Georgia was not all in favor of the revolution. In fact, much of the state was Loyalist. Georgia did not even send a delegate to the First Continental Congress. The Battle of the Rice Boats was the first major battle in Savannah in 1776. British naval ships ransacked the rice boats docked there, and set some on fire. In 1779, the British took Savannah, and the battle was called the Siege of Savannah. It was a smart decision. The British were struggling in the North, where forces were stronger. They began by invading the lower counties of Georgia. Then, they took control of Augusta. They established a wobbly government, took slaves, and held their ground for a short time. At last, in 1781, a battle in Augusta was fought and the British had to surrender. From there, Georgians began to demand independence, and then the British finally evacuated the state for good. The state even pushed the Native Americans outwards to ensure more land, so even though the state itself was poor, it was the largest of the thirteen colonies.