Cornwallis vs. Greene: The pyrrhic victory that cost Britain the war

Cornwallis’s Deadly Grapeshot Decision at Guilford Courthouse

In March 1781, British General Cornwallis faced a tough choice at Guilford Courthouse. His troops broke through two American lines but got stuck in brutal hand-to-hand combat at the third.

When American cavalry rushed in, Cornwallis made a grim call.

He told his gunners to fire grapeshot into the fighting mass, killing his own men along with Americans. His second-in-command was shocked, yet Cornwallis saw no other way.

The move worked but cost him dearly – 500 men, a quarter of his force. Just seven months later, he would surrender at Yorktown.

The battlefield at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park now stands quiet, with those same cannons on display for visitors to see.

Hungry British Troops Marched All Night

Cornwallis pushed his 2,100 tired soldiers through the dark from Deep River Meeting House on March 14, 1781.

They walked 12 miles to reach Guilford Courthouse by dawn with empty stomachs after running out of flour the day before.

The British general sent his supply wagons to Bell’s Mills with 100 foot soldiers and 20 horsemen, keeping only fighters ready for battle.

American General Nathanael Greene set up 4,500 men in three defense lines, copying the plan that worked at Cowpens. Both armies got ready to fight in the North Carolina woods.

Lee’s Scouts Fought Tarleton’s Riders in the Dark

American lookouts spotted movement at 2 AM as British horsemen moved forward.

By 4 AM, Light Horse Harry Lee’s riders traded shots with Banastre Tarleton’s men near the Quaker meeting house, four miles from the courthouse.

Tarleton took a bullet to his right hand during the fight and started pulling back. Lee chased the hurt British leader but soon ran into the British Guards.

The Americans quickly backed up toward Greene’s main position as the sun came up.

Greene Built a Three-Layer Trap for the British

Greene set up his forces in three lines about 400 yards apart across the rolling land. His first line put 1,000 North Carolina militia behind a rail fence with two cannons in the middle.

The second line hid 1,200 Virginia militia in thick woods.

His last line placed 1,400 Continental regulars from Maryland and Virginia on high ground near the courthouse. This layered defense plan aimed to wear down British forces before they reached his best troops.

Cannons Started the Battle as British Formed Their Lines

At 1:30 PM, big guns from both armies traded shots for half an hour without much effect. Cornwallis lined up his troops in two groups on both sides of New Garden Road.

Colonel James Webster led the left group while Major General Alexander Leslie led the right. The British soldiers formed up and started walking across open fields toward the American first line.

Tarleton’s horsemen stayed behind the main group, waiting for the right time.

North Carolina Fighters Shot Then Ran as Bayonets Came Near

When redcoats came within 150 yards of the rail fence, North Carolina militia fired a deadly volley. One American said the British soldiers “looked like wheat stalks after harvest.”

Despite heavy losses, British troops kept coming with fixed bayonets. The militia fired their two shots then ran into the woods.

Virginia riflemen on both sides shot into the British lines as they moved forward.

Virginia Troops Fought Harder in the Woods

British forces, now spread out from side attacks, ran into Virginia militia hiding among the trees. For about 30 minutes, wild fighting broke out through the forest as Virginians fought harder than the first line had.

Colonel James Webster took a deadly wound during the push against the American left. The British finally broke through this second line but lost many men.

Their neat lines fell apart into mixed groups pushing toward the final American position.

American Regulars Stopped the First British Attack

The 33rd Regiment reached Greene’s strongest position first but got pushed back by Virginia and Maryland Continentals. Next, the 2nd Guards took two American cannons, almost breaking through the American left side.

The 2nd Maryland Regiment started to break under pressure, making a dangerous gap in Greene’s line. The British seemed close to winning despite their many losses.

The battle reached its most important moment.

Washington’s Horsemen Crashed Into British Guards

Greene sent Lieutenant Colonel William Washington’s riders and the 1st Maryland Regiment to close the gap.

Washington’s cavalry charged through the back of the 2nd Guards, turned around, and slammed through them again in close fighting. The Americans took back their two cannons and closed the gap in their line.

Brutal hand-to-hand combat broke out between top units on both sides. The Guards faced possible defeat as American cavalry and foot soldiers pressed them hard.

Cornwallis Made a Desperate Cannon Decision

With fierce fighting just yards away and his Guards about to be wiped out, Cornwallis made a shocking choice.

He told his cannon crews to load small metal balls and fire right into the fight, knowing it would kill his own men along with Americans. His second-in-command, General Charles O’Hara, questioned the order.

Cornwallis grimly said he had no choice.

The cannons blasted deadly sprays of lead into the mass of fighting men, killing British soldiers but breaking up the American attack.

Greene Pulled Back His Army Before It Could Be Destroyed

Rather than risk losing his Continental regulars, Greene ordered a strategic withdrawal down Reedy Creek Road. The American forces pulled back in good order, not breaking into a panicked retreat like militia often did.

British troops stood victorious on the battlefield but were too battered to chase the retreating Americans effectively. Cornwallis held the ground but lost about one-quarter of his entire army in the process.

The "Victory" That Doomed the British Southern Campaign

British casualties reached approximately 500 killed and wounded, while Americans lost around 260 men.

The Guards battalions, considered Britain’s finest soldiers, suffered 56% casualties including nearly all their officers.

Cornwallis abandoned his North Carolina campaign and retreated to Wilmington to rest his shattered army. His desperate artillery decision saved his force that day but couldn’t save the campaign.

Seven months later, his march to Virginia ended with surrender at Yorktown, making Guilford Courthouse the beginning of the end for British hopes in America.

Visiting Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, North Carolina

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park at 2332 New Garden Road in Greensboro tells the story of Cornwallis’s desperate decision to fire grapeshot into his own troops during hand-to-hand combat to prevent a devastating counterattack.

You can visit for free and watch the 32-minute documentary “Another Such Victory” at the visitor center, open Wednesday-Sunday 9am-5pm.

Drive the 2.25-mile battlefield tour with 8 stops, including where Continental forces made their final stand.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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