DNA Identifies Young Soldier Killed in 1780 Battle of Camden After 245 Years

Researchers have used advanced DNA technology to identify a young soldier buried anonymously at the Battle of Camden battlefield in South Carolina, USA. The soldier was identified as John Pamphrey from Maryland, who enlisted in the Continental Army as a teenager and died in combat in 1780. This marks the first time forensic genetic genealogy has been used to identify a soldier from a battlefield over 245 years old.

The joint study by the University of South Carolina's Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and FHD Forensics matched DNA samples from skeletal remains with living relatives who had uploaded their genetic data to public databases. Anthropological analysis indicated Pamphrey was between 13 and 15 years old at enlistment and died before turning 18. Orphaned at age 10, Pamphrey likely saw military service as a chance for survival and a better future.

In 2020, archaeologists uncovered 14 shallow graves at the Camden battlefield, hastily dug by prisoners of war during a hot summer to prevent disease outbreaks. The fragile remains were carefully extracted and examined using X-rays, dental analysis, and genetic testing. The Battle of Camden was one of the deadliest in the American Revolutionary War, with around 900 American soldiers killed or wounded and about 1,000 captured by British forces.

Lead researcher Steve Smith emphasized that identifying Pamphrey highlights the human cost of the war and honors those who sacrificed their lives for independence. Co-researcher James Leg expressed hope that this success will enable identification of many more unknown soldiers from Camden and later conflicts such as the Civil War. In April 2023, all 14 soldiers were reburied with full military honors at Old Presbyterian Cemetery in Camden, each in a custom pine coffin.

This breakthrough sheds new light on the personal stories behind the American Revolution and preserves the memory of its fallen soldiers.