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| Patriot Cdr: |
Horatio Gates |
British Cdr: |
Lord Cornwallis |
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  Click Here to view / download a sketch of the Battle of Camden by Capt. Charles Vallancey of the Volunteers of Ireland under Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon .Early in the dawn hours of 16 August 1780, Colonel Otho H. Williams, surveying the American line, noticed the British advancing up the road. He consulted Captain Singleton of the artillery and it was determined that the British could be no more than 200 yards off. Col. Williams gave the order for an artillery barrage and the British quickly unlimbered their guns and replied. The battle of Camden had begun in earnest. Patriot Brigadier General Edward Stevens, on the left, was ordered to move the Virginians forward and the inexperienced and seldom reliable militia responded with hesitation. Col. Otho Williams called for volunteers, led 80 or 90 troops to within 40 yards of the deploying British, and delivered a harassing fire from behind trees. Lord Cornwallis, positioned near the action and always alert, had noticed the Virginians' hesitation and ordered Lt. Col. James Webster to advance on the right. In what was one of the worst mismatches in military history, two of the best regiments to ever serve in the British Army, the 33rd Regiment and the 23rd Regiment, with the best trained light infantry in the world, came up against the most untrained and unreliable troops on the American left. Seeing the perfectly formed line sweep toward them with a mighty cheer then terrible silence, save the clanking of cold steel bayonet on musket barrel, the Virginians broke and ran. A few managed to get off a few shots and several of the British troops went down. However, the pell-mell panic quickly spread to the North Carolina militia near the road and soon the militia broke through the Maryland Continentals, stationed in reserve, and threw that normally-reliable troop into disarray. Seeing the wholesale panic of his entire left wing, Major General Horatio Gates mounted a swift horse and took to the road with his militia, leaving the battle to be decided by his more brave and capable officers. Incidentally, Major General Gates covered sixty miles in just a few short hours! Although the Congress later exonerated him for his misconduct and cowardice, Major General Gates never held a field command again. Major General Baron Johann DeKalb and Brigadier General Mordecai Gist, on the American right wing, and the Maryland Continentals were still in the field. One regiment of North Carolina militia did not take part in the flight and fell back into the fighting alongside the Delaware Continentals. Col. Otho Williams and Major General DeKalb tried to bring Brigadier General William Smallwood's reserve to the left of the 2nd Brigade to form an "L." However, Brigadier General Smallwood had fled the battle and the troop was without leadership. In the meantime, Lord Cornwallis had advanced strong troops into the gap and between the two brigades. At this point Lord Cornwallis sent Lt. Colonel James Webster and his veteran troops against the 1st Maryland troops. Much to the credit of these Patriots, they stood fast and went toe-to-toe with the best regiments in the world for quite some time. However, after several breaks and rallies, they were forced from the field and into the swamps. Most of the Maryland troops, because of the inability of Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton's horse to pursue in the terrain, escaped to fight another day. Only the 2nd Maryland Brigade, the Delaware Continentals, and Lt. Col. Henry "Hal" Dixon's North Carolina Militia continued the battle. At this point, it was some 600 men against 2,000. They had managed to check Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon's left and had even taken a few prisoners. It should be noted here that in another of those strange battlefield occurrences, the Patriot's most experienced Continentals were facing the British army's most inexperienced troops, the Royal NC Regiment (Provincials). Major General Baron Johann DeKalb personally led bayonet charge after bayonet charge for over an hour. His horse had been shot out from under him and he had suffered a saber cut to the head. In a final assault he killed a British soldier and then went down to bayonet wounds and bullet wounds. His troops closed around him and opposed yet another bayonet charge from the British. However, at this point, Lt. Colonel Tarleton returned with his horsemen from the pursuit of the fleeing militias and Lor Cornwallis threw his horse troops on the American rear. The remaining American troops stood for a few minutes and fought the onslaught from all sides but finally broke and ran. The battle of Camden was complete. About sixty (60) men rallied as a rear guard and managed to protect the retreating troops through the surrounding woods and swamps. It should be noted that in the manner of warfare in the 18th Century, Lord Cornwallis took Baron DeKalb back to Camden and had him seen after by his personal physician. Unfortunately, the Baron succumbed to his wounds. He is buried in Camden and a monument has been erected to his memory on the old battlefield. Casualties for the battle of Camden for the British were 331 out of all ranks for 2,239 engaged. This included two officers and 66 men killed, eighteen officers and 227 enlisted wounded, and eighteen missing. The American casualties have never been fully reckoned; however three officers died in battle and thirty were captured. Approximately 650-700 of Major General Gates's soldiers were either killed or taken prisoner out of 3,052 effectives engaged. The loss of arms and equipment was devastating to the American cause for months. Click Here for the Official Website of the Battle of Camden, SC. Link is current as of August 2017. |
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Major General Horatio Gates - Commanding Officer Continental Forces led by Major General Johann-Alexandre von Robaii, Baron DeKalb in the following units: MD 1st Brigade led by Brigadier General William Smallwood with 400 men in the following units: MD 1st Regiment led by Lt. Col. Peter Adams, with Major Levin Winder, Capt. George Anderson, and Capt. William Bruce MD 3rd Regiment led by Major Archibald Anderson, with Capt. Jacob Brice, Capt. John Smith, and Capt. Lilburn Williams MD 5th Regiment led by Col. William Richardson, with Capt. Perry Benson, Capt. Richard Bird, Capt. James Bruff, and Capt. Adam Hoops MD 7th Regiment led by Col. John Gunby, with Capt. Jonathan Morris MD 2nd Brigade led by Brigadier General Mordecai Gist with 500 men in the following units: MD 2nd Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Eager Howard, with Capt-Lt. John Hardman, Capt. Edward Duvall, and Capt. John Gassaway MD 4th Regiment led by Col. Josiah Carvel Hall, with Capt. Edward Oldham MD 6th Regiment led by Lt. Col. Benjamin Ford, with Capt-Lt. Nathan Williams and Capt. James Somervell The DE Regiment led by Lt. Col. Joseph Vaughan with 280 men
in the following six (6) known companies, led by: Armand's Legion of Horse & Foot led by Lt. Col. Charles
Tuffin Armand with the following units: Major Nelson's Regiment of VA State Cavalry led by Capt. Edmund
Read, with 62 men in the following three (3) known companies,
led by: SC Volunteer Mounted Infantry led by Maj. Thomas Pinckney with 70 men Continental Artillery led by Col. Charles Harrison with 100 men in the following units: 1st Continental Artillery Regiment of VA - Capt. William L. Pierce, with 2 guns 1st MD Continental Artillery Company led by Capt. Richard Dorsey, with Capt.-Lt. Ambrose Bohannon, with 2 guns 2nd MD & 3rd MD Continental Artillery led by Capt. Anthony Singleton, with Capt.-Lt. Lewis Booker and Capt.-Lt. Richard Waters, with 4 guns VA State Artillery Regiment led by Lt. Col. Elias Edmunds, with Capt. John Watlington VA State Detachment, Light Infantry led by Lt. Col. Charles
Porterfield, with six (6) known companies: NC Light Infantry (a temporary unit of NC Troops) led by Major
John Armstrong with 68 men and at least one (1) known company,
led by: NC State Militia led by Major General Richard Caswell, Col. Thomas Blount (Adjutant General), Col. John Sitgreaves (Staff), Col. Benjamin Williams (Staff), Col. John Pugh Williams (Staff), Lt. Col. William Polk (Aide-de-Camp), and Adjutant William Haily, with 1,800-2,400 men in the following units: Hillsborough District Brigade of Militia led by Brigadier General John Butler, with the following two (2) known regiments: 1st Orange County Regiment of Milita, led by Lt. Col. Thomas
Farmer, with fourteen (14) known companies, led by: 2nd Orange County Regiment of Militia, led by Col. John Collier,
Lt. Col. Drury Ledbetter, Major Bedford, Major James Dougan,
Major William McCauley, and Major Joseph Sharpe, with the following
twenty-four (24) known companies, led by: Caswell County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by Lt.
Col. Henry "Hal" Dixon, Lt. Col. Stephen Moore, Major
Micajah Lewis, Major John Nall, and Major Cader Parker, with
fifteen (15) known companies, led by: Salisbury District Brigade of Militia led by Brigadier General Griffith Rutherford (captured), Lt. Col. David Love, and Major Thomas Harris (Aide-de-Camp), with the following ten (10) known regiments: Anson County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Col. Hicks,
with three (3) known companies, led by: Burke County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by Lt. Col. William Wofford, with unknown number of men. Guilford County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by Col.
John Peasley and Major Thomas Owen, with seven (7) known companies,
led by: Lincoln County Regiment of Militia detachment of three (3)
known companies, led by: Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Col.
George Alexander, with the following fourteen (14) known companies,
led by: Richmond County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Rowan County Regiment of Militia, led by Col. Francis Locke,
with fifteen (15) known companies, led by: Surry County Regiment of Militia, led by Col. Martin Armstrong
and Lt. Col. Robert Lanier, with the following eight (8) known
companies, led by: Washington County Regiment of Militia (NC) detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Wilkes County Regiment of Militia, led by Lt. Col. Drury Ledbetter
(Montgomery County), with nine (9) known companies, led by: Edenton District Brigade of Militia, led by Brigadier General Isaac Gregory (badly wounded) and the following four (4) known regiments: Bertie County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Major
James Foy, with one (1) known company, led by: Currituck County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Col. Samuel Jarvis with unknown number of men. Gates County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Pasquotank County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Halifax District Brigade of Militia detachment, led by Col. Jeptha Eatherton, with seven (7) known regiments: Edgecombe County Regiment of Militia detachment of six (6)
known companies, led by: Franklin County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by Lt.
Col. William Brickell, with two (2) known companies, led by: Halifax County Regiment of Militia detachment of two (2) known
companies, led by: Martin County Regiment of Militia detachment of two (2) known
companies, led by: Nash County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Northampton County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by
Major Robert Peoples, with two (2) known companies, led by: Warren County Regiment of Militia detachment led by Major
Agrippa Nichols, with six (6) known companies, led by: New Bern District Brigade of Militia, led by Col. Benjamin Exum and Major John Nall, with five (5) known regiments: Craven County Regiment of Militia detachment of two (2) known
companies, led by: Dobbs County Regiment of Militia detachment, led by Lt. Col. Richard Caswell, Jr., with unknown number of men. Jones County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Pitt County Regiment of Militia detachment of two (2) known
companies, led by: Wayne County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Wilmington District Brigade of Militia detachment led by Col. Thomas Owen (Bladen County), with five (5) known regiments: Bladen County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Brunswick County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Cumberland County Regiment of Militia detachment of two (2)
known companies, led by: New Hanover County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Onslow County Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: VA Militia Brigade led by Brigadier General Edward Stevens and the following units: Louisa County Militia (VA) - Col. George Stubblefield, with Lt. Col. Joseph Spencer, Major William Moseley, and Capt. John Byers Pittsylvania County Militia (VA) - Capt. Thomas Roberts Culpeper County Militia (VA) - Capt. William Stanton Cumberland County Militia (VA) - Capt. Robert Anderson Fauquier County Militia (VA) - Capt. Elias Edmuncs Amelia County Militia (VA) - Lt. Col. Holt Richardson, with Major John Bias, Capt. William Craddock Caroline County Militia (VA) - Capt. James Johnson Hanover County Militia (VA) - Capt. John Price Bedford County Militia (VA) - Capt. Nathaniel Tate and Capt. Thomas Leftwich Chesterfield County Militia (VA) - Lt. Col. Ralph Faulkner, with Capt. Archibald Walthal and Capt. Booker Lunenburg County Militia (VA) - Capt. Walker Dinwiddie County Militia (VA) - Capt. George Pegram Mecklenburgh County Militia (VA) - Col. James Lucas Amherst County Militia (VA) - Capt. Azariah Martin Halifax County Militia (VA) - Col. Lawson, with Capt. Paul Wattington Charlotte County Militia (VA) - Col. Downman, with Major Henry Conway and Capt. Thomas Williams Pittsylvania County Militia (VA) - Capt. Isaac Clement, Capt. William Dix, and Capt. Peter Perkins Henry County Militia (VA) - Capt. Cunningham and Capt. George Waller Powhatan County Militia (VA) - Col. William May South Carolina Militia, led by "Unknown": Turkey Creek Regiment of Militia detachment of four (4) known
companies, led by: Kershaw Regiment of Militia detachment of four (4) known companies,
led by: Camden District Regiment of Militia detachment of three (3)
known companies, led by: Upper Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia detachment of
two (2) known companies, led by: Little River District Regiment of Militia detachment of two
(2) known companies, led by: 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: New Acquisition District Regiment of Militia detachment of
one (1) known company, led by: Fairfield Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Cheraws District Regiment of Militia detachment of one (1)
known company, led by: Orangeburgh District Regiment of Militia detachment of one
(1) known company, led by: Hill's Regiment of Light Dragoons detachment of one (1) known
company, led by: Col. Wade Hampton's Regiment detachment of one (1) known company
led by: Unknown Regiment - one (1) company led by: Total Patriot Forces - 4,100 |
Lt. General Charles, Lord Cornwallis - Commanding Officer British Regulars led by Lt. Col. James Webster with 1,000 men in the following units: 23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) led by Lt. Col.
Nesbit Balfour with 292 men, including the following officers: 33rd Regiment of Foot led by Major William Dancey with 238
men, including the following officers: 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders) led by Lt. Col.
Alexander McDonald with the following units: Light Infantry led by Capt. Charles Campbell with 148 men in the following units: 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders) led by Capt.
Charles Campbell and the following unit: 16th Regiment of Foot Light Infantry Company - Lt. John Skinner with 78 men NY Volunteers, 3rd Battalion, Light Infantry Company - Capt. "Unknown" Royal Regiment of Artillery with 19 men in the following units: 3rd Battalion, Number 1 Company - Lt. John MacLeod, with 4 guns 4th Battalion, Number 6 Company - Lt. William Marquois, with 2 guns Additionals, including artillery manned by the British Legion - 126 men with 6 guns Corps of Guides & Pioneers - Lt. Andrew Husband, with 28 men Provincials led by Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon, with 800 men in the following units: British Legion led by Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and the following
units: Volunteers of Ireland led by Col. Francis, Lord Rawdon with
303 men, including the following officers: Royal NC Regiment led by Lt. Col. John Hamilton with 267 men NC Volunteers Loyalist Militia led by Col. Samuel Bryan with
202 men, with the following officers: Total British/Loyalist Forces - 2,239 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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