Many of Americans ran from the field, making it possible for the British Army to win the Battle of Camden

During the Battle of Camden, despite being physically stronger, and having more soldiers than the British Army, the American Army still lost. Part of the reason was the runaway of many American soldiers during the battle. However, not all of the Americans ran from the battlefield, a contingent of Continental troops fought hard to the last. General Horatio Gates’ army was made up of predominantly untrained militia from Virginia and North Carolina. However, he also had the luxury of a small force of some of the best Continental troops in the entire American army, which were Continental soldiers from Maryland and Delaware that were under the command of Major General Johann de Kalb.

With only about 1,500 in number, these men came as a relief force for the Americans at Charleston. On the morning of August 16th, de Kalb’s Continentals were on the right flank of the American line. As the militia on the left broke, the Continentals held and even pushed ahead, forcing British troops back in their front. Soon, they were nearly surrounded, and there, de Kalb was mortally wounded (suffering from three gunshot wounds and several bayonet wounds). Eventually, the remaining Continentals made their way through the swamp thicket to the west. Only 50% of the Maryland and Delaware Continental forces made it out. Their bravery and hard fighting earned them the respect of many of the British officers.