Camden, Battle

of, August 16, 178. On his appointment to command in the South, Gates determined to seize Camden, S.C. He made an unwise choice of roads, so that his army was exhausted when it came to face the enemy. When within ten miles of Camden he delayed two days. Meanwhile Cornwall is had come up from Charleston to a ist Rawdon. Gates also made the fatal mistake of sending out 400 of his best troops on a foray. With 3,052 troops, only 1,400 of whom were regulars, he faced 2,000 British veterans. Both parties attempted a night march, but as the surprise failed they waited for daylight. The American left of raw militia was routed. The right composed of Maryland regulars held its ground bravely until it was attacked upon its exposed flank and forced to retire. This it did in good order. Of the Americans 1,000 were killed or wounded and 1,000 captured. The lo of the British was 324. It was a clear piece of bad generalship on the part of Gates, who fled precipitately to the North.