Battle+of+Camden



A few years after the victory at the Battle of Saratoga the Continental Army began to reform in [|Charlotte, North Carolina] under the command of General Horatio Gates. Before knowing the power of his troops, Gates called for a march into South Carolina even though he had been informed that the area had large loyalist tendencies. Because of the location, Camden was recognized as a key to controlling North and South Carolina. Gates moved his army into [|Camden] on July 27. Before they could reach Camden, they were stopped by a British army of about 1,000 men under the command of Lord Rawdon. Gates was forced to create a camp at Rugeley's Mill, where the North Carolina and Virginia militias would join them. About half of Gates troops were unable to fight due to the extreme heat and diseases like dysentery. The troops were also fed green corn the night before which had been known to give men bowel problems. A couple weeks later, General Cornwallis marched with his army into Camden with reinforcements that would bring the strength of the British army up to about 2,000 troops. Cornwallis began advancing into Camden just after sunrise and so did the [|Continental Army]. The British began the battle with a volley of fire that did a significant amount of damage followed by a bayonet charge. Because the Continental Army did not have bayonets on their weapons, all of the troops ran away before the British could reach them and because of this the militia had a small amount of deaths and injuries. Gates fled along with the militia and ordered the right flank, under the command of [|Johann de Kalb], to attack the British. The British militia charged the Americans again but were pushed back by heavy fire. The North Carolina militia held their ground but were outnumbered by over 1,000 British troops. To break the line of Continental troops, General Cornwallis ordered that Banastre Tarleton's line charge the rear of the Americans front line. The Continentals fled and before Johann de Kalb could advance he had been shot 11 times. In just one hour, it was clear that the Americans had lost, suffering more than 2,000 deaths and injuries. media type="youtube" key="HUFTcrbRyEM" height="315" width="560"

**__Historical Figures of the Battle of Camden__** 1. __Major General Horatio Gates__ [|Horatio Gates] was born on July 26, 1727. His parents were Robert and Dorothea Gates. Dorothea was appointed to housekeeper for the third Duke of Bolton. This gave Horatio opportunities for education and social advancement. With the financial support of his parents and the political support of the Duke of Bolton, Horatio received a military commission in 1745. He first served with the 20th Foot in Germany and was later promoted to captain in the [|45th Foot]. A few years later, Gates sold his commission and bought a captaincy in the New York provincial troops. One of his leaders was [|Edward Cornwallis], the uncle of [|Charles Cornwallis], whom Gates would later fight in the American Revolution. He was given credit for the victories of some battles, even when he did not deserve it, and blamed for the loss of others. A few years after the Battle of Camden he retired and returned to his estate, Traveler's Rest. He became vice president of the Society of Cincinnati which was an organization of retired Continental Army officers. Later, Gates sold Traveler's Rest and about 15 years later he passed away on April 10, 1806. 2. __ Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis __ Cornwallis was the oldest of his siblings and was the son of Edward Cornwallis, one of Gates' former leaders. Charles was very well connected which allowed him to advance quickly in his military career. Having been educated at 2 colleges, Cornwallis received his first commission on December 8th, 1757 in the [|1st Foot Guards]. He travelled the continent with a Prussian officer and shortly after began studying at a military academy. Later, Cornwallis entered the [|House of Commons] in 1760 and 2 years later became the 2nd Earl Cornwallis, succeeding his father and this allowed him to be moved up to the [|House of Lords]. After living a life filled with great achievements, Charles died after being reappointed to India on October 5th, 1805.