The British army, strong, landed near Brewton Hill at daybreak on Dec. It consisted of part of the 71st Highland Regt. Archibald Campbell. However, except immediately in front of Savannah, a broad belt of marshlands borders the lower reaches of the river on both sides. In , large bodies of men and their supporting trains could only cross those marshy strips along a few narrow causeways.
On the south bank, with the exception of the Augusta Road that approached Savannah from upriver and entered the city at its southwest corner, the main roads into Savannah—the Great Ogeechee Road, White Bluff Road, and the Thunderbolt and Sea Island Road—converged on the city across slightly lower terrain to the south that was occupied by the French and American armies. Numerous marshlands and rivers guarded the eastern approaches to the city, and the low boggy area west of Savannah was cut by a stream, Musgrove Creek, that emptied into the river just above the town.
Several strong points, including the Spring Hill redoubt across the Augusta Road, constituted the first line of the defenses.
This line was supported by additional works to its rear and screened in front by an abatis of downed trees. In front of these fortifications, the French and Americans constructed only a partial line of circumvallation on the southeastern approach to the city. On the right a swampy hollow brought him under cover to within fifty yards of our principal works, on some points still nearer. The remaining American formations under Brigadier General Isaac Huger and Brigadier General Andrew Williamson deployed to the British left to conduct feint attacks at the eastern end of the British fortifications.
If they encountered weakness, they were ordered to exploit it. A reserve advanced part way after the attacking force. The allies scheduled their assault to begin before sunrise, but, despite a covering fog, delays and confusion kept them from advancing on time. When they finally moved forward, they were exposed to the fire of the British defenders, and disorder reigned in the attacking ranks.
Despite repeated attempts and heavy losses, the allied failed to secure their objectives. The enemy Henry Clinton, the new commander-in-chief of the British forces based in New York City, dispatched Campbell and a 3,strong force from New York to capture Savannah and regain British control of Georgia. He was to be assisted by 2, troops under the command of General Augustine Prevost that marched 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. Howe ordered the city to be evacuated and the army to withdraw from combat.
The Patriots lost 83 men and another were captured, while the British lost only 3 men and another 10 were wounded. Savannah remained in British control until the Redcoats left of their own accord on July 11, French and American forces held Savannah under siege from September 23 to October 18, , but failed to reclaim the city. Many of the Volontaires themselves later went on to rebel against French control of Haiti.
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