Great on the Battle of Camden, South Carolina...

Item # 713664

December 19, 1780

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, Dec. 19, 1780 See the photos for the very handsome masthead, which features ornate lettering and an engraving of a ship.
A great issue, as two-thirds of the front page and one-third of page 2 are taken up with the details of the Battle of Camden, South Carolina. The report is taken from the "London Gazette Extraordinary".
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the Revolutionary War. On August 16, 1780, British forces under Cornwallis routed the American forces of Horatio Gates five miles north of Camden, strengthening the British hold on the Carolinas after the capture of Charleston. The rout was a humiliating defeat for Gates, whose army had possessed a large numerical superiority over the British force. Following the battle, he never held a field command again.
This is the report from Lord Cornwallis himself and is signed by him in type: Cornwallis. It is followed by a list of the killed, wounded and captures.
Over a full column on page 2 is taken up with: "Doctor Shippen's Vindication" concerning the handling of the military department of the Continental Army.
Most of page 3 is taken up with a lengthy letter concerning a report by Lord George Germaine to Parliament on the Revolutionary War and the hopes for a peace. A few bits include: "...some ambiguity in the phrase 'good and honourable terms for Great Britain' but there can be no reasonable doubt that his lordship meant either to return to their allegiance to Great Britain or at least to make a peace with her, separate from France. Whether the Americans ever will agree to such terms or not..." and: "...If the Americans are as miserable as his lordship represents them, will they not be likely to increase that misery tenfold..." and more.
Note: half of the back leaf has been cut away, but all content noted above is present.
Four pages (but see the note above), some foxing, otherwise in good condition.