Revolutionary War Historical Article
The American Revolution Month-by-Month March 1781
By Compatriot Andrew Andy Stough
Editor's Note: This article was reprinted by Permission of the Gold Country Chapter No. 7 of the CSSAR and was slightly edited by the Sons of Liberty Chapter of the CSSAR
Patriot General Nathanael Greene, having crossed the Dan River into Virginia, was secure. The Dan was in winter flood and could not be forded, nor could British General Charles Earl Cornwallis use boats as Colonel Thaddeus Kosciusko on Greene’s orders had secured every available boat that potentially could be used by the British southern Army. Denied any contact with Greene, Cornwallis took stock of his own situation. In his haste to catch and destroy Greene he had violated a basic military concept of the British Army by destroying his supply train and any other non-essentials at Ramsour’s Mills. He had no supplies or supply train and his nearest location for the total restocking of supplies and reinforcement sufficient for his army was in Wilmington, North Carolina, more than 200 miles away over poor roads and swollen rivers. He could not live off the land as all available cattle and other foodstuffs had already been seized, arousing much bitterness among the population. To turn back from his encampment at Hillsboro without confronting Greene would be admitting defeat and he would lose the faith of the Tories in the South who made up much of his scattered occupation force of approximately 8,000 men in the three southern states.
Greene too had problems, he faced the loss of most of the militia who typically were signed up for six week duty. Actual combat effective time is related to be in the vicinity of 23 days out of forty-two days covered by a six week enlistment. This unfortunate situation was due to a portal-to-portal arrangement. Militia travel from home and the return journey was included in the enlistment. Greene could not remain inactive very long because if enlistments were terminated it would destroy the battle effectiveness of his force.
With less than 1,500 men, Greene crossed into North Carolina on February 27th, proceeding toward Cornwallis at Hillsboro, where to the annoyance of Cornwallis Greene did a provocative little dance remindful of a child’s game "catch me if you can." He was constantly changing position, now near, now moving farther away, then back towards Cornwallis. British Colonel Banastre Tarleton, annoyed by the lack of action, was also playing his little dance in an attempt to determine what Greene was up to and if possible to draw out and inflict any punishment that he could on the American forces.
On the night of the 5th of March Patriot Colonel Otho Williams, encamped at Wetzell’s Mills several miles from Greene, detected movement toward the American lines followed at 3 a.m. on the 6th by Cornwallis in force who hoped by attacking Williams to draw Greene into combat and defeat the Southern Army while it’s forces were small. Forewarned, the Americans under Williams were able to escape after a short skirmish in which losses were about evenly divided with the loss of 20 men killed or wounded on each side. Greene did not take the bait and was not affected. Cornwallis, frustrated by the failure to draw out Greene, withdrew to his encampment.
Greene’s forces were increasing. Colonel Andrew Pickens raised 700 militia and was harassing Cornwallis as were General Richard Caswell and Williams. Their purpose mainly being to keep watch on Cornwallis and dispirit the Tory population from assisting him in any way. Meanwhile, Patriot General Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben sent 400 newly trained Virginia Continentals south, North Carolina sent more than 1,000 militia while Virginia sent over 1,600 militia. The numbers are impressive but the quality of the new troops was unknown, none having had any major combat experience. In addition were the old tried and true standbys, Continentals from Delaware and Maryland as well as General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee's and Colonel William Washington’s cavalry.
Both General Greene and General Cornwallis knew that the time had come for a settlement but it was Greene who chose the time and place – Guilford Courthouse, where he set up camp on March 14th. Cornwallis was eager to recoup his reputation by destroying the Southern Army of 4,400 men at arms. However, of those 4,400 only 1,490 infantry were Continentals and of those only 630 from Maryland and Delaware had ever seen combat. Cornwallis' resources of 1,900 men was smaller in total number but all were well trained and seasoned veterans of battles in both Europe and America. Additionally, they were better supported by artillery.
On the morning of March 15th, Cornwallis broke camp early and without breakfast set off for Guilford Courthouse. The most detailed account of the battle that I have seen can be found in Ward's The War of the Revolution. To include all the details would require pages of text therefore only what appear to be essential elements of this battle that will be a prelude to Yorktown and essentially the end of the war are given here.
The first event of the day was an action between Henry Lee's and Banastre Tarleton’s cavalry. Lee, watching the advance of the enemy, was accosted by Tarleton who was in advance of the main body. At first Lee retreated until forced, he then turned on Tarleton driving him back almost to the head of the British van. Lee then departed hastily to notify Greene of the approaching army. Results were inconclusive other than an initial drubbing of Tarleton and Lee’s report to Greene.
In the meantime Greene was positioning his troops in three lines. First came the North Carolina militia, then a second line composed of Virginia militia who were some three hundred yards to the rear. A third line composed of Continentals was drawn up around the courthouse which stood on a small hill. The cavalry was stationed to the left and right of the Continentals along with some battle tested irregulars. When all lines were established, Greene went among the militia telling the first line to hold for three firings then retreat behind the second line who would perform the same way and fall back on the third line. Every man would be in the line of fire, there would be no reserve units. It would be a case of fight or die.
About one-thirty in the afternoon the British began their assault, marching resolutely, as if on parade, their long red line extending all the way across an open area and into the woods. When the redcoats came within range the militia fired as one man tearing gaping holes in the British line, yet they came on as if nothing had occurred When within the range of their muskets the total British line fired following with a bayonet charge against the first line. The charge was stopped when it became apparent that the first line was laying behind a rail fence with rifles aimed and waiting. There was a pause until British Colonel Webster advanced to the lead, urging his men to advance. The charge was resumed amidst a devastating fire. The militia’s task completed, they ran pell mell through the second line to safety.
The British were now beyond the cleared ground and the fighting was into the woods. Unlike most recollections of troops, not all militia fled. One company of North Carolinians led by Captain Forbes joined Lee on the left. While Virginia militia held their position, Colonel Campbell, General Lee and Colonel Forbes were finally pushed up to a height to the south of the main battleground, and remained separated there until the end of the battle.
Colonel Gunby’s Virginians were also pushed back but were rescued by Colonel Washington’s cavalry and continued in the battle, a hole opened in the second line and British Colonel Webster swept forward in a bayonet charge against the third line. When Webster’s troops were within a hundred feet the third line opened fire and Gunby called for bayonets. The enemy was driven down into a ravine and up the other side in total disarray. Webster’s troops were now beaten and in disorder.
It is believed that had Greene loosed his cavalry as Morgan had at Cowpens, the entire British army might have been destroyed. It was not to be, Morgan could take the risk, loss of his force would have been a disaster but there would still have been Generals Greene's and Huger’s armies. Defeat of Greene at this juncture would mean the end of the Southern Army and complete domination of the south by Britain. Greene could not risk the loss of his entire army while the bloody fight was not yet over. Towards evening Greene began, in good order, a strategic retreat – not the victor who held the field, but the general who had paid the lesser price of battle. Greene lost 78 killed and 183 wounded out of a total of 3,000. Cornwallis with 1,900 men had lost 93 killed and 439 wounded. The toll upon British and Hessian officers was devastating, 29 killed or wounded. Of the British wounded, many died during the night in the midst of a soaking rain.
Greene lost the battle at Guilford Courthouse but won the southern campaign as Cornwallis abandoned the Carolinas, eventually moving on to Virginia. The southern campaign was not over, there were still 8,000 British, Hessians and Tories in the three states. Greene’s next move would be to eliminate these scattered garrisons, individually or as a set piece battle depending upon the enemy.
On March 11th, Spanish Admiral Don Bernardo de Galvez arrived off Pensacola with a force of 3,000 to 4,000 men (See Note) for the capture of Fort George. The fort was commanded by the same General John Campbell who had previously lost Mobile to Galvez. A landing was not accomplished until March 17th. The fort could not be immediately reduced and a siege was established. It would be May before the fort surrendered.
Next – Cornwallis decides to pursue his original strategy of capturing Virginia while Greene moves to reduce the scattered British outposts in the South.
Note: Sources give differing numbers of Spanish soldiers at Pensacola.
References: Christopher Ward's "The War of the Revolution"; Bruce Lancaster's "The American Revolution" ; Dan Higginbotham’s “The War of American Independence”; Encyclopedia Britannica "The Revolutionary Year"s; " SAR Magazine Spring 1997" and "Fall 1996".
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