George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 10

[477] displayed into line, advanced at quick step, gave their

Chap. XXIII.} 1781. March 15.

fire, shouted, and rushed forward with bayonets. While they were still in the open field, at a distance of one hundred and forty yards, the North Carolina brigade fled, ‘none of them having fired more than twice, very few more than once, and near one-half not at all.’¹ Lee and Campbell with their troops were separated from the main army, which they did not rejoin till the next day.

Without pausing to take breath, the British line, which had not escaped without loss, advanced to attack the second position of the Americans, defended by the Virginia brigade. The men were used to forest warfare, and they made a brave and obstinate resistance. They would discharge their pieces, draw back behind the brow of the hill to load, and return to renew their well-directed fire. In dislodging some Americans from their post on a woody height, the ranks of the first battalion of the guards were thinned and many of their officers fell.² The brigade did not retreat till the British drew near enough to charge with the bayonet.

The British army though suffering from fatigue and weakened by heavy losses, pressed forward to the third American line, where Greene himself was present. A fierce attack was made on the American right by Colonel Webster with the left of the British. After a bloody and long-continued encounter, the British were beaten back by the continentals, and after great loss were forced to recross a ravine. Webster