A Tactical British Victory
While away for business, I was able to visit the battlefield of the battle of Guildford Courthouse in North Carolina. Which was the site of a battle during the American war for Impendence. Given how well battlefield was presented, I was surprised to find that it was actually British victory all be it tactical one.
The battlefield is now a national park with a very good little museum chronicling the battle.
Commanders and Units Involved
The Combined British Forces was 2,100 strong.
The Continental army was about 4,500.
A Brief Summary of the Battle
There are lots of good accounts online if you want to read about it in detail (in all the usual places), but I will summarise the key points.
The battle took place on the March 15, 1781, between the British forces under Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and the Continentals under Major General Nathanael Greene at Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina.
While the Continentals enjoyed a large numeral advantage of over two to one. Greene understood that the majority of his force were untrained and untested militia men against a battle hardened and veteran, combined British & German army. So, rather than opting for an offensive strategy, he formed his army in three rows with the first two rows made up of Maryland and Virginia militia plus independent units. With the third row made up of his most experienced troops. And waited for the British to attack.
Over the course of the day, the British broke through the first two Continental lines but not without fierce fighting and heavy casualties. With the militias giving good account of themselves. By the time they had reached the third line, the British forces had endured heavy fighting for several hours and a well-trained force waiting for them across open ground.
The Jägers and the 33rd Foot were the first units to approach the enemy. The British came within a 100 feet of the enemy line before combined volleys of the Maryland and Delaware companies drove them back.
The 2nd Guards had better luck and forced the 2nd Maryland regiment to break and also followed up to capture two of the enemy six-pounders. The 1st Maryland regiment then turned and engaged the 2nd Guards. While Washington's dragoons charged through the rear of the 2nd Guards. The 1st Maryland regiment then charged with bayonets fixed.
Cornwallis ordered his artillery to fire grapeshot into the mass of fighting men. The grape shot killed both Americans and British soldiers. The British then advanced toward the gap left by the 2nd Maryland regiment.
By 3:30 pm Greene ordered his army to withdraw under friendly covering fire. Initially Cornwallis ordered a pursuit but soon recalled his men. After the battle Cornwallis had lost over quarter of his men compared to less than ten percent for the Continentals.
The Park
After the Battle
So, while clearly the British won the tactical victory by forcing the Continentals from the field. They failed in their strategic aims which was to break the enemy force. Additionally, Cornwallis was forced to give up pursuit in order to resupply and gather reinforcements. Conversely Greene had managed to drain the British forces without suffering heavy casualties and escape with the bulk of his regular forces intact. Which ultimately led to Yorktown and the British surrender.
Rob
