Battle of Hobkirk's Hill

The Battle of Hobkirk's Hill in the American Revolutionary War took place north of the city of Camden , South Carolina , in the United States on April 25, 1781 . The battle ended with a victory for British troops under Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Francis Rawdon over Major-General Nathanael Greene's American army.

Historical and strategic context

After the campaign in the southern states in the spring of 1781, which ended with the British victory at the Battle of Guilford Court House , North Carolina , the British commander-in-chief in the south, Earl Charles Cornwallis , moved north while the army of American General Nathanael Greene marched towards South Carolina in order to overwhelm the weak British garrisons there and to secure this highly competitive state for the rebelling Americans for good. Greene detached part of his troops to attack British outposts under the guerrilla leader Francis Marion , he himself advanced with the main part of his army to the most important British post in inland South Carolina, the city of Camden. Greene was doubly superior to the British garrison of Camden under Lord Rawdon, but camped for the time being on Hobkirk's Hill north of the city to await reinforcements. Lord Rawdon was informed of the presence of the American army by a defector and immediately mobilized all available troops to attack Greene by surprise.

Forces involved

General Greene's American army consisted of a total of about 1,550 men; his four battalions of continental troops under Isaac Huger and Otho Williams were now quite experienced fighters, a department of the North Carolina militia and Robert Kirkwood's snipers and William Washington's cavalry were available to him.

Lord Rawdon could fall back on a total of only 800 men; they were made up of the remnants of a British regular (the 63rd Regiment) and three American (2nd, 3rd and 4th American) loyalist battalions, supported by some loyalist snipers and cavalry. Rawdon was even forced to get 150 sick and fit wounded from the hospital in order to reach at least half the American troop number.

Course of the battle

General Greene was surprised by Rawdon's aggressive sortie, which he actually wanted to besiege, but his troops nonetheless occupy a favorable position on the hill. His guns were covered by his continental troops and it was only when the British troops had come close at hand that he discovered this trump card and the British suffered heavy losses from artillery fire and were temporarily stopped. Now Greene counterattacked and attacked his continental troops; but the British forces held out and Rawdon used his meager reserves to threaten the Americans on the flanks . A battalion of continental troops became unsettled - probably by a misunderstood order - and began the retreat, which the other troops joined, causing the entire American line to collapse and Greene's army to flee.

Consequences of the battle

General Greene's plan to take Camden had failed utterly. Having lost 18 dead, 108 wounded and 138 prisoners, he withdrew and gathered reinforcements for the next attack on the British. Lord Rawdon recognized, however, that the British position inland - especially after the loss of 38 dead and 170 wounded in battle - was unsustainable against a reinforced Greene and the guerrilla militia; He therefore ordered the retreat of all garrisons (e.g. Fort Motte , Augusta, Fort Granby , Fort Ninety-Six ) to the more easily defended coastal cities of Charleston and Savannah , which his own division managed to do without being bothered, but most of the other bases were taken from besieged by the Americans and successively forced to surrender.

Anecdotes, interesting things

William Washington, cousin of George Washington and commander of the American cavalry at Hobkirk's Hill, had nothing better to do during the battle than ride around enemy lines and capture British medical personnel. When the hasty American retreat began, he released the captured medics, rode back and was at least able to save General Greene's guns from the British.

Coordinates: 34 ° 16 ′ 28 "  N , 80 ° 36 ′ 26"  W.