In this emergency General Gates was sent to take command in the south. By overcoming Burgoyne with the army prepared by Schuyler and led by Morgan and Arnold, he had won fame and popularity, and was regarded as equal or superior to Washington. He was defeated at Camden by Cornwallis with a smaller force. Gates led the retreat, or stampede, of the militia, while a brave German, De Kalb, with one-third of the army stood at bay against the whole British army and met an honorable death. “We look on America as at our feet,” said an English statesman when the news of this battle was received in England. But it was a general not a people which the English had defeated. The brave settlers on the frontier rallied in their own defense. In October, 1780, they surrounded Ferguson’s troops at King’s Mountain, captured or killed the entire force, and disbanded before the English could attack them. “A numerous army appeared on the frontier drawn from Nolachucky and other settlements beyond the mountains whose very names had been unknown to us,” wrote Lord Rawdon. Two months later, December, 1780, a general was sent to the southern colonies who was worthy of the troops he was to command. This was Greene. The outlook was not promising. Without provisions, military stores, or clothing, and lacking means to provide them, Greene took charge of an army of about two thousand starving, ragged men. Opposed to him were well-disciplined, well-provisioned troops. But his brave soldiers were commanded by such men as William Washington, Morgan, “Light Horse Harry” Lee, Marion, and Sumpter. The patriots were cheered by the victory of Cowpens, won by Morgan’s men, January 17, 1781, over the bold and savage Tarleton.