Near Camden in Kershaw County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Shots in the Dark

By Anna Inbody, October 2, 2011

1. Shots in the Dark Marker

Inscription. Under a full moon in the dead of night, the advance guards of the two armies came upon each other on the Great Wagon Road. Britain’s Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton, marching from Camden with his dragoons, promptly charged the American cavalry of Col. Charles Armand.

Although they routed Armand’s troops, the British were soon driven back by fire from American light infantry under Lt. Cols. Charles Porterfield (VA) and John Armstrong (NC).

Tarleton then called up the infantry and drove back the Americans, mortally wounding Porterfield.

Reluctant to continue battling in darkness, both armies halted and prepared for combat at dawn.

Erected by The Palmetto Conservation Foundation. (Marker Number 4.)

Location. 34° 21.124′ N, 80° 36.412′ W. Marker is near Camden, South Carolina, in Kershaw County. Marker can be reached from Flat Rock Road (State Highway 58). Touch for map. 6.2 miles North of Camden off US 521 and 601 on SC 58. Marker is in this post office area: Camden SC 29020, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. All the King's Men (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charge and Countercharge (approx. 0.2 miles

By Anna Inbody, October 2, 2011

2. Overview

away); Attack at Dawn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Meet the American Army of 1780 (approx. ¼ mile away); Defeat in the Center (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Road to Battle (approx. 0.4 miles away); Driven from the Field (approx. 0.4 miles away); Panic and Valor (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Camden.

More about this marker. This marker is part of an interpretive trail series at the Battle of Camden National Historic Landmark.

Categories. • War, US Revolutionary •

By Anna Inbody, October 2, 2011

3. Inset

Awaiting daybreak, Gen. Horatio Gates assembled his officers. To his astonishment, newly captured Redcoats revealed that he faced Cornwallis and two thousand well-trained British troops. As options were desperately considered, Virginia’s Brig. Gen. Edward Stevens concluded: “Gentlemen, is it not too late now to do anything but fight?”

Map on the marker image. Click for full size.

By Anna Inbody, October 2, 2011

4. Map on the marker

diagram of troops and troop movement

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on October 9, 2011, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 9, 2011, by Anna Inbody of Columbia, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.