Battle of Camden
Near Camden, South Carolina, USA
What happened
An American army under General Horatio Gates, with Baron Johann de Kalb, fought a British army under Lord Cornwallis. Both armies marched through the night and ran into each other near Camden before dawn. The American militia on the left broke first, while the regular Continental soldiers on the right fought on until they too were forced back. The fighting lasted about an hour.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It strengthened Britain's hold on the Carolinas. In Europe it made some of America's allies doubt that the United States could win.
What came next
Congress removed Gates, and Washington sent Nathanael Greene to take over in the South. The Americans won at Kings Mountain that October and at Cowpens in January 1781.
Did you know?
De Kalb, who had come from Europe with Lafayette to join the American cause, is remembered in the names of many US towns and counties called DeKalb.
Timeline
- July 1777De Kalb arrives in America with Lafayette.
- 16 August 1780The British win at Camden.
- 7 October 1780Loyalist forces are defeated at Kings Mountain.
- 17 January 1781The Americans win at Cowpens.