1. 6-3 Notes: The War Moves West And South

2. The War in the West Most Native Americans sided with the British and fought against Patriots They viewed the Patriots as more of a threat to their lands than the British were Native Americans (Joseph Brant) and British (Henry Hamilton) allies raided American settlements George Rogers Clark, a lieutenant colonel of the Virginia militia, captured the town of Vincennes in present-day Indiana, strengthening the American position in the west

3. The War at Sea Britain used its powerful navy to blockade (prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching) American ports Continental Congress ordered the construction of 13 warships to break blockade but few were actually built and 4 were even destroyed to prevent British capture American privateers, or privately owned merchant ships armed with weapons, were far more effective against the British navy John Paul Jones – Bonhomme Richard – daring American naval officer who famously forced the British warship Serapis to surrender

4. War in the South 1776 – Americans win Battle of Moore’s Creek, saving Charleston, SC from the British 1778 – British decide to concentrate their forces in the South, where they thought they had the strongest support amongst Loyalists Initially the plan worked – 1778 - British took Savannah, GA – 1780 - British take Charleston, SC

5. Guerrilla Warfare “Guerrilla” – Spanish for “little war” Aug. 1780 – General Horatio Gates loses to British General Charles Cornwallis at Camden, SC Though the British won, they had trouble maintaining control of the area due to American use of the tactic of “guerrilla warfare” “Guerrilla warfare” is a style of warfare in which small, mobile bands of soldiers attack or ambush isolated enemies before vanishing Francis Marion – “the Swamp Fox” successfully frustrated British troops from the swamps of eastern South Carolina

6. Patriot Victories Sept. 1780 – British attempt to invade central North Carolina – American sharpshooters force an army of 1,000 British + Loyalist forces to retreat, strengthening American support for the war Oct. 1780 – Nathanael Greene replaces Gates as commander of American forces in the south – Greene splits his army, wins victories against the British and aids Francis’ raids March 1781 – Greene defeated by Cornwallis at Guilford Courthouse, but Cornwallis suffers enough casualties to abandon campaign

7. British Retreat Cornwallis and army retreat to Virginia in April 1781 Carry out raids, nearly capturing Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia House of Burgesses in June of ‘81 Washington sends Lafayette and von Steuben south to fight Cornwallis, who has set up camp at Yorktown, Virginia just off the coast