[4] The British began their "southern strategy" by sending expeditions from New York City and Saint Augustine, East Florida to capture Savannah, Georgia late in 1778.

The New York expedition, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, arrived first, and successfully captured the town on December 29, 1778.

[6] Leaving Savannah on January 24, Campbell and more than 1,000 men arrived near Augusta a week later, with only minimal harassment from Georgia Patriot militia on the way.

This rear guard skirmished with Campbell's men before withdrawing across the Savannah River into South Carolina.

[9] The arrival of more than 1,000 North Carolina Patriot militia under General John Ashe in Williamson's camp prompted Campbell to decide on February 12 to abandon Augusta.

One of the 71st Regiment's men had been assigned as a "safeguard" in a private residence, a position normally out of bounds to attack in European warfare.

[10] Campbell led the troops south until they reached Ebenezer, burning the bridge across Brier Creek on the way.

[12] General Ashe trailed after Campbell, and on February 26 camped near the confluence of Brier Creek and the Savannah River, about 15 miles (24 km) to the north.

The upper portion of the creek is surrounded by open pit kaolin mines as it passes through the Fall Line.

From there it enters the upper coastal plain and courses down past towns like Wrens and Waynesboro before joining the Savannah River in eastern Screven County near Sylvania.

[15] Ashe's adjutant, William Bryan recognized some of these problems, and after Ashe left camp on February 28 to attend a war council at Purrysburg, Bryan moved the camp about one mile (1.6 km) north, nearer the Savannah River and a small hill.

While participants later disagreed on whether or not patrols from Ashe's camp were aware of the British movement, he took no particular action to guard against the possibility.

The carnage on the American side was never fully tallied, as many militiamen retreated all the way back to North Carolina, and an unknown number drowned in the swamps.

General Ashe was seen riding after the militia companies, and was widely blamed for the disaster, often amid claims that he led the retreat.

Brier Creek thwarted American attempts to force the enemy out of the new state and guaranteed British dominance in the region.

[20] The battle occurred only a few weeks after a Patriot victory over a Loyalist militia at Kettle Creek, north of Augusta, reversing its effect on morale.