d. British casualties was approximately 7 killed and 17 wounded.
- Outcome - The result of the battle was a British victory. The battle was part of the Southern Theater 1775-82.
In the fall of 1778, Colonel McIntosh, who had been left in command of the town after the repulse of the British in March 1776, notified Howe, commander of the American forces in this section, with headquarters at Charleston, that an advance of the British upon Savannah was anticipated, and that his small force, 250 men, with 100 for duty, was inadequate to defend the place. Howe came over and took command. He had about 500 regulars and 350 militia.
Howe learned that the British had planned for Colonel Prevost to advance from East Florida and arrive near Savannah in time to cooperate with the naval fleet, under Sir Hyde Parker and the troops under Campbell, to be sent from New York. Prevost advanced as far as Sunbury. The Americans made a show of being in strong force and Prevost retreated.
Howe returned to Savannah and ordered all of the troops to assemble there. The town was in an almost defenseless condition, excepting from the water side. The fort on the eastern end of the bluff, where the gas house now stands, had been considerably enlarged, more guns mounted, and made quite formidable. It was named Fort Wayne, in honor of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne.
By December 27, the whole of the British fleet had anchored off Tybee. The vessels composing the armed squadron were the Phoenix, 44 guns; the Rose and Fowey, 24 guns each; the Vigilant, 28 guns; and the brig Keppel, the sloop Greenwich and the galley Comet. The transports brought about 3,500 men. Howe had about 900 men to oppose their force. The British were not at first aware of the weakness of the Americans and were disposed to wait the arrival of Prevost's command before commencing the assault upon the town.
To gain information, Campbell sent a boat's crew ashore to capture some of the inhabitants. The crew landed on Wilmington Island and took two men prisoner, who informed them of the exact condition of the Americans. Believing the information received to be correct, Campbell decided to attack without delay.
On December 28, the squadron sailed up within two miles of Savannah, opposite to Girardeau's Plantation, and preparations were made to land early the next morning. Howe was not correctly informed concerning the strength of the enemy, and believing he could cope with them, determined to defend the town.
Observing this movement of the enemy, he rightly concluded that the troops would land below Brewton Hill 4 and advance upon the town by the great road, now known as the Thunderbolt Road, and Captain John C. Smith, with his company of South Carolinians, was sent to the hill to watch the enemy.
The marsh on the east side of Savannah was then much wider and more difficult to cross than now. On the high ground west of the marsh General Howe placed his command so as to cover the great road, which crossed the marsh by a narrow causeway, and burned the bridge over the rivulet which ran through the center of the marsh.
To present still further obstructions, a deep ditch was dug three hundred yards west of the marsh and filled with water. The army was divided into two brigades; the first, commanded by Colonel Elbert, constituted the left, and the other, under Colonel Huger, the right wing. Five pieces of cannon were posted in front of the causeway.
To the right of the position of the Americans, a small path led through the swamp to the high grounds on the opposite side. This path was pointed out to Howe by Colonel Walton as a place which should be guarded, but Howe, thinking differently, paid no attention to the suggestion. About what is now the corner of Liberty and Bull streets were the New barracks. The roads to White Bluff and the Ogeechee River united near the barracks, and Colonel Walton, with 100 militia, was posted there.
On December 29, Campbell selected Girardeau's Plantation, located about 2 miles below the city, for the landing place. When word reached Howe that the landing had st