The Battle of Guilford Courthouse: A Most Desperate Engagement

by John R. Maass

Around the North Carolina village of Guilford Courthouse in the late winter of 1781, two weary armies clashed on a cold, wet afternoon. American forces under Nathanael Greene engaged Lord Cornwallis's British army in a bitter two-hour battle of the Revolutionary War. The frightful contest at Guilford was a severe conflict in which troops made repeated use of their flintlock muskets, steel bayonets and dragoon swords in hand-to-hand fighting that killed and wounded about eight hundred men. Historian John R. Maass recounts the bloody battle and the grueling campaign in the South that led up to it, a crucial event on the road to American independence.

160 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2020

Reviews

[William Bahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

How our great, guileful guy Greene gradually gets to Guilford!

This very well researched and nicely written book reminds one of John Buchanan’s “Road to Guilford Courthouse,” which the author cites half a dozen times. Both books spend a significant amount of time setting the stage for the battle by giving an overview of the American Revolution, then getting into some detail about the British Southern Strategy, and finally ending with the Guilford Courthouse battle.

One can assess both books by looking at the pages devoted to the battle itself. Of 464 paperback pages, Buchanan devotes 12 pages of Chapter 24 (3%) to the battle itself. Of 224 paperback pages, Maass devotes some 36 pages (16%, estimated from Kindle) of Chapters 12, 13, 14. Although the respective word count per page is different with Buchanan, Maass includes many arresting images. At any rate, Maass winds up a winner, devoting three times as many pages as Buchanan to the battle.

In the lead up to the battle, Maass gives overviews of Savannah, Charleston, Camden, Kings Mountain, Cowpens, the Race to the Dan (where, winning the race, the guileful Greene ostensibly violated the rules of war and divided his force a second time to deceive the aggressively pursuing Cornwallis); and after Greene’s Battle at Guilford Courthouse (near Greensboro, NC), the road to Yorktown.

As Maas quotes historian Dennis Conrad: “...key elements of Greene’s style of generalship: his knowledge of the southern terrain, his ability to make and revise plans quickly, his foresight, and probably most important his knowledge of his senior subordinates, which allowed him to assign to them tasks for which they were well suited." As Maas quotes Thomas Jefferson: Greene was “second to no one in enterprise, in resource, in sound judgment, promptitude of decision, and every other military talent.” And Maas quotes Greene in what is perhaps a good description of Greene himself: “Little by little we shall reduce the British, and nothing but spirit, resolution, and perseverance are necessary for this purpose.”

Maas also gives an excellent overview of the American militia’s role and the main issues of their use during the American Revolution. He shows how Gates misused them at Camden, how Morgan put them to excellent use at Cowpens, and how Greene attempted their excellent use at Guilford Court House to replay Morgan’s strategic defense-in-depth. As he understood it, Greene blamed his lack of victory (holding the field) at Guilford on the North Carolina militia in the first line of defense for retreating without firing the required number of rounds and then not rallying with the second line of defense as needed. There were, however, several extenuating circumstances.

For the reader already quite familiar with the American Revolutionary War, one will learn several interesting facts: 1. Cornwallis returned to Great Britain in 1778 and, in an audience with King George III, told him that England could not win the war. 2. Winning battles in the South was not sufficient for the British unless they could remain in the area to protect the Tories; marching away left the Rebels with the opportunity to regain control. 3. Aside from their different personalities and the operating distances between them, Cornwallis and Clinton had a communication problem relating to Gates’ not fulfilling a pledge to retire to England and Clinton blaming Cornwallis for the losses at Trenton/Princeton.

As for Maass’ assessment of Greene’s withdrawing from the Guilford Courthouse battle with the wisdom to leave the fight: “But Greene was a prudent commander, a skill he surely learned from more than five years of service with General Washington. The core of his army was mostly intact, just one of his regular regiments had panicked, and he had a secure line of retreat to the north. … Conscious that he had more to lose by staying and suffering defeat than moving off with an army that could fight another day, he wisely chose the latter.” Maass also argues that, while there were impressive Patriot victories in South Carolina at Musgrove Mill, Kings Mountain, and Cowpens by the middle of January 1781, they did not prevent Cornwallis from invading his goal, North Carolina. Thus these battles were not decisive. Guilford Courthouse, though, did exhaust Cornwallis to the extent he retired to the coast, then sought to invade Virginia and met his end at Yorktown. London also rightfully saw Guilford Courthouse as a Pyrrhic victory, as Whig leader Fox declared in Parliament that “another such victory would ruin the British army.”

One point of clarification: Maass describes General Thomas Conway as a Frenchman in Continental service. For a more complete understanding, Conway was born an Irishman, immigrated as a child to France with his parents, enrolled in the Irish Brigade of the French Army, where he rose rapidly in rank. He was subsequently recruited into Continental service by American diplomat Silas Dean, with Congress appointing him a brigadier general.

Maass illustrates his book well with a fine choice of drawings, portraits, and many on-site photographs, most of them in striking high-definition and enhanced depth-of-field. Nonetheless, I do have one wish for his next edition: more maps. While Maass includes three battle maps (West Point Atlas, Author’s collection, and British Map), a comprehensive map such as provided by American Battlefield Trust (with adjustments for coloration) would be quite helpful. As well, a good modern map of the Southern Campaign would also be useful.

Bottom-line, with all points considered, I found the book well researched, very well written, and a very worthy addition to any Revolutionary War library. Highly recommended!

Of possible interest: George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul , a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!” and
Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation

[Joseph Ficklen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing like a good campaign and battle book! This book gives an accessible view into the Guilford Courthouse battle, with many accompanying pictures and maps. I felt a sense of pride reading how soldiers from North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and even some from Delaware, led by a general from Rhode Island, all went into battle against some of the best troops of the British army; the Brigade of Guards, the 23rd and 33rd Foot, Tarleton’s legion, etc. While the Americans ultimately were beaten, yet Cornwallis reaped absolutely no benefit from his bloody victory.

[Christopher Cerone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this nifty book last year after walking the Guilford Courthouse Battlefield outside of Greensboro, NC. John Maass offers a succinct account of the consequential battle during latter part of the Revolutionary War. As Maass notes, Gen. Nathanael Green’s determined engagement against Lord Cornwallis’ troops helped prevent British control of North Carolina and ultimately led to Cornwallis getting trapped at Yorktown. Maass expertly demonstrates how Green did what he said, “we fight, get beat, rise and fight again,” no doubt taking a page from the playbook of his boss, Gen. George Washington. The author also provides studied descriptions of other battles preceding Guilford Courthouse, including Camden, Kings Mill, Cowpens, Charlotte, Cowan’s Ford, etc., including keen insights into some of the notable military leaders on both sides, e.g., Tarleton, Morgan, W. Washington and Lee (Light Horse Harry). Enjoy this fine account. And visit the battlefield!

[William Guerrant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and engaging. It is worth noting, I think, that the book's title is misleading. Over half of this book is devoted not to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, but rather to the events leading up to it, beginning with the British attacks on Savannah and Charleston three years earlier. This is an observation, not a criticism. The background provides important context for a proper appreciation of the battle at Guilford and the book is better for having it.

[james blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent outlook of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

This battle has long interested me as my ancestor fought there. Great analysis of the steps leading up to the battle and the clever withdrawal anticipating future battles.