ordered to leave a regular force of colonial dragoons in the north carolina theater by brigadier general daniel morgan, colonel washington still lacked the proper artillery to dislodge the loyalists. on december 4, the americans were able to trap the loyalist colonel rowland rugeley and his force of about 125 men in rugeley’s house and barn near camden, south carolina. washington told his cavalrymen to dismount and surround the barn. out of rugeley’s sight, washington’s men prepared a pine log to resemble a cannon.