News Release

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) announced today that he has introduced a bill to help the Camden battlefield become part of the National Park System.

“The Camden battlefield has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962, but it is not permanently protected,” said Spratt, “and the threats from encroachment loom larger with each year.  Development interests are changing the use of surrounding land from forestry to residential and commercial. Only through National Park status can this historic site be protected by the National Park Service.”

Spratt said that before a site can be designated as a National Park and enjoy the protection going along with it, the National Park Service must conduct a suitability and feasibility study. A March 2003 National Park Service reconnaissance study concluded that further evaluation of the Battle of Camden as an addition to the National Park System was warranted. In fact, the study recommended that the “National Park Service should place a high priority on further evaluation of Camden battlefield as a potential addition to the National Park System.”

“My bill, H.R. 1674, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to undertake the study,” Spratt said.

The Battle of Camden was fought on August 16, 1780. It resulted in a significant defeat for the American forces. The British used Camden as a logistical base for the invasion of North Carolina and as a key recruitment and organizing point for Loyalists throughout the state. The American patriots viewed Camden as a key to retaking South Carolina.  Cornwallis viewed Camden as equally essential to his strategy, which was to mop up the state after the fall of Charleston and move on to Virginia.

Although the battle was a crushing defeat for American forces, it resulted in the replacement of General Gates with General Greene. American patriots rallied their forces to win Kings Mountain and Cowpens and reverse the tide of the Revolution in the South. Thus, the Battle of Camden is a key to understanding how victory came to the Americans at Yorktown.

Spratt’s bill has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, where action is pending.

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