Background
In the spring of 1780, the British launched a campaign to regain control of South Carolina. They were successful in capturing Charleston in May, and they then moved north into the interior of the state. The American forces in the South were commanded by Major General Horatio Gates, who had replaced Benjamin Lincoln after the fall of Charleston. Gates had a larger army than Cornwallis, but his troops were mostly militia and were not as well-trained or experienced as the British regulars.
The Battle
The Battle of Camden began early in the morning of August 16, 1780. The British forces were deployed in three lines, with the infantry in the center and the cavalry and artillery on the wings. The American forces were deployed in two lines, with the militia in the front and the regular troops in the rear.
The battle began with an exchange of artillery fire. The British then advanced, and the American militia began to retreat. The American regular troops tried to hold their ground, but they were outnumbered and outflanked. The British cavalry charged into the American lines, and the Americans were routed.
Aftermath
The Battle of Camden was a major defeat for the American forces. They lost over 1,000 men, and many of their supplies were captured. The defeat also led to the resignation of Horatio Gates and the appointment of Nathanael Greene as the new commander of the American forces in the South.
The British victory at Camden gave them control of most of South Carolina. However, the Americans were able to recover from their defeat and eventually win the war. The Battle of Camden is considered to be one of the most important battles of the American Revolutionary War.