Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-04-15
Guilford Courth ouse.
CT THE GREAT BATTLE
OF 1881.
BETWEEN lord CoRNwALLIs AND GEN
ERAL GREENE.
[From the Raleigh Observer

From the Raleigh Observer
The battle was fought on the 18th
4 of March, 1871, a little to the north
and west of the village, formerly
known as Martinsville-the premi
ses having been owned, we believe,
py the ancestor of Mr.. Alfred Mar
!. tin,of Wilmington. CORVALLIS was
bent on going to Virginia, and
Greene had fallen back from South
Carolina, opposing and harrassing
the enemy at every point. Corn
wallis pressed on in pursuit until
at last Greene crossed the Dan at
Boyd's Ford, near its junction with
the Roanoke. Thereupon Corn
wallis retired to Hillsboro, and
Greene, having been joined by
enough militia, determined to fight
him, I'd took post at MartinsvilIe,
where Cornwallis made the at
tack. .s" Fszr t
Greene's force consisted, besides
militia, Of ! 400 regulars, being two
Maryland aud two Virginia resi-
ments, most of the North Carolina
regulars had been taken prisoners
at Charleston and were then still
unexchanged) but only one regi-
ment and half of these had ever
been Ia battle. There were 1853
militia, of whom North Carolina
furnished about 1,20Napd Virginia
500. Corvallis had about 1900
veteran troops. Gen. Greene iu
! be plan Of his battle put about
1000 of the North Carolina militia
in front, the Virginia militia in the
rear of them, and his regulars about
800 yards still further to the rear,
in position to cover a retreat,
should one be made necessary, by
either flank. The North Carolina
militia, the accounts say, did not
stand the fire very well, although
their officers acted with the utmost
coolpess aud bravery. The Vir-
yinia militia stood better at first,
having some lifemen in the rear
with orders to shoot the first man
who fell out Of ranks; but soon they
gave away and followed the exam.
ple of the retreating CaroiiIians
There were however. other North
CaroIinians in Col. Washington's
command and in the rifle co,ps,
who covered themselves with glory,
and redeemed by their valor and
aud intrepidity whatever OF military
prestige the North Carolina militia
lest at the outset. The battle be-
gan at y o'clock and lasted two
hours. The copfict was blordy
aud severe. The enemy suffered
heavily: losing, it is said, 633 men.
Oar losses could lot be accurately
ascertained because many of the
North Caroliua and Virginia Mill
tia did not return after the battle
was over. The regulars lost about
200 aud tie miliia nnd rifle corps
less than LOG more. 1t is generally
stated that the fight was drawn
battle, for while Greene retired
from the field, the enemy was SO
badly crippled that when Greene
on the 17tb, with a greatly reduced
force, was preparing fer another
battle, CORVALLIS withdrew, leaving
ABOUT so Of his wounded, who fell
into Greene's hands. Oh the 1S;h
CORVALLIS began his retreat in
earnest, and G. eene became the
pursuer. AS for the effect this
battle had on The struggle for In i
dependence, all agree that it was
very great. Greene seriously Grip
pie l his adversary and completely
disorganized his plans. CORVALLIS
had intended pushing on to Viz
ginia, which Was then entirely de-
fenceless, and by copquering that
State to completely shut off the
South from any communication
with the North. He was however.
because of bis severe. losses, driven
back to. the coast, and his advance
to Virginia was delayed more than
a month, thus giving to Lafayette
and Baron Steuben an opportunity
to organize thsiforees in Virginia,
aod put everything in state of de-
fence.
1t is TINS that GuiIfordc Cenrt:
d.bonse rendered Yorktown possible.
Had. 1t u OF been for the severe and
IsangniDary struggle made there by
G. ee.n,pa CORVALLIS would have
been able without doubt to have
beaten down all opposition in Vir-
ginia and and tilei contest for iI,--
dependence would have been still
n,orenp prntiacted,t and perhaps
9aoubtf6fnsdo tiseo issassz7 ~, :. a.
When we consider that Corn
wallis had veteran troops, and that