The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-13
BATTLE
WON INDEPENDENCE
Caused Retreat Of CORVALLIS and the
Surrender at Yorktown, End
ing Revolution.

GUILDFORD COURT HOUSE, N. c.,
March Most Americans think the
revolution began at Lexington and
ended at Yorktown.
Close students Of history, however,
know that the North Carolinians had
begun taking up arms in 1771 soon af-
ter the Kecklenberg Declaration Of In
dependence The battle of Guilford
Courthouse, which Immediately pre-
ceded the retreat Of CORVALLIS to the
surrender at Yorktown, has been ac-
claimed by many as the battle that
won the Revolutionary war. Described
in the British parliament victory"
it drew from John Fox the rejoinder
that another such victory would mean
the destruction Of British forces in
America"
The 141st anniversary of the battle
OF Guilford Courthouse will be cele
brated here on March 18th with the
placing of the celebrated battle ground
oak in the hall of fame for trees estab-
lished by the American Forestry asso-
citation. 1t was the tree to which Gen.
Nathaniel Greene tied his horse during
that celebrated engagement, and the
majestic oak known to be more than
200 years old, now has a spread of
more than a hundred feet and is 81
feet around at the base.
Four miles away is the New Garden
oak in a cemetery where stood an old
Quaker meeting house where the
wounded from the battle were cared
for In the shade OF the New Garden
Oak lies buried the grandfather OF
Uncle Joe Cannon. This celebrated
tree is also to take its place in the hall
of fame on the same day.
Nominations for the Battle Ground
Oak in the hall Of fame were made by
Mrs. Dorian II. Blair, of the Daughters
of the American Revolution of Green's
boro, N. c.: Prof. Mark C. Mills. of
Guildford college, and Paul C. Lindley,
OF Pomona, N. G.. Professor Mills also
nominated the New Garden Oak.
At the battle OF Guildford Court
house CORVALLIS had three horses shot
from under him. General Greene, for
whom Greensboro is named, was in
command OF the American forces
which consisted of Huger's Brigade
of Virginia, Williams Maryland and
Delaware brigade, Continental regu-
lars, North Carolina militia, Light
Horse" Harry Lees legion, Col. Will
liam Washingtons dragons, Lees
dragons and cavalry.
CORVALLIS retreated into Virginia
and surrendered at Yorktown the fol-
lowing October. The Lafayette Elm
planted in front of the Yorktown head
quarters when Lafayette visited this
country In 1924 is also in the hall of
70 7ha C1ff1f haf finId lie
owned by the nation after an associa-
ton headed by Judge John David
Schenck in 1887 started plans for pre-
serving the site.
Another nomination given place of
honor is the Kentucky Coffee tree in
front Of the Yer Plano mansion at
Fishhill- ON Hudson, nominated BY
Cora June Sheppard. of Shiloh. N. j.
The tree was planted in 1904 on prop
erty acquired by the Yer P1anck fam
lily during the reign of James H., king
of England, in 1863. The property has
remained with this family ever since.
Baron Steuben occupied the mansion
during the Revolution and under this
tree the first meeting of the Society of
the Cincinnati was held. The tree isl
magnificent specimen with twoI
trunks rs feet high.
A tree adopted" by the Boy Scouts
at Elizabet htown, Pa, is also given a
place in the hall of fame. The tree
is a prone juniper, so years old and As
feet in diameter The limbs lie on the
ground and do not take root. The nom
ination was made by George B. Orlady.
presiding judge of the superior court
of Pennsylvania. The tree is at the
Masonic Home and the Boy Scouts
have built fence around the remark |
able specimen to protect 1t.