Battle of Guilford Court House
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
What happened
A British army under Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis fought an American army under Major General Nathanael Greene. In the American Revolutionary War, Greene placed his troops in three lines near Guilford Court House. Cornwallis's smaller British army pushed through the first lines and fought on through the woods. After about 90 minutes Greene withdrew, leaving the British in control of the field.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The British won but lost so many men that the victory hurt them more than it helped. A British politician, Charles James Fox, said, 'Another such victory would ruin the British Army!'
What came next
Cornwallis moved to Wilmington and then marched into Virginia, where he later surrendered at Yorktown. Greene moved into South Carolina.
Did you know?
The town of Gilford, New Hampshire, is named after the battle, but misspelled.
Timeline
- 17 January 1781The Americans win at Cowpens.
- 15 March 1781Cornwallis wins at Guilford Court House.
- 1781Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown.
- 2 March 1917Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is created.