Lexington advertiser., 1860-05-18
The Last Scene of Baron DeKalb's Life
at the Battle of Camden.

at lue baLLle OF CanQen,
In contemplating the noble charac-
ters of those who sacrificed their lives
for our country's cause, our mind is
wont to turn with partial feelings of re-
gret and sadness, upon the last act Of
the i'll l-fated veteran DeKalb, who fell
8R2T tbs g9lsiAfs Of qhfoGa Gap9a&eaRt p9a&eat.iiqay in Whase
trated, the patriotic sentiment that it is
sweet 10 die for our country however
sad and mournful the circumstances that
attended the untimely exit.
Baron DeKalb was born in Germany
and nurtured in the armies of France
had been engaged successfully in her
cause during her Revolutionary period,
and had thus spent the flower of his
days and had grown old in her service
His liberal views alone led him to turn
his attention and lend his aid to the
struggling colonies. lie sought no glo-
ry at our arms-it was solely our just
cause that prompted his presence in the
American army. For he had bounte.
ously reaped the rewards of his hard
earned fame in his own adopted France,
and could have lived out quiet old
are, and the smoke Of his country's
cannon would have settled over bis
crave for what be had already nobly
done for her cause. But nevertheless,
he resolved to assist our little band Of
patriots, who were at that time, SEEM
ingly in vain hope striving with all their
souls to keep alive the spark Of liberty
that yet dim ly hickered on our shores,
therefore he determined to make their
lot his lot, let 1t be life or death be
knew not but that his wlinkled neck
might be pinched by the ignominious
halter, and his bones be left to bleach
on some unknown western wild. And
thus his disinterestedness, save for the
cause of liberty, and his spirit of known
resolution administered greatly to the
forlorn hopes of the American army
South.
That portion Of the army sent to at
tack The British, who lay at Camden was
intrusted 10 Gen. Gates, the hero Of Sar-
atopa, in which the Baron Dekalb, was
promoted Major General. The march
through the 'Barrens' of the eastern
Carolnas was ill.adyised, and owing to
the precipitated movements of Gates
oyer.anxious to meet the foe, the ncces-
sary supplies were neglected, the barren
country over which they passed afford
ed none. And when be reached the VI
cinity of Camden the army presented a
sad spectacle hunger, want and disease
had SO dispirited the men that they were
utterly unfit for the coming engage,
ment. And contrary to the advice OF
the prudent Baron the impetuous Gales
rasniy forced an untimely engagement
which resulted in the total and ing lori.
Gus route of the main body Of the Amer
lean army and the flight of the uOgNl-
liant Gates, leaving the old German vet
eran with mere handful Of men to con
tend with the overwhelming odds of
the British arms lie nevertheless
placed himself at the head Of bis col.
umn and cheering and exhorting his it,
tie band to sustain the unequal contest
10 the last. On an extended plain,
bounded on three sides by thick pine
forests and on the other by an impene
trable swamp on the tight side of which
the Baron hastily arranged his feeble
columns to stand resistance OF the
oyerpowering British regulars they
were soon CALLED on all sides by the en-
les strengthed lines, yet they firmly
stood their ground, The British can
non echoed Snd re-echoed from swamps
and seemed to de,fe2 the musket's rat
Ting peal and the smoke -cf dread con-,
test hid the deadly strife, save %nen 'I
lighted up by the glaring flash oi we
fierce artillery. Closer and closer the
red.coat lines pressed round the narrow
ranks of the Baron, who stood at !he
, head of his front columns plying his
mastery arm and cheering his ltlle
remnant by his example. The British
columns faltered and reeled before the
desperate charge Of their we'll piled bay
, onets; but the Englishmen were sue
cessvely restored by the accession OF
numbers from the rear, yet they tatered
, and reeled again before the redoCu6I:;eeo PIE
efforts of that desperate little band The n,
advantage was now almost decisive till
the final charge of Tarleton's ruthless
) cavalry rode down the remaining n;S; ranks k,
The carnage was complete. The last
American Eagle that had borne itSelI
aloft in the bloody conflict was no"
t trampled in the dust. .,
s The brave Baron fell covered witt
eleven wounds; his last blow was strucl
! his last deed was done-and that too
j so nobly done as TO excite the admiration
of his contending foes that when he
q fell British officer parried a bayone
a that was aimed at his breast and shield
LaJ, &c tba RarOD will