SEPTEMBER.]

MILITARY JOURNAL, 1780.

189

version of mind, this barbarous and infernal practice, this foul
stain on the history of man! The following anecdote is in point.
The practice of duelling had become alarming in the Prussian
army, and the great Frederic was desirous of checking its pro-
gress. Two officers of high rank had engaged to meet in per-
sonal combat. The king commanded that they should fight in
his presence, and at a time and place which he appointed.
When the parties appeared, they were astonished to find the whole
army paraded to witness the combat, a gallows erected, and a
halter and coffins prepared. The king now commanded that
they should decide their fate in his presence, and that the sur-
vivor should be instantly hung on the gallows. The two cham-
pions were appalled, and glad to implore his majesty's forgive-
ness; and this example proved an effectual remedy against
duelling in the Prussian army.

September.-Intelligence of an unpleasant and distressing
nature, has just reached us from South Carolina. Our
southern army, under the command of Major General Gates,
has been totally defeated, in a general action at Camden
with Lord Cornwallis, on the 19th of August. General
Gates, as is reported, retreated with precipitation to the
distance of eighty miles, to escape the pursuit of the enemy.
This mortifying disaster gives a severe shock to our army, as
it must be productive of the most important and serious con-
sequences as it respects the welfare of the Southern states.
In his letter to the President of Congress, General Gates
says, "In the deepest distress and anxiety of mind, I am
obliged to acquaint your Excellency with the defeat of the
troops under my command." The letter states that the
continental troops displayed their usual courage and bravery,
but at the first onset of the enemy the whole body of mili-
tia became panic struck, were completely routed, and ran
like a torrent, bearing all before them, and leaving the con-
tinentals to oppose the whole force of the enemy. This
victory was not obtained without loss on the part of the foe,
they having upwards of five hundred men, with officers in
proportion, killed and wonded. The whole number of con-
tinental officers killed, wounded and missing, is forty-eight.
Among the killed, is Baron de Kalb, a major general; while
leading on the Maryland and Delaware troops, he was
pierced with eleven wounds, and soon after expired. He
was a German by birth, a brave and meritorious officer, a
knight of the order of military merit, and a brigadier general
in the armies of France. He had served three years, with

high reputation, in the American army. General Gates' command in this army is said to consist of three thousand, of which number were only nine hundred continental regulars. The royalists, under Lord Cornwallis, were upwards of three thousand two hundred, and a great part of them regular troops. This very unfortunate event has given an impression universally unfavourable to the character and conduct of General Gates, as he has disappointed the high expectations of the public. He is indeed a painful example of the vicissitudes of the fortune of war; but it ought not to be expected that an officer should be held accountable for the strokes of fortune; nor for the effects of superior force or address in the enemy. Considering the former high character and meritorious services of the general, we cannot justly suspect him to be chargeable with any deficiency in point of integrity or conduct, and time and investigation must decide how far he has been guilty of any culpable error.*

* General Gates was heard to say that " Lord Cornwallis would not dare to look him in the face," and in the night previous to the battle at Camden, an officer in the presence of General Gates said "I wonder where we shall dine to-morrow?" Dine, Sir!" replied the confident general, "why at Camden to be sure, I would not give a pinch of snuff sir, to be ensured a beafsteak to-morrow in Camden, and Lord Cornwallis at my table." Baron de Kalb, an old experienced German officer, was decidedly opposed to the proceedings of General Gates, and frequently foretold the ruin that would ensue, and expressed a presentiment it would be his fate to fall in that battle. In a council of war, while the enemy was approaching, the baron advised that the army should fall back and take a good position, and wait to be attacked, but this was rejected by Gates, who insinuated that it originated from fear. De Kalb instantly leaping from his horse placed himself at the head of his command on foot, and with some warmth retorted, "Well Sir, a few hours perhaps will prove who are the brave." It was the intention of General Gates to surprise the enemy in his encampment, while at the same time Cornwallis had commenced his march to surprise his antagonist. The contending armies had scarcely engaged in the conflict when our militia broke and fled with the greatest precipitation. General Gates immediately applied his spurs to his horse, and pursued, as he said " to bring the rascals back," but he actually continued his flight till he reached Charlotte, eighty miles from the field of battle. The baron de Kalb at the head of a few hundreds of continental troops was now left to cope with the whole British army, and he sustained the dreadful shock for more than an hour, hundreds of the bravest of men had fallen around this undaunted hero; he himself, in personal conflict, was seen to parry the furious blows and plunge his sword into many opposing breasts. But alas! the hero is overpowered; having received eleven bayonet wounds, he faints and falls to the ground. Several individuals of both armies were killed while endeavouring to shield his body. His aid de camp, Mons. du Buysson, rushed through the clashing bayonets and stretching his arms over the body of the fallen hero, exclaimed "Save the baron de Kalb! save the baron de Kalb!" The British officers interposed and prevented his immediate destruction, but he survived the action but a few hours. To a British officer, who kindly condoled with him in his misfortune, he replied, "I thank you for your generous sympathy, but I die the death I always prayed for; the death of a soldier fighting for the rights of man." His last moments were spent in dictating a letter concerning the continental troops which supported him in the action, of whom he said "he had no words that could sufficiently express his love and his admiration of their valour." General Washing.

Camp, Steenrapie, September 5th.-Our army marched from Orangetown, and encamped at Steenrapie, yesterday. It is mortifying that our stock of provisions is again exhausted; the soldiers have for several days drawn nothing but one pound of flour a man.

8th. I had again the honour of dining at the table of Baron Steuben, in company with a number of officers. Notwithstanding the scarcity of provisions in camp, the baron's table continues to be well supplied; his generosity is unbounded. 10th. We are now lamenting the loss of Brigadier General Poor, who died last night of putrid fever. His funeral solemnities have been attended this afternoon. The corpse was brought this morning from Paramus, and left at a house about a mile from the burying yard at Hackinsack, whence it was attended to the place of interment by the following procession; a regiment of light infantry, in uniform, with arms reversed; four field pieces; Major Lee's regiment of light horse; General Hand and his brigade; the Brigade Major on horseback; two chaplains; the horse of the deceased, with his boots and spurs suspended from the saddle, led by a servant; the corpse, borne by four serjeants, and the pall supported by six general officers. The coffin was of mahogany, and a pair of pistols and two swords, crossing each other and tied with black crape, were placed on the top, The corpse was followed by the officers of the New Hampshire brigade; the officers of the brigade of light infantry, which the deceased had lately commanded. Other officers fell in promiscuously, and were followed by his Excellency General Washington, and other general officers. Having arrived at the burying yard, the troops opened to the right and left, resting on their arms reversed, and the procession passed to the grave, where a short eulogy was delivered by the Reverend Mr. Evans. A band of music, with a number of drums and fifes, played a funeral dirge, the drums were muffled with black crape, and the officers in the procession wore crape round the left arm. The regiment of light infantry were in handsome uniform, and wore in their caps, long eathers of black and red. The elegant regiment of horse, commanded by Major Lee,

ten, many years after on a visit to Camden, inquired for the grave of de Kalb. After looking on it a while with a countenance marked with thought, he breathed a deep sigh and exclaimed, "So there lies the brave de Kalb; the generous stran ger who came from a distant land to fight our battles, and water with his blood the tree of our liberty. Would to God he had lived to share with us its fruits !"-(See Life of Gen. Marion.)

being in complete uniform and well disciplined, exhibited a martial and noble appearance. No scene can exceed in grandeur and solemnity a military funeral. The weapons of war reversed, and embellished with the badges of mourning, the slow and regular step of the procession, the mournful sound of the unbraced drum and deep toned instruments, playing the melancholy dirge, the majestic mein and solemn march of the war horse, all conspire to impress the mind with emotions which no language can describe, and which nothing but the reality can paint to the liveliest imagination. General Poor was from the state of New Hampshire. He was a true patriot, who took an early part in the cause of his country, and during his military career, was respected for his talents and his bravery, and beloved for the amiable qualities of his heart. But it is a sufficient eulogy to say, that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of Washington.

11th. We had a most violent shower of rain, accompanied with tremendous peals of thunder and lightning; we were obliged to quit our beds in the night, but no part of our marquee could shield us from the drenching rain,-not a blanket about us remained dry.

12th. A soldier was executed for robbery; he was one of five, who broke into a house with their arms, and robbed the inhabitants of a sum of money, and many valuable articles. He conducted with fortitude at the gallows.

13th. The army was paraded to be reviewed by General Washington, accompanied by a number of Indian chiefs. His Excellency, mounted on his noble bay charger, rode in front of the line of the army, and received the usual salute. Six Indian chiefs followed in his train, appearing as the most disgusting snd contemptible of the human race; their faces painted of various colors, their hair twisted into bunches on the top of their heads, and dressed in a miserable Indian habit, some with a dirty blanket over the shoulders, and others almost naked. They were mounted on horses of the poorest kind, with undressed sheep skins, instead of saddles, and old ropes for bridles. These bipeds could not refrain from the indulgence of their appetites for rum on this occasion, and some of them fell from their horses, on their return to head quarters. This tribe of Indians is friendly to America, and it is good policy to show them some attention, and give them an idea of the strength of our army.

Camp, Orangetown, or Tappan, September 20th.-The army decamped from Steenrapie this morning, and encamp

ed at Orangetown, or Tappan. His Excellency General Washington, with the Marquis de la Fayette and General Knox, with a splendid retinue, left camp on the 17th instant, bound to Hartford, in Connecticut, to have an interview with the commanding officers of the French fleet and army, which have lately arrived at Rhode Island.

I have just been introduced to three young clergymen, from Connecticut, Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Ely, and Mr. Joel Barlow; the latter is a chaplain in the Connecticnt line, and is said to possess a poetical genius. Being present when he made a prayer in public, it was remarked that his performance was very ordinary, and it was replied that the gentleman had not been much accustomed to public performances, and that he was more calculated to attain to eminence in the art of poetry, than in the clerical profession.

21st.-Major General Greene succeeds to the command of our army, in the absence of his Excellency General Washington. This gentleman is a native of the state of Rhode Island. His father was an anchor smith, and his business in that line was very extensive. He was a member of the society of Friends, and when about to engage in a military station, they remonstrated with him, as war was a violation of the established principles of their sect. But his patriotism and ardent zeal for the cause of liberty, were irresistible, and he was, at the age of thirty, appointed a brigadier general, by his government, in the year 1775. After the battle of Lexington, actuated by a native martial ardor, he repaired to Cambridge, and with the troops under his command, joined the continental army under General Washington. General Greene has conducted in a manner to meet the expectations and full approbation of the public, and has been promoted to the rank of major general. By his military talents, skill and judgment, he has acquired a character of the highest order, and is held in respect and estimation throughout the army, as second only to the Commander in Chief. It is the prevailing sentiment, that if in any event of Providence we should be deprived of our chief commander, General Greene is, of all others, the most suitable character to be his successor; and in this sentiment there is the greatest reason to believe that the illustrious Washington himself would readily coincide.

26th. At three o'clock this morning, an alarm was spread throughout our camp. Two regiments, from the Pennsylvania line, were ordered to march immediately to