Guilford Court House
RETURN TO INDEXVictory: British
Troops: Great Britain/Hesse-Kassel/Ansbach 2,100 - United States 4,500
The Battle of Guilford Court House was fought on 15 March 1781 during the American Revolutionary War, near Greensboro, North Carolina. A 2,100-man British force under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis defeated Major General Nathanael Greene's 4,500 Americans. The British Army suffered considerable casualties, with estimates as high as 27% of their total force. Following the Battle of Cowpens, Cornwallis was determined to destroy Greene's army. However, the loss of his light infantry at Cowpens led him to burn his supplies so that his army would be nimble enough for pursuit. He chased Greene in the Race to the Dan, but Greene escaped across the flooded Dan River to safety in Virginia. Cornwallis established camp at Hillsborough and attempted to forage supplies and recruit North Carolina's Tories. However, the bedraggled state of his army and Pyle's massacre deterred Loyalists. On March 8, Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and Greene's forces met at Guilford Courthouse.
Greene had deployed his army in three lines. Greene's first line was along a split-rail fence, where the New Camden road emerged from the woods. Greene's second line was 350 yards behind the first, 1,200 Virginia militia, led by Robert Lawson and Edward Stevens. Greene's third line was another 550 yards to the right rear, in a clearing. Cornwallis's column appeared along the New Camden Road at 1:30 pm, and Singleton commenced firing his two six-pounders, while John McLeod's Royal Artillery battery responded with three six-pounders. Cornwallis deployed the 33rd Foot and Royal Welsh Fusiliers on his left wing, led by James Webster, and supported by Charles O'Hara with his 2nd Guards Battalion, Grenadiers, and the Jägers. As the British moved through the woods, the contest reduced to small firefights as the British forced the Virginians back. Cornwallis, despite having a horse shot from under him, led the British clearing of the woods. The battle had lasted only 90 minutes, and although the British technically defeated the American force, they lost over a quarter of their own men.
Greene had deployed his army in three lines. Greene's first line was along a split-rail fence, where the New Camden road emerged from the woods. Greene's second line was 350 yards behind the first, 1,200 Virginia militia, led by Robert Lawson and Edward Stevens. Greene's third line was another 550 yards to the right rear, in a clearing. Cornwallis's column appeared along the New Camden Road at 1:30 pm, and Singleton commenced firing his two six-pounders, while John McLeod's Royal Artillery battery responded with three six-pounders. Cornwallis deployed the 33rd Foot and Royal Welsh Fusiliers on his left wing, led by James Webster, and supported by Charles O'Hara with his 2nd Guards Battalion, Grenadiers, and the Jägers. As the British moved through the woods, the contest reduced to small firefights as the British forced the Virginians back. Cornwallis, despite having a horse shot from under him, led the British clearing of the woods. The battle had lasted only 90 minutes, and although the British technically defeated the American force, they lost over a quarter of their own men.
