The American capture of Fort Watson on the Santee River on April 23,1781,cut the supply line from Charleston to Camden. Lord Rawdon, commander of the British garrison, admitted that he was"completely dependent...for subsistence, for military stores, for horses, for arms" on Charleston.

Having failed to drive Greene far from Camden after the Battle of Hobkirk's Hill, and unable to bring the Americans to battle on favorable terms, Rawdon knew that he would be surrounded and forced to surrender if he tried to hold the town. On May 9, the British destroyed the supplies they could not carry, partially leveled the fortifications, and evacuated Camden during the night, leaving behind some American prisoners and wounded British soldiers. Many Loyalist refugees accompanied the army.

"Lord Rawdon burnt the greatest part of his baggage... he set fire also to the prison, mill, and several other buildings and left the town little better than a beapof ruins."
Nathanael Greene

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Show me all markers in:  Camden, SC  |  Kershaw County  |  29020  |  South Carolina  |  United States of America

Women in the Revolution
Native Allies
War in the Backcountry
Camden - Strategic Key
The Southern Campaign, Apr 1781 - Dec 1782
The Southern Campaign, Aug 1780 - Apr 1781
The Southern Campaign, Dec 1778 - Aug 1780
The Fortified Post
Palisade Wall
American Commanders

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