Military journal, during the American Revolutionary War, from 1775 to 1783

16 August 1780

Battle of Camden

H. CUNTON.

September. — Intelligence of an unpleasant and distressing nature, has just reached us from South Carolina. Our southern army, under the command of Major General Gates, has been totally defeated, in a general action at Camden with Lord Cornwallis, on the 19th of August. General Gates, as is reported, retreated with precipitation to the distance of eighty miles, to escape the pursuit of the enemy. This mortifying disaster gives a severe shock to our army, as it must be productive of the most important and serious con- seauences as it respects the welfare of the Southern states. In his letter to the President of Congress, General Gates says, "In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind, I am obliged to acquaint your Escellency with the defeat of the troops under my command." The letter states that the contmental troops displayed their usual courage and bravery, but at the first onset of the enemy the whole body of mili- tia became panic struck, were completely routed, and- ran like a torrent, bearing all before them, and leaving the con- tinentals to oppose the whole force of the enemy. This victory was not obtained without loss on the part of the foe, they having upwards of five hundred men, with officers in proportion, killed and wonded. The whole number of con- tinental officers killed, wounded and missing, is forty-eight. Among the killed, is Baron de Kalb, a major general ; while leading on tbe Maryland and Delaware troops, he was pierced with eleven wounds, and soon after expired. He was a German by birth, a brave and meritorious officer, a knight of the order of military merit, and a brigadier general JH the armies of France- He had served three years, with

H. CUNTON.

win Camden, an

OATEB. 441

glad to discontinue the inreatigatioa. It wm thonght to be inexcusable in General Gates, that he neglected to commn- nicate to the Commander in Chief an accoant of so important an event as the capture of the British army at Saratt^, hut left biB Escellencj' to obtain information b; common report. Colonel Moigan, at the head of his brave rifle corps, during the campaign under Genera) Gates, rendered the most im- portant services in the several battles and skirmishes. Gene* ral Gates attempted to enlist him in his party against the Commander in Chief, bat received a prompt refusal, and as- surance that he would serve under no other commander than Washington. From this moment Gates manifested his resent- ment, and in his official communications to Congress he neg- lected to mention the name of the heroic Morgan, who was so justlj entitled to applause. In November, 1777, Con* gresB having new modelled the board of war, appointed Gene- ral Gates the president, and he entered on the duties of the office, but retained his rank in the army. The subject of this sketch was destined to experience in a remarkable man* ner, the humiliating vicissitudes of fortune. He had the condncting of the most prosperous, and the most disastroui of the military enterprize, in the war. In June, 1 780, Gene- ral Gates was by Congress vested with the chief command of our army in the southern states. In a general battle at Camden,* August 16th, being the first and only encounter which be bad with Lord Comwallis, he suA'ered a total de- feet, and was obliged to fly from the enemy for personal safe- ty, and thus was the prediction of General Lee, when Gates was vested with the command, that his northern laurels would be exchanged for sovtkem leilUnet, verified. It would, however, be great injustice, to attribute the misfortune alto- gether to the commander under bis pe^liar circumstances ; « large proportion of bis force consisted of raw militia, who were panic struck, and fled at the first fire, their rout wai- absolute and irretrievable. It may he observed neverthe- less, that his conduct in some respects on this occasion did not meet the approbation of those who must be admitted as competent judges of the military operations of that fatal dajr. Proudly calculating on the weight of his name, and too con-

OATEB. 441

General Gates, after his defeat at Camden, was diiplacad from his command by order of Congress, and his craiduct sub- jected to the inquiry of a special coort, which resttlted in bia acquittal, but bis Saratoga laurels had faded, and be was un- able to retrieve his suffering fame.