Sustained Firefight

After swiftly overrunning the American first line, the British encountered unexpected resistance here as Greene posted the second line in the woods astride New Garden Road and the Patriots held a strong position along the high ground just ahead. Firing from behind thick trunks in the ancient forest, Virginia militia exchanged heavy fire with advancing British infantry. The trees and undergrowth made it impossible to maintain the disciplined formations of classic 18th-century warfare, and the single wave of the British assault broke into a series of separate engagements, with clusters of troops trading shots with other small units. After an extended firefight, the redcoats regrouped despite costly losses and broke through toward the American third line, the tough, well-trained Continentals.

Greensboro, North Carolina · United States