A Night Skirmish

A Night Skirmish. Battle of Camden. "The moon was at full and shone beautifully; not a breath of air was stirring, nor a cloud to be seen.... Consequently, we could see to fight in the open piney woods plains, destitute of brush wood almost, as well in the night as in the day." , - Private Guilford Dudley, Dragoon, North Carolina Militia, At 2:30 a.m. on August 16, British dragoons under Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton charged Lieutenant Colonel Charles Armand's American cavalry. Lieutenant Colonel Charles Porterfield's Virginia Continental light infantry, riding behind and in support of Armand's troops, converged on the British, firing from the opposite side of the road where you stand now and forcing them back. Next, the British light infantry advanced, deployed, and laid down solid fire, throwing back the American center. Horses and men became entangled. The British then attacked the 1st Maryland Brigade, leaving Porterfield's force and some North Carolina militia to face the British advance alone., While Patriot officers worked to get their troops into a battle line, nearby militia fired rounds before being forced to retreat as the British advanced. During this exchange. Porterfield's leg was shattered by a musket ball and he fell from his saddle. Not long after, both armies retired for the night to assess their circumstances before the fight resumed in daylight., The landscape did not give either side an advantage. Both armies could deploy in linear battle order with their flanks semi-protected. Low marsh on the west and swamps on the east made it difficult for units to outmaneuver opponents. Gates learned that Cornwallis's full army was before him. Cornwallis, though outnumbered, realized that he had Gates's men in the open, where they would be forced to fight. At their council of war that evening, Gates asked his commanding officers, "what is best to be done?" Brigadier General Edward Stephens responded, "Is it not too late now to do anything but fight?"