During the American Revolution, hopes for American liberty rested with General Nathanael Greene's army as it retreated across the Carolinas in early 1781 ahead of Lord Cornwallis' British troops. After five long years of war and following the Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781, the American and British armies raced across the Carolinas toward the Dan River and Virginia. By February 10, 1781, both armies were approaching exhaustion when Greene led his 1,400 men on a 75-mile forced march to cross the Dan River into the shelter of Virginia, struggling along icy trails and through sleepless nights while pursued by a much larger and better-equipped British force.