1. Greene enclosed a copy of his letter to Samuel Huntington, president of Congress, written from his “Camp before Camden” on this date: “In my last I informed your Excellency of Lord Cornwallis’s precipitate retreat from deep River, of the situation of our Army for the want of Provisions, and of the Virginia Militia’s time of service having expired, which reduced our numbers greatly inferior to the Enemy’s. Finding that I had not a force to pursue them further, and that our Army could not be subsisted either on the route the Enemy had marched, or in the lower Country, I thought it most adviseable to push my operations into South Carolina to recover the expiring hopes of the People, to divide with the Enemy the supplies of the Country, of which they had the entire command, to break up their little posts of communication; and if poss⟨i⟩ble oblige Lord Cornwallis to return to the State for their protection. This last was the great object of the movement, and had we a force to prosecute the plan I persuade myself it would take effect, but for want of which the matter remains doubtful. Upwards of five months have I been in this department with nothing but the shattered remains of a routed Army, except the addition of Colo. Lee’s Legion and a couple of small detachments from Virginia, amounting to little more than a Regiment, and those without discipline, or even

Officers to command them. In this situation, with a temporary aid of the Militia, we have been struggling with a very unequal force under every possible disadvantage, and surrounded with every kind of distress.

“We have run every hazard, and been exposed to every danger, not only of being beaten, but of being totally ruined. I have been anxiously waiting for succour, but the prospect appears to me to be remote except temporary aids of Militia, which is too precarious and uncertain to commence any serious Offensive operations upon.

“The more I enquire into the natural strength and resources of North & South Carolina, either to form or support an Army, the more I am persuaded they have been greatly over rated More of the Inhabitants appear in the Kings interest than in ours; and the Country is so extensive and thinly Inhabited that it is not easy either to draw any considerable force together or subsist them when collected. The Militia in our interest can do litt⟨le⟩ more than keep Tories in subjection, and in many places not that. These States were in a much better condition to make exertions last Campaign than this, the well effected last Year spent their time and their substance in fruitless exertions, and finding themselves unequal to the conflict, and their familys being exposed, and in distress, hundreds and hundreds of the best Whigs have left the Country. Last year it was full of resources; this it is almost totally exhausted; & the little produce that remains, lies so remote, and the means of transportation so difficult to command, that it is next to an impossibility to collect it.

“The Enemy have got a firmer footing in the Southern States than is generally expected, Camden, Ninety six, and Augusta, cover all the fertile parts of South Carolina and Georgia, and they are laying waste the Country above them, which will effectually secure those posts, as no Army can be subsisted in the Neighbourhood to operate against them. Below, they have a great many intermediate posts of communication, for the purpose of awing the Country and commanding its supplies. Nor can I see how we are to reduce those capital posts but with a superior Army in the field. I wish Congress not to be deceived res⟨pec⟩ting the situation of things in the Southern department, and therefore I hope they will excuse the freedom I take. If more effectual support cannot be given than has been, or as I can see any prospect of, I am very apprehensive the Enemy will hold their ground, not only of the Sea ports but the interior Country. The conflict may continue for some time longer, and Generals Sumter and Marian, and many others deserve great credit for their exertions and perseverance, but their endeavors rather serve to keep the contest alive than lay a foundation for the recovery of the States.

“We began our march from deep River on the 7th, and arrived in the neighbourhood of Camden on the 19th. All the Country through which we marched is disaffected and the same Guards and escorts were necessary to collect provisions and forage, as if in an open and avowed Enemies Country.

“On our arrival at Camden we took post at Log Town about half a mile in front of their Works, which upon reconnoitering were found to be much stronger than had been represented, and the Garrison much larger. The Town is upon a Flat, covered on two sides by the River Wateree and Pinetree Creek, the other two sides by a chain of strong Redoubts, all nearly of the same size, and independant of each other. Our force was too small either to invest the Town or storm the Works, which obliged u⟨s to⟩ take a position at a little distance from it.

“Before we began our march from deep River I detached Lt Colo. Lee with his Legion, and part of the 2d Maryland Regiment to join General Marian, to invest the Enemy’s posts of communication upon the Santee, & one of their posts is now invested called fort Watson, and must fall if not releived by a detachment of Lord Cornwallis’s Army.

“I have been greatly disappointed in the force I expected to operate with me. Fifteen hundred Virginia Militia was called for immediately after the Battle of Gilford, having this present movement in contemplation at the time, and the State gave the order for a greater number than was required, but the busy season of the Year, and the great distance they have to march, prevents their coming to our assistance in time, if not in force. General Sumter also engaged to have 1000 Men in the field by the 18th to operate with us, but the difficulty of collecting the Militia from the disagreable situation of their Familes, has prevented their embodying yet in any considerable force. These disappointments lay us under many disadvantages, to say nothing worse. The Country is extreme difficult to operate in, being much cut to pieces by deep Creeks, and impassable Morasses; and many parts are covered with such heavy Timber and thick under brush as exposes an Army and particularly detachments to frequent surprises.

“The service has been so severe that it will be absolutely necessary to give the Army some relaxation soon; and therefore I lament the delay which is occasioned at this time for want of sufficient force to invest all the Enemies posts of communication. Our numbers are so reduced by the different actions and skirmishes which have happened, and by the fatigue and hardships of the service, that we have but the shadow of an Army remaining; and this we are obliged to divide, to push our operations to any effect tho’ it is attended with danger, and may prove our ruin.

“I am extremely mortified at the disappointment, which happened in Virginia in the plan of co-operation against Portsmouth between our good Ally, and the Marquis de la Fayette. Success there would have given us great releif here, and I am persuaded that nothing can recover this Country out of the hands of the Enemy, but a similar plan in the southern States. At present the Enemy have as full possession of Georgia and almost the whole of South Carolina as they can wish. The last accounts I had from Lord Cornwallis he lay at Wilmingto⟨n⟩ and his Army it was said was getting very sickly.

“I do myself the honor to inclose Genl Lillingtons report respecting the Bladen Militia, Genl Pickens report of Major Dunlaps defeat by Colo. Clarke, & Genl Marians report of a part of Colo. Watsons detachment defeated by Colo. Horee” (DLC:GW, marked “(a Copy)” on the last page; see also Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 8:129–32). For Greene’s previous letter to Huntington, see Greene to GW, 29 March, n.1. Sgt. William Seymour of the Delaware Regiment described the march to Camden as being through “a poor barren part of the country. The inhabitants are chiefly of a Scotch extraction, living in mean cottages, and are much disaffected, being great enemies to their country” (Seymour, Southern Expedition description begins William Seymour. A Journal of the Southern Expedition, 1780–1783. Wilmington, Del., 1896. In Papers of the Historical Society of Delaware, vol. 15. description ends , 23). Capt. Robert H. Kirkwood, Jr., of the Delaware Regiment wrote in his journal entry for 19 April: “This evening Genl. Green gave me orders if possible to take possession of Logtown, which was in full view of Camden & if I could take it, to mentain it untill further orders, Leaving Camp about 8 at night, arrived before the town between 9 & 10 and about 12 OClock got full possession of the place, A scattering firing was kept up all night, And at sun rise next morning, had a smart schirmage, Beat in the Enemy, About two hours afterwards had the Very agreeable Sight of the advance of the Army” (Turner, Kirkwood description begins Joseph Brown Turner, ed. The Journal and Order Book of Captain Robert Kirkwood of the Delaware Regiment of the Continental Line. Wilmington, Del., 1910. In Papers of the Historical Society of Delaware, vol. 56. description ends , 16).

The first section of another enclosure reads: “Extract of a Letter from General Marian, dated April 21st 1781.

“A small detachment which I sent to watch the Enemys movements in Camden took at the Mouth of Cashaw Creek a Boat laden with Corn, killed 2, wounded 4, and took 6 British Soldiers and 1 Tory.

“Colo. Horry crossed the Pedee with 70 Men to intercept the Tories who I expected would join Colo. [John] Watson. In his march up Pedee, he fell in with a party of 30 Foragers, and as many more to cover them, he charged them on Horse back in Mr McPhersons plantation, killed 2, and took 13 British Soldiers, 2 Tories, & 2 Negroes, without the loss of a Man.”

The second section of the enclosure reads: “Genl Lillington reports, that the Bladen Militia of North Carolina fell with great spirit on the rear of Lord Cornwallis’s Army as he was retreating to Wilmington, and killed 13 Men & took between 15 and 20 Prisoners.”

A third section reads: “General Pickens reports that Colo. [Elijah] Clarke on the 23d of March had an Action with Major Dunlap near 96, killed 34 & took 42 prisoners. Among the former the Major himself is numbered” (DLC:GW; see also Andrew Pickens to Greene, 8 April, and Francis Marion to Greene, 21 April, in Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 8:70–72, 128–29).