Bill Wells
General Nathaniel Greene was confident on the morning of April 25, 1781 as he drank coffee with his officers in his headquarters at Hobkirk Hill. He had arrived in the Camden vicinity less than a week before, after the departure of Lord Cornwallis from the Carolinas. Cornwallis had left Lord Rawdon in charge at Camden while he chased George Washington in Virginia, a "chase" that was to end at Yorktown. Gen. Greene's first intention was to attack the Camden fortifications and he changed his camp several times - locating at Log Town, then southeast of Camden to Paint Hill before returning to Hobkirk Hill where he hoped to entice the enemy out to battle.
Hobkirk Hill is a ridge running east and west for about a half mile in the northern part of present-day Camden, with the crest lying about where Greene Street now runs and eastward near Kirkwood Common. In 1781, where Broad Street is now, the Waxhaws Road (also known as the Catawba Trail) intersected the hill through thick pine forests. This road passed through the open land at Log Town, south across a swamp (where downtown Camden now lies) and down to the fortified colonial village.
Gen. Greene had reason to be confident. He had learned that the British garrison of 900 had not yet received expected aid from the Low Country. His force was superior to the enemy's and his position atop Hobkirk Hill was a strong one. His battle lines had been planned and the camp pitched in proper order. Moreover, that very morning, fresh provisions had arrived, including two extra cannons. Greene wrote in a letter that attack by the British was now "an event devoutly wished for!"
After the morning exercises, arms were stacked and the horses left saddled while the hungry troops had their first good meal in two days from the newly arrived provisions. Some soldiers bathed and washed their clothes in the nearby streams.
Meanwhile, in the fortified town to the south, Lord Rawdon had also prepared for battle. In perfect order and complete silence he marched his men out of the palisade and up the path of Pine Tree Creek. They were within a mile of Greene's camp before being sighted by the American pickets, who produced a volley of musket fire.
At the sound of this fire, Greene's men rushed to arms, some partially dressed, some barefooted. The pickets fell back upon the Hill, contesting every foot to give their troops time to organize. Virginia troops under Campbell and Hawes were at the west of Greene's line on Hobkirk Hill, some across the Waxhaws Road. To the east were Maryland regiments under Gunby and Ford, with the remnants of the brave Delawares, heroes of the Battle of Camden, stationed between the main army and the pickets. Colonel Washington commanded cavalry reserves.
The Delawares fought nobly, but Rawdon reached the Waxhaws Road at about the foot of the Hill. Here he attacked the American center. Greene ordered the end regiments to strike Rawdon's flanks and the cavalry to attack the rear. Rawdon then extended his lines so that his troops could flank the Americans. The Americans were forcing the enemy back when a popular young captain with the Marylanders was killed and panic seized his company. The Marylanders were the troops in whom Greene had placed the most confidence, but they all fell back in confusion. By the time Col. Gunby rallied them, the British had seized the eastern section of the Hill.
On the west, the Americans became partially disordered, but still advanced steadily until Greene, seeing the fiasco to the east, ordered a total retreat. Fortunately, at this moment, Col. Washington's cavalry dashed up giving the retreating troops protection from the British advance and assisting Greene in the rescue of precious cannon. The entire battle lasted less than half an hour.
The British pursued the Americans as far as Cool Springs Plantation (about two miles) where Green halted his troops in order to refresh them. He then proceeded two miles further to Sanders Creek for the night.
Though Gen. Greene was bitterly disappointed at the battle's outcome, the spirits of the Americans were lifted that evening when Col. Washington, sent back to reconnoiter, drew the small British force holding the Hill into ambush and occupied the battlefield.
Furthermore, the badly crippled British army abandoned Camden on May 10th, setting fire to the village as they departed. Greene immediately took possession and finished the destruction of the military works.
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