Historical Highlights

Significant Events In and Around Kershaw County

Lord Camden

1768

Camden Is Born

The Town of Pine Tree Hill changed its name to Camden to honor Lord Camden, a champion of colonial rights in the British Parliament.
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1774

Camden’s Little Declaration

William Henry Drayton presided over the Circuit Court in Camden and delivered a rousing address on human rights to the Grand Jury, who answered with a statement which has been called a ‘little Declaration of Independence,’ considered by some the first such document in America; this presentment was laid before the colony’s Commons House of Assembly and was published in newspapers.
William Henry Drayton

December 1775

The Snow Campaign

Colonel Richard Richardson, commander of the Camden District militia, led a Patriot army to subdue Loyalists in the backcountry of South Carolina. The patriots included men from across the Carolinas. After several weeks, the patriot forces had captured several of the Loyalist leaders and had defeated Loyalist forces in several battles. This campaign rendered Loyalist opposition in the Carolina backcountry impotent until the arrival of British forces during the Southern Campaign.
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June 1, 1780

Occupation of Camden Begins

On this day, General Lord Cornwallis, commander of the British Army in the South, entered Camden. Cornwallis appointed Lt. Col. Lord Rawdon as the commander of the garrison at Camden on June 5, 1780. Camden became a strategic supply depot and garrison that was central to British control of South Carolina.
british garrisons 1773 map

July – August 1780

Battles in Kershaw County

Several battles took place in the County. On July 20, Wm. Richardson Davie and his NC patriots captured a British supply column at Flat Rock about 5 miles south from Hanging Rock. He was later attacked by Loyalists at Beaver Creek Ford just east of present day Liberty Hill. On August 11, Rawdon and his men attempted to attack a patriot force northwest of Bethune but was unsuccessful. On August 15, Thomas Sumter’s forces surprised a British garrison at Carey’s Fort outside Camden.

Battle of Hanging Rock
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August 16, 1780

Battle of Camden

General Horatio Gates American army of Continentals and militia faced General Charles, Lord Cornwallis’s British army about 8 miles north of Camden. This battle was the Patriot’s worst defeat of the American Revolution. Within three months, two American armies had been killed or captured by the British Army.

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https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/camden
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Dec. 1, 1780

Battle of Rugeley’s Mill

Colonel Henry Rugeley’s home became a strong fortified garrison and supply depot for the British. In December 1780, Lt. Col. William Washington and his cavalry used trickery to overcome the strongly defended position. Knowing that only the threat of artillery would convince the loyalists to surrender, Washington disguised a large pine tree log as a field piece. Col. Rugeley surrendered without a shot being fired.
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April 25, 1781

Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill

After Cornwallis left the Carolina’s for Virginia, General Nathaniel Greene headed back into South Carolina. He was determined to defeat the British at Camden. Throughout April, the American’s engaged in maneuvers and skirmishes with the British. Finally, the Continentals set-up camp in an area known as Hobkirk’s Hill. Although the British were outnumbered, Lt. Col. Rawdon decided to attack. He stealthily left the garrison at Camden and moved his men north to meet the Continentals. Although Greene’s men once again retreated before the British, they remained a cohesive fighting force and regained the area a day after the battle.
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hobkirks 1878
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May 10, 1781

British Evacuate Camden

With his supply lines severed by partisans and Continentals under Gen. Francis Marion, Col. Henry Lee, and Gen. Thomas Sumter, and General Greene’s army still a threat, Rawdon determined that his only course of action was to retreat from Camden. The British burned the town and retreated to Charleston.

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