Illustration from book "Tarleton, Campaigns in the Southern Provinces of North America, 1780-81," 1787. Courtesy Library of Congress. Right: Scene from inside the Visitor Center looking out at cutouts of soldiers involved in the fighting, 2022, America's Best History.

Battle of Guilford Courthouse Then

The Continental Army commanded by General Nathaneal Greene had chosen the location for this fight and had more troops on hand. He formed them into three lines. General Cornwallis and the British formed east of those lines on the Hoskins Farmstead, then steadily moved forward. He was prepared to moved forward into North Carolina after his setbacks at Cowpens and Kings Mountain and take the fight to his tired from seven years of war enemy.

The first line of American troops fired into the lines of British soldiers, but eventually yielded to the rear, allowing the second line of Greene's soldiers to engage. However, some of Greene's troops from Carolina fled, and the battle, despite some success by the Continental cavalry and regular infantry, was no match for Cornwallis and his experienced troops. Greene ordered an orderly withdraw and Cornwallis did not pursue. The battle had taken two and one half hours.

What was found out later to Greene's surprise was that the British had suffered many more casualties than originally thought and he was in no shape to pursue. The war continued onward for seven months; Cornwallis with his goal to capture Virginia while Greene took his troops south to recapture South Carolina. When Washington headed south with his troops, the tide turned, and Yorktown in October allowed the Americans to claim victory and the surrender of British forces in the Americas.

Image above: Painting of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse," from Soldiers of the American Revolution by H. Charles McBarron, original date of painting unknown as well as painter. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Photo of the statue of Continental Army General Nathaneal Greene on the battlefield, 2022, America's Best History.

Battle of Guilford Courthouse Now

Compared to many of the other North and South Carolina American Revolution parks, Guilford Courthouse is small, as is the regular parking lot. Additional parking is available at the Old Battleground Road Parking Lot at Stop 8. However, the Visitor Center, where you should start, has a wonderful collection of exhibits and film that will help orient you to the three wave battle. Outside, waysides along the trails of the driving or walking tour help orient yourself to what you've seen in the film.

Minute Walk in History

Let's go for a walk around an American Revolution battlefield that saw less experienced Continental Army and patriot troops, more in number, lose to Cornwallis and his British regulars in a North Carolina battle as Cornwallis attempted his movement into Virginia. And despite an American defeat here on March 15, 1781, it would be the attrition in the British Army plus Washington heading south to help that would lead to victory at Yorktown seven months later.