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Camp, at the iron works, ten miles from Guildford court house, March 16, 1781 SIR, ON the 10th, I wrote to his excellency General Washington, from the High-rock ford, on the Haw river, a copy of which I enclosed your excellency, that I had effected a junction with a continental regiment of eighteen-months men, and two considerable bodies of militia belonging to Virginia and North Carolina. After this junction, I took the resolution of attacking the enemy without loss of time, and made the necessary disposition accordingly, being persuaded, that if we were successful, it would prove ruinous to the enemy, and, if otherwise, it would only prove a partial evil to us. The army marched from the High-rock ford on the 12th, and on the 14th arrived at Guildford. The enemy lay at the Quaker meeting house, on Deep river, eight miles from our camp. On the morning of the 15th, our reconnoitering party reported the enemy advancing on the great Salisbury road. The army was drawn up in (a.) three lines: The front line was composed of North-Carolina militia, under the command of Generals Butler and Eaton; the second line of Virginia militia, commanded by Generals Stephens and Lawson, forming two brigades; the third line, consisting of two brigades, one of Virginia, and one of Maryland continental troops, commanded by General Huger and Colonel Williams. Lieutenant-colonel Washington, with the dragoons (b.) of the 1st and 3d regiments, a detachment of light infantry, composed of continental troops, and a regiment of riflemen, under Colonel Lynch, formed a corps of observation for the security of our right flank. Lieutenant-colonel Lee, with his legion, a detachment of light infantry, and a corps of riflemen, under Colonel Campbell, formed a corps of observation for the security of our flank. The greater part of this country is wilderness, with a few cleared fields interspersed here and there. The army was drawn up on a large hill of ground, surrounded by other hills, the greater part of which was covered with timber and thick underbrush. The front line was posted with two field pieces just on the edge of the woods, and the back of a fence, which ran parallel with the line, with an open field directly in their front. The second line was in the woods, about three hundred yards in the rear of the first; and the continental troops about four hundred yards in the rear of the second, with a double front, as the hill drew to a point where they were posted; and on the right and left were two old fields. In this position we waited the approach of the enemy, having previously sent off the baggage to this place, appoint to rendezvous at, in cast of a defeat. Lieutenant-colonel Lee, with his legion, his infantry, and part of his riflemen, met the enemy on their advance, and had a severe skirmish with Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton, in which the enemy suffered greatly. Captain Armstrong charged the British legion, and cut down near thirty of their dragoons; but as the enemy reinforced their party, Lieutenant-colonel Lee was obliged to retire, and take his position in the line. The action commenced by a cannonade, which lasted about twenty minutes, when the enemy advanced in three columns; the Hessians on the right, the guards in the center, and Lieutenant-colonel Webster's brigade on the left. The whole moved through the old fields to attack the North-Carolina brigades, who waited the attack until the enemy got within one hundred and forty yards, when part of them began to fire, but a considerable part left the ground without firing at all. The general and field officers did all they could to induce the men to stand their ground; but neither the advantages of the position, nor any other consideration, could induce them to stay. General Stephens, and General Lawson, and the field officers of those brigades, were more successful in their exertions. The Virginia militia gave the enemy a warm reception, and kept up a heavy fire for a long time; but being beat back, the action became general almost every where. The corps of observation, under Washington and Lee, were warmly engaged, and did great execution. In a word, the engagement was long and severe, and the enemy only gained their point by superior discipline. They having broken the 2d Maryland regiment, and turned our left flank, got into the rear of the Virginia brigade; and appearing to be gaining out right, which would have encircled the whole of the continental troops, I thought it most advisable to order a retreat. About this time Lieutenant-colonel Washington made a charge with the horse upon a part of the brigade of guards; and the first regiment of Marylanders, commanded by Colonel Gunby, and seconded by Lieutenant-colonel Howard, followed the horse with their bayonets; near the whole of the party fell a sacrifice. General Huger was the last that was engaged, and gave the enemy a check. We retreated in good order to the Reedy-fork river, and crossed at the ford, about three miles from the field of action, and then halted, and drew up the troops, until we collected most of the stragglers. We lost our artillery, and two ammunition waggons, the greater part of the horses being killed before the retreat began, and it being impossible to move the pieces but along the great road. After collecting our stragglers, we retired to this camp, ten miles distant from Guildford. From the best information I can get, the enemy's loss is very great, not less in killed and wounded than six hundred men, besides some few prisoners that we brought off. Inclosed I send your excellency a return of our killed, wounded, and missing. Most of the latter have gone home, as is but too customary with the miltia after an action. I cannot learn that the enemy has got any considerable number of prisoners. Our men are all in good spirits, and in perfect readiness for another field day. I only lament the loss of several valuable officers, who were killed and wounded in the action. Among the latter are General Stephens, shot through the thigh, and General Huger in the hand; and among the former is Major Anderson, one of the Maryland line. The firmness of the officers and soldiers, during the whole campaign, has been most unparallelled. Amidst innumerable difficulties, they have discovered a degree of magnanimity and fortitude that will for ever add a lustre to their military reputation. I have the honour to be, With very great respct and esteem, Your excellency's most obedient, And most humble servant, NATHANIEL GREENE. (From A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Province of North America?, by Lieutenant-Colonel Tarleton, pp313-317.) Tarleton, Ch 5., [D], p. 313 3/16/1781 |
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