1 00:00:01,068 --> 00:00:03,269 Viewers like you make this program possible. 2 00:00:03,270 --> 00:00:05,339 Support your local PBS station. 3 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:12,445 August 1780. 4 00:00:12,446 --> 00:00:17,317 4,000 American Patriots confront 2,000 British soldiers 5 00:00:17,318 --> 00:00:20,787 on a battlefield in Camden, South Carolina. 6 00:00:20,788 --> 00:00:22,989 Camden was the worst tactical defeat 7 00:00:22,990 --> 00:00:27,360 of a Continental-led army in the American Revolution. 8 00:00:27,361 --> 00:00:30,363 After less than an hour of fierce combat, 9 00:00:30,364 --> 00:00:32,899 hundreds lay dead or wounded. 10 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:35,969 This civil war was Loyalist against Patriot, 11 00:00:35,970 --> 00:00:38,571 neighbor against neighbor, father against son. 12 00:00:38,572 --> 00:00:41,274 It was vicious. It was brutal. 13 00:00:41,275 --> 00:00:43,743 Almost 250 years later, 14 00:00:43,744 --> 00:00:48,615 archaeologists uncover the remains of 14 fallen soldiers. 15 00:00:48,616 --> 00:00:53,520 These individuals were tossed in and hastily buried. 16 00:00:53,521 --> 00:00:55,622 It's not a surprise you'd scoop your shovel 17 00:00:55,623 --> 00:00:58,191 and all of a sudden there's bones. 18 00:00:58,192 --> 00:01:00,760 Now, the search for the identity of the men 19 00:01:00,761 --> 00:01:03,997 who fought and fell in the Battle of Camden begins. 20 00:01:03,998 --> 00:01:06,866 Almost half the Continental soldiers were teenagers, 21 00:01:06,867 --> 00:01:10,937 and as a mother of teenage boys, that really hits close to home. 22 00:01:10,938 --> 00:01:14,140 Is it possible to put a name to any of the soldiers 23 00:01:14,141 --> 00:01:15,742 who were recovered? 24 00:01:15,743 --> 00:01:19,913 This is the oldest John Doe identification of that time. 25 00:01:19,914 --> 00:01:23,216 Using exclusive access to DNA from the remains... 26 00:01:23,217 --> 00:01:27,954 These remains were so fragile that just touching them 27 00:01:27,955 --> 00:01:31,858 could make them turn to what felt like dust. 28 00:01:31,859 --> 00:01:34,694 ...and professional genealogical research... 29 00:01:34,695 --> 00:01:36,529 We can see he has a very clear connection 30 00:01:36,530 --> 00:01:38,565 to the Inverness region of Scotland. 31 00:01:38,566 --> 00:01:42,001 ...can the heroes from the Battle of Camden be identified? 32 00:01:42,002 --> 00:01:45,071 Here we are, a little over a year after we started. 33 00:01:45,072 --> 00:01:47,540 I guess y'all are kind of wondering what his name is. 34 00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:06,926 Just 200 feet from Flat Rock Road, in Camden, South Carolina, 35 00:02:06,927 --> 00:02:08,661 lie the remains of soldiers 36 00:02:08,662 --> 00:02:11,397 who died in one of the bloodiest battles 37 00:02:11,398 --> 00:02:13,600 of the American Revolution. 38 00:02:13,601 --> 00:02:15,835 They have been lying where they fell, 39 00:02:15,836 --> 00:02:20,306 just inches below the ground, for more than two centuries. 40 00:02:20,307 --> 00:02:22,976 {\an8}Everybody who was killed there is still there. 41 00:02:22,977 --> 00:02:24,844 {\an8}There was no removal. 42 00:02:24,845 --> 00:02:28,314 {\an8}There are no national cemeteries or repatriation 43 00:02:28,315 --> 00:02:30,483 or anything else. 44 00:02:30,484 --> 00:02:33,820 None of these graves were ever preserved. 45 00:02:33,821 --> 00:02:35,555 The place had been relic-hunted to death 46 00:02:35,556 --> 00:02:39,425 for 25 years probably 47 00:02:39,426 --> 00:02:42,796 before any legitimate archaeology was undertaken. 48 00:02:44,131 --> 00:02:46,900 {\an8}They're looking for the musket balls and the buttons 49 00:02:46,901 --> 00:02:50,537 {\an8}and all those kind of really cool things that you can find. 50 00:02:50,538 --> 00:02:52,372 However, I don't think they consider 51 00:02:52,373 --> 00:02:54,675 that all those things are connected to people. 52 00:02:58,145 --> 00:03:00,613 I was the first person to investigate 53 00:03:00,614 --> 00:03:03,850 Camden as an archaeologist. 54 00:03:03,851 --> 00:03:06,986 Jim Legg, from the South Carolina Institute 55 00:03:06,987 --> 00:03:08,955 of Archaeology and Anthropology, 56 00:03:08,956 --> 00:03:12,892 has been interested in the site since the early 1980s. 57 00:03:12,893 --> 00:03:15,328 Well, I did have specific information 58 00:03:15,329 --> 00:03:17,864 that there were human remains on the site 59 00:03:17,865 --> 00:03:20,567 from collectors that I spoke with. 60 00:03:20,568 --> 00:03:24,437 In 2020, during my COVID vacation, 61 00:03:24,438 --> 00:03:26,773 I got a very deep metal detector reading, 62 00:03:26,774 --> 00:03:29,876 so that made me suspicious that it might be a burial. 63 00:03:29,877 --> 00:03:33,079 And I cleaned the bottom of my little metal detector hole 64 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,649 {\an8}and there was a human femur running through the bottom 65 00:03:36,650 --> 00:03:40,687 {\an8}of the hole, so that was indeed a burial. 66 00:03:40,688 --> 00:03:43,189 {\an8}Ever since I knew that there were burials out there, 67 00:03:43,190 --> 00:03:45,625 I thought it might be a good idea 68 00:03:45,626 --> 00:03:50,196 to have a substantial professional project 69 00:03:50,197 --> 00:03:52,098 to investigate these burials. 70 00:03:56,036 --> 00:03:59,572 A total of six burial sites were identified. 71 00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:04,077 And in 2022, a project was launched to recover the remains. 72 00:04:04,078 --> 00:04:07,180 {\an8}We were asked by the South Carolina Battleground Trust 73 00:04:07,181 --> 00:04:12,452 {\an8}to recover the burials we knew about. 74 00:04:12,453 --> 00:04:15,888 {\an8}We're the only non-profit in South Carolina 75 00:04:15,889 --> 00:04:19,058 {\an8}that preserves South Carolina's battlegrounds 76 00:04:19,059 --> 00:04:21,527 {\an8}and military sites. 77 00:04:21,528 --> 00:04:25,832 The goal being to get them out of the ground, 78 00:04:25,833 --> 00:04:28,935 do a quick scientific investigation 79 00:04:28,936 --> 00:04:34,307 and rebury them properly with full military honors. 80 00:04:34,308 --> 00:04:37,877 Historic Camden is the custodian of the site, 81 00:04:37,878 --> 00:04:40,947 and for Stacey Ferguson it's an important part 82 00:04:40,948 --> 00:04:43,583 of their conservation mission. 83 00:04:43,584 --> 00:04:46,519 So, we take great pains, of course. 84 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,622 We feel duty-bound to the soldiers 85 00:04:49,623 --> 00:04:51,591 that are the hundreds of soldiers 86 00:04:51,592 --> 00:04:54,394 that are still buried there, um, to take excellent care of-- 87 00:04:54,395 --> 00:04:57,030 of the battlefield. 88 00:04:57,031 --> 00:04:59,932 Facilitated by Historic Camden, the team from 89 00:04:59,933 --> 00:05:03,336 the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology 90 00:05:03,337 --> 00:05:05,571 was joined by forensic anthropologists 91 00:05:05,572 --> 00:05:08,608 from the Richland County Coroner's Office. 92 00:05:08,609 --> 00:05:12,111 Typically, we respond to cases involving 93 00:05:12,112 --> 00:05:14,013 {\an8}relatively recent deaths, 94 00:05:14,014 --> 00:05:17,583 {\an8}exhuming remains that have been buried in the cases 95 00:05:17,584 --> 00:05:20,453 {\an8}of homicides, these sorts of things. 96 00:05:20,454 --> 00:05:23,990 We wanted to treat it like a crime scene. 97 00:05:23,991 --> 00:05:27,326 And we wanted to make sure that we got every piece of evidence 98 00:05:27,327 --> 00:05:28,594 out of the ground. 99 00:05:28,595 --> 00:05:30,763 And both of the archaeologists 100 00:05:30,764 --> 00:05:33,934 and the forensic anthropologists have that kind of expertise. 101 00:05:35,536 --> 00:05:41,507 So, our role was to oversee the exhumation to make sure 102 00:05:41,508 --> 00:05:44,811 that it was done ethically 103 00:05:44,812 --> 00:05:47,313 to identify the human skeletal remains, 104 00:05:47,314 --> 00:05:51,617 differentiate between human and faunal or animal remains, 105 00:05:51,618 --> 00:05:54,353 determine things like minimum number of individuals, 106 00:05:54,354 --> 00:05:56,590 how many people are in this grave. 107 00:05:58,258 --> 00:06:03,463 The burials that we found and knew about were very shallow. 108 00:06:03,464 --> 00:06:06,666 In fact, one of the individuals, 109 00:06:06,667 --> 00:06:08,634 in the process of excavating him, 110 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:11,805 we realized that his femurs were sticking above the ground. 111 00:06:13,907 --> 00:06:16,743 What we didn't realize was how many of those areas 112 00:06:16,744 --> 00:06:19,645 were going to be multiple bodies. 113 00:06:19,646 --> 00:06:22,448 So, we thought we were probably exhuming six soldiers 114 00:06:22,449 --> 00:06:24,785 and we ended up exhuming 14. 115 00:06:28,522 --> 00:06:31,491 But who were these fallen soldiers? 116 00:06:31,492 --> 00:06:34,594 Were they Patriots or British? 117 00:06:34,595 --> 00:06:36,896 And what do their remains reveal about the people 118 00:06:36,897 --> 00:06:39,532 who fought and died for America's right 119 00:06:39,533 --> 00:06:41,734 to be an independent nation? 120 00:06:41,735 --> 00:06:44,470 Our goal as forensic anthropologists 121 00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:46,506 is to figure out, you know, 122 00:06:46,507 --> 00:06:48,474 who this person was and what was their life like 123 00:06:48,475 --> 00:06:51,210 and what happened to them, what resulted in their death, 124 00:06:51,211 --> 00:06:56,316 kind of telling the stories that are inscribed on the skeleton. 125 00:06:57,785 --> 00:07:02,688 They'd had 240-odd years of insects and roots 126 00:07:02,689 --> 00:07:06,492 and worms and freezing and thawing. 127 00:07:06,493 --> 00:07:10,463 These remains were so fragile that just touching them 128 00:07:10,464 --> 00:07:14,801 could make them turn to what felt like dust, 129 00:07:14,802 --> 00:07:17,203 so I think that was the biggest surprise 130 00:07:17,204 --> 00:07:19,773 and the biggest scare as well. 131 00:07:22,442 --> 00:07:25,144 Artifacts found among the human remains 132 00:07:25,145 --> 00:07:28,614 make it possible to identify 12 of the 14 133 00:07:28,615 --> 00:07:32,385 as Continental soldiers-- men who were part of America's 134 00:07:32,386 --> 00:07:34,153 new regular army. 135 00:07:34,154 --> 00:07:36,088 Do you want me to get this button out for you there? 136 00:07:36,089 --> 00:07:37,990 I'd feel honored. 137 00:07:37,991 --> 00:07:41,260 They all had the same distinctive buttons bearing 138 00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:44,697 the name of a country that didn't yet exist. 139 00:07:44,698 --> 00:07:48,000 The use of USA on military equipment, 140 00:07:48,001 --> 00:07:50,503 that's really something that was an aspiration. 141 00:07:50,504 --> 00:07:52,572 It was a statement of intent. 142 00:07:52,573 --> 00:07:54,240 It was not an accomplishment. 143 00:07:54,241 --> 00:07:56,276 It was like, "Here's what we'd like to do." 144 00:07:57,477 --> 00:07:58,878 You know, get rid of the king 145 00:07:58,879 --> 00:08:01,914 and establish a republic and so forth. 146 00:08:01,915 --> 00:08:06,118 Although the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, 147 00:08:06,119 --> 00:08:10,022 it would not become a reality until the war was won. 148 00:08:10,023 --> 00:08:12,358 I've often had the thought that the men 149 00:08:12,359 --> 00:08:14,227 who were killed there, 150 00:08:14,228 --> 00:08:16,062 the Continentals who were killed there, 151 00:08:16,063 --> 00:08:19,765 could be forgiven for having thought in their last breaths 152 00:08:19,766 --> 00:08:22,736 they might have thought, "This thing isn't going to work out." 153 00:08:25,739 --> 00:08:30,376 The American Revolution begins in 1775. 154 00:08:30,377 --> 00:08:32,745 Thirteen British colonies in North America 155 00:08:32,746 --> 00:08:35,848 fight to win their independence. 156 00:08:35,849 --> 00:08:40,253 By 1780, the conflict has reached a stalemate in the north 157 00:08:40,254 --> 00:08:42,321 and the British turn their attention south, 158 00:08:42,322 --> 00:08:44,390 to the Carolinas. 159 00:08:44,391 --> 00:08:46,759 Here, they expect more Loyalist support 160 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,729 among the local population. 161 00:08:49,997 --> 00:08:52,999 In May, British General Clinton captures the city 162 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,736 of Charleston, South Carolina's capital, a major port 163 00:08:56,737 --> 00:08:59,373 that could serve as a strategic base. 164 00:09:02,209 --> 00:09:04,143 The British, uh, should be thinking 165 00:09:04,144 --> 00:09:05,945 pretty good things of themselves. 166 00:09:05,946 --> 00:09:08,180 They're successful with the capture of Charleston, 167 00:09:08,181 --> 00:09:10,716 captured the entire Southern Army. 168 00:09:10,717 --> 00:09:14,954 The British are very, very high in morale. 169 00:09:14,955 --> 00:09:17,890 There are no trained Patriot forces in the area 170 00:09:17,891 --> 00:09:20,726 to defend the Carolinas from the British. 171 00:09:20,727 --> 00:09:23,429 General Horatio Gates is put in charge 172 00:09:23,430 --> 00:09:26,732 of assembling a new Continental Army. 173 00:09:26,733 --> 00:09:29,235 General Gates had a good background. 174 00:09:29,236 --> 00:09:31,604 His background was more logistics. 175 00:09:31,605 --> 00:09:33,439 And so, when the war kicks in, 176 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,107 he kind of comes forward and say, 177 00:09:35,108 --> 00:09:36,475 "Hey, I've got all this experience." 178 00:09:36,476 --> 00:09:38,477 Gates was born in Britain. 179 00:09:38,478 --> 00:09:40,546 He served in the British Army during the French 180 00:09:40,547 --> 00:09:42,581 and Indian Wars in the 1750s 181 00:09:42,582 --> 00:09:45,952 alongside colonists like George Washington. 182 00:09:45,953 --> 00:09:48,854 But he became disillusioned with his prospects. 183 00:09:48,855 --> 00:09:51,190 Because he'd not received the preferment 184 00:09:51,191 --> 00:09:52,925 as they would've called it, 185 00:09:52,926 --> 00:09:54,660 {\an8}the promotions, he thought he deserved, 186 00:09:54,661 --> 00:09:58,364 {\an8}then resigns his commission, moves to the colonies, 187 00:09:58,365 --> 00:10:00,166 {\an8}and when the rebellion begins, 188 00:10:00,167 --> 00:10:05,237 {\an8}actually makes a decision to be actively against Britain. 189 00:10:05,238 --> 00:10:08,708 Gates had served the Patriot cause with distinction. 190 00:10:08,709 --> 00:10:13,980 In 1777, he forced British troops to surrender at Saratoga, 191 00:10:13,981 --> 00:10:17,717 a victory that many saw as a turning point in the war. 192 00:10:17,718 --> 00:10:20,553 {\an8}A new army is formed by the Patriots 193 00:10:20,554 --> 00:10:23,789 {\an8}with General Gates leading them. 194 00:10:23,790 --> 00:10:30,830 And he's marching south with new soldiers to fight the British. 195 00:10:30,831 --> 00:10:34,066 Gates assembles his army in North Carolina. 196 00:10:34,067 --> 00:10:35,735 Regular Continental soldiers 197 00:10:35,736 --> 00:10:38,137 who have marched south from New Jersey 198 00:10:38,138 --> 00:10:40,639 are joined by local militia raised 199 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,009 in Virginia and North Carolina. 200 00:10:43,010 --> 00:10:46,045 These militia units are made up of civilians. 201 00:10:46,046 --> 00:10:48,647 Both sides recruit from the local population 202 00:10:48,648 --> 00:10:50,683 whose support for one side 203 00:10:50,684 --> 00:10:53,686 or the other is crucial to who might eventually win. 204 00:10:53,687 --> 00:10:56,789 This civil war was Loyalist against Patriot, 205 00:10:56,790 --> 00:10:59,658 neighbor against neighbor, father against son. 206 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:01,961 I mean, it was-- it was vicious. 207 00:11:01,962 --> 00:11:03,529 It was brutal. 208 00:11:03,530 --> 00:11:05,798 A lot of people became a Loyalist 209 00:11:05,799 --> 00:11:08,034 because they were always a Loyalist. 210 00:11:08,035 --> 00:11:09,835 There was no question, you know. 211 00:11:09,836 --> 00:11:12,471 "My granddaddy, uh, supported the king." 212 00:11:12,472 --> 00:11:14,607 He fought in the army, 213 00:11:14,608 --> 00:11:16,809 he did whatever, and they were gonna support the king. 214 00:11:16,810 --> 00:11:18,878 "I received a land grant from the king, 215 00:11:18,879 --> 00:11:20,946 therefore I cannot turn my back on the king. 216 00:11:20,947 --> 00:11:24,884 You know, he gave me the prosperity that I have." 217 00:11:24,885 --> 00:11:27,019 Many of those who joined the Patriot cause 218 00:11:27,020 --> 00:11:30,022 were not fighting to defend what they had 219 00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:32,725 but risking it all for an idea. 220 00:11:32,726 --> 00:11:34,627 Fire! 221 00:11:34,628 --> 00:11:37,963 And then there were others that, quite frankly, 222 00:11:37,964 --> 00:11:43,903 uh, they gave up their wealth, their prosperity, 223 00:11:43,904 --> 00:11:45,771 their livelihood, 224 00:11:45,772 --> 00:11:48,641 and in many cases, their lives because they had 225 00:11:48,642 --> 00:11:52,778 a greater concept that they wanted to try to achieve. 226 00:11:52,779 --> 00:11:55,948 And that was an independent nation. 227 00:11:55,949 --> 00:11:58,951 Gates' army now has the numbers needed to mount 228 00:11:58,952 --> 00:12:01,287 military operations. 229 00:12:01,288 --> 00:12:03,689 His plan is to take up a defensive position 230 00:12:03,690 --> 00:12:07,226 near the British and support local Patriot militias 231 00:12:07,227 --> 00:12:09,895 while threatening British supply lines. 232 00:12:09,896 --> 00:12:12,765 But his troops' own supplies are dwindling. 233 00:12:12,766 --> 00:12:15,067 And so his army is threadbare. 234 00:12:15,068 --> 00:12:18,471 His army is starving. Uh, as a matter of fact, 235 00:12:18,472 --> 00:12:20,573 when he said, "we'll be prepared to march in 236 00:12:20,574 --> 00:12:23,342 in a day or so," uh, one of his officers said, 237 00:12:23,343 --> 00:12:24,810 "Sir, we're starving." 238 00:12:24,811 --> 00:12:26,345 And he said, "We can either starve here 239 00:12:26,346 --> 00:12:28,714 or starve somewhere else." 240 00:12:28,715 --> 00:12:30,749 Gates' army is headed into country 241 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:33,953 where there are no supplies to be had along the way. 242 00:12:33,954 --> 00:12:36,489 So, there's a 17-day march 243 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:39,792 in which they're approaching Camden, South Carolina, 244 00:12:39,793 --> 00:12:42,461 and they're subsisting on green peaches, 245 00:12:42,462 --> 00:12:44,864 green corn, and brown water. 246 00:12:44,865 --> 00:12:49,569 So, these guys, you know, in a very, very debilitated state. 247 00:12:51,404 --> 00:12:52,838 At the same time, 248 00:12:52,839 --> 00:12:54,740 the British set up camp at Camden, 249 00:12:54,741 --> 00:12:58,777 the oldest inland town in South Carolina. 250 00:12:58,778 --> 00:13:03,482 So, Camden was founded by Scots-Irish Quakers, 251 00:13:03,483 --> 00:13:06,919 uh, in the early 1700s. 252 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,588 It had a pretty large population for its-- 253 00:13:09,589 --> 00:13:13,526 for its time and for the backcountry of South Carolina. 254 00:13:13,527 --> 00:13:15,361 Its location at the intersection 255 00:13:15,362 --> 00:13:16,762 of the Great Wagon Road 256 00:13:16,763 --> 00:13:19,365 and the Wateree River make it a stopping point 257 00:13:19,366 --> 00:13:21,333 on key trade routes. 258 00:13:21,334 --> 00:13:24,837 A town ledger from the mid-1700s still exists 259 00:13:24,838 --> 00:13:27,840 and paints a picture of a thriving small town. 260 00:13:27,841 --> 00:13:31,277 It's a really fascinating look at the commerce 261 00:13:31,278 --> 00:13:35,714 going on in Camden during the 1700s. 262 00:13:35,715 --> 00:13:37,283 So, for instance I'm looking here 263 00:13:37,284 --> 00:13:40,119 and I'm seeing Jamaica rum, sugar. 264 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,489 You also see things such as spices, 265 00:13:43,490 --> 00:13:47,393 cinnamon, nutmeg, coffee. 266 00:13:47,394 --> 00:13:50,930 It was ideal for keeping an army well supplied. 267 00:13:50,931 --> 00:13:53,232 The reason they're here is we're the breadbasket. 268 00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:55,935 We have mills, we can feed people, 269 00:13:55,936 --> 00:13:59,272 and it's where they can stage the invasion of the Carolinas. 270 00:14:02,609 --> 00:14:05,611 Taking over a Georgian mansion as their headquarters, 271 00:14:05,612 --> 00:14:07,546 they built fortifications, 272 00:14:07,547 --> 00:14:10,083 barracks, and a military hospital. 273 00:14:12,686 --> 00:14:17,623 In 2026, a new archaeological team began exploring the site 274 00:14:17,624 --> 00:14:19,458 of the British camp. 275 00:14:19,459 --> 00:14:20,859 {\an8}So, where we're standing at the moment, 276 00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:22,461 {\an8}we're inside what would've been the 1780, 277 00:14:22,462 --> 00:14:26,332 {\an8}1781 British encampment within Camden. 278 00:14:26,333 --> 00:14:27,666 My name is Stephen Humphreys. 279 00:14:27,667 --> 00:14:29,568 I'm the Chief Executive Officer 280 00:14:29,569 --> 00:14:31,570 of American Veterans Archaeological Recovery. 281 00:14:31,571 --> 00:14:34,039 So, I'm the lead investigator on 282 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:35,874 both the battlefield study that we're doing 283 00:14:35,875 --> 00:14:38,310 and the excavation that we're doing. 284 00:14:38,311 --> 00:14:40,246 If you look at this map, which is from 1781, 285 00:14:40,247 --> 00:14:42,214 this sketch, uh, 286 00:14:42,215 --> 00:14:45,951 you can see we would be standing roughly in this area here. 287 00:14:45,952 --> 00:14:47,419 Now, what we're doing here 288 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:48,654 is we're running ground-penetrating radar 289 00:14:48,655 --> 00:14:50,623 across the entirety of this area 290 00:14:50,624 --> 00:14:52,725 in order to pick up anomalies in the ground. 291 00:14:52,726 --> 00:14:55,894 And we're then doing excavation on a minor scale 292 00:14:55,895 --> 00:14:57,997 in order to ground truth those anomalies, 293 00:14:57,998 --> 00:14:59,765 so that we can really start talking about 294 00:14:59,766 --> 00:15:01,700 how the British lived while they were here. 295 00:15:01,701 --> 00:15:04,737 The finds from the site tell a surprising story 296 00:15:04,738 --> 00:15:07,139 about British army life at Camden. 297 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:10,909 It seems as if they did have a taste for the finer things 298 00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:13,045 even while they were in this environment. 299 00:15:13,046 --> 00:15:15,347 Here you've got at least one, 300 00:15:15,348 --> 00:15:18,584 um, really nice ware ceramic vessel. 301 00:15:18,585 --> 00:15:20,519 {\an8}You've got a glass bottle, a glass cup here, 302 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:22,388 {\an8}which is fascinating. 303 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:24,156 I mean, this looks like it could be modern. 304 00:15:24,157 --> 00:15:27,092 Um, it's not, but the type of material that come out, 305 00:15:27,093 --> 00:15:28,794 I think that's, that's colonial, 306 00:15:28,795 --> 00:15:30,429 I think a lot of people are surprised at just how modern 307 00:15:30,430 --> 00:15:32,532 and how high-end this stuff looks. 308 00:15:33,867 --> 00:15:35,968 The British meet little resistance 309 00:15:35,969 --> 00:15:37,670 when they arrive in Camden. 310 00:15:37,671 --> 00:15:40,406 There were areas where there were strong Loyalist 311 00:15:40,407 --> 00:15:42,675 and strong rebel support. 312 00:15:42,676 --> 00:15:47,079 Camden was probably mostly Loyalist. 313 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:51,984 It wasn't a big deal to walk into Camden by Cornwallis 314 00:15:51,985 --> 00:15:54,019 and settle down there. 315 00:15:54,020 --> 00:15:56,021 British forces in the Carolinas 316 00:15:56,022 --> 00:15:59,825 are now under the command of General Lord Cornwallis. 317 00:15:59,826 --> 00:16:03,629 But he has mixed feelings about the war. 318 00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:07,900 Cornwallis was a nobleman, a member of the House of Lords, 319 00:16:07,901 --> 00:16:12,771 one of five out of a hundred members of the House of Lords 320 00:16:12,772 --> 00:16:18,344 to actively speak against trying to put down the rebellion. 321 00:16:18,345 --> 00:16:21,780 He actually wants the rebellion to succeed. 322 00:16:21,781 --> 00:16:25,284 He sees it as being a fair cause, 323 00:16:25,285 --> 00:16:28,587 but when told that he will command an army 324 00:16:28,588 --> 00:16:30,522 and he will fight against them, 325 00:16:30,523 --> 00:16:33,425 then he knows basically that's his duty, 326 00:16:33,426 --> 00:16:37,963 and he does it, I suspect at times, unwillingly. 327 00:16:37,964 --> 00:16:40,699 Cornwallis has just over 2,000 men available 328 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,601 for the coming battle. 329 00:16:42,602 --> 00:16:45,471 Some are volunteer units raised in the Americas, 330 00:16:45,472 --> 00:16:48,040 but most are professional British soldiers 331 00:16:48,041 --> 00:16:50,710 that include battle-hardened regiments. 332 00:16:52,045 --> 00:16:55,781 General Gates' army outnumbers the British two to one, 333 00:16:55,782 --> 00:16:58,951 but the majority are volunteer militia. 334 00:16:58,952 --> 00:17:01,487 These men may be committed to the Patriot cause 335 00:17:01,488 --> 00:17:03,856 and are often effective guerrilla fighters 336 00:17:03,857 --> 00:17:05,691 but they lack the training and discipline 337 00:17:05,692 --> 00:17:07,860 needed for formal battle. 338 00:17:07,861 --> 00:17:10,362 You're wondering if you'll be able to stand and fight. 339 00:17:10,363 --> 00:17:14,433 Will I have it within myself to be able to do what I should do? 340 00:17:14,434 --> 00:17:17,070 Will I chicken out? Will I run? 341 00:17:18,972 --> 00:17:21,774 However, uniform buttons found in the graves 342 00:17:21,775 --> 00:17:25,244 provided clear evidence that the uncovered remains belonged to 343 00:17:25,245 --> 00:17:28,647 regular soldiers, not militiamen. 344 00:17:28,648 --> 00:17:31,083 These men were already veterans of battles 345 00:17:31,084 --> 00:17:34,386 fought against the British in the northern colonies. 346 00:17:34,387 --> 00:17:36,555 But close examination of the bones 347 00:17:36,556 --> 00:17:39,625 revealed something unexpected. 348 00:17:39,626 --> 00:17:41,627 One of the most surprising discoveries 349 00:17:41,628 --> 00:17:43,529 I think right off the bat was the discovery 350 00:17:43,530 --> 00:17:47,232 of unfused epiphyses or unfused growth plates 351 00:17:47,233 --> 00:17:51,069 which immediately indicated that some of these individuals 352 00:17:51,070 --> 00:17:53,605 were not yet fully grown, so kind of having 353 00:17:53,606 --> 00:17:55,974 the sobering realization 354 00:17:55,975 --> 00:18:00,012 that there were children and teenagers involved. 355 00:18:00,013 --> 00:18:04,783 Men who were 14 or 15 were considered adults. 356 00:18:04,784 --> 00:18:08,220 They were already embarking on their trade, whatever it was. 357 00:18:08,221 --> 00:18:09,688 They were getting married. 358 00:18:09,689 --> 00:18:13,559 The concept that a 14- or 15-year-old was a child 359 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:16,128 is a very recent creation. 360 00:18:16,129 --> 00:18:18,931 Records have revealed that at least one of these teenagers 361 00:18:18,932 --> 00:18:22,701 who fought at Camden was African-American. 362 00:18:22,702 --> 00:18:26,772 Jacob Jeffers was a free man fighting for liberty. 363 00:18:26,773 --> 00:18:29,942 The Continental Army was not segregated, something 364 00:18:29,943 --> 00:18:32,578 rarely depicted in historical paintings produced 365 00:18:32,579 --> 00:18:34,847 in the 19th and 20th centuries. 366 00:18:34,848 --> 00:18:37,583 Well, intellectually we knew 367 00:18:37,584 --> 00:18:41,553 that young people were serving in the Continental lines 368 00:18:41,554 --> 00:18:43,422 throughout the war. 369 00:18:43,423 --> 00:18:46,191 But to see it up close and to see it to be real, 370 00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:48,494 archaeology, the power of archaeology 371 00:18:48,495 --> 00:18:50,395 is it makes things real. 372 00:18:50,396 --> 00:18:52,831 It's not an abstract thing. 373 00:18:52,832 --> 00:18:56,569 Every time we exposed a burial, it became emotional. 374 00:18:57,904 --> 00:19:00,138 From the burial location on the battlefield, 375 00:19:00,139 --> 00:19:03,709 the team was able to conclude these teenage soldiers were part 376 00:19:03,710 --> 00:19:05,644 of the Maryland line, 377 00:19:05,645 --> 00:19:07,813 one of the most accomplished, disciplined, 378 00:19:07,814 --> 00:19:11,250 and reliable fighting forces in the Continental Army. 379 00:19:11,251 --> 00:19:13,252 The Maryland division was exceptional. 380 00:19:13,253 --> 00:19:16,154 Uh, they fought in all the major battles in the north. 381 00:19:16,155 --> 00:19:20,659 Uh, one of the key engagements that they were in was, 382 00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:24,396 of course, the actions around New York. 383 00:19:24,397 --> 00:19:28,767 The Maryland division was famed for its heroic rearguard action 384 00:19:28,768 --> 00:19:32,804 at the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. 385 00:19:32,805 --> 00:19:35,475 They sustained heavy, heavy casualties. 386 00:19:37,777 --> 00:19:40,646 But it enabled the Army to get away 387 00:19:40,647 --> 00:19:42,581 to include George Washington. 388 00:19:42,582 --> 00:19:44,349 If Washington had been killed or captured, 389 00:19:44,350 --> 00:19:46,385 that probably would've been it for the war. 390 00:19:46,386 --> 00:19:48,453 So, they very literally 391 00:19:48,454 --> 00:19:53,058 saved the Continental Army on a few occasions. 392 00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:55,527 Military records show that some of the soldiers 393 00:19:55,528 --> 00:19:57,496 who lost their lives at Camden 394 00:19:57,497 --> 00:20:00,900 had already proven their courage in the North. 395 00:20:02,468 --> 00:20:05,003 Well, by the time Camden came along, 396 00:20:05,004 --> 00:20:09,608 they were veterans, even though they were teenagers. 397 00:20:09,609 --> 00:20:12,678 They had seen a lot of combat. 398 00:20:12,679 --> 00:20:16,949 They had seen a lot of difficult times, 399 00:20:16,950 --> 00:20:20,819 both in living through winter encampments 400 00:20:20,820 --> 00:20:22,955 and marching south without any food. 401 00:20:22,956 --> 00:20:25,657 They were in pretty bad shape by the time 402 00:20:25,658 --> 00:20:28,126 the Battle of Camden occurred. 403 00:20:28,127 --> 00:20:30,062 By the night of August 12th, 404 00:20:30,063 --> 00:20:33,699 Gates' forces are just 15 miles north of Camden, 405 00:20:33,700 --> 00:20:35,534 and the general is searching for the right place 406 00:20:35,535 --> 00:20:37,703 to establish his position. 407 00:20:37,704 --> 00:20:41,573 The night that we're talking about Gates, uh, 408 00:20:41,574 --> 00:20:46,144 {\an8}is actually trying to reposition to Saunders Creek. 409 00:20:46,145 --> 00:20:49,014 {\an8}It will be a better defensive position for him. 410 00:20:49,015 --> 00:20:51,583 It gives them a better chance to fight in a way 411 00:20:51,584 --> 00:20:53,518 that would best suit them. 412 00:20:53,519 --> 00:20:57,255 So that's his intent as he's marching that night. 413 00:20:57,256 --> 00:20:59,725 On the same night, at the same time, 414 00:20:59,726 --> 00:21:01,994 aware of the approaching soldiers, 415 00:21:01,995 --> 00:21:05,130 British General Cornwallis sends his troops 416 00:21:05,131 --> 00:21:07,366 toward the Continental Army. 417 00:21:07,367 --> 00:21:09,267 So, his intent was to go in 418 00:21:09,268 --> 00:21:12,471 and hit the Continentals and the militia 419 00:21:12,472 --> 00:21:15,007 and, uh, and have the first, 420 00:21:15,008 --> 00:21:18,944 uh, attack and also be able to gain the initiative. 421 00:21:18,945 --> 00:21:20,379 So, he is going to march. 422 00:21:20,380 --> 00:21:22,648 It's August in South Carolina, 423 00:21:22,649 --> 00:21:24,683 so it's best if you march at night. 424 00:21:24,684 --> 00:21:27,753 It's cooler, plus his objective was to hit right at daylight, 425 00:21:27,754 --> 00:21:29,789 so marching at night makes sense. 426 00:21:31,758 --> 00:21:35,994 Two opposing forces approaching from opposite sides 427 00:21:35,995 --> 00:21:37,996 on the same road, 428 00:21:37,997 --> 00:21:40,499 and they're gonna make contact about 2:30 in the morning. 429 00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:43,802 The Patriot army is ordered to march in silence. 430 00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:46,138 If anyone made noise, commanders were authorized 431 00:21:46,139 --> 00:21:47,973 to kill them on the spot. 432 00:21:47,974 --> 00:21:50,108 So therefore, I'm pretty sure it was a quiet march 433 00:21:50,109 --> 00:21:53,912 as they're doing that, but up front, there are shadows, 434 00:21:53,913 --> 00:21:58,116 and you hear "Halt. Who's there?" 435 00:21:58,117 --> 00:22:02,587 They're face to face with the British army, who open fire. 436 00:22:02,588 --> 00:22:05,590 So, 20 of them fire their pistols, boom. 437 00:22:05,591 --> 00:22:07,192 In the middle of the night, all of a sudden, 438 00:22:07,193 --> 00:22:09,027 you have this echoing of sound. 439 00:22:11,064 --> 00:22:14,032 And then it's followed by charge, charge, charge. 440 00:22:14,033 --> 00:22:16,568 And everyone has drawn their sabers by this time. 441 00:22:16,569 --> 00:22:18,036 And there's the clash of steel. 442 00:22:18,037 --> 00:22:20,338 There are horses whinnying and men yelling, 443 00:22:20,339 --> 00:22:22,642 all this going on simultaneously. 444 00:22:23,543 --> 00:22:26,745 General Gates has been taken by surprise. 445 00:22:26,746 --> 00:22:30,048 General Gates finds out from prisoners and other folks 446 00:22:30,049 --> 00:22:32,784 that he's got Lord Cornwallis in front of him. 447 00:22:32,785 --> 00:22:36,421 When he finds that out, he has now got to make a decision 448 00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:38,658 if he's gonna stand and fight or retreat. 449 00:22:39,826 --> 00:22:42,761 Gates' original plan is in tatters. 450 00:22:42,762 --> 00:22:44,930 He decides he will fight, 451 00:22:44,931 --> 00:22:47,165 but neither side wants a battle at night, 452 00:22:47,166 --> 00:22:48,801 so they wait until morning. 453 00:22:49,902 --> 00:22:53,872 It was a waiting game as they waited for daylight. 454 00:22:53,873 --> 00:22:57,843 And for the British, it was not so much of a problem. 455 00:22:57,844 --> 00:22:59,811 They were very experienced troops. 456 00:22:59,812 --> 00:23:03,014 Cornwallis' order was sleep on your arms. 457 00:23:03,015 --> 00:23:05,784 So, in their formation, they spread out, 458 00:23:05,785 --> 00:23:10,322 they go to sleep, they rest for about two hours. 459 00:23:10,323 --> 00:23:12,124 The Patriot army, suffering from 460 00:23:12,125 --> 00:23:14,226 hunger, sickness and fatigue, 461 00:23:14,227 --> 00:23:15,994 is not resting as easily. 462 00:23:15,995 --> 00:23:19,197 That had to be an extremely nervous time for them. 463 00:23:19,198 --> 00:23:22,033 I can imagine the NCOs and officers trooping the line-- 464 00:23:22,034 --> 00:23:23,835 "Be sure to take your time when you load. 465 00:23:23,836 --> 00:23:25,504 Don't drop your musket ball. 466 00:23:25,505 --> 00:23:27,372 Hey, listen for our commands," 467 00:23:27,373 --> 00:23:29,575 those things to settle their nerves. 468 00:23:31,711 --> 00:23:35,747 As dawn breaks, the two armies prepare for battle. 469 00:23:35,748 --> 00:23:38,517 The Continental artillery fires the first shots 470 00:23:38,518 --> 00:23:41,653 on the British infantry massing in front of them. 471 00:23:41,654 --> 00:23:44,222 The Battle of Camden has begun. 472 00:23:48,161 --> 00:23:52,631 The standard weapon for most troops was a smooth-bore musket. 473 00:23:52,632 --> 00:23:56,268 The muskets had limited range and were highly inaccurate. 474 00:23:56,269 --> 00:23:59,237 Soldiers were trained to use their weapons for volley fire 475 00:23:59,238 --> 00:24:03,575 at enemy formations rather than pick individual targets. 476 00:24:03,576 --> 00:24:06,478 Warfare at the end of the 18th century 477 00:24:06,479 --> 00:24:09,581 is very much based on linear tactics. 478 00:24:09,582 --> 00:24:12,851 You need to have lines of men, two, 479 00:24:12,852 --> 00:24:15,387 normally three deep at this period, 480 00:24:15,388 --> 00:24:17,322 actually all firing at once 481 00:24:17,323 --> 00:24:19,457 so as to get as many bullets as possible, 482 00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:22,929 or musket balls, going down range. 483 00:24:25,097 --> 00:24:27,899 Soldiers were drilled to be as efficient as possible 484 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:31,503 at the laborious process of loading their muskets. 485 00:24:31,504 --> 00:24:35,173 The soldier reaches into his leather pouch, 486 00:24:35,174 --> 00:24:38,009 takes out a cartridge, like this. 487 00:24:38,010 --> 00:24:40,579 What happens is the soldier, when he is recruited, 488 00:24:40,580 --> 00:24:42,814 {\an8}is required to have good side teeth. 489 00:24:42,815 --> 00:24:46,017 {\an8}So that he's able to bite the top of the cartridge off, 490 00:24:46,018 --> 00:24:49,621 {\an8}spit the top out, pour some into the pan here. 491 00:24:49,622 --> 00:24:53,024 Close the frizzen over it to protect it from rain 492 00:24:53,025 --> 00:24:54,459 or being blown away. 493 00:24:54,460 --> 00:24:56,596 Then upend the musket... 494 00:24:57,997 --> 00:25:02,367 ...and pour the rest of the powder down the bore, 495 00:25:02,368 --> 00:25:08,373 then the ball and the paper containing it on top of it, 496 00:25:08,374 --> 00:25:10,843 and ram rod out... 497 00:25:12,511 --> 00:25:16,348 ...drive the whole lot hard down into the breach. 498 00:25:16,349 --> 00:25:18,850 Now we go to full cock 499 00:25:18,851 --> 00:25:24,456 and as we pull the trigger, the flint will fly into the frizzen 500 00:25:24,457 --> 00:25:26,858 there, so you get the initial flash, 501 00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:29,160 and then it goes through to the main charge. 502 00:25:29,161 --> 00:25:30,962 Main charge detonates. 503 00:25:30,963 --> 00:25:33,199 Ball is sent down towards the target. 504 00:25:36,035 --> 00:25:38,436 The percentage of musket balls that were fired 505 00:25:38,437 --> 00:25:41,406 and found a target would have been very low. 506 00:25:41,407 --> 00:25:44,809 Spent ammunition makes up more than 95% 507 00:25:44,810 --> 00:25:47,679 of the artifacts recovered from the battlefield. 508 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,248 Stephen Humphreys can tell by the caliber 509 00:25:50,249 --> 00:25:52,117 which side they belong to. 510 00:25:52,118 --> 00:25:54,619 So, what we've got here are a couple of American balls. 511 00:25:54,620 --> 00:25:56,655 {\an8}This one has been fired, 512 00:25:56,656 --> 00:25:59,157 {\an8}and we know that because it has a ram rod mark on it, 513 00:25:59,158 --> 00:26:02,761 {\an8}which means it has been rammed down into a firearm 514 00:26:02,762 --> 00:26:04,629 and presumably has exited the firearm 515 00:26:04,630 --> 00:26:07,632 {\an8}because we didn't find it inside a firearm, of course. 516 00:26:07,633 --> 00:26:09,100 {\an8}This one is particularly interesting. 517 00:26:09,101 --> 00:26:12,103 {\an8}This is a British ball. This calculates to 0.7 caliber. 518 00:26:12,104 --> 00:26:14,973 Uh, so we think it came out of a British Brown Bess, 519 00:26:14,974 --> 00:26:16,808 but the interesting thing about this particular ball 520 00:26:16,809 --> 00:26:19,244 is that it does have fabric patterning on it. 521 00:26:19,245 --> 00:26:21,780 So, the only reason you really would have something like this 522 00:26:21,781 --> 00:26:23,782 is if it went through cloth. 523 00:26:23,783 --> 00:26:25,884 So obviously our conclusion there is that this 524 00:26:25,885 --> 00:26:27,953 was probably fired by a British soldier, 525 00:26:27,954 --> 00:26:30,322 {\an8}probably impacted an American soldier. 526 00:26:30,323 --> 00:26:33,591 {\an8}Obviously the fate of that individual will never be known. 527 00:26:33,592 --> 00:26:35,527 {\an8}Um, but with a ball, 528 00:26:35,528 --> 00:26:37,729 {\an8}a lead ball of this size going at the velocities 529 00:26:37,730 --> 00:26:40,532 they went at that time, um, uh, 530 00:26:40,533 --> 00:26:42,500 definitely wouldn't have been a pleasant experience. 531 00:26:42,501 --> 00:26:45,137 Likely would've been, uh, badly damaging or fatal. 532 00:26:46,372 --> 00:26:49,441 Both sides place their best soldiers on the right 533 00:26:49,442 --> 00:26:51,209 of their line, 534 00:26:51,210 --> 00:26:56,581 but Gates only has his militias to occupy the center and left. 535 00:26:56,582 --> 00:26:59,484 Now you have the best infantry in the world 536 00:26:59,485 --> 00:27:01,386 going up against raw militia. 537 00:27:01,387 --> 00:27:03,388 Cornwallis was probably licking his chops. 538 00:27:03,389 --> 00:27:05,323 He was like, "Yes, this is a good thing. 539 00:27:05,324 --> 00:27:06,925 We can do this." 540 00:27:06,926 --> 00:27:09,361 As clouds of gunsmoke obscure the battlefield, 541 00:27:09,362 --> 00:27:11,129 the British begin their advance. 542 00:27:11,130 --> 00:27:12,497 At least one account said 543 00:27:12,498 --> 00:27:14,833 that you could see no more than about 20 feet. 544 00:27:14,834 --> 00:27:18,269 So that adds to the psychological aspects 545 00:27:18,270 --> 00:27:22,040 as you have bayonets coming out of the gloam of darkness, 546 00:27:22,041 --> 00:27:26,011 literally out of the fog of war to attack these folks. 547 00:27:26,012 --> 00:27:28,279 And they're yelling, "Huzzah, huzzah," 548 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,382 particularly against militia 549 00:27:30,383 --> 00:27:33,885 who have never faced this type of thing. 550 00:27:33,886 --> 00:27:36,187 That was a major psychological moment. 551 00:27:36,188 --> 00:27:41,292 A few men fire, most seeing the bayonets coming to them, 552 00:27:41,293 --> 00:27:42,794 and these folks do not have bayonets 553 00:27:42,795 --> 00:27:46,064 of their own turn and ran. 554 00:27:46,065 --> 00:27:51,404 Most of the militia on this side ran without firing a shot. 555 00:27:52,972 --> 00:27:56,007 The Continental defeat at Camden was largely caused 556 00:27:56,008 --> 00:27:59,177 by the militiamen abandoning their posts. 557 00:27:59,178 --> 00:28:01,413 As they drop their weapons and run, 558 00:28:01,414 --> 00:28:04,416 the other units are left unsupported. 559 00:28:04,417 --> 00:28:07,152 But some troops, including the Marylanders, 560 00:28:07,153 --> 00:28:10,121 stand firm and take the brunt of the casualties 561 00:28:10,122 --> 00:28:12,424 suffered that day. 562 00:28:12,425 --> 00:28:14,793 Despite now being heavily outnumbered, 563 00:28:14,794 --> 00:28:17,796 they drive back repeated British attacks 564 00:28:17,797 --> 00:28:21,366 and even mount their own assaults on the British line. 565 00:28:21,367 --> 00:28:25,504 The battle is now being fought at the point of the bayonet. 566 00:28:26,939 --> 00:28:28,940 It was savage. 567 00:28:28,941 --> 00:28:33,711 Soldier goes down, use the butt of your, uh, musket, 568 00:28:33,712 --> 00:28:37,182 use your bayonet, and then you go to the next man. 569 00:28:37,183 --> 00:28:39,050 All this has taken place, 570 00:28:39,051 --> 00:28:42,887 and slowly the first brigade is getting pushed 571 00:28:42,888 --> 00:28:45,356 all the way back here to the road. 572 00:28:45,357 --> 00:28:48,159 And as they're doing that on the west side, 573 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:51,830 bayonet attacks back and forth. 574 00:28:51,831 --> 00:28:53,999 It is savage. It is brutal. 575 00:28:56,669 --> 00:28:58,670 Stacey and Stephen are examining 576 00:28:58,671 --> 00:29:01,005 remarkable finds from the battlefield 577 00:29:01,006 --> 00:29:04,342 that shed light on what happened. 578 00:29:04,343 --> 00:29:07,545 {\an8}So, what you see here is a gun barrel, 579 00:29:07,546 --> 00:29:10,281 {\an8}and then this is a bayonet. 580 00:29:10,282 --> 00:29:15,086 {\an8}Now, both of these were found back in the 1960s and '70s. 581 00:29:15,087 --> 00:29:16,955 The socket bayonet was made 582 00:29:16,956 --> 00:29:19,157 so that they could put it on the end of a musket 583 00:29:19,158 --> 00:29:20,860 and still fire the musket. 584 00:29:22,261 --> 00:29:25,830 At this point, Cornwallis unleashes his reserves, 585 00:29:25,831 --> 00:29:28,534 putting more pressure on the die-hard Patriots. 586 00:29:30,035 --> 00:29:32,370 These soldiers include a regiment recruited 587 00:29:32,371 --> 00:29:34,839 from Scotland's Highland clans 588 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,209 who have a reputation for ferocity. 589 00:29:38,377 --> 00:29:42,514 The 71st Regiment of Foot are actually recruited from people 590 00:29:42,515 --> 00:29:45,016 who would've been very, very hardy. 591 00:29:45,017 --> 00:29:48,353 They would've had a hard farming life and ready-- 592 00:29:48,354 --> 00:29:50,421 really, putting them into combat 593 00:29:50,422 --> 00:29:53,258 really wouldn't worry them too much. 594 00:29:53,259 --> 00:29:55,493 Despite the overwhelming pressure, 595 00:29:55,494 --> 00:29:57,595 the Continentals fight hard 596 00:29:57,596 --> 00:30:01,266 and inflict significant casualties on the British. 597 00:30:01,267 --> 00:30:04,636 Of the 14 sets of human remains recovered from the battlefield 598 00:30:04,637 --> 00:30:08,273 so far, two of them have been identified as casualties 599 00:30:08,274 --> 00:30:09,807 from the British side. 600 00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:12,510 But it's clear they had very different backgrounds. 601 00:30:12,511 --> 00:30:14,879 There was a Loyalist, militia member, 602 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,215 and we believe that he is a Loyalist militia member 603 00:30:17,216 --> 00:30:19,951 because he didn't have any kind of military accoutrements 604 00:30:19,952 --> 00:30:22,020 which you would find on the Continental soldiers. 605 00:30:22,021 --> 00:30:24,689 And also based on where he was found, 606 00:30:24,690 --> 00:30:26,591 which was in among the British lines, 607 00:30:26,592 --> 00:30:28,793 that they assumed he was fighting with the British. 608 00:30:28,794 --> 00:30:30,828 The heritage of this Loyalist 609 00:30:30,829 --> 00:30:35,066 reveals the complex allegiances at play during the war. 610 00:30:35,067 --> 00:30:40,004 So, the Loyalist militia member is a Native American. 611 00:30:40,005 --> 00:30:42,807 The anthropologist could tell by looking at the shape 612 00:30:42,808 --> 00:30:46,544 of his teeth that he had a particular type of incisor tooth 613 00:30:46,545 --> 00:30:50,615 that is predominant amongst Native Americans. 614 00:30:50,616 --> 00:30:52,850 During the Revolutionary War, 615 00:30:52,851 --> 00:30:55,987 some Native American tribes fought with the British, 616 00:30:55,988 --> 00:30:57,822 hoping that a victory would limit 617 00:30:57,823 --> 00:31:00,559 colonial expansion into their land. 618 00:31:01,660 --> 00:31:04,095 Once identified as Native American, 619 00:31:04,096 --> 00:31:06,631 this fallen soldier's remains were returned 620 00:31:06,632 --> 00:31:08,601 to the Catawba Nation. 621 00:31:11,237 --> 00:31:15,173 Meanwhile, the archaeologists were ensuring the other 13 sets 622 00:31:15,174 --> 00:31:20,211 of human remains were also treated with care and respect. 623 00:31:20,212 --> 00:31:22,280 We exhumed those soldiers. 624 00:31:22,281 --> 00:31:23,881 We really took a lot of care 625 00:31:23,882 --> 00:31:27,519 in giving it the reverence it deserved. 626 00:31:29,121 --> 00:31:32,991 The skulls were carried to the vehicles by a veteran. 627 00:31:32,992 --> 00:31:36,295 And we had several veterans on the team, myself included. 628 00:31:37,196 --> 00:31:43,401 When America asked people to show up, these guys came. 629 00:31:43,402 --> 00:31:45,470 And so they deserve everything 630 00:31:45,471 --> 00:31:47,039 that we are trying to do for them. 631 00:31:48,941 --> 00:31:53,077 We moved all those remains to the coroner's vehicles, 632 00:31:53,078 --> 00:31:54,712 We all stopped. 633 00:31:54,713 --> 00:31:57,081 We had a moment of silence. 634 00:31:57,082 --> 00:31:58,483 We shared a toast. 635 00:31:58,484 --> 00:32:00,519 - Hip, hip! - Huzzah! 636 00:32:04,823 --> 00:32:07,091 As the battle enters its final moments, 637 00:32:07,092 --> 00:32:11,095 the remaining Patriots are in a desperate situation. 638 00:32:11,096 --> 00:32:14,465 Eventually, a gap appears in the Patriot line 639 00:32:14,466 --> 00:32:16,034 and, seeing an opportunity, 640 00:32:16,035 --> 00:32:18,936 Cornwallis orders the Loyalist cavalry, 641 00:32:18,937 --> 00:32:22,940 led by British General Banastre Tarleton, to charge. 642 00:32:22,941 --> 00:32:25,043 The remaining Patriots are finally broken 643 00:32:25,044 --> 00:32:29,013 and forced to flee, pursued by Tarleton's men. 644 00:32:29,014 --> 00:32:33,151 Cavalry is very, very important if the enemy are broken 645 00:32:33,152 --> 00:32:36,020 because they're gonna be faster than anybody on foot. 646 00:32:36,021 --> 00:32:39,023 And that period after the enemy are broken, 647 00:32:39,024 --> 00:32:42,727 was given a single descriptive word. 648 00:32:42,728 --> 00:32:45,663 It was known as the execution. 649 00:32:45,664 --> 00:32:47,565 That's when you could slaughter them, 650 00:32:47,566 --> 00:32:49,767 and seeing cavalry pursuing you 651 00:32:49,768 --> 00:32:55,073 would turn a well-organized army into a rabble in seconds. 652 00:32:55,074 --> 00:32:56,674 After exhumation, 653 00:32:56,675 --> 00:32:58,409 some of the remains were sent to see 654 00:32:58,410 --> 00:33:00,878 if any DNA could be recovered, 655 00:33:00,879 --> 00:33:04,015 a challenge given the state of preservation. 656 00:33:04,016 --> 00:33:06,918 And forensic anthropologists X-rayed the remains 657 00:33:06,919 --> 00:33:09,754 to find out more about who they belonged to 658 00:33:09,755 --> 00:33:12,156 and how they died at Camden. 659 00:33:12,157 --> 00:33:16,694 So, burial 13 consisted of three individuals 660 00:33:16,695 --> 00:33:20,465 between the age of 15 to 19 years old. 661 00:33:20,466 --> 00:33:24,001 And one of them is probably our only individual 662 00:33:24,002 --> 00:33:28,840 {\an8}which we can say for certain that we know how he died. 663 00:33:28,841 --> 00:33:33,611 So, this is an X-ray of burial 13A 664 00:33:33,612 --> 00:33:35,646 demonstrating the musket ball 665 00:33:35,647 --> 00:33:38,716 that was lodged in the lower spine, 666 00:33:38,717 --> 00:33:41,686 the lumbar spine of this particular individual. 667 00:33:41,687 --> 00:33:45,156 An injury-- a musket ball lodged into the lower spine-- 668 00:33:45,157 --> 00:33:48,726 is at the very least going to cause paralysis 669 00:33:48,727 --> 00:33:51,696 of the individual if not result in death. 670 00:33:51,697 --> 00:33:54,332 While the team was able to ascertain a cause of death 671 00:33:54,333 --> 00:33:55,867 for this individual, 672 00:33:55,868 --> 00:33:57,902 hundreds more died from injuries 673 00:33:57,903 --> 00:34:00,371 that would never have shown up on X-rays. 674 00:34:00,372 --> 00:34:02,039 Many men were incapacitated 675 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:05,943 {\an8}and then perhaps, you know, attacked with sabers 676 00:34:05,944 --> 00:34:09,914 {\an8}or penetrated, stabbed with bayonets. 677 00:34:09,915 --> 00:34:12,550 {\an8}There were variations on what we saw 678 00:34:12,551 --> 00:34:15,887 {\an8}in terms of battle injuries. 679 00:34:15,888 --> 00:34:20,191 If you died of a-- of a bayonet wound, 680 00:34:20,192 --> 00:34:23,395 you weren't going to see that on the skeletal remains. 681 00:34:25,230 --> 00:34:29,767 A single burial was quickly identified as a British soldier. 682 00:34:29,768 --> 00:34:32,370 He turned out to be a member of the Highland regiment, 683 00:34:32,371 --> 00:34:35,541 who played their part in the later stages of the battle. 684 00:34:36,842 --> 00:34:39,677 They found a belt buckle that says 71st on it. 685 00:34:39,678 --> 00:34:41,446 So, they knew exactly where he came from-- 686 00:34:41,447 --> 00:34:43,648 71st Regiment of Foot. 687 00:34:43,649 --> 00:34:45,383 Most of his coat buttons, 688 00:34:45,384 --> 00:34:48,152 {\an8}unlike a lot of British regimental regalia, 689 00:34:48,153 --> 00:34:52,890 {\an8}these were just plain buttons with a little 71 in the middle. 690 00:34:52,891 --> 00:34:54,959 When compared with other graves, 691 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,829 the Highlander was buried more carefully, 692 00:34:57,830 --> 00:35:00,698 hinting that he was treated with a greater respect. 693 00:35:00,699 --> 00:35:02,500 Most of the bodies that we found 694 00:35:02,501 --> 00:35:04,202 were about eight inches under the dirt. 695 00:35:04,203 --> 00:35:06,237 They're just thrown in on top of each other. 696 00:35:06,238 --> 00:35:10,308 When you compare and contrast those hasty, shallow graves, 697 00:35:10,309 --> 00:35:12,477 all of them unmarked, of course, 698 00:35:12,478 --> 00:35:16,047 with the Highlander's grave, 699 00:35:16,048 --> 00:35:19,884 he was-- he was down about 30 inches, a proper burial, 700 00:35:19,885 --> 00:35:22,320 particularly for that environment. 701 00:35:22,321 --> 00:35:23,988 He was in a formal grave. 702 00:35:23,989 --> 00:35:28,860 He was laid out in the normal Christian burial fashion, 703 00:35:28,861 --> 00:35:31,095 feet together, hands over his abdomen. 704 00:35:31,096 --> 00:35:35,299 This guy, I believe he was buried by his own men 705 00:35:35,300 --> 00:35:39,470 because they took the time and the effort to bury him. 706 00:35:39,471 --> 00:35:41,506 By examining his X-rays, 707 00:35:41,507 --> 00:35:44,108 the forensic anthropologists were able to create 708 00:35:44,109 --> 00:35:46,077 a portrait of this soldier. 709 00:35:46,078 --> 00:35:49,714 This is the lower jaw, the mandible of our 71st Highlander. 710 00:35:49,715 --> 00:35:53,050 And you can see here a divot, 711 00:35:53,051 --> 00:35:56,754 a facet of wear probably caused by carrying a clay pipe 712 00:35:56,755 --> 00:35:59,423 in his mouth habitually in one location 713 00:35:59,424 --> 00:36:02,493 that wore the surface of the teeth. 714 00:36:02,494 --> 00:36:05,530 This is the left femur from our Highland soldier, 715 00:36:05,531 --> 00:36:07,999 and it is very complete, 716 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:12,970 probably the only bone of the Camden 14 soldiers 717 00:36:12,971 --> 00:36:16,307 to not be fractured in at least one location. 718 00:36:16,308 --> 00:36:19,710 The Highlander's remains also revealed a major injury 719 00:36:19,711 --> 00:36:21,879 sustained in battle. 720 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:26,150 He had probably experienced blunt force trauma to his skull. 721 00:36:26,151 --> 00:36:29,287 So, it could have been a blow from behind to the skull 722 00:36:29,288 --> 00:36:30,821 that he suffered. 723 00:36:30,822 --> 00:36:32,557 The skull unfortunately was incomplete, 724 00:36:32,558 --> 00:36:35,026 but there was enough there to say, you know, 725 00:36:35,027 --> 00:36:37,962 and view it radiographically and grossly 726 00:36:37,963 --> 00:36:42,800 and estimate that it's likely due to blunt force. 727 00:36:42,801 --> 00:36:44,468 And the evidence points to him 728 00:36:44,469 --> 00:36:47,238 being a daunting presence on the battlefield. 729 00:36:47,239 --> 00:36:52,476 His body mass, his muscularity, exceeded everyone 730 00:36:52,477 --> 00:36:54,378 on the battlefield of the 14 we had. 731 00:36:54,379 --> 00:36:57,515 The muscle attachment sites on his well-preserved bones 732 00:36:57,516 --> 00:37:00,685 were broad. He was not a tall man. 733 00:37:00,686 --> 00:37:05,756 He was average height for his day but muscular. 734 00:37:05,757 --> 00:37:10,062 He was an intimidating person on the battlefield that day. 735 00:37:13,098 --> 00:37:16,334 And the Highlander's bones provide even more information 736 00:37:16,335 --> 00:37:19,471 after a viable DNA sample is extracted. 737 00:37:20,539 --> 00:37:24,275 Historic Camden asked genealogy company Ancestry 738 00:37:24,276 --> 00:37:27,878 if they could uncover this man's identity by combining 739 00:37:27,879 --> 00:37:31,582 both the DNA and documentary research. 740 00:37:31,583 --> 00:37:34,151 DNA inside bones and teeth 741 00:37:34,152 --> 00:37:36,487 is particularly well protected from the environment. 742 00:37:36,488 --> 00:37:38,990 {\an8}So, the petrous bone is the bone behind the ear. 743 00:37:38,991 --> 00:37:40,992 {\an8}It's one of the hardest bones in the body 744 00:37:40,993 --> 00:37:44,096 {\an8}and it's great for retrieving DNA from ancient remains. 745 00:37:45,664 --> 00:37:47,732 The sequenced DNA could be matched 746 00:37:47,733 --> 00:37:52,169 against a reference panel of 185,000 individuals, 747 00:37:52,170 --> 00:37:55,407 representing 146 global regions. 748 00:37:56,508 --> 00:38:01,912 The results revealed this man's origins with precise detail. 749 00:38:01,913 --> 00:38:03,848 For the purposes of this research, 750 00:38:03,849 --> 00:38:06,551 he's been nicknamed "Individual One." 751 00:38:07,753 --> 00:38:11,422 So, Individual One is very clearly shown as a Scottish man. 752 00:38:11,423 --> 00:38:13,391 And this reinforces what we already knew 753 00:38:13,392 --> 00:38:14,725 from the belt buckle tip. 754 00:38:14,726 --> 00:38:16,427 In the case of Individual One, 755 00:38:16,428 --> 00:38:18,362 we can see he has a very clear connection 756 00:38:18,363 --> 00:38:20,331 to the Inverness region of Scotland. 757 00:38:20,332 --> 00:38:21,966 This is the exact area 758 00:38:21,967 --> 00:38:25,002 where the 71st Regiment of Foot was recruited. 759 00:38:25,003 --> 00:38:27,038 The men of the 71st 760 00:38:27,039 --> 00:38:30,107 were recruited from specific clans and localities, people 761 00:38:30,108 --> 00:38:33,377 who shared countless generations of genetic heritage 762 00:38:33,378 --> 00:38:35,780 that can be seen in their DNA. 763 00:38:35,781 --> 00:38:38,883 Dr. Doyle was able to trace contemporary links 764 00:38:38,884 --> 00:38:43,487 between this regiment and Nova Scotia, in present-day Canada. 765 00:38:43,488 --> 00:38:46,157 So, after the Revolutionary War many of the men 766 00:38:46,158 --> 00:38:48,693 who served in the 71st would have settled in Canada. 767 00:38:48,694 --> 00:38:50,828 Many of them never returned back to Scotland. 768 00:38:50,829 --> 00:38:53,898 In the case of Individual One, we know he's Scottish. 769 00:38:53,899 --> 00:38:55,633 But he's also showing what we call 770 00:38:55,634 --> 00:38:58,502 and ancestral journey to Nova Scotia and 771 00:38:58,503 --> 00:39:00,237 West Cape Breton Island 772 00:39:00,238 --> 00:39:03,708 and we know now he has genetic cousins still living 773 00:39:03,709 --> 00:39:05,043 in this area today. 774 00:39:07,846 --> 00:39:10,715 Individual One's careful burial suggests he may 775 00:39:10,716 --> 00:39:13,317 well have been an officer. 776 00:39:13,318 --> 00:39:15,119 To uncover more about his identity, 777 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:19,523 and possibly a name, Dr. Doyle has found documents 778 00:39:19,524 --> 00:39:23,260 that list the casualties from the Battle of Camden. 779 00:39:23,261 --> 00:39:24,929 So, this is a newspaper article. 780 00:39:24,930 --> 00:39:26,397 It's a return of the killed, 781 00:39:26,398 --> 00:39:28,099 wounded and missing of the troops 782 00:39:28,100 --> 00:39:30,835 under the command of Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis 783 00:39:30,836 --> 00:39:33,270 in the battle fought near Camden in South Carolina 784 00:39:33,271 --> 00:39:35,740 on the 16th of August 1780. 785 00:39:35,741 --> 00:39:38,809 It's a list of all the dead and injured soldiers. 786 00:39:38,810 --> 00:39:41,178 And if you see here, for our purposes, 787 00:39:41,179 --> 00:39:43,180 what's really interesting 788 00:39:43,181 --> 00:39:46,584 is it talks about the first battalion of the 71st Regiment. 789 00:39:46,585 --> 00:39:48,152 So, at the bottom of this list, 790 00:39:48,153 --> 00:39:50,554 they actually name the officers who died. 791 00:39:50,555 --> 00:39:52,723 And if you look here, 792 00:39:52,724 --> 00:39:57,495 it says of the 1st Battalion, 71st Regiment, 793 00:39:57,496 --> 00:40:00,232 Lieutenant Archibald Campbell-- killed. 794 00:40:01,867 --> 00:40:03,934 There's a reasonable chance 795 00:40:03,935 --> 00:40:07,171 that Individual One is Archibald Campbell, 796 00:40:07,172 --> 00:40:09,707 specifically this Lieutenant Archibald Campbell 797 00:40:09,708 --> 00:40:12,043 of the 1st Battalion, 71st Regiment. 798 00:40:13,545 --> 00:40:16,947 Advances in DNA profiling provide a glimpse 799 00:40:16,948 --> 00:40:19,650 of what the Highlander might have looked like. 800 00:40:19,651 --> 00:40:21,852 Certain genetic markers are associated 801 00:40:21,853 --> 00:40:24,455 with distinct physical traits. 802 00:40:24,456 --> 00:40:26,123 We can't meet Individual One, 803 00:40:26,124 --> 00:40:31,529 but we can look at what his DN-- what the algorithm suggests 804 00:40:31,530 --> 00:40:33,531 he may have been like, 805 00:40:33,532 --> 00:40:36,000 and it's the closest we're ever going to get to knowing him. 806 00:40:36,001 --> 00:40:38,135 So, in terms of physical appearance, 807 00:40:38,136 --> 00:40:41,372 Individual One may have had a cleft chin. 808 00:40:41,373 --> 00:40:43,841 Personality-wise, he might have liked 809 00:40:43,842 --> 00:40:45,543 to prefer doing things with people. 810 00:40:45,544 --> 00:40:47,444 and this is ideal for being a soldier. 811 00:40:47,445 --> 00:40:52,049 It's a really unique way to look at a person through their DNA. 812 00:40:52,050 --> 00:40:54,285 While the traits can't definitively tell us anything 813 00:40:54,286 --> 00:40:57,722 about Individual One, they give us something to imagine. 814 00:40:59,457 --> 00:41:03,460 The Battle of Camden lasts just 45 minutes 815 00:41:03,461 --> 00:41:06,997 but results in roughly 900 Patriot casualties 816 00:41:06,998 --> 00:41:08,867 and 300 British. 817 00:41:10,602 --> 00:41:14,038 General Gates flees the battlefield. 818 00:41:14,039 --> 00:41:17,107 Gates really runs off the battlefield, 819 00:41:17,108 --> 00:41:21,111 rides away and makes no attempt to save what's left. 820 00:41:21,112 --> 00:41:24,715 He simply flees, leaving his entire artillery, 821 00:41:24,716 --> 00:41:27,151 his train, everything behind. 822 00:41:27,152 --> 00:41:29,687 It's a complete disaster. 823 00:41:29,688 --> 00:41:33,257 Gates claimed he was riding ahead to find a safe base. 824 00:41:33,258 --> 00:41:37,194 But this disastrous battle and his 180-mile retreat 825 00:41:37,195 --> 00:41:40,130 destroy his reputation as one of America's 826 00:41:40,131 --> 00:41:42,132 most distinguished generals. 827 00:41:42,133 --> 00:41:43,567 He made a lot of mistakes, 828 00:41:43,568 --> 00:41:45,936 but the more you look into the mistakes he made, 829 00:41:45,937 --> 00:41:52,142 they were the consequences of his acting quickly. 830 00:41:52,143 --> 00:41:55,312 He marched into South Carolina too soon. 831 00:41:55,313 --> 00:41:58,582 Many of the men Gates left behind on the battlefield 832 00:41:58,583 --> 00:42:02,253 have lain in shallow graves since 1780, 833 00:42:02,254 --> 00:42:05,589 providing slim hope scientists will be able to extract 834 00:42:05,590 --> 00:42:08,959 enough DNA to lead to a positive identification. 835 00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:10,895 Always in the back of our minds, 836 00:42:10,896 --> 00:42:13,797 we were thinking if we could just get some DNA, 837 00:42:13,798 --> 00:42:17,635 maybe we'd be able to identify some of these soldiers. 838 00:42:17,636 --> 00:42:19,603 Wouldn't that be amazing if that happened? 839 00:42:24,175 --> 00:42:28,145 Incredibly, a viable DNA sample was extracted 840 00:42:28,146 --> 00:42:29,847 from one of the Marylanders. 841 00:42:29,848 --> 00:42:32,283 Could this be enough to restore a name to one 842 00:42:32,284 --> 00:42:33,851 of the fallen soldiers? 843 00:42:33,852 --> 00:42:37,454 The DNA profile was sent to FHD Forensics 844 00:42:37,455 --> 00:42:39,823 in hopes of answering this question. 845 00:42:39,824 --> 00:42:42,826 {\an8}They said, "Can you do what you do with John and Jane Does 846 00:42:42,827 --> 00:42:45,930 {\an8}with a John Doe that died 246 years ago?" 847 00:42:45,931 --> 00:42:47,898 {\an8}And I said, "Maybe," you know? 848 00:42:47,899 --> 00:42:50,835 That's something I would sure want to try. 849 00:42:52,804 --> 00:42:56,307 His DNA profile was uploaded to existing databases 850 00:42:56,308 --> 00:42:58,842 to see if there were any matches. 851 00:42:58,843 --> 00:43:01,546 The results were extraordinary. 852 00:43:02,447 --> 00:43:07,618 {\an8}I was just hoping that they would be able to get enough DNA 853 00:43:07,619 --> 00:43:09,853 {\an8}and that if they had a good profile 854 00:43:09,854 --> 00:43:13,624 that it would match like one person. 855 00:43:13,625 --> 00:43:15,759 But it was very unexpected. 856 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:24,301 We had something like 20,000 DNA matches, which is a lot. 857 00:43:26,671 --> 00:43:28,839 The team traced the family trees of people 858 00:43:28,840 --> 00:43:31,709 who matched the soldier's DNA back to a name 859 00:43:31,710 --> 00:43:34,144 in the Maryland line records. 860 00:43:34,145 --> 00:43:37,614 So, I think most of y'all here know why we're here. 861 00:43:37,615 --> 00:43:39,783 It's incredibly expensive work, 862 00:43:39,784 --> 00:43:41,919 it's incredibly tedious work, 863 00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:44,455 and it's incredibly complicated research to go 864 00:43:44,456 --> 00:43:46,757 all the way back to the colonial era. 865 00:43:46,758 --> 00:43:49,159 It was close to two years, 866 00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:56,266 I think, of actively just working the DNA, like, painting 867 00:43:56,267 --> 00:43:57,835 all the chromosomes, 868 00:43:57,836 --> 00:44:00,004 building the trees, like, figuring it out. 869 00:44:00,005 --> 00:44:04,641 I had to build back family trees for many, many people going, 870 00:44:04,642 --> 00:44:07,344 you know, like 10 generations. 871 00:44:07,345 --> 00:44:09,079 Surviving military records 872 00:44:09,080 --> 00:44:11,749 could offer possible names for this John Doe. 873 00:44:11,750 --> 00:44:14,084 We looked for people that mustered out 874 00:44:14,085 --> 00:44:17,121 on the day of the Battle of Camden 875 00:44:17,122 --> 00:44:19,356 or went missing at the Battle of Camden 876 00:44:19,357 --> 00:44:20,791 and so we were able to go through that 877 00:44:20,792 --> 00:44:22,826 and find all the people 878 00:44:22,827 --> 00:44:26,230 that had been listed as missing on that day. 879 00:44:26,231 --> 00:44:29,967 And so there was a boy named John Pumphrey on the list. 880 00:44:29,968 --> 00:44:32,136 And so we knew we'd been seeing a lot of Pumphreys 881 00:44:32,137 --> 00:44:34,271 in the matches and we're like ding-ding-ding, 882 00:44:34,272 --> 00:44:36,306 that's a good one. 883 00:44:36,307 --> 00:44:40,344 So, I guess y'all are kind of wondering what his name is. 884 00:44:42,347 --> 00:44:44,248 His name is John Pumphrey, 885 00:44:44,249 --> 00:44:46,984 and he was a private in the 7th Maryland regiment. 886 00:44:48,620 --> 00:44:49,720 Yeah, I think that deserves an applause. 887 00:44:54,692 --> 00:44:59,463 It has happened and it's hard to process 888 00:44:59,464 --> 00:45:02,099 how significant that this find is 889 00:45:02,100 --> 00:45:05,602 and the potential for future finds. 890 00:45:05,603 --> 00:45:08,939 Looking further into historical tax and land records, 891 00:45:08,940 --> 00:45:12,743 Allison uncovered the surprising story of this boy's life-- 892 00:45:12,744 --> 00:45:15,679 born into a Maryland family that had settled in America 893 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:17,414 a century earlier. 894 00:45:17,415 --> 00:45:18,849 We were able to learn quite a bit 895 00:45:18,850 --> 00:45:20,584 about John Pumphrey's background. 896 00:45:20,585 --> 00:45:23,153 They were the gentry of Anne Arundel County. 897 00:45:23,154 --> 00:45:27,424 So, we wondered why a child from this family, 898 00:45:27,425 --> 00:45:29,093 a prominent family 899 00:45:29,094 --> 00:45:32,262 that owned sawmills and lumber properties and 900 00:45:32,263 --> 00:45:35,799 carpentry services, and they were pretty prosperous. 901 00:45:35,800 --> 00:45:39,670 And he honestly was orphaned by the age of 10. 902 00:45:39,671 --> 00:45:42,072 Allison learned that after his father's death, 903 00:45:42,073 --> 00:45:46,009 his cousin Rezin confiscated the family land and property, 904 00:45:46,010 --> 00:45:48,946 leaving John and his siblings with nothing. 905 00:45:48,947 --> 00:45:52,883 Joining the army may have seemed like an appealing opportunity. 906 00:45:52,884 --> 00:45:55,986 This left a middle child without any resources. 907 00:45:55,987 --> 00:45:58,789 And I don't know that he had a lot-- 908 00:45:58,790 --> 00:46:00,724 a lot of prospects, you know? 909 00:46:00,725 --> 00:46:04,128 I think starting a new life where he could get new clothes 910 00:46:04,129 --> 00:46:08,098 and new shoes and meals and army pay 911 00:46:08,099 --> 00:46:10,068 was probably a whole new life for him. 912 00:46:11,169 --> 00:46:14,304 John was already a fourth-generation Marylander, 913 00:46:14,305 --> 00:46:16,140 so it is perhaps no surprise 914 00:46:16,141 --> 00:46:18,442 that he was keen to serve with other Patriots 915 00:46:18,443 --> 00:46:21,178 in the storied Maryland line. 916 00:46:21,179 --> 00:46:24,581 I think he had motivation and drive and independence, 917 00:46:24,582 --> 00:46:26,183 and I think he decided this was 918 00:46:26,184 --> 00:46:28,218 how he was going to make his mark on the world. 919 00:46:28,219 --> 00:46:31,188 And we can only imagine that these are the things 920 00:46:31,189 --> 00:46:33,524 that drove him, but, you know, 921 00:46:33,525 --> 00:46:39,630 orphaned at 10, enlisted at 13, 14, maybe 15, 922 00:46:39,631 --> 00:46:43,902 um, that's-- that's an unusual situation. 923 00:46:45,103 --> 00:46:50,908 John Pumphrey first enlisted in 1777 in Baltimore. 924 00:46:50,909 --> 00:46:53,343 As part of the 7th Maryland line, 925 00:46:53,344 --> 00:46:56,780 he was very likely involved in the Philadelphia Campaign, 926 00:46:56,781 --> 00:46:58,515 fighting in the battles of Brandywine, 927 00:46:58,516 --> 00:47:00,484 Germantown and Monmouth, 928 00:47:00,485 --> 00:47:03,287 and would have wintered at Valley Forge. 929 00:47:03,288 --> 00:47:04,922 Despite his age, 930 00:47:04,923 --> 00:47:07,958 by the time he re-enlisted in 1779 931 00:47:07,959 --> 00:47:12,162 and marched south to Camden, Pumphrey was a veteran soldier. 932 00:47:12,163 --> 00:47:14,364 That document's a very fateful document 933 00:47:14,365 --> 00:47:16,967 because if he had not re-enlisted, 934 00:47:16,968 --> 00:47:20,571 he would not have died at the Battle of Camden. 935 00:47:20,572 --> 00:47:22,706 In addition to finding John Pumphrey, 936 00:47:22,707 --> 00:47:24,875 the team made another breakthrough. 937 00:47:24,876 --> 00:47:27,578 They were able to trace living descendants. 938 00:47:27,579 --> 00:47:29,479 John Pumphrey's family, 939 00:47:29,480 --> 00:47:32,449 I imagine they lived the rest of their lives 940 00:47:32,450 --> 00:47:35,252 wondering what happened to him. 941 00:47:35,253 --> 00:47:38,755 And they're not here to find that out in person, 942 00:47:38,756 --> 00:47:41,225 but their descendants are. 943 00:47:41,226 --> 00:47:47,798 Um, and so, to be able to give him back to his family 944 00:47:47,799 --> 00:47:52,669 to let people who, you know, are maybe distantly related, 945 00:47:52,670 --> 00:47:56,039 but still feel that connection as this 946 00:47:56,040 --> 00:47:59,643 is someone in their family, um, 947 00:47:59,644 --> 00:48:02,646 that feels really special. 948 00:48:02,647 --> 00:48:04,982 Two, three. 949 00:48:08,820 --> 00:48:11,188 I'm Julie Strickland. 950 00:48:11,189 --> 00:48:15,325 When I was a month and a half old, I was adopted. 951 00:48:15,326 --> 00:48:17,160 Many years later, 952 00:48:17,161 --> 00:48:20,897 I decided I was going to try to find my family 953 00:48:20,898 --> 00:48:25,068 and got my DNA registered. 954 00:48:25,069 --> 00:48:28,272 I heard from Allison a little over a year ago 955 00:48:28,273 --> 00:48:32,175 and found out that I am the fifth great niece 956 00:48:32,176 --> 00:48:34,011 of John Pumphrey. 957 00:48:34,012 --> 00:48:39,182 I was very surprised and happy and anxious 958 00:48:39,183 --> 00:48:45,322 and... just all the emotions rolled up in one. 959 00:48:45,323 --> 00:48:49,092 We had been living very near to where he fell 960 00:48:49,093 --> 00:48:50,827 and just didn't know. 961 00:48:50,828 --> 00:48:54,231 As soon as I heard about my patriot being buried 962 00:48:54,232 --> 00:48:58,035 at Quaker Cemetery, I knew exactly where that was. 963 00:48:58,036 --> 00:49:01,338 So I was so excited that I ran right up 964 00:49:01,339 --> 00:49:04,341 and took all kinds of pictures. 965 00:49:04,342 --> 00:49:06,143 I'll cry at a Hallmark commercial, 966 00:49:06,144 --> 00:49:09,547 so I definitely shed a lot of tears that day. 967 00:49:12,784 --> 00:49:16,553 Much of the Camden battlefield site has yet to be surveyed. 968 00:49:16,554 --> 00:49:18,955 And the work to uncover more about what happened 969 00:49:18,956 --> 00:49:20,457 there is ongoing. 970 00:49:24,629 --> 00:49:28,632 Well, AVAR is the most recent archaeological group 971 00:49:28,633 --> 00:49:30,634 to be on the battlefield 972 00:49:30,635 --> 00:49:33,837 and they're doing great work in filling out some of those areas 973 00:49:33,838 --> 00:49:36,173 that we don't know much about, 974 00:49:36,174 --> 00:49:37,708 and I think they'll probably be continuing 975 00:49:37,709 --> 00:49:39,276 to do great work there. 976 00:49:39,277 --> 00:49:41,178 Got ourselves a musket ball. 977 00:49:41,179 --> 00:49:44,648 The American Veterans Archaeology Recovery team brings 978 00:49:44,649 --> 00:49:47,718 unique skills and experience to the project. 979 00:49:47,719 --> 00:49:50,287 AVAR is a transitional training program 980 00:49:50,288 --> 00:49:52,989 that's aimed at helping American veterans transition 981 00:49:52,990 --> 00:49:56,560 to jobs or careers in American archaeology. 982 00:49:56,561 --> 00:49:58,228 The entire purpose of the program 983 00:49:58,229 --> 00:50:00,630 is just to help them move forward with their lives 984 00:50:00,631 --> 00:50:03,835 in a way that has tangible benefit to them. 985 00:50:06,304 --> 00:50:07,971 Well, I'm Chris Scroggins. 986 00:50:07,972 --> 00:50:10,407 I'm from Kansas City, Missouri. 987 00:50:10,408 --> 00:50:13,210 I wanted to be an archaeologist ever since I was a little kid, 988 00:50:13,211 --> 00:50:16,279 and I never really thought I'd ever have that opportunity 989 00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:18,716 until AVAR came along and presented that to me. 990 00:50:19,617 --> 00:50:22,619 We were thrilled when AVAR approached us 991 00:50:22,620 --> 00:50:25,122 about collaborating. 992 00:50:25,123 --> 00:50:28,525 As a veteran, I identify with veterans, 993 00:50:28,526 --> 00:50:32,863 and I like that their mission is to actually try 994 00:50:32,864 --> 00:50:39,202 and grow these veterans into full-fledged archaeologists. 995 00:50:39,203 --> 00:50:41,071 I'll tell you what I love the most about it-- 996 00:50:41,072 --> 00:50:43,507 it's working with everyone here that's all veterans. 997 00:50:43,508 --> 00:50:46,143 Um, it's all the best parts about being in the military 998 00:50:46,144 --> 00:50:47,577 without all the bad parts. 999 00:50:47,578 --> 00:50:48,945 So, you know, we got teamwork, 1000 00:50:48,946 --> 00:50:50,747 you know, we all support each other, 1001 00:50:50,748 --> 00:50:52,516 you know, there's that camaraderie and, 1002 00:50:52,517 --> 00:50:54,251 uh, everyone works really, really hard. 1003 00:50:54,252 --> 00:50:55,353 I really like it. 1004 00:50:56,220 --> 00:51:00,690 In 2023, the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Camden, 1005 00:51:00,691 --> 00:51:02,959 both British and American, 1006 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:05,996 were finally honored for their service. 1007 00:51:05,997 --> 00:51:09,266 I was having a conversation with the soldiers in my head 1008 00:51:09,267 --> 00:51:11,635 and just wondering would they approve, you know, 1009 00:51:11,636 --> 00:51:14,304 would they be upset that they'd been, you know, 1010 00:51:14,305 --> 00:51:21,678 dug up and I felt kind of compelled to write a letter. 1011 00:51:21,679 --> 00:51:24,815 Stacey's letter, from one veteran to another, 1012 00:51:24,816 --> 00:51:27,651 was placed in the fallen Patriots' coffins 1013 00:51:27,652 --> 00:51:29,753 when they were reinterred. 1014 00:51:29,754 --> 00:51:34,124 "Dear soldier, whose name is known only to God. 1015 00:51:34,125 --> 00:51:36,927 As I lay you with care and love into this coffin, 1016 00:51:36,928 --> 00:51:39,896 I do not feel worthy of the task. 1017 00:51:39,897 --> 00:51:42,833 You likely could not fathom what the United States of America 1018 00:51:42,834 --> 00:51:49,105 would become from 13 states to 50 and 332 million citizens. 1019 00:51:49,106 --> 00:51:51,843 This is what you paid for with your life. 1020 00:51:54,078 --> 00:51:56,680 You were unceremoniously dumped into a shallow grave 1021 00:51:56,681 --> 00:51:58,883 with so many more just like you. 1022 00:52:00,051 --> 00:52:03,688 Now, we will give you the heroes farewell that you deserve. 1023 00:52:04,856 --> 00:52:09,159 All I can say is thank you on behalf of a grateful nation. 1024 00:52:09,160 --> 00:52:11,862 I pray that God's blessings are upon you, 1025 00:52:11,863 --> 00:52:14,831 and that I will meet you in heaven 1026 00:52:14,832 --> 00:52:16,733 where we shall all enjoy the peace 1027 00:52:16,734 --> 00:52:18,935 that we did not know on earth. 1028 00:52:18,936 --> 00:52:21,472 Your humble servant, Stacey Ferguson." 1029 00:52:25,676 --> 00:52:27,544 On the day of the ceremony, 1030 00:52:27,545 --> 00:52:29,713 they were taken out of the house here. 1031 00:52:29,714 --> 00:52:34,017 They went up to the battlefield for battlefield honors. 1032 00:52:34,018 --> 00:52:38,321 The Highlander was honored by a guard of his modern comrades 1033 00:52:38,322 --> 00:52:41,858 from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. 1034 00:52:41,859 --> 00:52:44,895 We had these amazing honor guards. 1035 00:52:44,896 --> 00:52:48,164 Just really impressive individuals, 1036 00:52:48,165 --> 00:52:51,601 covered with Iraq and Afghanistan medals. 1037 00:52:51,602 --> 00:52:53,170 They were really impressive. 1038 00:52:55,706 --> 00:52:58,542 The Camden Battlefield was in a pine forest. 1039 00:52:58,543 --> 00:53:01,244 It was quiet, you know. You could kind of, 1040 00:53:01,245 --> 00:53:03,947 you know, hear the breeze blowing through the trees. 1041 00:53:03,948 --> 00:53:06,449 Um, there were a lot of spectators there. 1042 00:53:06,450 --> 00:53:09,886 Um, and... it-- 1043 00:53:09,887 --> 00:53:14,357 it just felt like the perfect closure for that project. 1044 00:53:14,358 --> 00:53:18,662 In these coffins are soldiers of the American Revolution. 1045 00:53:18,663 --> 00:53:21,031 Throughout history, soldiers have endured 1046 00:53:21,032 --> 00:53:24,267 and shared the hardships of service, 1047 00:53:24,268 --> 00:53:29,172 heat and cold, rain and biting insects, boredom and terror, 1048 00:53:29,173 --> 00:53:30,807 hunger and thirst. 1049 00:53:30,808 --> 00:53:32,943 And in the extreme, 1050 00:53:32,944 --> 00:53:38,082 blood, pain, and death on the field of battle. 1051 00:53:41,252 --> 00:53:43,320 If I were to see him today, 1052 00:53:43,321 --> 00:53:45,923 I would tell him, "Thank you for your service. 1053 00:53:47,858 --> 00:53:50,861 Because of you we're a free nation today." 1054 00:53:52,997 --> 00:53:54,898 And today we gather to acknowledge 1055 00:53:54,899 --> 00:53:57,367 and honor their service and sacrifice 1056 00:53:57,368 --> 00:54:03,074 with the dignity that fate denied them over 242 years ago. 1057 00:54:04,308 --> 00:54:06,276 It was a very moving, 1058 00:54:06,277 --> 00:54:09,079 very moving tribute, and I'd like to think for the soldiers, 1059 00:54:09,080 --> 00:54:11,014 considering how they were buried, 1060 00:54:11,015 --> 00:54:12,882 I think they would've been blown away 1061 00:54:12,883 --> 00:54:16,319 by what went into giving them the sendoff they deserved. 1062 00:54:16,320 --> 00:54:18,521 And I wish we could do that kind of sendoff, 1063 00:54:18,522 --> 00:54:21,291 uh, for all the soldiers out there. 1064 00:54:21,292 --> 00:54:24,861 And I think it's important that we remember the soldiers, 1065 00:54:24,862 --> 00:54:29,032 the sacrifices that they made because they didn't get to-- 1066 00:54:29,033 --> 00:54:33,503 {\an8}they didn't get to see what a free United States was. 1067 00:54:33,504 --> 00:54:36,140 {\an8}They didn't get to see the country we've become today. 1068 00:54:38,909 --> 00:54:43,279 {\an8}Fate has dictated that you will not be forgotten 1069 00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:45,816 {\an8}in an unmarked shallow grave. 1070 00:54:47,518 --> 00:54:51,354 {\an8}God bless your souls and may you rest in peace. 1071 00:54:51,355 --> 00:54:54,257 {\an8}Huzzah!