Greene and Cornwallis: The Campaign in the Carolinas

by Hugh F. Rankin

This book describes the masterful "retreat" of Nathanael Greene's Southern Army before Lord Cornwallis's British regulars in the winter of 1781. This "retreat" culminated in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse (15 March 1781), a battle that severely weakened Cornwallis's forces and set the stage for the British surrender at Yorktown.Dr. Rankin provides information about the battles at Camden and Cowpens in South Carolina that preceded the appointment of Greene to lead the Southern Army. In addition to Nathanael Greene and Lord Cornwallis, the author writes about other patriot generals, including Horatio Gates, "Light Horse" Harry Lee, and Daniel Morgan, and about other British military leaders, including Sir Henry Clinton and Banastre Tarleton.

Fourteen portraits and period maps illustrate the text.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Ethan Ebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative, sometimes a little dense, which is the way of the genre, but fun to read over all.

[Steven Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short overview of the campaign between Greene and Cornwallis in North and South Carolina, with emphasis on the battles of Cowpens and Guilford Courthouse, and how the roads from those battles led to Yorktown. A good place to start for those wishing to understand the Carolinas’ Campaign in the American Revolution. Grade: B+

[William Guerrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author packs a lot of information in only 84 pages. Footnotes would have been helpful.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natahanael Greene and Charles Lord Cornwallis played a game of cat and mouse in the Carolinas with their respective armies late in the Revolutionary War. Greene displayed a very wise strategy of fighting retreat while leading Cornwallis far from his base of supply and depleting his men. This book takes a quick look at the campaign and synthesizes it down to a nutshell. A good read although a bit too detailed in who was commanding what troops. And why oh why oh why, do writers of military history books like this not include decent maps to give an overall picture. Otherwise, this was a decent if not overly memorable book.

[Evan Huntley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very interested in the subject matter, as my family is historically from the Carolinas and we live in NC. My intention was to read this short book before visits to the Guilford Courthouse and Cowpens sites.

That said, while there is good information here, this is about the driest historical prose, and what pained me the most was the low quality of the maps throughout, which are near indecipherable.

[Marc Pressley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic look at one of the unsung heroes of the American Revolution. Rankin details the cat-and-mouse game in the Carolinas between Greene and Cornwallis, which ultimately led to the British surrender at Yorktown. Great reading.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool book.