William Washington's Ride

Lt. Col. Washington led his cavalry around the east side of the battlefield and rode into the British rear at the base of Hobkirk’s Hill, where he found many stragglers, wounded men, doctors, and other noncombatants. He took as many as 200 prisoners, granting most of them parole on their promise not to fight again until exchanged. Lord Rawdon reported that part of the enemy’s cavalry got into the British rear, exacted paroles from several wounded officers, and carried off several wounded men. Washington was so occupied with the captives that he failed to carry out Greene’s order for an immediate attack on the rear of the British battle line. By the time he finished issuing paroles, the Americans had been driven from the hill, and he returned to the main army with fifty prisoners.

Camden, South Carolina · United States