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Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month December 1778
By Compatriot Andrew "Andy" Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
December began quietly enough along the Seaboard; cold weather in the north and confined troops of both sides at the task of surviving a cold winter. Legislatures were not so affected and on the 9th of December, the Colony of Virginia annexed all the territory recently captured by George Rogers Clark, calling it Illinois County. It would remain as a Virginia county until 1792 when it became a state.
When Virginia's charter was issued, northern and southern boundaries with other colonies were fixed by royal charters to Pennsylvania, Delaware and North Carolina. Virginia’s charter differed from its neighbors by being open ended as to its western boundary. This statement from the royal charter "granted the colony of Virginia, all the land between its northern and southern boundaries from sea to sea." In Hawke's words, "The Virginia Colony was the most active of all the Crown Colonies in its exploration and claiming of the Western lands beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains."
The West Indies in 1778 was considered economically to be the most valuable area in the world and it would appear that St. Lucia was a pearl that had changed hands many times. The two fleets which had sailed from New York and Boston followed parallel tracks toward St. Lucia. One day apart they never sighted each other. It was fortunate for the British as the full fleet of warships under d'Estaing would have sunk or captured the smaller British fleet composed mainly of transports. As fate would have it, d'Estaing arrived off St. Lucia still one day behind the British fleet commanded by Commodore Holtham. d’Estaing found Holtham safely in port and supported by shore batteries, making it difficult to attack. D’Estaing made two unsuccessful attempts against St. Lucia then put his marines ashore but they were unsuccessful against the reinforced and larger British ground forces
D'Estaing would appear once more in North America to attack the British in Savannah. Despite his poor showing in North America, D'Estaing had a flourishing naval career. During the French Revolution he was named commandant of the national guard. He defended Marie Antoinette and paid for it with a visit to Madame Guillotine.
December 10th, the Continental Congress chose a member, New York attorney John Jay, to become its president.
December 14th, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as a diplomatic representative in France, a position in which he excelled beyond all expectations.
While there was no combat of substance in the East, it was not true on the western frontier and mountains beyond. Warfare there was less formal and on an immensely smaller scale; but it made up for its smaller scale by the ferocity and viciousness of British directed attacks on towns, farms and any other form of American inhabitants of the area. In the East warfare was basically against armed antagonists. In the west no one man, woman or child was spared torture and death.
The French had used the fort and settlement of Detroit as their primary base from which they dealt and supplied Indians with the necessities of war. Great Britain, after their victory in the French and Indian War, assumed the same relationship. Britain believed that control of Detroit was the key to control of the entire region beyond the mountains. The same opinion was held by the Continental Congress and military leaders but all of their efforts were required on the seaboard.
Parliament, with the problems now associated with a worldwide war and with the backing of many common people, was opposed to continuing the American Campaign. The King's ministers needed a success in regaining control of at least some of the American Colonies. They took the advice of exiles who exaggerated the number of Loyalists in the southern colonies who were ready to fight for the King. The King's ministers, looking for a quick success, began the campaign to subdue the Southern Colonies by the capture of Savannah, Georgia, from American General Robert Howe. London calculated that a small showing of British might in Georgia would rally support from Loyalists who were supposed to be predominant in the population. The ministers planned to obtain a cheap and quick victory by arming the Loyalists, who under British officers, would defeat the Rebels.
On December 23rd, Lt. Colonel Archibald Campbell, with his 3,000 men, arrived at Tybee Island at the mouth of the Savannah River, 15 miles below the city of Savannah where he was joined by 500 Tories. The American army, consisting of 700 Continentals and 150 militia under General Robert Howe, marched 30 miles to defend Savannah, Campbell's obvious objective. The Americans believed that they had closed off the only way to Savannah. Unfortunately, British and Tory units were guided by an aged Negro on a little on a little known path through the swamps and behind the American lines. Attacked front and rear the American force was routed with 83 killed in battle or drowned in the swamps, 453 were taken prisoner along with the army's entire stores of cannon, powder and supplies. The 165 men who survived the battle and retreated through the swamps, were marched to join the Continentals in South Carolina. Savannah fell to British forces on December 29.
Loss of Savannah caused the state government to move to Augusta, Georgia, slightly north and west and approximately 120 miles as the crow flies from Savannah. The town was available from the sea as it was "at the head of navigation on the Savannah River" at a location along the common border with South Carolina.
December was a good month for the King's ministers who wanted to impress Parliament with success in fighting the revolutionaries. With the help of Indians and Loyalists, Britain had reclaimed Vincennes and captured Savannah, which in essence meant that they were now in control of most of the Georgia Colony, using a minimum of British forces.
References: Arthur Meier Schlesinger's "Almanac of American History"; Encyclopedia Britannica; "The Revolutionary Years; "Don Higginbotham's "War of American Independence"; Christopher Ward's "War of the Revolution";David F. Hawke's "Those Shining Mountains".
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