Printed Page 181 Chapter Chronology
The Southern Strategy and the End of the War
Why did the British southern strategy ultimately fail?
When France joined the war, some British officials favored abandoning the war. As one troop commander shrewdly observed, "We are far from an anticipated peace, because the bitterness of the rebels is too widespread, and in regions where we are masters the rebellious spirit is still in them. The land is too large, and there are too many people. The more land we win, the weaker our army gets in the field." The commander of the British navy agreed, as did Lord North, the prime minister. But the king was determined to crush the rebellion, and he encouraged a new strategy for victory focusing on the southern colonies, thought to be more persuadably loyalist. It was a brilliant but desperate plan, and ultimately unsuccessful.