This Date in American War for Independence History

Crown forces, led by Lord Cornwallis and numbering approximately 1900, fought General Greene’s Continental forces, numbering approximately 4400, on this date in 1781 at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

A short skirmish between advance guards near the New Garden Meeting House marked the start of the battle. Later that afternoon, the main forces met near Guilford Courthouse. The Continental forces were arranged in three lines, with North Carolina militia forces in the first line, Virginia militia in the second, and Greene’s regular forces in the final line. Cornwallis, though out-numbered, attacked Greene’s lines and forced the Continentals from the field.

The end of the battle found the Crown forces the tactical victors, but the heavy losses countered any tactical advantage that might have been gained. Charles James Fox remarked “Another such victory would ruin the British Army!”.

The Guards fought as two battalions of three companies each. 4th Coy was organized as part of the 2nd Battalion, reinforcing the left flank of the Crown Forces, which consisted of the 23rd and 33rd Regiments of Foot. Upon contact with the first line of Continentals, the 23rd and 33rd inclined to the left, and 2nd Battalion marched to their right flank in order to maintain contact with the rest of the Crown forces. The center of the Continental first line largely broke at the onset of the battle, opening the way for the Guards to press the attack on to the second line. The Virginia militia of the second line also broke, yielding to the superior discipline, organization, and experience displayed by the veteran Crown forces. 2nd Battalion was finally repulsed by a counter-attack of the Maryland regulars of the third line and a cavalry charge. Hand-to-hand combat was broken only by Cornwallis firing grapeshot into the melee, causing the cavalry to break contact and allowing the Guards to reorganize. Before the British could re-attack the Continental line, General Greene decided that the best course of action was an orderly withdrawal, leaving the field of battle to the Lord Cornwallis.

Guards’ losses were so high that after the battle, the Guards “Brigade” was reorganized as a single battalion of four under-strength companies.

Interestingly, the New Garden Meeting House witnessed the beginning and end of this pivotal battle. The initial skirmish took place here and Cornwallis left a number of badly wounded men in the care of the Quakers of New Garden. Today, a memorial can be found dedicated to the American and British soldiers buried in the New Garden Meeting House cemetery. This memorial has been faithfully maintained for over 225 years.

Information available at -
www.britishbattles.com
North Carolina State Library
Map from United States Military Academy (West Point)