of Savannah and the Battle of Brewton Hill) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 29, 1778.

The Capture of Savannah (also known as the First Battle of Savannah and the Battle of Brewton Hill) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 29, 1778. It pitted an American garrison of Continental Army and militia units against a British invasion force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell. The capture 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 Colonies by appealing to the relatively strong Loyalist sentiment there.

General Sir Henry Clinton, the Commander-in-Chief, North America, dispatched Campbell and a 3,100-strong force from New York City to capture Savannah, and begin the process of returning Georgia to British control.

Historical Significance

The Capture of Savannah (also known as the First Battle of Savannah and the Battle of Brewton Hill) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 29, 1778.

Events Before

  1. General George Washington's Revolutionary Army defeats British forces at the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey

    The Battle of Princeton was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, fought near Princeton, New Jersey on January 3, 1777, and ending in a small victory for the Colonials.

  2. US Continental Congress adopts the Stars & Stripes flag, designed by Francis Hopkinson, replacing the Grand Union flag

    The Betsy Ross flag is a 1792 design for the flag of the United States that first appeared in a painting of George Washington at Trenton by John Trumbull.

  3. American seamstress Betsy Ross (25) weds (for the 2nd time) mariner Joseph Ashburn

    American seamstress Betsy Ross (25) weds (for the 2nd time) mariner Joseph Ashburn

  4. Independent Vermont introduces a new constitution prohibiting slavery

    Independent Vermont introduces a new constitution prohibiting slavery

  5. King Louis XVI of France and his Foreign Minister clandestinely agree to supply the United States with munitions during

    King Louis XVI of France and his Foreign Minister clandestinely agree to supply the United States with munitions during the American Revolution

Events After

  1. Botanist Joseph Banks (36) weds Dorothea Hugessen

    Botanist Joseph Banks (36) weds Dorothea Hugessen

  2. US Defector General Benedict Arnold (38) weds Peggy Shippen (18) at Shippen's townhouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    US Defector General Benedict Arnold (38) weds Peggy Shippen (18) at Shippen's townhouse in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  3. Spain declares war on Great Britain in support of France and the USA, starting the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasts

    Spain declares war on Great Britain in support of France and the USA, starting the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasts 3 years, 7 months, and 2 weeks

  4. John Adams is appointed to negotiate Revolutionary War peace terms with Great Britain

    John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801.

  5. Joséphine de Beauharnais, future Empress of the French, marries her first husband, Alexandre de Beauharnais, in Paris

    Joséphine Bonaparte was the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I and as such Empress of the French from 18 May 1804 until their marriage was annulled on 10 January 1810.

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Date of action in Victor Herbert and Grant Stewart's opera "Madeleine"

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 29, 1778?
The Capture of Savannah (also known as the First Battle of Savannah and the Battle of Brewton Hill) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 29, 1778. It pitted an American garrison of Continental Army and militia units against a British invasion force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell. The capture 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 Colonies by appealing to the relatively strong Loyalist sentiment there.
Why is British troops occupy Savannah, Georgia significant?
The Capture of Savannah (also known as the First Battle of Savannah and the Battle of Brewton Hill) was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on December 29, 1778.

Explore More

December 29 in HistoryYear 1778