Battle of Camden

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The Battle of Camden was a major 1780 British victory in South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War that severely weakened American forces in the South under General Horatio Gates.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf battle
military conflict
alsoKnownAs Battle of Camden Court House
AmericanCasualties high casualties and many captured
AmericanCommander Horatio Gates
AmericanForcesComposition Continental Army regulars and militia
belligerent Great Britain
Loyalist forces
United States
BritishCasualties significantly lower than American casualties
BritishCommander Charles Cornwallis
BritishForcesComposition British regulars and Loyalist units
campaign Carolina campaign of 1780
combatantStrengthAmerican approximately 3,000–4,000 troops
combatantStrengthBritish approximately 2,000–2,500 troops
commander Charles Cornwallis
Horatio Gates
commemoratedBy historic site near Camden, South Carolina
conflict American Revolutionary War
country United States (then Thirteen Colonies)
date 1780-08-16
dayOfWeek Wednesday
effect discredited Horatio Gates as an American commander
led to appointment of Nathanael Greene to command in the South
severely weakened Continental Army forces in the South
followedBy Battle of Cowpens
Battle of Kings Mountain
geographicalContext Kershaw County, South Carolina
historicalPeriod late 18th century
involvedUnit British Army
Continental Army
Loyalist militia
legacy key event shaping subsequent Southern campaign
one of the worst defeats for the Continental Army
location near Camden, South Carolina
notableFor collapse of American position in much of South Carolina
decisive British victory in the Southern theater
severe defeat of American forces under Horatio Gates
partOf American Revolutionary War
British southern campaign
precededBy British capture of Charleston
region South Carolina backcountry
result British victory
strategicObjectiveAmerican challenge British control in the South
strategicObjectiveBritish secure control of South Carolina
theatre Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War
timeOfDay fought in early morning hours
year 1780


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