8. He came to Deep River on July 25th, where in camp he found one Delaware and two Maryland battalions of Continentals, Colonel Armand's light-horse and three companies of artillery, under the command of the Baron DeKalb. Learning that General Caswell had a considerable militia force at Cheraw, in South Carolina, he started, two days later, for the neighborhood of Lord Cornwallis and his army at Camden. 9. He reached Cheraw with some additional troops that had joined him on the march. On August 15th, taking a large portion of Caswell's militia, he set out with the purpose of surprising Cornwallis. Colonel Armand was marching in front, when, at midnight, his dragoons recoiled from an unexpected meeting with the British vanguard. The collision was unexpected on both sides, and threw General Gates's column into disorder. 10. His officers vainly besought him to retreat, as the veteran forces of the enemy had not been surprised. Both sides halted and prepared for battle. At dawn Lord Cornwallis sent his regulars with fixed bayonets to attack the militia on the right, and these untrained troops, unable to withstand so fierce an onset from regular veteran soldiers, abandoned the field. 11. Colonel Henry Dickson held his regiment of North Carolina militia firmly to the front, and with the Continental, or regular troops, they offered a stubborn and gallant defence, but the flight of so many made it necessary to withdraw the few who thus gallantly stood their ground. 12. The American defeat was complete. Two thousand men were killed, wounded and captured. All the stores and transportation were utterly lost. General Gates fled early in the action, and spurred on, without stopping, to Hillsboro, in this State. His defeat nearly ruined the American cause in the South, and his reputation as a military leader received a severe blow. [NOTE--The capture of General Griffith Rutherford at Camden was one of the most deplorable incidents of the disaster. His courage, military ability and influence among his people made him invaluable to the American cause.] QUESTIONS. 1. What was the feeling of the Tories in North Carolina after the disaster at Charleston? 2. Where were the Tories assembling? Who was sent to attack them? 3. Describe the attack. What was the result? 4. In what respect was this an important victory? 5. Mention some of Major Davie's exploits. 6. How did these engagements affect Cornwallis? 7. Who was put in command of the Southern forces? What kind of man was General Gates? 8. What was his first military movement? 9. What occurred on August 15th, 1780? 10. How did the engagement result? 11. What was said of Colonel Dickson and his regiment? 12. What was the termination of this affair? How did General Gates act? CHAPTER XXXII. SECOND INVASION OF THE STATE--BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN. A. D. 1780.