[Footnote 33:  Journal of Colonel Williams.]

Intelligence of the approach of the American army, and of the defection of the country between Pedee and the Black River, had been communicated to Lord Cornwallis, and had induced him to hasten in person to Camden, which place he reached the day Gates arrived at Clermont.

The British army did not much exceed two thousand men, of whom about nineteen hundred were regulars; but, as the whole country was rising, Lord Cornwallis apprehended that every day would strengthen his enemy, and therefore determined to attack him in his camp; hoping, by a prompt execution of this resolution, to surprise him.  By one of those caprices of fortune on which great events often depend, he marched from Camden to attack Gates in Clermont, at the very hour that Gates moved from that place towards Camden.[34]

[Footnote 34:  Journal of Colonel Williams.]

[Sidenote:  August 16.]

About half past two in the morning, the advanced parties of the hostile armies, to their mutual surprise, met in the woods, and began to skirmish with each other.  Some of Armand’s cavalry being wounded by the first fire, threw the others into disorder, and the whole recoiled so suddenly that the first Maryland regiment, composing the front of the column was broken, and the whole line thrown into consternation.  From this first impression, the raw troops never recovered.  The light infantry, however, particularly Porterfield’s corps, behaved so well as to check the advance of the British.  Unfortunately, their gallant commander received a mortal wound, which compelled him to leave his regiment.  Yet a part of it kept its ground; and, with the aid of the legion infantry, stopped the British van; upon which order was restored to the American army.

The officers were immediately employed in forming a line of battle in front.  The Maryland division, including the troops of Delaware, were on the right, the North Carolina militia in the centre, and the Virginia militia on the left.

In this rencounter some prisoners were made, from one of whom Colonel Williams drew the information that the British army, consisting of near three thousand men, commanded by Lord Cornwallis in person, was in full march five or six hundred yards in front.  This intelligence was immediately communicated to General Gates, who had supposed Lord Cornwallis to be still in Charleston.  The general officers were assembled in the rear of the line, and this information submitted to them.  After a short silence, Stevens said, “Gentlemen, is it not too late to do any thing but fight?” No other advice being given, General Gates, who seems to have been himself disposed to risk a battle, directed the officers to repair to their respective commands.

The ground on which the army was drawn up was so narrowed by a marsh on each flank, as to admit of removing the first Maryland brigade, so as to form a second line about two hundred yards in rear of the first.  The artillery was placed in the centre of the first line, and Armstrong’s light infantry was ordered to cover a small interval between the flank of the left wing and the marsh.