Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-03-01

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William Campbell, General Pickens and the
CORPS of South Carolinians under his COM
mand, were relieved and returned to the
western part of South Carolina. No doubt,
the British, in estimating Greene's force, did
not, as they did in their own case, deduct the
sick and wounded.
The whole number Of men in Greene's
army, fit for active duty, was, on the eve of
the battle of Guilford Court House, four
thousand four hundred and four. On the
day before the battle, he was joined by forty
horsemen, under the Marquis of Bretagne.
This made the force four thousand four hun:
dred and forty-four. Of this number, only
one thousand four hundred and ninety were
regulars. These consisted of seven hundred
and seventy-eight, led by General Huger.
The remaining six hundred and thirty regu-
lars we're Williams Maryland brigade, to
which was attached one company from Della
ware, and eigbty.two infantry, belonging to
Lees legion. There, were two thousand seven
hundred and ffty.three militis-one thousand
and sixty North Carolinians, and one thous.
and six hundred and ninety three Virginians.
The cavalry consisted of two hundred and
one. Eighty-six' commanded by Col. Wash.
ington; seventy:6ve BY Lieutenant Colonel
Lee, and forty by the Marquis of Bretagne:
The exact number of men in the army of
Corn wallis, that we are aware, is no where
stated. It was, in all probability, not less
than two thousand nor more than two thous-
and five hundred. So far as simple numbers
are concerned, the army of Greene was fully
twice as large as that of CORVALLIS; but the
latter had the decided advantage in that
nearly, or quite, all his men were tried regu-
lars led by experienced officers. Nearly eve
ry man in the British army was soldier by
profession. He had been trained to arms.
Less than two thousand Of Greene's forces
we're regulars and even these were not regu-
lars in the sense that the soldiers in the army
of CORVALLIS were regulars. More than one
half of Greene's army was nothing but un'
drilled militia. No small amount of them
had fed to Greene's army for protection.
They were brave men and as true patriots as
ever lived, but it was utterly impossible that
they could be good soldiers.
To make good soldier, more is necessary
thangeither physical or moral courage. The
first impulse of the new recruit, on going into
battle, is to run. He may be conscious that
the cause for which he is fighting is just and
right, but the clash of the first onset is too
much for his nerves. To stand firm and re-.
pell an advancing Zoe, is sore test for him
who knows nothing of a battle but what be
has learned from others. To advance upon
his enemy is not 80 severe q test. In this
case, his own onward motion has the appear
ance of defeating the foe, and be continues to
advance without having his nerves shocked.
CORVALLIS knew the character of Greene's
troops. He knew that only few of them
we're regulars that could be relied upon in
the moment of extreme danger. Anxious as
he was to meet Greene, that he might dispel
the gloom which hung over the cause Of the
British government in the South, be never
would have ventured nearer Guilford Court
House than Bells mill, had all Greene's for
ces been regulars. Taking all things into
consideration, the forces Of CORVALLIS, al
though only one half in numbers, were equal,
in pitched battle, to those Of Greene.
On the night of f tire II fourteenth, the two ar
mics lay encamped within eight miles of each
other. Both generals we're preparing for
battle The most sublime spectacle which
mortal eyes can behold in this world is con-
test between two armies led BY brave and ex.
perienced officers. High physical and moral
courage, in conjunction with long course Of
training and much experience, together with
sense of responsibility, may enable individ-
uals to behold such a scene with composure,
but not with indifference. There are some
things which we never can gaze upon in the
character of idle spectators The empty trav-
eler may laugh in the face Of highway rob
Der, but he is forced to be solemn when he
sees the mighty oak shattered into thousand
pieces by the lightning. .....
Guiford Court House is situated about five
miles north east of the town of Greensboro,
the capital of Guiford county. The village
in which the Court House was situated, was
originally called Martinsburg, in honor of
Alexander Martin. Both Martinsburg and
the old court house have crumbled into
ruins. It was situated on the State road
leading from Salisbury to Virginia, Salisbury
being, at that time, the most important town
in the western portion of North Carolina.
The battle ground was on slope, near one
half mile in length, and inclining southwark
in the direction of New Garden meeting
house, where it was known the British were.
The slope terminated in a small valley,
through which flowed small stream that
empties into the Haw. On the west side of
the road and between the stream in the valley
and the top of the hill, was large field. On
the east side of the road there we're two small
fields, With wood two hundred yards wide
between them.
On the fourteenth, Lieutenant Colonel Lee
came into General Greene's camp at Guilford
Court House. He was Immediately sent to
take post within three or four miles ofNew
Garden meeting house, with instructions to
watch the movements of the enemy. Lee
sent Lieutenant Heard, with detachment of
cavalry, still nearer the British camp, in
structing him to report every occurrence
promptly. About two o'clock in the morning,
Heard sent dispatch to Lee, stating that
large body of the enemy's horse was advan.
cling in the direction of New Garden. Lee at
once forwarded this intelligence to General
Greene. Lee instructed Heard to proceed
with q few men toward the flank of the ad-
vancing cavalry, that he might be able to
learn whether the main body of the British
was advancing or not. Communication be.
tween Lee and Heard was kept up, at inter-
vals of every half hour. After a series of
efforts, Heard reported that, on account Of
the extent of the enemy's patrols, he was un-