71ST CONGRESS

71ST CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION

HOUSE DOCUMENT No. 12

THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN

SOUTH CAROLINA AUGUST 16, 1780

LIEUT. COL. H. L. LANDERS, F. A.

HISTORICAL SECTION, ARMY WAR COLLEGE

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1929

[A copy of this volume is in the U.S. Army Center of Military History library under the call number E 241.C17.L23]

HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 37

PRESENTED BY MR. STEVENSON

Resolved, That the historical statements concerning the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, of August 16,1780, prepared by Lieutenant Colonel H. L. Landers, of the Historical Section, Army War College, be printed, with illustrations, as a document.

Attest:

William Tyler Page,

Clerk

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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

WAR DEPARTMENT

Washington, April 29,1929.

DEAR MR. STEVENSON: In compliance with the request contained in your letter of April 20, 1929, I am pleased to inclose herewith the history of the Battle of Camden, S. C., August 16, 1780, prepared by Lieut. Col. H. L. Landers, of the Historical Section of the Army War College.

Sincerely yours,

JAMES W. GOOD,

Secretary of War.

Hon. W. F. STEVENSON,
House of Representatives.

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CONTENTS

PART I AN AMERICAN ARMY ORGANIZED TO RECOVER THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FROM BRITISH SUBJUGATION.
	Page
Review of military conditions in the United States in 1780	1
Maryland and Delaware troops sent South under General de Kalb to raise the siege of Charleston	4
General Gates given command of the Southern Army	8
Suffering of the Army from scarcity of food	12
The North Carolina Militia under General Caswell joins the Army August 7	16
The British Army encountered on Little Lynches Creek August 10	19
The Virginia Militia under General Stevens joins the Army August 14	19
General Gates's "After General Orders"	23
The Army marches to take up an offensive position on Sanders Creek	28

PART II BRITISH PLANS TO SUBJUGATE THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES BATTLE OF CAMDEN, S. C., AUGUST 16, 1780.
The British raise provincial corps and militia	31
Cornwallis hastens from Charleston to join the Army at Camden	35
The Battle of Camden, August 16, 1780	41
Conduct of General Gates during the battle	50
Reestablishment of the Army in the vicinity of Hillsboro	55
A tribute to General de Kalb	56
Resolutions passed by Congress	57

PART III

STRENGTH AND LOSSES OF THE TWO ARMIES.

British strength and losses

American losses

BIBLIOGRAPHY

63

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ILLUSTRATIONS [Not Included]

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