HOME   DOCUMENTS   BATTLE

Gates letter to President of Congress of 30 August 1780, including letter to Gen. Washington plus O.H. Williams report of continental officers killed, captivated, wounded, and missing, in the actions of the 16th and 18th of August, 1780.

From online version of Tarleton's A History Of The Campaigns Of 1780 And 1781, In The Southern Provinces Of North America..   Chapter 2., Note L, p. 150.. Transcribed by Marg Baskin.


Extract of a letter from General Gates to the President of Congress, dated Hillsborough, Aug. 30, 1780.

Sir,

I have the honour to enclose to your excellency, for the perusal of Congress, my letter of this date to General Washington.

Extract from the enclosed letter to General Washington, dated Hillsborough, Aug. 30, 1780.

Since my public letter to Congress, I have been able to collect authentic returns of the killed, wounded, and missing of the officers of the American line, Delaware regiment, artillerists, and those of the legion under Colonel Armand. They are enclosed. The militia broke so early in the day, and scattered in so many directions upon their retreat, that very few have fallen into the hands of the enemy. By the firmness and bravery of the continental troops, the victory is far from being bloodless on the part of the foe; they have upwards of five hundred men, with officers in proportion, killed and wounded. Lord Cornwallis remained with his army at Camden, when I received the last accounts from thence. Two days after the action of the 16th, fortune seemed determined to continue to distress us; for Colonel Sumpter, having marched near forty miles up the river Wateree, halted with the waggons and prisoners on the 15th. By some indiscretion, the men were surprised, cut off from their arms, the whole routed, and the waggons and prisoners retaken. Colonel Sumpter, since his surprise and defeat up the west side of the Wateree, has reinstated and increased his corps to upwards of one thousand men. I have directed him to continue to harass the enemy upon that side: Lord Cornwallis will, therefore, be cautious how he makes any considerable movement to the eastward, while this corps remains in force upon his left flank, and the main army is in a manner cantoned in his front. Anxious for the public good, I shall continue my unwearied endeavours to stop the progress of the enemy, to reinstate our affairs, to recommence an offensive war, and recover our losses in these southern states.

List of the continental officers killed, captivated, wounded, and missing, in the actions of the 16th and 18th of August, 1780.

Killed. The honourable Major-general the Baron de Kalbe; Captain Williams, 6th Maryland regiment; Captain Duvall, 2d ditto; Lieutenant Donovan, 6th ditto, Lieutenant and Adjutant Coleman, artillery.

Wounded. Captain Somerwell, 6th Maryland regiment; Gibson, 5th ditto; Roun, Virginia-state artillery; Lieutenant Duvall, 3d Maryland regiment; Sears, ditto; Ensign Fickle, 7th.

Prisoners. Lieutenant-colonel Woolford, 5th Maryland regiment, wounded; Lieutenant-colonel Vaughan, Delaware; Lieutenant-colonel Porterfield, Virginia state, wounded; Lieutenant-colonel Du Buson, A. D. C. Gerald [sic] Kalbe, ditto. Majors, Winder, 1st Maryland regiment; Penton, Delaware regiment; Pinkney, A. D. C. General Gates, wounded. Captains, Brice, 3d Maryland regiment; Hoops, 5th ditto; Lynch, 5th; Hamilton, 5th; Hardman, 2d, wounded; Smith, 3d, ditto; Dorset, artillery, ditto. Lieutenant Brune, legion, ditto; Rhoads, Delaware regiment; Lamout, ditto; Captain-lieutenant Waters, artillery; Lieutenant Shoemaker, 4th Maryland regiment, wounded; Hanson, 4th ditto, ditto; Norris, 6th, ditto, ditto; Wallace, artillery, foot legion; Moreley, artillery; Doll, Delaware regiment; Skillington, ditto; Lieutenant and Adjutant Penvie, ditto. Ensigns, Burgis, 4th Maryland regiment; Roach, Delaware regiment. Volunteers, Nelson, 6th Maryland regiment, wounded; Rutledge, 4th ditto.

Missing. Captains, Morris, 7th Maryland regiment, wounded; Gassay, 2d ditto. Lieutenant Gassaway, 2d ditto; Captain Meredith, artillery; Captain-lieutenant Blair, ditto.

Sir,

The above is the most accurate return at present. Those who have received slight contusions, which do not hinder their doing their duty, are not included.

Your most obedient, humble servant,
O. H. WILLIAMS,
Deputy adjutant general.

Hillsborough, August 29, 1780.

N.B. Seven hundred non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Maryland division have rejoined the army. An exact return thereof shall be sent by the next conveyance.

HORATIO GATES.

Published by order of Congress.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Sec.


HOME   TOP