1780

Barres, Joseph Frederick Wallet des, 1722-1824

Map

Title: A Sketch of the battle near Camden in South Carolina, August 16, 1780

Nebenzahl, Battle Plans of the American Revolution, 89, who notes that the order of battle is correct while the terrain appears to be inaccurate.

GLC03103.14

September 24, 1780

Varick, Richard, 1753-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dirck Romeyn

Varick says his he spent all of the previous night on "public letters" which now occupy all his time, and must be brief. He says Luzerne stopped with them on his way to meet Rochambeau, Ternay, and Lafayette. This would be the Frenchmen's first meeting with George Washington, who is not mentioned in the letter. Relates the events of the Battle of Camden, as told to him by Luzerne. Says the Maryland troops fought bravely, and if General Horatio Gates had not fled the Americans might have won. Says General William Smallwood served bravely but eventually had to withdraw. Despite the loss,…

GLC03265

6 September 1780

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Hamilton, aide-de-camp to Washington, expresses his disgust with General Horatio Gates' disastrous defeat and consequent flight from the Battle of Camden, South Carolina on 16 August 1780. Gates retired in disgrace after Camden, but was cleared two years later by a Congressional inquiry.

GLC06671

23 October 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Written by Brigadier General Knox, the Continental Army's chief of artillery, to Major General Smallwood of Maryland. Letter sent through General Nathanael Greene. Asks how he is sustaining the fatigues and hardships of war in a southern climate. Says it must be "agreeable in some degree, as it has produced you such a harvest of Glory." Mentions gallantry of the Maryland Line at the Battle of Camden. Asks to "prospect my love" to General Nathaniel Gist and other friends. Smallwood's brigade was actually swept to the rear by a flood of fugitives at Camden, but he still earned the "thanks of…

GLC06504

13 November 1780

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Written by Major General Gates to Major General Smallwood. This was written after Gates's defeat at the Battle of Camden and after Congress voted to call a court of inquiry into Gates's conduct at the battle in October 1780. Smallwood commanded the troops of the Maryland Line and was also at Camden. Seems to have written the letter over several days. Says he arrived in Salisbury after an agreeable march from Hillsborough. Encloses a letter from Governor Thomas Jefferson and a list of units under the command of General Alexander Leslie (not included). Fears that General Henry Clinton will…

GLC06505

circa 1804-1854

Thatcher, Lucy Flucker Knox, 1776-1854

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Charles Davies

Letter is possibly a copy. Relays an anecdote she heard about her father, titled "Anecdote of [George] Washington." "Washington always kept this useful & scientific officer near his own person; he not only honored him with confidence, but with brotherly affection. After the defeat of Gales' army at Camden, General [Nathaniel] Green was offered the arduous command of the Southern department. The Lucker General, with his usual modesty replied, '[Henry] Knox is the man for that difficult undertaking; all obstacles vanish before him; his resources are infinite.' 'True replied Washington…

GLC02437.09898

circa 15 November 1780

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Manuscript document

Title: State of the Troops under the Orders of the Rt. Honorable Lieut General Earl Cornwallis at the undermentioned Periods

Statistical return of troop strengths for 1 June 1780, 1 August 1780, 1 September 1780, and 15 November 1780. Breaks down totals for troops in South Carolina, Georgia, and East Florida. Also provides numbers for each rank in those three states. The 15 November 1780 totals are for Major General Alexander Leslie's Corps. During the time covered in this report, Cornwallis won the Camden Campaign and lost the Battle of King's Mountain, both in South Carolina.

GLC05220

August 27, 1780

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison re: proposes correspondence, military news

In the letter, Edmund Pendleton proposes to Madison that they should exchange correspondence while Madison serves in Congress. "The rites of [political] friendship." He passes along news of military actions in the South. It mentions General Gates' letter to Congress and the "unhappy affair to the southward." The letter includes other political matters.

GLC00099.046

July 9, 1780

De Kalb, Johann, 1721-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Letter signed as "Baron de Kalb." Writes to Major General Caswell about the Camden campaign. Discusses trouble procuring provisions. Judges that it would not be prudent to travel "not even to Cole's bridge with our whole Body of Troops, for we durst not expose parties of Collecting Provisions, when the Enemies are So near, So Superior in Cavalry & for what I know in Infry; if you would chuse not to go as far as Cole's Bridge but halt Where you now are...We might with propriety reassure our plan for Coxe's." Notes that he will send back some artillery to lighten their traveling load. Also…

GLC01766

1857

Chapel, Alonzo, 1828-1887

Engraving

Title: Battle of Camden--Death of De Kalb

One engraving entitled "Battle of Camden-Death of De Kalb" dated 1857. Depicts the death of Revolutionary War hero Johann DeKalb during the Battle of Camden, August 16, 1780. DeKalb was mortally wounded after his horse was shot from under him. Engraved after the original painting by Alonzo Chappel. Painting was in possession of publisher at time of engraving. Engraver unknown.

GLC08878.0071

3 May 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Clothing, trimming his hair, shell-collecting, "I hope that McClellan will bag the whole nest of rebels at Yorktown...." Describes how he drills with equipment and mentions a Burnside order "directing us to inscribe on our colors the words Camden April 19th 1862." [See letter #20] Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.022

17 May 1862

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Mail call and man's epileptic seizure, rumor of Richmond's capture, news accounts of battle at Camden.

GLC04558.024

9 October 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Extends wishes for their mother's recovery, comments on his wife's improving health from sea bathing, and provides other family news. Reports hearing that Lord North received a message about Lord Cornwallis being attacked by General Horatio Gates. Explains news that Cornwallis repelled the attack, killed many, took 1,000 prisoners, and captured American artillery equipment. Suggests that "Gates thinking to circumvent him as he had done to Genl Burgoign [Burgoyne] had detached 1500 to attack him in the rear, they were received by Col Tarleton...who totally defeated them." The battle…

GLC02549.14