The Battle of Charleston

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

In 1779, the British decided to concentrate their efforts on the southern colonies so that they could encourage loyalists and serve as a morale boost. In December 1779, Leiutenant General Henry Clinton of the British Army set sail for Charleston, South California, In February, he arrived there and after a month he was in Charleston. He crossed the Ashley River and cut off Charleston and Major General Benjamin Lincoln from reinforcements.

On April 2, siege weapons were brought and bigger armies joined the siege. Among the leaders of the other armies were General Cornwallis and Colonel Banastre Tarleton. On May 8, Clinton demanded surrender, and since Lincoln denied it, waiting for better terms, the bombardment started a day later. On May 12, Lincoln surrendered Charleston and 5000 Continental Soldiers to Clinton. It was the greatest loss of soldiers and equipment of the war and gave the British nearly complete control of the South.