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- PLANING A VISIT
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- THE REDOUBT
- BATTLEFIELDS
- CAMDEN BATTLEFIELD
- HOBKIRK'S HILL BATTLEFIELD
- ARCHEOLOGICAL UPDATES
- FIFE & DRUM CORPS
- THE CAMDEN BURIALS
- STEWARDSHIP
WHAT'S HAPPENING
AUGUST 16th, 1780
The Battle of Camden battlefield is one of the most important Revolutionary War battlefields in the United States. It has been written off as a great patriot defeat, marred by the cowardice of the commanding General and an untested militia that broke and ran. When in fact it was just the opposite for the brave men of the Continental Army’s Maryland & Delaware Line who stood their ground, outnumbered roughly three to one.
On August 15th, 1780 at 2200 hours unbeknownst to either Gen. Cornwallis or Gen. Gates both armies started marching toward each other on the great wagon road. The armies would collide into each other at about 200 hours am on the morning of August 16th, roughly 8 miles from Camden.
OPPOSING FORCES
The Patriot army had a force of roughly 3,700 soldiers (900 Continentals and 2,800 Militia) vs British which as about 2,200 soldiers.
SIGNIFICANCE
The battle was the worst battlefield defeat of the war. But didn’t defeat the resolve of the Patriot army and it brought Gen. Greene into the fight.
PATRIOT STRATEGY
For Gates it is to gain an advantageous position near Camden. So he is moving his entire army which includes a wagon train over 3-miles long.
BRITISH STRATEGY
For Cornwallis it is to destroy Gates army by performing a surprise attack at dawn at Rugeley Mill. So he is moving fast without a wagon train.
VIEW STATION I: 1ST MARYLAND LINE
The 1st Maryland Regiment totaling about 450 men, formed their battle line quickly when they saw before them close to 2,500 panicked patriot militiamen running for their lives toward them. So the Marylanders open their line to let the militiamen run through. Then closed ranks and stood their ground against over 1,000 British soldiers.
VIEW STATION II: THE BRITISH LINE
On the west side of the Great Wagon road the British battle line was under the command of Lord Rowden. When the battle commenced, the 2nd Maryland Regiment which included the Delaware Line and totaling about 450 men slammed into the British battle line, capturing a cannon and possibly capturing Lord Rowden for a brief moment.
VIEW STATION III: GEN. DEKALB FALLS
With the collapse of the patriot battle line on the east side of the Great Wagon road, the 2nd Maryland Regiment under the command of Gen. DeKalb is flanked by the 71st Highlanders. And then the British cavalry slams into the back of the 2nd Maryland and Gen. Dekalb falls and he is shot 3-times and bayoneted 8-times.
VIEW STATION IV: THE RETREAT
With the fall of Gen. Dekalb the British are in full command of the battle. The 1st and 2nd Maryland Regiment have join forces and are embroiled in a fighting retreat toward the northwest to avoid the chaos on the Great Wagon road which is jammed with over 200 freight wagons and patriot militiamen running for their lives.
THE CAMDEN TWELVE
The Twelve Continental soldiers exhumed from the Camden battlefield in 2022 have been reinterred with full military honors in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery.
A Remembrance Garden honoring these first patriots has been constructed adjacent to the gravesite.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
The Battle of Camden battlefield is at 1606 Flat Rock Road, approximately 15 minutes north of the main campus. Groups provide their own transportation between the two. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water; there is no running water at the battlefield, and a porta-john is the only restroom.
