Camden

Camden in 1780 had become an important base of operations for the British. In late July a Continental Army under Major General Horatio Gates marched from the North and was threatening the British supplies in Camden. On 14th August, Cornwallis …

1780-08-16

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Camden in 1780 had become an important base of operations for the British. In late July a Continental Army under Major General Horatio Gates marched from the North and was threatening the British supplies in Camden. On 14th August, Cornwallis joined his troops determined to attack Gates. Cornwallis formed his army in two brigades; Colonel Webster on the right and Lord Rawdon on the left. The Highlanders provided a reserve. Gates drew up his army and ordered his left wing of militia to attack. These ill trained soldiers retreated off the field. Webster’s regiments then moved to turn the Continental flank. The remaining Continental soldiers fought bravely, but failed to resist the British assault. When Tarleton’s cavalry attacked the Continental right, the wing collapsed and the British cavalry pursued the retreating Continentals for some twenty miles. After the disastrous loss at Camden, Gates was removed from command and replaced by Nathanael Greene.

Camden, South Carolina

The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. On August 16, 1780, British forces under Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis routed the numerically superior U.S. forces led by Major General Horatio Gates about four miles north of Camden, South Carolina, thus strengthening the British hold on the Carolinas following the capture of Charleston.

Wikipedia: Battle of Camden

Continental Army

Great Britain