With stalemate in the North the British decided to open up a southern front. They believed that many of the colonists there were loyal and that these new recruits would tip the balance of power in their favor. Savannah and later Charleston were captured as well as several key towns in Georgia and South Carolina. The British commander, Henry Clinton was having his way but he returned to New York in June of 1780 and left Charles Cornwallis in charge.
Colonial resistance in the South was not strong, mostly militia under Francis Marion, Thomas Sumter and William Davie and a few regiments of the Maryland and Delaware Line. They were led by Baron de Kalb and later by the hero of Saratoga, Horatio Gates.
Gates arrived in July 1780 to take command. Despite being short of food he immediately ordered his men to march to Camden through territory that was hostile to them and for the most part devoid of sustenance. He was reinforced by about 3,000 men north of town. The town itself was a trading hub in central South Carolina and it seemed that all roads in the state led to Camden. It was garrisoned by about 1,000 British soldiers under Lord Rawdon. He found out that Gates was coming and informed Cornwallis who set out for Camden.
On the night of August 15 both armies were conducting night marches towards the town. The two sides collided at about 2 AM but neither side wanted to fight a battle in the darkness and pulled back. Gates formed his men in the pre-dawn hours but his weakest troops were aligned against the best the British could throw at them. He outnumbered Cornwallis, about 3,000 to 2,200 but Cornwallis’ men were much better trained and disciplined.
Both sides were ordered to attack at the same time. The British advanced with bayonets against the militia who had no idea how to use theirs and the militia collapsed almost immediately. The better trained troops of the Maryland and Delaware Line stood their ground and nearly broke Rawdon’s but Cornwallis stopped his men from pursuing the fleeing militia and instead wheeled them around to attack the Colonials (One North Carolina militia unit did stand its ground next to the Delaware Line). The British were closing in on three sides so Cornwallis ordered Banastre Tarleton to close off the other and the Colonials broke.
DeKalb attempted to rally his men but was unhorsed and wounded 11 times. He would die two days later. Handfuls of Colonial troops managed to escape but most surrendered. Gates lost around 2,000 men, his baggage train and his artillery. The British lost about 330 men. Gates fled as fast as he could and did not stop until he reached North Carolina. He lost his job and was disgraced for the remainder of the war and Nathanael Green would be sent to take command of the Southern army.
Greene would fight another battle near Camden at Hobkirk’s Hill. There did not seem to be anything left of that battlefield other than a state historical sign. The Camden battlefield is preserved as the Battle of Camden National Historic Landmark.