This commander of the Continental Army in the Southern colonies during the first years of the Revolutionary War was defeated by General Cornwallis at Camden South Carolina.?

The commander of the Continental Army in the Southern colonies during the early years of the Revolutionary War who was defeated by General Cornwallis at Camden, South Carolina, was General Horatio Gates. His defeat in the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, was a significant setback for the American forces in the Southern campaign. Gates's tactics and leadership were heavily criticized following this loss, which contributed to a shift in strategy for the Continental Army in the South.