1780. ftill nearer to Camden, and if neceffary, to take a pofi

tion on fome good grounds in its vicinity: but he was not without hope that lord Rawdon would evacuate that poft as he had the others; and if he should not, the prospect was, that the multitudes of militia expected from the upper counties would cut off his fupplies from all quarters, and leave the garrifon an easy prey to the army. After making fome convenient arrangements, having the arms cleaned, and diftributing fome provifions, which had been collected, Gates convened his general officers, of which grade there were not less than thirteen in that little army, the militia brigades of North Carolina having far more than fufficient; and after a conference with them, he directed the deputy adjutant general, col. Williams, to iffue the following orders, with the intention as well to take advantage of the time when col. Sumpter was to execute his enterprife, as to be prepared for action himself, in cafe it fhould be offered- Camp, Clermont, 15th of Auguft, 1780. After general orders. The fick, the extra-artillery ftores, the heavy baggage, and fuch quarter mafter's ftores as are not immediately wanted, to march this evening, under a guard, to Waxhaws. To this order the general requests the brigadiers general, to fee that thofe under their command pay the most exact and fcrupulous atten

tion."

"Lieut. col. Edmonds, with the remaining guns of the park, will take poft and march with the Virginia brigade under gen. Stevens: he will direct, as any deficiency happens in the artillery affixed to the other brigades, to fupply it immediately: his military staff and a proportion of his officers, with forty of his men, are

to await him and attend his orders. The troops will be 1780. ready to march precisely at ten o'clock in the following order, viz. Col. Armand's advance-Cavalry commanded by col. Armand-Col. Porterfield's light infantry upon the right flank of col. Armand, in Indian file, 200 yards from the road-Major Armstrong's light infantry in the fame order as col. Porterfield's, upon the left flank of the legion:Advance guard of foot, composed of the advanced picquets-First brigade of Maryland-Second brigade of Maryland-Divifion of North Carolina-Virginia divifion :-Rear guard-Volunteer cavalry upon flanks of the baggage equally divided. In this order the troops will proceed on their march this night. In cafe of an attack by the enemy's cavalry in front, the light infantry upon each flank will inftantly' march up, and give and continue the most galling fire upon the enemy's horfe. This will enable col. Armand not only to fupport the fhock of the enemy's charge, but finally to rout them. The colonel will therefore confider the order to ftand the attack of the enemy's cavalry, be their number what they may, as pofitive."

"General Stevens will immediately order one captain, two lieutenants, one enfign, three fergeants, one drum. and 60 rank and file, to join col. Porterfield's infantry: these are to be taken from the most experienced woodfmen, and men every way fitteft for the fervice. Gen. Caswell will likewife complete major Armstrong's light infantry to their original number: these must be immediately marched to the advanced pofts of the army." "The troops will obferve the profoundest filence upon their march, and every foldier who offers to fire without the command of his officer must be inftantly put to

1780.death. When the ground will admit of it, and the near approach to the enemy renders it neceffary, the army will (when ordered) march in columns. The artillery at the head of their refpective brigades, and the baggage in the rear. The guard of the heavy baggage will be composed of the remaining officers and foldiers of the artillery, one captain, two fubalterns, four fergeants, one drum and fixty rank and file; and no perfon whatever is to prefume to fend any other foldier upon that fervice. All bat-men, waiters, &c. who are foldiers taken from the line, are forthwith to join their regiments, and act with their masters while they are upon dutyThe tents of the whole army to be struck at tattoo.”

When the deputy adjutant general received these orders, he showed Gates an abstract of the field returns of the different corps, which he had just been digesting into a general return. From thence it appeared, that the whole American army, officers included, amounted only to 3663 (exclufive of the troops detached to col. Sumpter) befide col. Porterfield's and major Armstrong's light infantry, amounting to 250, and col. Armand's legion to 120, altogether 370, and a few volunteer cavalry. There were about 900 continental infantry, rank and file, and 70 cavalry. This force was inferior to what the general imagined: his plan however was adopted, and he thought it too late to retreat. The army marched about ten at night, and had proceeded to within half a mile of Sander's creek, about half way to Camden, when a firing commenced in front.

Lord Cornwallis, unknown to gen. Gates, arrived the day before at Camden. His inferior force, confifting of about 1700 infantry and 300 cavalry, would have

justified a retreat: but confidering that no probable 1780. events of an action could be more injurious to the royal interest than that measure, he resolved upon taking the first good opportunity of attacking the Americans; and learning that the fituation of their encampment at Clermont was disadvantageous, he marched about the fame time the Americans did, with a full determination to attack them in their camp at day break. About half Aug. an hour past two in the morning, the advanced parties 16. of both armies met in the woods, and a firing commenced. Some of the cavalry of Armand's legion being wounded by the first fire, threw the others into diforder, and the whole recoiled fo fuddenly, that the first Maryland regiment, in front of the column, was broken, and the whole line of the army thrown into a general confternation. This firft impreffion ftruck deep. The light infantry however executed their orders; and parțicularly thofe under Porterfield behaved with fuch spirit, that the enemy was no lefs furprised at this unexpected meeting. A few prifoners were taken on both fides, by whose information the respective commanders derived a knowledge of circumftances, of which both, till then, were ignorant, Porterfield, in whofe abilities and activity Gates had justly placed great dependance, received a musket ball, which fhattered the bones of his leg, and was under the neceffity of fubmitting to be carried into the rear. A part of the light infantry still kept their ground, and being fupported by the van-guard and the legion infantry, which difcovered much bravery, the American army foon recovered its order, Cornwallis alfo kept his ground; and frequent fkirmishes enfued during the night, with fcarce any other effect than to

1780. discover the fituation of the armies, to evince the intentions of the generals, and to ferve as a prelude to what was to occur in the morning.

Immediately after the alarm, the American army was formed in the following manner-the fecond Maryland brigade, under gen. Gift, on the right of the line, flanked by a morafs;-the North Carolina divifion, under gen. Caswell, in the centre and the Virginia brigade, under gen. Stevens, on the left, flanked by the North Carolina militia light infantry and a morafs: thus both flanks were well covered. The artillery was posted on the most advantageous ground, near the main road, which was about the centre of the line. Col. Armand's corps was ordered to the left, to fupport the left flank, and oppose the enemy's cavalry. Baron de Kalb commanded on the right of the line; and gen. Smallwood the first Maryland brigade, which was pofted as a corpsde-referve two or three hundred yards in the rear. Gates then called his general officers together, and defired col. Williams to communicate the information which he had collected from the captives, which being done, the general faid, "Gentlemen, you know our fituation, what are your opinions?" Gen. Stevens anfwered, "It is now too late to retreat." Silence enfuing, and no reply being made, the general, after a pause, pronounced, "Then we must fight: gentlemen, please to take your pofts." No more was faid in council: but it was afterward declared to be the private opinion of fome then present, that it was injudicious to risk a general battle, and that a retreat was by no mean impracticable. It was not to the credit of any officer to make fuch declaration. Whoever is called to a Gouncil