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416 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
gallant corps, Mr. Johnson writes, " Excepting the infantry of the legion, and
Kirkwood's little corps of Delawsfres, the first, regiment of the Marylanders
was the only body of men in the American army who could be compared to
the enemy in discipline and experience; and it is with confidence that we
challenge the modern world to produce an instance of better service performed
by the same number of men in the same time. They did not exceed two hundred
and eighty-five in number. Yet, unassisted, they drove from the field in the
first instance, the thirty-third regiment, three hundred and twenty-two strong,
supported by the Jagers and light infantry of the Guards. Before they had
yet breathed from the performance of this service, they pierced the flank of
the first battalion of the Guards, and aided by the cavalry of Washington, dissipated a corps far exceeding their own in number, and the very boast of the
British nation. Volleys of grape-shot poured through their own ranks by the.
enemy, and the near approach of two British regiments on their left flank,
arrested them in the pursuit; but they calmly, and in perfect order, returned
to their position and exhibited a spirit that seemed only to covet more arduous
service."l
General Greene, in a letter to the president of congress, dated March 16th,
says: " The first regiment of Marylanders, commanded by Colonel Gunby and
seconded by Lieutenant Colonel Howard, followed Washington's cavalry with
their bayonets ; near the whole of this party fell a sacrifice." Extract from a
letter dated "Camp Speedwell Furnace," March 17th, 1781: " The first Maryland regiment being ordered to charge the enemy, most cheerfully embraced the
opportunity, and being seconded by Washington's cavalry, they bayoneted and
cut to pieces a great number of the British Guards who had taken our field
pieces. . . Major Anderson and Ensign Nelson are amongst the slain;
both were brave and both are justly lamented. Anderson was an excellent
officer, but I regret his loss equally as a friend, for he was possessed of the
most endearing social virtues." 2
There were but two prominent officers of the American regulars who fell
at the battle of Guilford; one of whom was Major Archibald Anderson of
the first Maryland regiment, the same who so eminently distinguished himself
at Gates' defeat. In him his State and the service lost a gallant and faithful
officer. General Stevens, of the Virginia militia, and General Huger, were
severely wounded.
The British having lost one-fourth of their army, and exhausted by fatigue
and hunger, and their camp encumbered by the wounded, were unable to
follow up their victory. Leaving a large number of the latter in the neighborhood of the field of action, on the third day, Cornwallis set out, by easy
marches, for Cross Creek, now Lafayette, an eastern branch of Cape Fear
River, where they crossed and moved on towards Wilmington, arriving there
on the 7th of April. Later in the month, he left Wilmington, and formed a
junction with the British army under Philips and Arnold, at Petersburg, Va.
1 Life of Greene, ii., p. 15. 2 Maryland Journal, April 3,1781.
| Title | History of Maryland - 2 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000455 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 416 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. gallant corps, Mr. Johnson writes, " Excepting the infantry of the legion, and Kirkwood's little corps of Delawsfres, the first, regiment of the Marylanders was the only body of men in the American army who could be compared to the enemy in discipline and experience; and it is with confidence that we challenge the modern world to produce an instance of better service performed by the same number of men in the same time. They did not exceed two hundred and eighty-five in number. Yet, unassisted, they drove from the field in the first instance, the thirty-third regiment, three hundred and twenty-two strong, supported by the Jagers and light infantry of the Guards. Before they had yet breathed from the performance of this service, they pierced the flank of the first battalion of the Guards, and aided by the cavalry of Washington, dissipated a corps far exceeding their own in number, and the very boast of the British nation. Volleys of grape-shot poured through their own ranks by the. enemy, and the near approach of two British regiments on their left flank, arrested them in the pursuit; but they calmly, and in perfect order, returned to their position and exhibited a spirit that seemed only to covet more arduous service."l General Greene, in a letter to the president of congress, dated March 16th, says: " The first regiment of Marylanders, commanded by Colonel Gunby and seconded by Lieutenant Colonel Howard, followed Washington's cavalry with their bayonets ; near the whole of this party fell a sacrifice." Extract from a letter dated "Camp Speedwell Furnace," March 17th, 1781: " The first Maryland regiment being ordered to charge the enemy, most cheerfully embraced the opportunity, and being seconded by Washington's cavalry, they bayoneted and cut to pieces a great number of the British Guards who had taken our field pieces. . . Major Anderson and Ensign Nelson are amongst the slain; both were brave and both are justly lamented. Anderson was an excellent officer, but I regret his loss equally as a friend, for he was possessed of the most endearing social virtues." 2 There were but two prominent officers of the American regulars who fell at the battle of Guilford; one of whom was Major Archibald Anderson of the first Maryland regiment, the same who so eminently distinguished himself at Gates' defeat. In him his State and the service lost a gallant and faithful officer. General Stevens, of the Virginia militia, and General Huger, were severely wounded. The British having lost one-fourth of their army, and exhausted by fatigue and hunger, and their camp encumbered by the wounded, were unable to follow up their victory. Leaving a large number of the latter in the neighborhood of the field of action, on the third day, Cornwallis set out, by easy marches, for Cross Creek, now Lafayette, an eastern branch of Cape Fear River, where they crossed and moved on towards Wilmington, arriving there on the 7th of April. Later in the month, he left Wilmington, and formed a junction with the British army under Philips and Arnold, at Petersburg, Va. 1 Life of Greene, ii., p. 15. 2 Maryland Journal, April 3,1781. |
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