The Southern Campaign of the American Revolution

In 1779 the British realized that the revolution in the American colonies was stalemated. After their shocking defeat at Saratoga, the British needed to regain momentum. Based on the assumption that there was greater loyalist support in the Carolinas, General Sir Henry Clinton launched the British Southern Campaign. After Clinton enjoyed a decisive victory with the seizure of Charleston in May 1780, Cornwallis assumed command of the Southern Department. Like Clinton, Cornwallis saw early success-a decisive victory at Camden-- and assumed their new strategy was working. However, after Camden and the relief of General Horatio Gates, a new American commander, Nathanael Greene, took charge of the American forces in the South. Through his superior mission analysis and planning abilities, Greene was able to turn the tide in the South. Greene recognized the realities of the operational environment and effectively integrated conventional and partisan forces, thereby leading an effective hybrid form of warfare.