Battle of Van Creek

The skirmish at Van Creek in Georgia in March 1780 was a minor engagement during the period of British consolidation following their capture of Savannah. As British forces spread out from their coastal bases to establish control of the Georgia interior, they encountered sporadic resistance from Patriot militia.

The engagement at Van Creek resulted in a British victory but was representative of the continued Patriot resistance throughout Georgia's backcountry despite British occupation of the major towns. Small groups of determined Patriots maintained constant pressure on British outposts and patrols, making effective occupation of the entire state impossible even when the British controlled all the major settlements.

This pattern of backcountry resistance, which would intensify dramatically following the fall of Charleston and Camden, illustrated the fundamental British strategic problem: they could capture towns and win pitched battles, but could not pacify a hostile countryside with the forces available.