The British had already gained some success in the South in the Southern Campaign

With fewer regular troops at their disposal, the British commanders saw the "Southern Campaign" as a more viable plan, as they perceived the south as strongly Loyalist with a large population of recent immigrants and large numbers of slaves who might be tempted to run away from their masters to join the British and gain their freedom.

Beginning in late December 1778, a British command under Archibald Campbell captured Savannah and controlled the Georgia coastline. Reinforced by Gen. Augustine Prevost, Campbell then marched on and captured Augusta. Despite a Patriot victory at Kettle Creek and the abandonment of Augusta, Campbell, defeated a Patriot force at Brier Creek in March 1779. That fall an American attempt to recapture Savannah was thwarted. By the end of the year, the British stood poised to expand their operation into South Carolina. In 1780, they launched a fresh invasion and took Charleston, as well. A significant victory at the Battle of Camden meant that royal forces soon controlled most of Georgia and South Carolina.

Despite gaining some victory on their side, the British fell back not long after. The British set up a network of forts inland, hoping that the Loyalists would rally to the flag. Not enough Loyalists turned out, however, and the British had to fight their way north into North Carolina and Virginia with a severely weakened army. Behind them, much of the territory that they had already captured dissolved into a chaotic guerrilla war, fought predominantly between bands of Loyalists and American militia, and which negated many of the gains that the British had previously made. That marked the end of the victories of the British in the Southern Campaign.