The Battle of Camden (August 16, 1780), also known as the Battle of Camden Court House, was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War. On August 16, 1780, British forces under Lieutenant General Charles, Lord Cornwallis routed the numerically superior U.S. forces led by Major General Horatio Gates about four miles north of Camden, South Carolina, thus strengthening the British hold on the Carolinas following the capture of Charleston.
The rout was a personally humiliating defeat for Gates, the U.S. general best known for commanding the American forces at the British defeat at Saratoga three years previously. His army had possessed a great numerical superiority over the British force, having twice the personnel, but his command of them was seen as disorganized and chaotic. Following the battle, he was regarded with disdain by his colleagues and he never held a field command again. His political connections, however, helped him avoid any military inquiries or courts martial into the debacle.
1780Aug, 16
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Camden: The British defeat the Americans near Camden, South Carolina.
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Events on 1780
- 16Jan
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cape St. Vincent. - 17Mar
Saint Patrick's Day
American Revolution: George Washington grants the Continental Army a holiday "as an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence". - 21Sep
Benedict Arnold
American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point. - 23Sep
Benedict Arnold
American Revolution: British Major John André is arrested as a spy by American soldiers exposing Benedict Arnold's change of sides. - 24Sep
West Point
Benedict Arnold flees to British Army lines when the arrest of British Major John André exposes Arnold's plot to surrender West Point.