Page 104 - Foy

THE BATTLE AT GUILFORD COURTHOUSE
March 15, 1781

After whipping TARLTON at Cowpens, MORGAN learned that CORNWALLIS
and his army were nearby and, having no intention of tangling with such a
superior force, marched northeast to join other American troops on their way to
Virginia.

It was over one hundred miles to safety in Virginia, all of it through rain and
snow. The British, commanded by CORNWALLIS, were close behind; sometimes
as close as only a dozen miles.

The Americans were finally able to cross over the Dan River into Virginia taking
all the boats in the region with them. CORNWALLIS was not able to follow

because there were no more boats. After a few days rest and absorbing
reinforcements, the Americans crossed back over the Dan River into North
Carolina. Their number had increased to 4,300 men but, again, most all these
were untrained men. CORWALLIS had 1900 battle-hardened veterans.

The two forces came together at Guilford Courthouse which stood alone in a
clearing by the Salisbury Road. The road sloped westward through woods to a
creek about a mile away. Near the creek on both sides of the road were large corn
fields with zigzag fences along their upper boundaries.

To reach the courthouse the British would have to come east on the road to the
creek and up through the corn fields. The Americans formed their first line along
the fences along the corn fields with North Carolina militia (JAMES FOY

SENIOR’s group). Riflemen were placed on the wings. These were Delaware
regulars and cavalry. To the rear of the front line was the second line of Virginia
militia and in the back of all this, the best of the troops, Virginia and Maryland
Continentals were placed. In the middle of the road at the center of this rear
group the artillery was placed.

The British arrived on a clear and chilly morning, March 15th. The battle lasted
for more than an hour with neither side clearly winning. At one point when the
American calvary came smashing into the fight, the British commander,
CORNWALLIS, ordered his cannons to fire grape shot into a mass of struggling

Ch. 10 Pg. 11