After leaving General Cornwallis' army on May 27, Tarleton drove his men and horses relentlessly, covering 105 miles in 54 hours, and sent a messenger ahead with a surrender demand that Colonel Buford refused. Tarleton's ploy delayed the Virginians long enough for the British advance guard to catch up with and capture Buford's rear guard of five men. Buford then sent his wagons, baggage, and artillery ahead and chose a defensive position in a single line in an open wood to the right of the road. At a distance of three hundred yards, Tarleton halted, formed a reserve on a small eminence commanding the road, and divided his force into three groups to attack Buford's left, center, and right at the same time, leading the assault on the left flank himself. Buford ordered his line to withhold fire until the charging cavalrymen were only ten yards away, a serious mistake, and the horsemen immediately overran his line. Tarleton was shot off his horse, Loyalists sabered and bayoneted the Continentals, some men tried to surrender by waving white flags, others fought stubbornly, and a few fled, while Colonel Buford escaped on horseback. British casualties were five killed and fourteen wounded, while American losses were 113 killed, 150 wounded, many of whom later died, and 53 taken prisoner. Buford's command included 350 Virginia Continentals of the Third Provisional Regiment, 40 Virginia Light Dragoons, and two six-pounder guns and crews, while Tarleton's command included 130 British Legion cavalrymen, 100 mounted Legion infantrymen, a 40-man detachment of the 17th Light Dragoons, and a 3 pounder field gun and crew.