Fishing Creek

Two ladies loyal to the King helped Tarleton put another jewel in his Crown while the “Gamecock” was saved by cattle, sheep and a low hanging branch.

On August 15, 1780, the day before Camden fell, Col. Sumter won at Cary’s Fort.  Guarding the Wateree crossing, Cary’s Fort was located on the west side of the Wateree River in the general area of where I-20 crosses it. After the battle “The Gamecock” Sumter had the task of transporting 100 prisoners, over 40 wagons loaded with supplies and 300 head of cattle (and sheep) north towards the State line.  Just on the other side of the river the Battle of Camden raged and was lost by Gates. 

Sumter was in a precarious situation and he posted a rear guard as they slowly made their way towards Charlotte, hoping to go undetected.  But Tarleton was sent by Lord Cornwallis to find his captured Loyalist men and supplies. Soon Tarleton and his Dragoons were able to observe Sumter’s camp fires from across the river.  They caught up with them on August 18, 1780 just north of the present-day Fishing Creek Dam off Hwy 21 in Chester County.  Sumter had managed to travel roughly 40 miles since his battle at the Wateree crossing.

Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton’s Dragoons were in no mood to play nice. They had been riding, marching and fighting for days without rest when they came upon Sumter’s force of over 800 men.  Now they rode two to a horse to bring enough men to the fight.  Aided by information from two Tory ladies, Tarleton was able to know Sumter’s location and disposition of the rebel forces. These ladies of the Crown also informed him of alternate avenues of approach to the Whig camp by way of some secondary roads. 

They found Sumter and he had let his guard down!  Sumter had stopped to rest in the rolling green hills along the banks of the Catawba river just above the Great Falls.  The Patriot force had stacked their arms around noon and were bathing, eating, shaving and foraging. Indeed, some of the militia had found the rum in the wagons and were too drunk to fight.  Two of Sumter’s men guarding the rear approach of the Patriot force were found and killed by saber, without drawing attention to the British Legion’s presence.

Tarleton, extremely outnumbered, boldly charged with his 100 mounted dragoons, augmented with but 60 foot soldiers. Whether by design, wisdom or chance he had played upon the psychology of the Patriot loss at Camden just two days before.

The cows and sheep grazed away as the human conflict flared.  Sumter was caught by surprise as he was observed sleeping when the battle commenced. Sumter quickly took in the situation and yelled, "Let every man take care of himself!” Leaving his coat and boots behind he jumped on an unsaddled wagon horse and rode out of camp in a flash. Riding furiously through the woods he was knocked from the horse by a low hanging limb and lay unconscious for some time after the battle.  

Col. Bratton and a small band of Partisans fought valiantly as the rest of the militia ran in all directions.  

Tarleton quickly inherited the shackles of baggage and livestock that Sumter had been relieved of. He could not pursue his foe for fear of losing that which he had just liberated. He turned his attention to his prisoners and spoils and turned south. 

In the confusion of the round up and trek back to Cornwallis, several Patriot prisoners were able to make good their escape.   

While Tarleton returned to Camden with added jewels to his crown, Sumter limped to Charlotte to regroup.

Thus our “Gamecock” though beaten by two ladies, a keg of rum and Tarleton, was saved by cattle, sheep and a low hanging branch!

With Gates and Sumter whipped in a matter of days and all his supplies intact, Cornwallis felt pretty confident.  The British army seemed invincible.  But rumors were in the air of a Loyalist defeat to the west. It was an omen that would haunt Cornwallis and a harbinger of things to come!

Freedom Reigns!

                                 

                                            General Thomas Sumter

https://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/800818-fishing-creek/

Parker’s Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, John C. Parker

Before They Were Heroes at King’s Mountain, Randell Jones

History of the Upper Country of S.C., Logan

Battle of Camden

1777 Northern Theater of American Revolution

“Too Cautious” was the description of General Gates by his subordinates at the battles at Saratoga. Indeed, Benedict Arnold’s ultimate treason of the American cause had much to do with his dissatisfaction of General Horatio Gates; who he called ‘the greatest poltroon in the world and many other genteel qualifications.’  Major General Nathaniel Greene would write a similar, eloquent negative concerning Gates.  And even though Greene went on to praise Generals Lincoln and Benedict Arnold for the successes in that Northern theater, it was now the summer of 1780 and things had changed since the war had moved south. Lincoln had lost Charleston and Arnold was convalescing from his wounds and planning treason at West Point.  Gates, who had been honored with accolades from the new Congress, was Washington’s choice to counter the enemy’s advance in the south. ⁽¹⁾

1780 Southern Theater of American Revolution

So General Gates marched from the area of Greensboro, NC on July 25, 1780 with intentions to retake Camden, 150 miles to the south. Camden had become the staging area for General Cornwallis in the Southern theater of the war.  It was only a month and a half since Charleston had fallen.  Gates took over General DeKalb’s command and added troops that trickled in as they marched over the next 17 days. Many of these troops had come tardy to Charleston, but now found themselves in a position to avenge the loss of the “Holy City” of the South.⁽²⁾ 

Gates took a more direct route against the advice of his Generals, who wished a more westerly route. They counseled this to take advantage of a population more favorable to the cause who could feed the troops along the way.  They could also avoid some swamps and marshes that would slow them down. 

However, they marched with supplies and baggage wagons across the Piedmont plain of the Carolinas where the July sun and humid heat hung heavy on the head and shoulders of each soldier. Green apples, molasses (instead of the usual rum) and bad food combined to cause an epidemic of dysentery that swept through the ranks on the eve of battle. ⁽³⁾ 

Then, Gates dithered and failed to follow up on his skirmish with Lord Rawdon about 7 miles above Camden on August 11th, despite his advantage of 4 to 1 odds in manpower.  Gates' vacillation allowed Cornwallis to come up 5 days later and the two armies surprised each other at 2 a.m. 

Skirmishers were taken prisoner on both sides and debriefed. Both armies realized they were face to face.  Gates called another council of war seeking input from his officers, but once more failed in his administration of a battle plan by misplacing his militia on the battle lines.  

The Red Coats fixed bayonets, charged and decimated the militia.  Cornwallis then turned on the flank of the Continentals still fighting on the field under DeKalb.  DeKalb, a brave and noble warrior who had fought with honors in Europe during the Seven Years War,  received 11 wounds and was last seen fighting bravely while surrounded by the Red Coat onslaught.  Cornwallis’ physicians cared for DeKalb and he died a few days later in Camden. 

Though Gates would be credited by some as attempting to rally the troops, his backside was seen fleeing the battle lines while its decision was still in question. In an irony of war, Dekalb, whose command was turned over to Gates weeks before the battle, was the one deserving of honors. He was heard to declare while near death in the British camp,  "I thank you sir for your generous sympathy, but I die the death I always prayed for: the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man."(4)

                                                                                               

Battle of Camden.Dean.USMA.edu.history.gif

The Retreat and more Foreign Patriots

French Lt. Col. Armand was at the head of a Patriot cavalry contingent made up of Foreign volunteers, Hessian deserters and Frenchmen.  Remnants of other companies joined up with him  near the end of the ignoble battle.  He and his men fought a rear-guard action and found themselves fending off an assault by Col. Banastre Tarlton’s Green Dragoons just north of the main battlefield. As the Colonial army attempted to make good their escape, Armand’s men stoutly gave battle to buy precious time for the troops retreating north.  

The scene of this rear-guard action is unceremoniously known only to have occurred near the bridge over Grannies Quarter Creek on Flat Rock Rd. in Kershaw County, SC.  Many of the final resting places of the foreign soldiers who died in defense of our liberty are sadly unknown to history and their remains were left in the fields and creek beds of the rural landscapes of our South State.  Their noble deeds known only to the Great Creator who, we pray, has given them due credit for their defense of Freedom. (5)

After the Battle

Gates was humbled at Camden and labeled a coward by many.  Lt. Colonel Armand remarked “I will not say that we have been betrayed, but if it had been the purpose of the general to sacrifice his army, what could he have done more effectually to have answered that purpose.”(6)

Cornwallis basked in the glory of what he thought was the last full measure of large resistance in South Carolina. As the Continental Army was defeated at Charleston and now at Camden, he set his sights on Charlotte. His troops were left with chasing the “Gamecock” Sumter and the “Swamp Fox” Marion.  Cornwallis contented himself in believing that these partisan bands were inconsequential in the whole.  

But, Cornwallis had now pushed up against the Catawba River Valley, and things were about to change in 52 days.  Freedom Reigns!

    (1)    http://www.historynet.com/benedict-arnold-general-in-the-battle-of-saratoga.htm  

    (2)    King’s Mountain and Its Heroes: History of the Battle of King’s Mountain, October 7^th, 1780, and the Events Which Led to It, Draper and Allaire

    (3)    https://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/800816-camden/
    (4) The Life of General Francis Marion: A Celebrated Partisan Officer in the Revolutionary War, Mason Weems
     (5) Parkers Guide to the Revolutionary War in South Carolina, John C. Parker
(   (6)    Washington and the Generals of the American Revolution, J.B. Lippincott