Camden 1780: The annihilation of Gates’ Grand Army (Campaign Book 292)

As the British refocused their war on the southern colonies in the hopes of triggering an outbreak of loyalism that would sweep the rebels aside, Lord Cornwallis found himself thinly spread and unable to guard the fifteen thousand square miles he was responsible for. So Cornwallis went on the offensive, invading North Carolina and using Camden as a launch pad. This new history reveals how Cornwallis was able to use his aggressive strategy to great effect and how the overconfidence of the American forces under Horatio Gates was to result in a shocking defeat on the night of August 15th--a defeat that would allow Cornwallis to push deep into North Carolina, where he would only be stopped by defeat at Yorktown. Following the disastrous defeat of John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga, the British were forced to rethink their strategy for ending the American Revolutionary War. A new commander-in-chief, Sir Henry Clinton, was instructed to shift the focus of the war to the southern colonies. The new theatre brought the British their most comprehensive victory of the war at Charleston, but subduing the entire region was a herculean task, which Clinton left in the hands of his subordinate, Lord Cornwallis. Aware that his small army would be unable to defend the vast area he was responsible for, Cornwallis chose to go on the offensive, seeking out the remnants of organised resistance. Marching to meet him was Horatio Gates at the head of his 'Grand Army'. When the two forces met, at Camden on the morning of 16 August 1780, Cornwallis won a famous victory and the pacification of the south seemed to be unfolding exactly as planned. Packed with maps and full-colour artwork, this comprehensive account is a vivid portrayal of Britain's last great military triumph of the war. As the American Revolution continued, the British refocused their fight on the southern colonies in the hopes of triggering an outbreak of loyalism that would sweep the rebels aside. Under Sir Henry Clinton they captured Savannah at the end of 1778, and Charleston in May 1780, with Lord Cornwallis being left in command with just 8,500 men under him. Too thinly spread to guard the 15,000 square miles he was responsible for, Cornwallis went on the offensive, invading North Carolina and using Camden as a launch pad. This new history reveals how Cornwallis was able to use his aggressive strategy to great effect and how the overconfidence of the re-formed American forces under Horatio Gates was to result in a shocking defeat on the night of 15 August 1780 – a defeat that would allow Cornwallis to push deep into North Carolina the following year, where he would only be stopped by the American victory at Yorktown. Origins Of The Campaign -- French Intervention -- Chronology -- Opposing Commanders -- British Forces -- American Forces -- Orders Of Battle -- Opposing Armies -- British -- American -- The Siege Of Charleston -- The Charleston Defences -- The Siege Of Charleston -- Final Moves -- Camden -- The Move Into The Back-country -- The Battle Of Waxhaws -- Cornwallis Takes Command -- The Formation Of The `grand Army' -- Rocky Mount And Hanging Rock -- The Battle Of Camden. David Smith ; Illustrated By Graham Turner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Reveals how Cornwallis was able to use his aggressive strategy to great effect and how the overconfidence of the re-formed American forces under Horatio Gates was to result in a shocking defeat on the night of 15 August 1780 - a defeat that would allow Cornwallis to push deep into North Carolina the following year, and more. Introduction/Chronology/Opposing commanders/Opposing armies/Opposing plans/The campaign/Aftermath/The battlefield today/Further reading/Index Beskriver slaget ved Camden 1780, under den nordamerikanske frihedskrig 1775-1783