february major encounter country georgia american revolutionary war fought miles present day washington georgia militia force patriots decisively defeated scattered loyalist militia force way british controlled victory demonstrated inability british forces hold interior state protect sizable numbers loyalist recruits outside immediate protection british decided abandon recovered prestige weeks later surprising patriot force georgia country come fully british control siege charleston broke patriot forces south background british began southern strategy sending expeditions new_york_city east florida capture port savannah georgia late new_york expedition command lieutenant colonel arrived landing december successfully captured savannah december british occupation british brigadier general arrived mid january assumed command garrison sent force campbell control raise loyalist forces leaving savannah january campbell men arrived near week later minimal harassment way defended south_carolina general leading militia georgia south_carolina withdrew men campbell approached rear guard briefly campbell men withdrawing south_carolina campbell started recruiting loyalists february men signed relatively actually formed militia companies forming companies british_army campbell began requiring loyalty pain property took oath quickly letting know true feelings early march campbell dispatched major recruit loyalists colonel expedition raise loyalists met success recruited men traveled south loyalists joined company numbered men central south_carolina column moved men plundered way drawing angered patriots arms american response continental_army commander south major general based charleston south_carolina unable respond adequately capture savannah limited resources short men funds able raise south_carolina militia authorization order outside state january reinforced charleston arrival north_carolina militia general immediately dispatched join south_carolina near georgia banks savannah area controlled loyalist force led colonel south_carolina banks controlled led colonel south_carolina militia colonel arrived joined forces conduct offensive operations georgia taking overall command point joined companies north_carolina light horse militia february crossed savannah river attack british_army camp southeast finding camp learned company extended patrol head frontier post called sent men directly main body chased british british fort forced abandon horses baggage outside walls besieged fort learned passing ninety district south_carolina seven loyalists headed georgia reluctantly raised siege moved intercept established strong presence near mouth expected try cross force grown men chose north tried ford southernmost met resistance known engagement encounter consisted detachment patriots commanded small swivel guns entrenched position thwarted approach moved north upstream miles crossed savannah river small patriot force movements georgia reported losing men killed wounded deserted encounter time learned crossed river crossed south_carolina attempt intercept immediately georgia learning whereabouts february caught rest troops near miles colonel loyalist camp battle apparently unaware followed closely camp guards posted particularly alert advanced leading center right flank colonel left colonel clarke gunfire patriot scouts camp guards alerted situation formed defensive line near camp rear advanced force men oppose crude fencing fallen trees advance gave advantage high ground able flank position wings slowed conditions near creek heavy fighting went mortal wound small company retreated main loyalist line patriot flanks began emerge swamps loyalists led second command major engaged patriots battle minutes loyalists crossed creek abandoning horses equipment clarke noticed high ground creek heading led men having horse shot process loyalist line eventually broken men killed captured dispersed aftermath treatment prisoners took prisoners including wounded loyalists killed suffered killed wounded missing battle men including escaped battlefield returned home significant number captured surrendered patriot authorities days following battle fate men unknown lieutenant colonel campbell reported recruits eventually joined organized approached mortally wounded battle loyalist leader lived south_carolina war known asked patriot leader deliver wife inform fate eventually loyalist prisoners survived wounds took ninety held large number loyalists seeking example south_carolina authorities number loyalists trial treason convicted men including men captured hanged british military leaders outraged treatment considered prisoners war trial held threatened retaliation patriot prisoners holding act fear american held british prisoners invasion coastal south_carolina april counter thrust movements general lincoln recover georgia prompted south_carolina officials vacate convictions british reaction council held february campbell decided abandon began withdrawal savannah february morning battle contrary opinions expressed historians campbell leave battle outcome learn battle left departure prompted arrival patriot general forces general camp shortage provisions uncertainty successful mission success extent subsequent british victory march battle creek took place campbell retreat present day county recaptured british june patriot forces collapsed aftermath siege patriot forces june legacy creek battlefield listed national_register_of_historic_places battlefield owned extent locations action took place identified located
Battle of Kettle Creek