Expanding Battle

At the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, Maj. Joseph Winston and the Surry County riflemen fought stubbornly beside William Campbell and “Light-Horse Harry” Lee during a fierce struggle with British regiments. As Lee’s Legion veered southeast of the American second line with a large contingent of enemy troops in pursuit, a separate engagement unfolded about a half-mile south of the courthouse area, showing that the battle spread far beyond the present-day tour road and park boundary. As the fighting around the courthouse waned, heavy firing was heard to the south, and Cornwallis sent Tarleton’s dragoons to investigate. After Lee left them, the American militia, lacking protection against cavalry, had to flee. Joseph Winston and fellow soldier Jesse Franklin were reburied there in 1906 near the monument to Winston and his Surry County militia, and Lt. Colonel Banastre Tarleton was known as "Bloody Tarleton" because his troops had on more than one occasion slaughtered surrendering rebel soldiers.

Greensboro, North Carolina · United States