Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/260

 228 Battle of Guildford. [mi as well at once fall back on his base; and the loss of a few supplies would matter little. The Catawbawas crossed, with great boldness and some good fortune on the part of the British, since, through a blunder of their guide, they forded the river at a place for which they were not making and which was therefore left unguarded. On February 5, 1781, the two divisions of the American army met near Guildford Court House. Greene had hoped for a sufficient reinforcement of local militia to enable him to attack Cornwallis. But they failed to join him ; and, after a council of war, it was decided to retreat towards Virginia. Cornwallis still continued his pursuit of the united force, and with sound strategy drew towards the west, thus taking the route where the streams were fordable. Greene's experience, as quarter-master to Washington, had familiarised him with questions of transport. He succeeded in getting together enough boats to cross the Yadkin below the British force with a speed wholly beyond Cornwallis' expectations; and he continued his retreat, protected by a rear-guard of 700 men under Colonel Lee, perhaps the best cavalry officer in the American army, who held Cornwallis in check. In Greene's short but brilliant career as a soldier there is perhaps no finer exploit than this march to the Dan. Retreating rapidly, he held together his troops, without any loss of steadiness or discipline, or any subsequent detriment to their fighting power. He succeeded finally in crossing the Dan, the river which separates Virginia from North Carolina. There Cornwallis abandoned the pursuit and withdrew to Hillsborough in North Carolina. Greene only waited for reinforcements from Virginia to resume active operations and to advance into North Carolina. At the very outset he was encouraged by the capture of a whole detachment of loyalists who mistook Lee's dragoons for British soldiers. As Greene advanced he was joined by further reinforcements. He had no longer any motive for avoiding that engagement for which Cornwallis had been striving. On March 15 the armies met near Guildford Court House and joined battle. No engagement throughout the whole war so impressed those who saw it with a sense of stubborn determination on both sides. The Americans occupied the higher ground with a deep ravine in their rear, behind which the slope rose steeply. The British numbered about 2500, the Americans about 4500; but of their force a considerable part consisted of comparatively unseasoned militia. The Americans were posted in three lines, with a small reserve. A little before two o'clock the engagement began. The first American line gave their fire and withdrew, whether in panic or obedience to orders seems uncertain. But the second line stood firm. So stubborn was their resistance that Cornwallis had to extend his line and bring up his whole reserve. The riflemen on the American right and the British troops opposed to them became detached and kept up a separate fight in the