Touring the Battle˚eld€¦ · tour road starts at visitor center parking Tour stop Historic road...
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The best way to see the park is by taking the following self-guiding auto/bicycle tour traced on the map below. From the visitor center walk to Stop 1, then take the 2 1 / 4-mile driving road around the park. Allow about an hour for the tour, depend- ing on your interests. Foot trails at the stops lead to many features you would otherwise miss. Include Tannenbaum His- toric Park, part of the battle’s first line ac- tion, in your visit. For Safety’s Sake: Use caution driving the tour road. Watch for bicycles and cross carefully at intersections of Old Bat- tleground Road. Do not climb on cannons or monuments. Pets must be leashed and attended at all times. 1. American First Line On both sides of New Garden Road, about 150 yards away, were more than 1,000 North Carolina mil- itiamen divided into two brigades. They held a position behind a rail fence over- looking three muddy farm fields. Though Greene knew these untested citizen-sol- diers were no match for veteran redcoats, he hoped they would get off a few shots each and at least slow the British attack. But when the British rushed forward af- ter taking the first American fire, part of Eaton’s brigade on the right of the road fled, beginning a panic that quickly spread down the line. 2. Fragmented Attack As the rest of the first line dissolved into the woods be- hind, some of the North Carolinians in Butler’s brigade on the American left joined with the forces of “Light-horse Harry” Lee and William Campbell. These units withdrew to the southeast taking two of Cornwallis’s regiments with them. 3. Sustained Firefight Two brigades of Virginia militia waited in the deep forest behind the first line. Gen. Edward Stevens, south of the road, and Gen. Robert Law- son, holding the line north of the road, kept up a long fight in the woods until the British finally broke through to the third line. A foot trail leads to the Greene Mon- ument along the line that Stevens’s Vir- ginians defended. 4. Expanding Battle The monument to Maj. Joseph Winston honors those Surry County riflemen who fought stubbornly under Lee and Campbell on the American left. As Tarleton’s cavalry ended this sepa- rate fight far to the southeast, one of Winston’s men, Richard Taliaferro, was shot; he may have been the last American soldier killed in the battle. Winston and a fellow soldier, Jesse Franklin, are buried nearby. 5. Battlefield Preservation The preser- vation of the Guilford Courthouse battle- field began in 1887 by David Schenck and the Guilford Battle Ground Company. Us- ing information then available, they erect- ed memorials and marked battlefield lo- cations. Since then, extensive research and technology, providing a wealth of new information, have been used to cor- rect battlefield locations and enhance his- torical interpretation. The 1909 monu- ment to the American cavalry specifically honors the service of the legendary Peter Francisco, William Washington, and the Marquis de Bretigny, a French volunteer fighting for American independence. The Turner Monument pays tribute to Kerrenhappuch Norman Turner. One of her sons was badly wounded in the battle, and she is said to have ridden on horse- back from her home in Maryland to Guilford Court- house to nurse him back to health. The statue shows her holding a cup and towel, her tools of healing. This monument marks the graves of William Hooper and John Penn, two of the state’s signers of the Decla- ration. Hooper headed North Carolina’s delegation to the Continental Congress from 1774-77. Penn served in Congress from 1775-1780 and later on North Carolina’s Board of War, which helped supply the state’s militia. About Your Visit Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is six miles north of downtown Greensboro, N.C., off U.S. 220 on New Garden Road. The visitor center, near the American First Line, has infor- mation, exhibits, a half-hour film on the battle, an animated battle map program, and a Revo- lutionary War bookstore. Ask about special ac- tivities and seasonal programs; groups should contact the park in advance. Follow the signs for self-guiding tours by car, bicycle, or on foot. A narrated auto tour of the battlefield is also available for sale in the bookstore. West of the park, Tannenbaum Historic Park has historic buildings and exhibits on civilian life at the time of the battle. For More Information Guilford Courthouse National Military Park 2332 New Garden Road Greensboro, NC 27410 336-288-1776 www.nps.gov/guco Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is one of more than 380 parks in the National Park System. The National Park Service cares for these special places saved by the American peo- ple so that all may experience our heritage. Visit www.nps.gov to learn more about parks and National Park Service programs in Ameri- ca’s communities. Touring the Battlefield Greenway Law ndale D rive O ld Battleground Road Old Battleground Road New Garden Road Orman Road Battleground A venue H i st o r i c N e w Ga r d en R oa d Parking Parking Forbis Monument Turner Monument Signers’ Monument Caldwell Monument Schenck Monument Delaware Monument Maryland Monument Stuart Monument Cavalry Cell Phone Audio Tour Stop 4 Monument Winston Monument Regulars’ Monument Greene Monument American First Line Sustained Firefight Fragmented Attack Expanding Battle Battlefield Preservation Guilford Courthouse and the Third Line The British Soldier 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 To To Greensboro To Pisgah Church Road Hoskins Farmstead site Colonial Heritage Center Natural Science Center FOREST LAWN CEMETERY Cornwallis formed his troops into a line of battle here, a quarter mile west of the American First Line. A ME RI CAN FIRS T LINE D R I H T N A C I R E M A LINE AMERICAN SECOND LINE Last shots of separate action GUILFORD COURTHOUSE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK TANNENBAUM HISTORIC PARK GREENSBORO COUNTRY PARK JAYCEE PARK Visitor Center Begin auto/bicycle tour 220 220 Off-road paved bicycle/foot trail Foot trail One-way, self- guiding auto/bicycle tour road starts at visitor center parking Tour stop Historic road North 0 50 0 250 500 Feet 100 Meters Relic collecting or the possession of metal detectors within the park is prohibited. The large equestrian stat- ue of Nathanael Greene near tour stop 8 is a fitting monument to the strate- gist of the Southern Cam- paign. As early as 1848 local citizens were think- ing of raising a monument to Greene ’s memory. Con- gress appropriated money for a monument in 1911. The commission went to Francis H. Packer, a student of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the American realist. The monument was unveiled on July 3, 1915. Photograph by Griffin-Lusk Studios In battle, drums conveyed orders and signals to the infantry. This drum, donated by the local DAR, was car- ried by Luther W. Clark in the battle. It is part of the park ’s collection and, along with other artifacts of the battle and the war, is on exhibit at the park. Photograph courtesy of NPS Museum Management Program GPO:2002 —491-282/40294 Reprint 2002 Printed on recycled paper. 6. Guilford Courthouse and the Third Line The battle took its name from the first county courthouse built in 1775 on the brow of a hill near the “ Great Salis- bury Wagon Road ” (New Garden Road). President George Washington visited here in 1791. The community began its decline in 1808 when the decision was made to move the county seat six miles south. Nothing remains of either the small wood- en building standing here in 1781 or the town that was later named “ Martinville. ” The trail leads to the hillside position held by the southern flank of Greene ’s Continentals. British units, farther to the north, were the first to assault this line. In the low ground in front of this posi- tion, part of connected fields that half-cir- cled this area in 1781, British Guards and grenadiers clashed with the veteran 1st Maryland and William Washington ’s cav- alry. On the opposite side, Cornwallis ’s order to his artillery to fire into the Amer- ican horsemen stopped them but inflicted casualties on his own Guards. 7. The British Soldier at Guilford Courthouse Frequent firefights in the woods and gullies slowed the British army as it fought its way toward the American Third Line. Trails take you to several mon- uments, including one honoring a British officer killed in the third line fighting. Other trails lead to the historic New Gar- den Road and the American Third Line. 8. Greene Monument The trail at this stop leads to the Greene Monument, the most impressive one in the park. The his- toric New Garden Road, the axis of the battle, divided the Virginia militia that held the woods on the American Second Line. On this side of the road British Gen. James Webster ’s infantry struck Gen. Rob- ert Lawson ’s brigade, breaking through after turning its northern flank. Tannenbaum Historic Park This Greens- boro Parks and Recreation site on New Garden Road preserves a portion of Joseph Hoskins ’s farmstead, where Cornwallis ’s troops formed for battle. Ironically, Hos- kins had left Pennsylvania after his farm suffered damages during the Philadelphia campaign. Exhibits in the Colonial Heri- tage Center and historic buildings depict life before, during, and after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The battle was long, obstinate, and bloody. We were obliged to give up the ground and lost our artillery, but the enemy have been so soundly beaten that they dare not move towards us since the action, notwithstanding we lay within ten miles of him for two days. Except the ground and the artillery, they have gained no advan- tage. On the contrary, they are little short of being ruined.” —Nathanael Greene “ Powder horn used by a Virginia militiaman in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It is now part of the park collection. Photograph courtesy of NPS Museum Management Program NPS NPS
Transcript of Touring the Battle˚eld€¦ · tour road starts at visitor center parking Tour stop Historic road...
The best way to see the park is by takingthe following self-guiding auto/bicycletour traced on the map below. From thevisitor center walk to Stop 1, then takethe 2 1⁄4-mile driving road around the park.Allow about an hour for the tour, depend-ing on your interests. Foot trails at thestops lead to many features you wouldotherwise miss. Include Tannenbaum His-toric Park, part of the battle’s �rst line ac-tion, in your visit.
For Safety’s Sake: Use caution drivingthe tour road. Watch for bicycles andcross carefully at intersections of Old Bat-tleground Road. Do not climb on cannonsor monuments. Pets must be leashed andattended at all times.
1. American First Line On both sides ofNew Garden Road, about 150 yards away,were more than 1,000 North Carolina mil-itiamen divided into two brigades. Theyheld a position behind a rail fence over-looking three muddy farm �elds. ThoughGreene knew these untested citizen-sol-diers were no match for veteran redcoats,he hoped they would get o� a few shotseach and at least slow the British attack.But when the British rushed forward af-ter taking the �rst American �re, part ofEaton’s brigade on the right of the road�ed, beginning a panic that quickly spreaddown the line.
2. Fragmented Attack As the rest ofthe �rst line dissolved into the woods be-hind, some of the North Carolinians inButler’s brigade on the American leftjoined with the forces of “Light-horseHarry” Lee and William Campbell. Theseunits withdrew to the southeast takingtwo of Cornwallis’s regiments with them.
3. Sustained Fire�ght Two brigades ofVirginia militia waited in the deep forestbehind the �rst line. Gen. Edward Stevens,south of the road, and Gen. Robert Law-son, holding the line north of the road,kept up a long �ght in the woods until theBritish �nally broke through to the thirdline. A foot trail leads to the Greene Mon-ument along the line that Stevens’s Vir-ginians defended.
4. Expanding Battle The monument toMaj. Joseph Winston honors those SurryCounty ri�emen who fought stubbornlyunder Lee and Campbell on the Americanleft. As Tarleton’s cavalry ended this sepa-rate �ght far to the southeast, one ofWinston’s men, Richard Taliaferro, wasshot; he may have been the last American
soldier killed in the battle. Winston and afellow soldier, Jesse Franklin, are buriednearby.
5. Battle�eld Preservation The preser-vation of the Guilford Courthouse battle-�eld began in 1887 by David Schenck andthe Guilford Battle Ground Company. Us-ing information then available, they erect-ed memorials and marked battle�eld lo-cations. Since then, extensive researchand technology, providing a wealth ofnew information, have been used to cor-rect battle�eld locations and enhance his-torical interpretation. The 1909 monu-ment to the American cavalry speci�callyhonors the service of the legendary PeterFrancisco, William Washington, and theMarquis de Bretigny, a French volunteer�ghting for American independence. The Turner Monument pays tribute to Kerrenhappuch
Norman Turner. One of her sons was badly woundedin the battle, and she is said to have ridden on horse-back from her home in Maryland to Guilford Court-house to nurse him back to health. The statue showsher holding a cup and towel, her tools of healing.
This monument marks the graves of William Hooperand John Penn, two of the state’s signers of the Decla-ration. Hooper headed North Carolina’s delegation tothe Continental Congress from 1774-77. Penn served inCongress from 1775-1780 and later on North Carolina’sBoard of War, which helped supply the state’s militia.
About Your Visit Guilford Courthouse National Military Park issix miles north of downtown Greensboro, N.C.,o� U.S. 220 on New Garden Road. The visitorcenter, near the American First Line, has infor-mation, exhibits, a half-hour �lm on the battle,an animated battle map program, and a Revo-lutionary War bookstore. Ask about special ac-tivities and seasonal programs; groups shouldcontact the park in advance. Follow the signsfor self-guiding tours by car, bicycle, or on foot.A narrated auto tour of the battle�eld is alsoavailable for sale in the bookstore. West of thepark, Tannenbaum Historic Park has historicbuildings and exhibits on civilian life at thetime of the battle.
For More InformationGuilford Courthouse National Military Park2332 New Garden RoadGreensboro, NC 27410336-288-1776www.nps.gov/guco
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park isone of more than 380 parks in the NationalPark System. The National Park Service cares forthese special places saved by the American peo-ple so that all may experience our heritage.Visit www.nps.gov to learn more about parksand National Park Service programs in Ameri-ca’s communities.
Touring the Battle�eld
Greenw
ay
Lawndale D
rive
Old Battleground Road
Old Battleground Road
New G ard en R oad
Orman Road
Battleground Avenue
Hist
oricNew Ga r den Roa d
Parking
Parking
ForbisMonument
TurnerMonument
Signers’ Monument
CaldwellMonument
SchenckMonument
DelawareMonument
MarylandMonument
StuartMonument
Cavalry
Cell Phone AudioTour Stop 4
Monument
WinstonMonument
Regulars’Monument
GreeneMonument
AmericanFirst Line
SustainedFire�ght
Fragmented Attack
ExpandingBattle
Battle�eldPreservation
GuilfordCourthouseand the Third Line
The BritishSoldier
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To Greensboro To Pisgah Church Road
HoskinsFarmstead
site
Colonial HeritageCenter
NaturalScienceCenter
F O R E S T L A W NC E M E T E R Y
Cornwallis formed his troops into a line of battle here, aquarter mile west of theAmerican First Line.
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Last shots of separate action
G U I L F O R D C O U R T H O U S E
N AT I O N A L M I L I TA R Y PA R K
TA N N E N B A U MH I S T O R I C PA R K
G R E E N S B O R OC O U N T R Y PA R K
JAYCEE PARK
Visitor CenterBegin auto/bicycle tour
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O�-road pavedbicycle/foot trail
Foot trailOne-way, self-guiding auto/bicycletour road starts atvisitor center parking
Tour stop Historic road
North0 50
0 250 500 Feet
100 Meters
Relic collecting or the possession of metaldetectors within thepark is prohibited.
The large equestrian stat-ue of Nathanael Greenenear tour stop 8 is a �ttingmonument to the strate-gist of the Southern Cam-paign. As early as 1848local citizens were think-ing of raising a monumentto Greene ’s memory. Con-gress appropriated moneyfor a monument in 1911.The commission went toFrancis H. Packer, a studentof Augustus Saint-Gaudens,the American realist. Themonument was unveiledon July 3, 1915.Photograph by Gri�n-Lusk Studios
In battle, drums conveyed orders and signals to the infantry. This drum, donated by the local DAR, was car-ried by Luther W. Clark in the battle. It is part of thepark ’s collection and, along with other artifacts of thebattle and the war, is on exhibit at the park. Photograph courtesy of NPS Museum Management Program
� GPO:2002 —491-282/40294 Reprint 2002Printed on recycled paper.
6. Guilford Courthouse and the ThirdLine The battle took its name from the�rst county courthouse built in 1775 onthe brow of a hill near the “ Great Salis-bury Wagon Road ” (New Garden Road).President George Washington visited herein 1791. The community began its declinein 1808 when the decision was made tomove the county seat six miles south.Nothing remains of either the small wood-en building standing here in 1781 or thetown that was later named “ Martinville. ”
The trail leads to the hillside positionheld by the southern �ank of Greene ’sContinentals. British units, farther to thenorth, were the �rst to assault this line.In the low ground in front of this posi-tion, part of connected �elds that half-cir-
cled this area in 1781, British Guards andgrenadiers clashed with the veteran 1stMaryland and William Washington ’s cav-alry. On the opposite side, Cornwallis ’sorder to his artillery to �re into the Amer-ican horsemen stopped them but in�ictedcasualties on his own Guards.
7. The British Soldier at GuilfordCourthouse Frequent �re�ghts in thewoods and gullies slowed the British armyas it fought its way toward the AmericanThird Line. Trails take you to several mon-uments, including one honoring a Britisho�cer killed in the third line �ghting.Other trails lead to the historic New Gar-den Road and the American Third Line.
8. Greene Monument The trail at thisstop leads to the Greene Monument, themost impressive one in the park. The his-toric New Garden Road, the axis of thebattle, divided the Virginia militia thatheld the woods on the American SecondLine. On this side of the road British Gen.James Webster ’s infantry struck Gen. Rob-ert Lawson ’s brigade, breaking throughafter turning its northern �ank.
Tannenbaum Historic Park This Greens-boro Parks and Recreation site on NewGarden Road preserves a portion of JosephHoskins ’s farmstead, where Cornwallis ’stroops formed for battle. Ironically, Hos-kins had left Pennsylvania after his farmsu�ered damages during the Philadelphiacampaign. Exhibits in the Colonial Heri-tage Center and historic buildings depictlife before, during, and after the Battle ofGuilford Courthouse.
The battle was long, obstinate, and bloody. Wewere obliged to give up the ground and lost ourartillery, but the enemy have been so soundlybeaten that they dare not move towards us sincethe action, notwithstanding we lay within tenmiles of him for two days. Except the groundand the artillery, they have gained no advan-tage. On the contrary, they are little short ofbeing ruined.”
—Nathanael Greene
“
Powder horn used by a Virginia militiaman in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. It is now part of thepark collection.Photograph courtesy of NPS Museum Management Program
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