With the upcoming semiquincentennial (250-year) anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the American Colonies from Imperial British rule, I decided I should start a series of geocaches highlighting well known and lesser known parts of history regarding the American War of Independence.
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
While attempting to duplicate the success found during the Battle of Cowpens (GCB899N), the commander of the Southern Army General Nathanael Greene used his 4,400 men of the Continental Army to draw the British's 1,900 troops to the Guilford County Courthouse (located in present-day Greensboro, North Carolina) on March 15, 1781.
Unfortunately for Greene, the Continental army consisted of mostly Patriot militiamen who had little training or experience while the British troops were well-trained and experienced “regulars.”
The Americans formed three lines of soldiers to meet the British as they advanced toward the courthouse green. The first was composed of North Carolina militia. Behind them were Virginia militia, and behind them mostly “regulars.”
As the fighting commenced, the first line of the Americans broke almost immediately under the British attack. Only a few militiamen got off more than two shots, while most simply threw their guns down and disappeared into the woods
But the battle continued, with severe losses of men on both sides. And ultimately the Americans retreated and the British took the field.
While the retreat of the Continental Army indicated that the British had won the day, the cost in British lives could not be recovered which ultimately left the British without the necessary troops later in the year at the Battle of Yorktown.
Greene County, Illinois, which is just north of St. Louis, is named after Gen. Nathanael Greene as are several other counties throughout the United States. Including the one in Illinois, how many counties are named after Gen. Nathanael Greene?
- 14 = N 41° 21.320′ W 88° 34.211′
- 16 = N 41° 21.300′ W 88° 35.573′
- 18 = N 41° 22.065′ W 88° 34.569′