Defend 1776 – Battle Line: The Siege of Charleston March 29 – May 12, 1780 – Charleston, South Carolina
The Siege of Charleston was one of the most devastating American defeats of the Revolutionary War. Beginning on March 29, 1780, British forces led by General Sir Henry Clinton encircled and bombarded the strategic southern port city. After weeks of resistance, outnumbered and cut off from reinforcements, the American defenders under General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered on May 12, resulting in the capture of over 5,000 Continental troops. Though a painful loss, the fall of Charleston sparked fierce southern resistance and fueled the rise of guerrilla fighters like Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter. From the ashes of defeat, a new fire was lit—proving that even in the darkest moments, the fight to defend 1776 would not be extinguished.
