196 OPERATIONS OF SUMTER, MARION AND DE KALB. and at times were compelled to use agricultural implements for weapons of war. Their resources were meagre and they trusted to chance for their means of subsistence. In some instances they have been known to charge an opposing force with about three rounds of ammunition apiece, but their success in their skirmishes with the British soon provided them with muskets and cartridges and eventually they became fairly well equipped. Sumter now determined to advance against some of the stronger British outposts, making his first attempt at Rocky Mount, where, however, he was obliged to retreat.* He then attacked the British post at Hanging Rock and annihilated a British regiment stationed there.† It was at this time that Andrew Jackson, then an orphan boy of 13, made his first appearance in history.‡ Another of these partisan warriors was Francis Marion, whose activity and ability in carrying on these campaigns was of great service in the American cause.|| Both Marion (the Lossing, Field-Book of the Revolution, vol. ii., pp. 453-454. † Bancroft, vol. v., p. 383; Carrington, Battles of the Revolution, pp. 508-509; McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, pp. 621-631; Lossing, pp. 456-457. Fiske, American Revolution, vol. ii., p. 185. It is of Marion that the interesting story is told, of his being visited by a young English officer on official business, and his impressing upon the mind of the Englishman by what he saw, that men who could eat sweet potatoes and drink water, for the cause of liberty, were not to be conquered. Simms, Life of General Marion, pp. 176-180; Horry and Weems, Life of Marion, pp. 183-187. . Swamp Fox) and Sumter (the Gamecock) were perfectly familiar with every part of the neighborhood and were able to dart in upon the British detachments and elude all pursuit by fleeing to the forests where they remained until ready to make another fell sweep upon some isolated post.* This method of fighting not only greatly weakened the British forces. and disconcerted the plans of the British generals, but also emboldened the Americans and strengthened their belief in themselves and in the ultimate outcome of the contest. Beside Marion and Sumter, Baron De Kalb had been sent from Maryland to Carolina with a few regular troops, but because of the extreme heat and the difficulty of securing supplies progress toward the South had been slow. On the way toward Carolina De Kalb was reinforced by a body of Virginia militia and the troops of North Carolina under General Richard Caswell. The three forces of Americans therefore kept Cornwallis extremely busy, and he soon found that he could not rest on past laurels but must set seriously to the work of attempting to subdue the country. Meanwhile General Gates had assumed command of the southern army. Washington had desired that *For an account of these partisan leaders see McCrady, South Carolina in the Revolution, chap. xxvi. Kapp, Life of Kalb, pp. 196-202; McCrady, South American in the Revolution, pp. 656–657; Fisher, Struggle for American Independence, vol. ii., p. 295. GATES MOVES TOWARD CAMDEN. 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 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 most *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. 197 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. 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.|| 198 THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN. 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). |