View this letter as it was printed in the "Massachusetts Spy" in June 1781
Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Greene to Congress
Camp Sander's Creek
April 27th 1781
Sir:
I did myself the honor to address your Excellency on the 22d and informed you that
we lay before Camden, having found it impracticable to storm the town with a prospect
of success, and nothing left but to take a position to induce the enemy to sally.
We chose a hill about one mile from the town on the main road leading to the Waxhaws.
It was covered with timber and flanked on the left by an impassable morass. The
country between that and the town is covered by heavy wood and under brush. In this
situation we lay constantly upon our arms ready for action at a moments warning.
About 11 o'clock in the morning of the 25th, our advanced piquets were fired upon,
who gave the enemy a warm reception.
The line was formed in an instant, Gen. Isaac Huger's Brigade upon the right of
the road, Col. Otho Holland Williams's Brigade of Marylanders on the left, and the
artillery in the centre. Col. Read with a few (NC) militia in the rear, as a second
line. Capt. Robert Kirkwood and the light infantry lay in our front, and as the
enemy advanced he was soon engaged with them, and both he and his corps behaved
with great gallantry.
The piquets, under the command of Capts. Morgan and Benson, behaved with equal spirit
and good conduct.
As the Enemy was found to be advancing only with a small front, Lt. Col. Ford with
the 2d Maryland Regiment had orders to advance and flank them upon the left; Lt.
Col. Campbell had orders to do the like upon the right. Col. Gunby with the first
Maryland Regiment and Lt. Col. Haws with the second Virginia Regiment had orders
to advance down the hill and charge them in front. Lt. Col. William Washington had
orders to turn the enemy�s right flank and charge them in the rear. The whole line
was soon engaged in close firing, and the artillery under Col. Harrison playing
on their front. The enemy were staggered in all quarters, and upon the left were
retiring while our Troops continued to advance, when unfortunately two companies
of the right of the first Maryland Regiment got a little disordered, and unhappily
Col. Gunby gave an order for the rest of the Regiment then advancing to take a new
position in the rear where the two companies were rallying. This impressed the whole
Regiment with an idea of a retreat, and communicated itself to the 2d Regiment which
immediately followed the first on their retiring. Both were rallied but it was too
late, the enemy had gained the hill and obliged the artillery to retire. The second
Virginia Regiment having advanced some distance down the hill, and the Maryland
line being gone the enemy immediately turned their flank, while they were engaged
in front. Lt. Col. Campbells Regiment had got into some disorder and fallen back
a little, this obliged me to order Lt. Col. Haws to retire. The troops were frequently
rallied, but had got into too much disorder to recover the fortune of the day, which
once promised us a complete victory as Col. Washington found the enemy both horse
and foot retiring with the utmost precipitation towards the town, and took upwards
of 200 prisoners and ten or fifteen officers, before he discovered our people had
left the ground, more than fifty of which were brought off. The Colonel�s (Washington)
behavior and that of his Regiment upon this occasion did them the highest honor.
We retired about two or three miles without any loss of artillery or ammunition
wagons, the baggage having been sent off at the beginning of the action. The Enemy
suffered very greatly. Our force was not materially different; but had we succeeded,
from the disposition made, we must have had the whole prisoners as well as full
possession of Camden. Enclosed is the returned of the killed and wounded. Among
the former is Captain Baty (Beattie) of the Maryland Line, a most excellent officer
and an ornament to his profession.
Our army is in good spirits, and this little repulse will make no alteration in
our general plan of operations.
Enclosed I send your Excellency the conditions of the capitulation and surrender
of Fort Watson, which I hope will be followed by others.
I have been honored with your two letters the 10th and 29th of March.
I have the honor to be with great respect
Your Excellencys
Most obedient and most humble Servant
Nathanael Greene
P.S. The horse and part of the infantry at the close of the event charged upon the
enemy who retreated immediately into town with precipitation.
To: His Excellency, Samuel Huntington, Esqr. (President of Congress)
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