The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-03-14
BATTLE OF
: : i GGILFORD ii
COURTHOUSE.
The Last Decisive Conflict Of the
Revolutionary War.

S'S%Ss@y
W. l. Underwood, in Atlanta Journal.
Lying five miles northwest Of tGreezs-
boro is the site of the battle OF Guilford
courthouse, the last decisive conflict OF
the Revolutionary war. Here it was
that the British army, though victorl-
GUS in battle, was so crippled that the
surrender at Yorktown followed the
hasty retreat of CORVALLIS to his ships
at Wilmington and later into Virginia.
The battlefield is now owned by the
Guilford battle-ground Company, which
was organized and chartered few
years ago for the purpose of retaining,
beautlfylng and perpetuating the site
of the battle that made certain Ameri-
can independence. The company owns
Is acres Of land, which haye been con-
yerted into pubic park. Previous to
its purchase the land was traversed by
yawning gullies and covered by rank
growth of briars, weeds, etc-a verita-
BILE wilderness. Since passing into the
hands of the Guilford battle-ground
Company the property has been cleared
up, roads and avenues graded, monu
ments, buildings, paviilions, etc, erect
ed, and many other Improvements
made.
The Guilford battle-ground Is what
It's reclaimers intend 1t should be--a
Mecca OF patriotism. 1t is annually
the destination of Thousands of visitors
from all sections of the country. One
the earliest visitors from a distance
wa- George Washington, who, year
after the battle, went ever tho entire
field and carefully inspected the lines
OF the battle.
To Hon. David Schenck, jurist and
historian, is due the major part OF the
credit of reclaiming the battlefield from
oblivion and giving to the world true
and accurate account of the battle. It
has been most arduous task, to which
Judge schenck has unselfshly devoted
Ills life Tor the past fifteen years.
The battle OF Gullford courthouse
was fought on March Is, 1851, be-
tween veterans of the British army on
the one side and regulars of the Conti-
mental army and volunteer and militia
troops from North Carolina and V1r-
ginla on the other. The British forces
were commanded by Lord CORVALLIS,
fresh from the conquests of South
Carolina and Georgia. Major General
Nathaniel Greene commanded the
American troops. The engagement
resulted in British and American loss
of 600 and 372, respectively. While
the field was lost to the Americans, the
victory was theirs, for after the battle
CORVALLIS started across the colony in
hurried flight to Cross Creek and
Wilmington. Greene followed in hot
pursuit. Realizing that he was net
safe at Wilmington, CORVALLIS gather
ed his shattered forces, the remnant OF
once powerful army, and retreated
into Virginia. Just seven months and
four days after the battle OF Gullford
courthouse he surrendered to General
Washington at Yorktown. Judge
Schenck says:
without Guilford courthouse there
would have been no Yorktown. The
fight for liberty began at Almance on
the 18th day OF May, It'll, and was
virtually en11d at Guilford courthouse
the 18th day of March, 178l."
The battle Of Gu;lford courthouse
was second in importance to none
fought during the bloody war of Amer
ican Independence. 1t checked TIE
rising spirit in behalf of the mother
country and gave CORVALLIS tho first
decided check he had received since
assuming command of the southern
army. The battle brought about a
reaction. Soon thereafter Rawdcn was
defeated in the south aud Clinton in
the north. The surrender of Corn
wallis followed, resulting in permanent
and lasting peace.
One writer has said "No eniight-
ened English statesman or general ever
entertained hopes of the sublugation
of the American states after the battle
of Gullford courthouse and the retreat
ing march of CORVALLIS. Subsequent
battles were only spasmodlc efforts of
humblsd national pride and dying
domination, and were solely prompted
by the irritated feelings of feeble and
bigoted king aud his servile ministry" !"
The results of the battle are net sur
prislng when the type of men compos-
Ing the American forces is considered.
Over hall the strength OF the Contl-
mental army was composed of militia
and volunteer troops, raw and untraln-
ed soldiers. In Western North Caro-
~