Abandon New York, he said; bring the whole British force into Virginia and end the war by one smashing stroke; that would be better than sticking to salt pork in New York and sending only enough men to Virginia to steal tobacco.

Cornwallis could not remain where he was, far from the sea.

Go back to Camden he would not after a victory, and thus seem to admit a defeat.

So he decided to risk all and go forward.

By hard marching he led his army down the Cape Fear River to Wilmington on the sea, and there he arrived on the 9th of April.