<Li> Videau's Bridge </Li> <P> The Siege of Charleston was a major engagement fought between March 29 to May 12, 1780 during the American Revolutionary War . The British, following the collapse of their northern strategy and their withdrawal from Philadelphia, shifted their focus to the American Southern Colonies . </P> <P> After approximately six weeks of siege, Major General Benjamin Lincoln, commanding the Charleston garrison, surrendered his forces to the British, resulting in one of the worst American defeats of the war . </P> <P> By late 1779, two major British strategic efforts had failed . An army invading from Quebec under John Burgoyne had surrendered to the Americans under Horatio Gates at the Battles of Saratoga, compelling the Kingdom of France and Spain to declare war on Great Britain in support of the Americans . Meanwhile, a strategic effort led by Sir William Howe to capture the Revolutionary capital of Philadelphia had met with limited success . Having replaced his superior as Commander - in - Chief of the American Station, Sir Henry Clinton withdrew all his forces back to New York City to reinforce the city against a possible Franco - American attack . </P>

Who won the battle of charleston in the revolutionary war