The race to the Dan River Nathanael Greene

the council of war letter (this copy made contemporaneously original) greene sent of proceedings samuel huntington, president of congress. written @ guilford court house on february 9. 1781. scan of photograph national archives.

greene @ same time formed special light corps commanded col. otho williams cover main army’s retreat. in letter george washington on february 9, described light army had formed under williams composed of: cavalry of 1st , 3rd regiments , legion amounting 240, detachment of 280 infantry under lieut. col. howard, infantry of lieut. col. lee s legion , 60 virginia riflemen making in whole 700 men ordered militia harass enemy in advance, check progress , if possible give opportunity retire without general action. saying called council, unanimously advised avoid action, , retire beyond roanoke immediately. copy of proceedings have honor inclose. reunited army numbered 2 thousand , thirty-six men, including fourteen hundred , twenty-six regulars. col. edward carrington joined command, report boats had been secured, , secreted along dan river in virginia, collected on few hours warning. british army @ salem, twenty-five miles guilford. on tenth of february.

by fourteenth, greene s army had outrun british , crossed dan river @ irvine s ferry in halifax county, virginia boats being delivered boyd s ferry in halifax , dix s ferry in pittsylvania county, virginia. cornwallis got news in course of evening. river high cross without boats, , every boat on farther shore. greene had won race.

american retreat, extended across breadth of north carolina, considered 1 of masterful military achievements of time. dennis m. conrad, project director , editor, papers of general nathanael greene.

in letter general john butler, greene writes have expectation of collecting force sufficient in county enable me act offensively , in turn race lord cornwallis has done me.