We stopped at the Revolutionary War Center in Camden South Carolina on a cold December day. The grounds were empty as a freakishly strong winter storm approached. Throughout the empty grounds, we heard the slight ting of a blacksmith working. Drawn to the sound we soon discovered an event that would draw us back months later.
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The Battle of Camden was a significant event during the American Revolutionary War that occurred on August 16, 1780, in South Carolina. The battle was a devastating defeat for the American Patriots during the British military offensive in the South. Major General Horatio Gates led an army of approximately 3700 soldiers and faced off against General Charles Lord Cornwallis’ army of a little over 2200. The battle resulted in a catastrophic loss for the Patriots, with over 900 soldiers killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. The defeat weakened the American military presence in the Southern colonies and delayed the final victory for the Continental Army.
What Led to the Battle of Camden
The summer of 1780 was a particularly brutal time in South Carolina, as the state was in the midst of a civil war between American Patriots and their British Loyalists cousins/neighbors/brothers/friends. To amplify that issue, during the Battle of Camden, the Patriots would face a new challenge: hardened veterans on the British lines. This would prove to be a key factor in the Americans’ defeat in Camden.
On the night of August 15th, General Gates ordered his forces to move south towards a more defensible position near Saunders Creek, away from Rugeleys Mill. To avoid the heat and humidity of the Carolina summer and to reposition his forces without British knowledge, Gates ordered his men to move out at 10 pm. Unbeknownst to Gates, Lord Cornwallis also moved his army forward to attack Gates at a time of his choosing and to deny Gates the opportunity to prepare his army. Cornwallis also set out at 10 pm.
At 2 am, these armies surprised each other along the wagon road in the longleaf pine forest just outside of Camden. After an exchange of a few volleys of gunfire, both armies broke contact to avoid fighting at night. The armies now settled in and prepared for battle. In a few short hours, dawn would come, and along with it, the deadliest battle in the Revolution. The Americans would suffer approximately 900 killed and 1000 injured, missing, or captured. The British counted 68 killed, with just over 250 injured.
Gates may attack me tomorrow morning.
LT Col Rawden to Lt Gen Cornwallis
If he does, I think he will find us in better spirits than he expects.
The Battle of Camden
In Gates’ haste to march, he had chosen a route through an area scarce in provisions. On the night of August 15th, before their march towards Saunders Creek, Gates had ordered rations of bread, meat, and molasses for his men. However, bad bread, undercooked meat, and molasses caused several Americans to go into battle sick to their stomachs.
General Gates deployed his troops following the European tradition of placing the best troops on the right. On his right flank was Major General Johann Baron de Kalb and his Continental soldiers from Maryland and Delaware, some of the best soldiers in the young American army. In the center were the more inexperienced militia from North Carolina, and on the left flank were the largely untested Virginia militia.
Picture it as bad as you possibly can and it will not be as bad as it really is.
BG Gen Stevens to Thomas Jefferson
Meanwhile, General Lord Cornwallis followed the same tradition and placed his most battle-hardened troops on the right leaving his strongest troops against Gates’ weakest. As these troops squared off against the inexperienced and untrained Virginia militia, they turned and ran from the field.
Cornwallis turned his attention to the North Carolina militia.
The militia forces’ flight left the Continentals holding the right flank and even pushing ahead. But without the Americans’ left flank, they were soon nearly surrounded. General de Kalb continually rallied his troops until he was mortally wounded, suffering three gunshots and several bayonet wounds. One Continental’s account after the battle said that de Kalb was the bravest man he had ever seen.
More than 300 Revolutionary War Battles happened in South Carolina. Those battles accounted for one-third of the total casualties.
After the Battle of Camden
Eventually, the Continentals were forced to retreat through a swamp to the west of the battlefield. Only 50% of the Maryland and Delaware Continentals would survive, but their bravery and tenacity earned the respect of many British officers. The Battle of Camden marked a significant setback for the Americans and led to a loss of confidence in General Horatio Gates, who was replaced as commander of Southern forces.
Legacy of the Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a pivotal moment in the American Revolution that had a lasting impact on the outcome of the war. It gave the British control of much of South Carolina allowing them to establish a base of operations from which they could launch further attacks and secure their hold on the region.
The setback created by the Battle of Camden for the Continental Army was a significant blow as they suffered significant casualties, lost supplies and equipment, and had their morale severely damaged.
37% of all Patriot Revolutionary War soldiers to fall during 1780 fell in less than one hour during the Battle of Camden.
Despite this setback, the Battle of Camden was also a turning point in the Southern campaign of the American Revolution. The defeat proved motivational causing the Americans to regroup and adopt new tactics, eventually leading to victories in battles such as Kings Mountain and Cowpens.
The Battle of Camden also had a significant influence on military strategy in the American Revolution. It showed that a strong defense and hit-and-run tactics could be effective against a larger and better-equipped enemy. Highlighting the importance of logistics and supply lines in sustaining an army in the field. These lessons would be applied in subsequent conflicts and would continue to shape military strategy in the years to come.
Camden Battle Archeological Dig & Reinterment
In 2020, archaeologists led by Dr. Steven Smith from the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology at USC began uncovering the remains of 14 Revolutionary War soldiers at the historic Camden Battlefield. This discovery has led to a research project aimed at learning more about the lives of these soldiers, excavating their remains, and reburying them with dignity and honor deserving of America’s first veterans.
Archaeologist James Legg, who has been studying the Camden battle site since 1980, explains that often people do not realize that historic battle sites are still cemeteries today as fallen soldiers were buried where they fell. Many remain there to this day.
Once the graves were identified and assessed, a team from SCIAA and forensic examiners from the Richland County Coroner’s office carefully removed the soldiers’ remains and transported them to a lab for further study. The team examined the skeletons with the hope of learning about each soldier’s age, height, and cause of death, as well as battlefield trauma.
The fallen soldiers were honored with a planned reinternment ceremony in April 2023. While the American Battlefield Trust and the South Carolina Battleground Trust had originally planned to reinter them where they fell 243 years ago, those plans were delayed. As any fallen US soldier whose remains are not returned to their family falls under the jurisdiction of the Army. The Secretary of the Army did not allow this type of burial. Instead, a compromise may be reached in establishing a National Cemetery either on or near the battlefield for these 14 men.
The April 2023 ceremonies included services to honor the men and discussions about the findings. You can watch much of this on the Fitting in Adventure YouTube channel.
The men were laid to rest in period-specific handmade coffins completed with those handmade nails the blacksmith was working on during that cold December day.
This discovery and subsequent research project shed light on the sacrifices made by soldiers during the Revolutionary War and the importance of preserving historic battlefields. By learning about these soldiers and giving them a proper burial, we can pay tribute to their bravery and dedication to the cause of American independence.
Visiting the Revolutionary War Center & Camden Battlefield
The battlefield site is located just a few miles north of the Revolutionary War Visitor’s Center. Visitors should visit the center first to get an overview of the battle, as well as, view artifacts found on the battlefield.
Over the years, the terrain of the battlefield has changed somewhat due to development and logging activities in the area. Despite this, efforts have been made to preserve the key features of the battlefield. Visitors can still see the location of the American and British lines, the site of the initial American attack, and the position where the British executed their flanking maneuvers. Walking along the trails that wind through the battlefield offers visitors a chance to get a sense of the terrain and the challenges faced by the soldiers who fought there.
While Camden marked the high water mark for the British during the Revolutionary War in the South, the Carolinas would never completely fall under British control.
Today, the artifacts and stories held in Camden and the Revolutionary War Center tell the story of South Carolina’s important role in the American Revolution.
At the writing of this article, admission is free to enter the battlefield and visitor’s center. Please check their site for the latest information.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:30 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 1 PM-5 PM
