Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (NC)
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The unassuming visitor center is home to a nice, small museum and a number of really cool videos. As you'd expect, its a good place to get familiarized with the property...
The Tannenbaum Historic Park is a small annex located adjacent to the military park which depicts colonial-era farm life. These are not original buildings but they are placed on the site of a farm that was located here at the time of the battle...
The farm that was located here at the time of the battle was owned by Joseph Hoskins. The farm has been identified on British battlefield maps from the period and the British actually formed their lines in preperation for their advance on this property...
Looking through the old barn, this is a typical design for barns in this area...
The main house...
Another shot of the main house, with the summer kitchen beyond...
In 1887, a private company took posession of the old battlefield and immediately went about constructing dozens of monuments. Little care was taken to preserve the authenticity of the battlefield. Many of the monuments and arches are long gone but a few remain here, near the entrance to the park...
In 1887, a private company took posession of the old battlefield and immediately went about constructing dozens of monuments. Little care was taken to preserve the authenticity of the battlefield. This old postcard view shows you what you would have seen if you visited in the early 1900's...
General Greene positioned his first line of defense across this road, now the entrance to the park. Made up of primarily militia, Greene didn't have much hope that this line would hold. He was right. Within the first few minutes of fighting the militia line had broke and had headed for the rear...
This small monument, located near Monument Row and the American First Line at the entrance of the park, commemorates the work of one of the earliest proponents for preservation of the battlefield...
Fragmented Attack, American First Line
Here, on the left flank of the American First Line, members of the North Carolina milita rallied behind General "Light-horse" Harry Lee and offered a few more minutes defense against the oncoming British. Eventually, this group would break off from the main American force with two British Regiments in pursuit...
Also comprised of mainly militia, the British were in for a bloody surprise when they met the American Second Line. Fighting through dense forest, like what you see today, the British were easy picking for American sharpshooters used to the unforgiving terrain. Though this line did eventually break, the British had suffered terribly to do so...and the American Third Line, the strongest of the three, was yet to come...
Also comprised of mainly militia, the British were in for a bloody surprise when they met the American Second Line. Fighting through dense forest, like what you see today, the British were easy picking for American sharpshooters used to the unforgiving terrain. Though this line did eventually break, the British had suffered terribly to do so...and the American Third Line, the strongest of the three, was yet to come...
Local North Carolina militia, who had broken off from the American First Line, fought an ongoing battle with Tarleton's British Cavalry. Far to the American left, this fluid engagement lasted the length of the battle. This monument honors the man who led the local militia...
Winston and Franklin Gravestones
The aforementioned Major Winston and a fellow soldier by the name of Jesse Franklin are buried nearby the Winston Monument. The old gravestones are weather-worn and all but indecipherable...
Winston and Franklin Gravestones
The aforementioned Major Winston and a fellow soldier by the name of Jesse Franklin are buried nearby the Winston Monument. The old gravestones are weather-worn and all but indecipherable...
This unusual monument was erected in 1909 and commemorates the actions of the American Cavalry units who fought in the battle. In particular it singles out three men for their service; Peter Francisco, Marquis de Bretigny, and William Washington...
Looking across the shallow valley from the monument you can spot a number of other markers dotting the landscape. This area sets about midway between the American Second and Third Lines, where the British braced themselves for the final clash that would decide the battle...
Guilford Court House Town Site
There is nothing left of the small crossroads town that occupied this site during the battle. Guilford Court House served for a short time as the county seat, from about 1775 to 1808. When the county seat was moved, the town declined and eventually disappeared all together. Most of the residents stayed put during the battle, huddling in basements or in the nearby forest...
This is where the Americans should have stopped the bloodied British dead in their tracks...it didn't work out that way. After a fierce struggle, militia units began to give way exposing the flanks of the regular army regiments. Also, a critical decision by General Cornwallis to fire upon the American Cavalry (and, as it happened, his own troops), broke the will of the Americans who eventually withdrew...
This old road was the main access road for the advancing British during the battle. The three American defensive lines were placed across this road at various points. This view looks down the old road behind the American Third Line...
Another unique monument, this one commemorates the service of the soldiers who made up the American Regular Army who were tasked with holding the Third Line...
Looking across the valley located between the American Second and Third Lines. The Stuart Monument is in the distance while the previously pictured Cavalry Moument is in the shadows in the distant small field left of center...
