Battle of the Rice Boats

Battle of the Rice Boats
Part of the American Revolutionary War
A 1796 map showing the Savannah area, Hutchinson Island is in the Savannah River near the town.
Date March 2–3, 1776 Location near Savannah, Province of Georgia, Savannah River 32°4′52″N 81°5′9″W / 32.08111°N 81.08583°W / 32.08111; -81.08583 Result See aftermath
Belligerents
Georgia South Carolina	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Lachlan McIntosh	Andrew Barclay James Grant
Strength
Land: 800 militia 3 artillery pieces 1 shore battery Sea: 1 fire ship unknown supply ships	Land: 250–300 infantry Sea: 4 men-of-war 2 transports[1]
Casualties and losses
1 wounded 1 fire ship sunk 3 supply ships captured	Unknown ~2 men-of-war damaged 3 supply ships sunk

The Battle of the Rice Boats, also called the Battle of Yamacraw Bluff, was a land and naval battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place in and around the Savannah River on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina on March 2 and 3, 1776. The battle pitted the Patriot militia from Georgia and South Carolina against a small fleet of the Royal Navy.

In December 1775, the British Army was besieged in Boston. In need of provisions, a Royal Navy fleet was sent to Georgia to purchase rice and other supplies. The arrival of this fleet prompted the colonial rebels who controlled the Georgia government to arrest the British Royal Governor, James Wright, and to resist the British seizure and removal of supply ships anchored at Savannah. Some of the supply ships were burned to prevent their seizure, some were recaptured, but most were successfully taken by the British.

Governor Wright escaped from his confinement and safely reached one of the fleet's ships. His departure marked the end of British control over Georgia, although it was briefly restored when Savannah was retaken by the British in 1778. Wright again ruled from 1779 to 1782, when British troops were finally withdrawn during the closing days of the war.