1781: "Marched to Guilford Court House"

Samuel Houston was in his early twenties and had recently moved to Lexington, Virginia, to continue his studies to become a minister. He joined the militia in 1781 "to assist Greene against Cornwallis" and fought with his unit at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. 

The following are excerpts either from Houston's diary or later daily memorandums of his campaigning in North Carolina in 1781. 

Tuesday, 13th. — We paraded several times, and at last fired in platoons and battalions; in doing which one of the North Carolina militia was shot.... In the evening we marched from Haw river about three miles, and encamped.

Wednesday, 14th. — Decamped at Reedy Creek, and marched to Guilford Court House, ten miles.

Thursday, 15th. — Was rainy in the morning. We often paraded, and about ten o'clock, lying about our fires, we heard our light infantry and cavalry, who were down near the English lines, begin firing at the enemy. Then we immediately fell into our ranks, and our brigades marched out, at which time the firing was ceased. Col. McDowell's battalion of Gen. Stephen's brigade was ordered on the left wing. When we marched near the ground we charged our guns. Presently our brigade major came, ordering to take trees as we pleased. The men run to choose their trees, but with difficulty, may crowding to one, and some far behind others. But we moved by order of our officers, and stood in suspense. Presently the Augusta men, and some of Col. Campbell's fell in at right angles to us. Our whole line was composed of Stephen's brigade on the left, Lawson's in the centre, and Butler's, of N.C. [North Carolina], on the right. Some distance behind were formed the regulars. Col. Washington's light horse were to flank on the right, and Lee on the left. Standing in readiness, we heard the pickets fire; shortly the English fired a cannon, which was answered; and so on alternately, till the small armed troops came nigh; and then close firing began near the centre, but rather towards the right, and soon spread along the line. Our brigade major, Mr. Williams, fled. Presently came two men to us and informed us the British fled. Soon the enemy appeared to us; we fired on their flank, and that brought down many of them; at which time Capt. Tedford was killed. We pursued them about forty poles, to the top of a hill, where they stood, and we retreated from them back to were we formed. Here we repulsed them again; and they a second time made us retreat back to our first ground, where we were deceived by a reinforcement of Hessisans, whom we took for our own, and cried to them to see if they were our friends, and shouted Liberty! Liberty! and advanced up till they let off some guns; then we fired sharply on them, and made them retreat a little. But presently the light horse came on us, and not being defended by our own light horse, nor reinforced—though firing was long ceased, and some cut down. We lost our major and one captain then, the battle lasting two hours and twenty-five minutes. We all scattered, and some of our party and Campbell's and Moffitt's collected together, and with Capt. Moffitt and Major Pope, we marched for headquarters, and marched across till we, about dark, came to the road we marched up from Reedy Creek to Guilford the day before, and crossing the creek we marched near four miles, and our wounded, Lusk, Allison, and in particular Jas. Mather, who was bad cut, were so sick we stopped, and all being almost wearied ou, we marched half a mile, and encamped, where, through darkness and rain, and want of provisions we were in distress. Some parched a little corn. We stretched blankets to shelter some of us from the rain. Our retreat was fourteen miles.

Friday, 16th. — As soon as day appeared, (being wet) we decamped, and marched through the rain till we arrived at Speedwell furnace, where Green had retreated from Guilfordtown, where the battle was fought, sixteen miles distant; there we met many of company with great joy, in particular Colonel M'Dowell; where we heard that we lost four pieces of cannon after having retaken them, also the 71st regiment we had captured. After visiting the tents, we eat and hung about in the tents and rain, when frequently we were rejoiced by men coming in we had given out for lost. In the evening we struck tents and encamped on the left, when the orders were read to draw provisions and ammunition, to be in readiness, which order struck a panic on the minds of many. Our march five miles.

Saturday, 17th. — On account of the want of some of our blankets, and some other clothing, many proposed returning home, which was talked of in general in M'Dowell's battalion, till at last they agreed, and many went off; a few were remaining when General Lawson came and raged very much; and about ten o'clock all but M'Dowell came off. We marched twelve miles to the old Surry towns on Dan [River] where we encamped.

Sabbath, 18th. — Crossed Dan [River], in our march touched on Smith's River on our left, at which place we received a little bacon and a bushel of meal. A little afterward, many went to a tavern where some got drunk and quarrelled. We marched through the lower end of Henry County, and encamped on the borders of Pittsylvania, which evening I opened the clothes in possession of Jo Weir. That same night Robert Wardlaw burned the butt of his gun. Our march was fifteen miles....

Source:

Excerpts from Samuel Houston's diary, Sketches of Virginia: Historical and Biographical by William Henry Foote, published in 1856. Pages 143-145.