Hobkirk's Hill, battle of.
When (in 1781)
Greene heard of the retreat of Cornwallis, he pursued him as far as the
Deep River, when he turned back and moved southward towards
Camden to strike a blow for the recovery of
South Carolina. Lord Rawdon was in command at
Camden.
On April 19
Greene encamped at Hobkirk's Hill, about a mile from
Rawdon's intrenchments, where, six days afterwards, he was surprised by the
British and defeated, after a sharp battle of several hours.
Greene's force was too weak to assail
Rawdon's intrenchments with any prospect of success, and he encamped on a wooded eminence and awaited reinforcements under
Sumter.
On the night of the 24th a drummer deserted to the
British and informed
Rawdon of
Greene's weakness and his expectation of strength.
As his provisions were almost exhausted,
Rawdon saw no chance for success in battle unless he should strike immediately, so he prepared to fall upon
Greene early on the morning of the 25th.
Unsuspicious of danger,
Greene's army was unprepared for an attack.
The cavalry horses were unsaddled, some of the soldiers were washing their clothes, and
Greene and his staff were at a spring on a slope of Hobkirk's Hill taking breakfast.
Rawdon had gained the left flank of the
Americans by marching stealthily along the margin of a swamp.
Partially surprised,
Greene quickly formed his army in battleline.
His cavalry were soon mounted.
The Virginia brigade, under
General Huger, with
Lieutenant-Colonels Campbell and
Hawes, formed the right; the
Maryland brigade, with
Delaware troops under
Kirkwood, led by
Col. Otho H. Williams, with
Colonel Gunby and
Lieutenant-Colonels Ford and
Howe, occupied the left; and the artillery, under
Colonel Harrison, were in the centre; North Carolina militia were held in reserve; and in this position
Greene was prepared to receive the oncoming
Rawdon, whose forces ascended the slope with a narrow front.
The regiments of
Ford and
Campbell endeavored to turn their flank, while
Gunby's
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Map: battle of Hobkirk's Hill. |
Marylanders assailed the front with bayonets without firing.
The battle was thus opened with great vigor,
Greene commanding the Virginians in person.
At the moment when the
Americans felt sure of victory,
Captain Beatty, commanding a company of
Gunby's veterans, was killed, and his followers gave way. An unfortunate order was given for the whole regiment to retire, when the
British broke through the
American centre, pushed up to the brow of the hill, and forced
Greene to retreat.
Meanwhile
Washington had fallen on the
British rear and captured about 200 soldiers, whose officers he quickly paroled, and in the retreat carried away fifty of the captives.
The
Americans were chased a short distance, when
Washington turned upon the pursuers, made a gallant charge, and checked them.
By this movement
Greene was enabled to save all his artillery and baggage.
He rallied his men, crossed the
Wateree above
Camden, and rested in a strong position before moving on Fort Ninety-Six.
The loss of each army in the battle was about the same—less than 270.
This defeat disconcerted Greene at first, but his genius triumphed.
