General Greene be appointed to the supreme command, but the reputation of General Gates gained during Burgoyne's invasion completely overshadowed the work done by other officers, and on June 13 Congress appointed him commander-in-chief of the southern forces.* It was confidently expected that he would add greater fame to his already illustrious name, but unfortunately for himself, as well as for the country, his "northern laurels " turned to "southern willows." On July 25 Gates joined the army at Deep River and resolved to inaugurate a campaign for the destruction of the British army. Upon his arrival in the South, De Kalb had been willing to accept the suggestions of those well acquainted with the territory as to the best roads, the sections in which forage and provisions were were most likely to be obtained, etc. He had, therefore, resolved to turn out of the direct road to Camden so as to conduct his little force through a more plentiful country and also to establish magazines and hospitals at advantageous points. † Gates, however, considered himself above the suggestions of the natives, and thinking his reputation would over-shadow any shortcomings in military strategy, determined to push toward the Brit

*Van Tyne, American Revolution, p. 300; Bancroft, vol. v., p. 384; Johnson, General Washington, pp. 241-242.

Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 462-463.

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ish encampment by a straight road, although this road lay through a barren country which afforded only a scanty subsistence even to the inhabitants. This he did in spite of the remonstrances of the greater number of the subordinate officers.* On July 27 he set the army in motion and had not proceeded far before he began to experience the privations which De Kalb had been so desirous to avoid. What cattle were accidentally found in the woods were lean and thin, and even the supply of such animals was very limited.t Meal and grain were scarce, and the soldiers were finally compelled to use unripe corn and peaches instead of bread. This food, together with the intense heat and unhealthy climate, soon produced disease and threatened the health and final destruction of the entire army.‡ After more than two weeks of trial and hardships, Gates finally brought the army out of this inhospitable region, and arrived at Clermont, or Rugely's Mills, on the 13th of August. At this time the American army consisted of about 4,000 men.||

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When Gates reached the frontiers of the State, he issued a proclamation requesting the patriotic citizens "to join heartily in rescuing themselves and their country from the oppression of a government imposed upon them by the ruffian hand of conquest." He promised pardon to all those who had been compelled to take the oath of allegiance to the British, with the exception of those who had committed depredations upon the persons or property of American citizens.* This proclamation had a wonderful effect, for large numbers joined the American forces, and even whole companies of militia who had been taken into the British service deserted to the American army. When Francis, Lord Rawdon, commander of the British forces on the Carolina frontiers, learned of the American advance, he notified Cornwallis, who shortly afterward joined him at Camden.+ Cornwallis now thought it necessary to retreat or to strike a decisive blow, for the whole country seemed to be rising, and Camden could not well be defended against an attacking force. On the other hand, a retreat to Charleston would be a signal for the States of South Carolina and Georgia to rise against British authority, and if such a retreat were made, the whole of

Carrington, p. 510; Ramsay, Revolution of South Carolina, vol. ii., pp. 145, 449-451; Tarleton, Campaigns, p. 98.

McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 665-666; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., pp. 296-297.

these two provinces, with the exception of Charleston and Savannah, must be abandoned.* The consequences of such a movement would be nearly as fatal as a defeat.

Cornwallis was informed that the American army amounted to 7,000 men, a number considerably in excess of its actual strength.† Nevertheless, he determined to risk battle, and during the night of August 15, at the very hour when Gates was proceeding from Rugely's Mills about 13 miles distant, began the march toward the American camp.‡ At about two o'clock on the morning of August 16,|| the advance posts of the two armies unexpectedly met in the woods and skirmishing immediately began. At the first discharge some of the American cavalry were wounded, whereupon the party fell back in disorder, broke the Maryland regiment at the head of the advancing column, and threw the whole army into confusion. From this condition the militia seems not to have recovered, judging from their actions during the ensuing battle. During the preliminary skirmishes a number of

*Kapp, Life of Kalb, pp. 224–225.

Gates himself thought his army larger than it really was, for at this time, instead of having 7,000 men, he had only 3,052 fit for duty. But though he was informed of the true conditions, he determined to risk battle. See Kapp, Life of Kalb, p. 222 et seq.

Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 464-465; Kapp, Life of Kalb, p. 226. || Kapp, p. 226. Some say 2:30 A. M. (Tarleton, Campaigns, p. 131), others midnight (Johnson, Life of Greene, Appendix, p. 494).

From

prisoners were taken by each army, from whom the generals obtained more definite information regarding the forces opposing them.* this information Cornwallis perceived that the advantage was on his side and that undoubtedly his disciplined troops would quickly rout the raw and unseasoned militia under Gates. Cornwallis divided his army into two columns, placing the right under command of Colonel Webster and the left under Lord Rawdon. The right of the American army consisted of the second Maryland brigade and the Delaware troops under General Mordecai Gist, and under the supreme command of De Kalb; the center was held by the North Carolina militia under Richard Caswell; while the left was composed of the Virginia militia together with the light infantry under Edward Stevens. The first Maryland brigade under Smallwood, was formed in reserve. Gates took no particular position but stationed himself where he could be most useful.t

At dawn the British right wing under Webster was ordered to begin

the attack on the American left. The opposing volunteer militia poured a desultory musketry fire against the British columns, but the firing soon ceased when the British soldiers with a shout charged the American line.

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The militia immediately threw down their arms and fled, many of them without even having discharged their muskets. The efforts of the officers to restrain the flight were unavailing.* The North Carolina militia in the centre imitated the example of the Virginia troops,† so that hardly a shot was sent against the British by either division. Few of the Americans in their precipitate flight carried off their arms. The British set out in pursuit and eagerly cut down the fugitives. Gates, with the general officers of the militia, made several attempts to turn this headlong flight, but in vain, and the farther the fugitives fled the more dispersed they became. Seeing that the fortune of the day was against the Americans, Gates also fled, as the commonest coward in the army, not stopping until he reached Charlotteville, over sixty miles from the field of battle.t "It was common talk in those days that he killed three horses in his flight." ||

Meanwhile Baron De Kalb, abandoned by the militia and forsaken by the supreme commander, was compelled to bear the whole brunt of the British attack. Nevertheless. the