American Revolution
Battles during 1781
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Latest Changes: 07Oct15 - link for Ninety-six / 08Jan05 - more on Lochry's Defeat / 08May29 - list units at Yorktown /
1781 Jan:
Washington kept the Army in several cantonments around New York
even though the British troops were no longer making forays into New Jersey.
This kept the men near food supplies, reducing the cost of transporting supplies
and allowing better protection to the farmers against raids by British forces.
The American government was unable to provide the funding needed to maintain
the Continental army, so it was under-staffed, poorly-fed, and seldom-paid.
On several occasions during the war troops threatened to desert in large groups
unless they were better fed and paid.
 The Mutiny of the Pennsylvania and Jersey Line
[Glenn Valis]
1781 Jan 07: Much of Richmond (VA) was burned when the traitor Benedict Arnold, now a Brigadier General in the British Army, attacked military supply points in the area with 1,600 troops. Next in this campaign, see 1781 Mar - Virginia 1781 Jan 17: Cowpens SC -- A clever trap by the Americans cost the British dearly and British Col. Tarleton narrowly escaped capture or death.
Casualties: U.S. 12 killed, 60 wounded; British 110 dead, over 200 wounded. Taken Prisoner: British over 500 Ref. "A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens" Ref. "Nothing but Blood and Slaughter/The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas" The Battle at Cowpens SC
[The SAR Magazine]
brief description [Georgia Society SAR] Cowpens National Battlefield [National Park Service]
USMA Primary Source Reference Book
[U.S. Military Academy (West Point)]
For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. Staff Ride
[Command & General Staff College], an extensive discussion
The Battle at Cowpens by John Robertson
Kings Mountain and Cowpens
[1928, US Army Center of Military History]
Kings Mountain and Cowpens, compiled by Paul R. Sarrett, Jr.
 photos of 2007 Cowpens commemoration
by Robert Yankle [NC Society SAR]
photos of 2007 Daniel Morgan commemoration
by Robert Yankle [NC Society SAR]
1781 Feb: The Race to the Dan River (VA) Cornwallis pursued Greene's army northeast across North Carolina and into Virginia in the hope of crushing it. Both armies split into several parts for more effective operations, but rain, lack of supplies, and cold weather exhausted both sides. On Feb 14 Greene's troops escaped over the Dan River at what is now Danville VA, and Cornwallis returned to North Carolina, now pursued by Greene, who had received fresh re-inforcements. General Greene's Race to the Dan River
[The SAR Magazine]
The Race to the Dan River
by Frances Hallam Hurt, author of An Intimate History of the American Revolution in Pittsylvania County (Virginia)
photos of 2007 commemoration
by Robert Yankle [North Carolina Society SAR]
1781 Feb 12: Fort St. Joseph (near Niles MI) was captured by French Captain Eugene Poure and a force of 120 men raised from the French settlers and Indians in the area of St. Louis. The flag of Spain was raised over the fort because the local Spanish governor at St. Louis provided supplies for the raid in the hoped that the raid would deter an attack from the British post at Detroit. Fort St. Joseph had been built by the French and turned over to the British after the French and Indian War. Fort St. Joseph, by Robert C. Myers
1781 March - Virginia: Maj Gen William Phillips arrived in Virginia with 2,000 troops, assumed command of 1,600 troops under Gen Benedict Arnold, and continued the raids in Virginia. 1781 Mar 06: Weitzel's Mill (near Reedy Fork Creek NC) -- A skirmish in which British Colonel James Webster with half of Cornwallis' existing infantry was probing the U.S. screening force -- the Botetourt Rifles (VA) -- that was defending U.S. Gen. Nathanael Greene's main camp at High Rock on the Haw River. U.S. participants included Gen. Otho Holland Williams, Lt. Col. Henry "Lighthorse Harry" Lee, Brig. Gen. (SC) Andrew Pickens, Colonel William Preston with his "Botetourt Rifles" (VA), and Colonel William Campbell with his "Campbell's Rifles" (VA). After this battle Pickens withdrew his South Carolina militia to help defend against Loyalist forces there, weakening Greene's army shortly before the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Casualties (dead, wounded, captured): U.S. about 50; British about 50 photos of 2007 commemoration
by Robert Yankle [North Carolina Society SAR]
1781 Mar 15: Guilford Courthouse (NC) -- After this the British gave up most of North Carolina to U.S. control. Casualties: U.S. 250 killed or wounded; British 650 killed or wounded 
Guilford Courthouse - click for larger image from "Soldiers of the American Revolution", by H. Charles McBarron [U.S. Army Center for Military History]
1781 Mar 16: First Battle of the Virginia Capes -- a French naval squadron fought a British squadron just outside of the Chesapeake Bay. For a full description see the French battle page For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1781 Apr 25: Hobkirk's Hill (2nd Battle of Camden) (SC) - Although Greene failed to drive Rawdon out of Camden through this battle, the British were so weakened that they abandoned Camden two weeks later. The Battle of Hobrick Hill, SC
-- posted by the Gen. Thomas Sumter Chapter SCSSAR
1781 April 28: Petersburg VA: American Gen. Lafayette and 1,200 Continentals arrived in Virginia (from New York) to aid the state's militia in opposing the British forces. This force harrassed the British raiding army under British Gen. Phillips, but was unable to push them out of the state. Gen Phillips caught a fever and died on May 13. The Revolutionary War Battle of Petersburg, Virginia
by Robert P. Davis
1781 May: On 1781 May 20 Cornwallis entered Virginia from North Carolina with 1,500 troops and took command of the 3,600 British troops there. This was soon augmented by 1,200 reinforcements from the British garrison in New York, for a total of 6,300. Lafayette's army of 1,200 Continentals was reinforced by 2,000 militia and 500 Virginia Continentals (total 3,700) was nearly trapped near Richmond in May. After he was further reinforced by 1,000 Pennsylvania Continentals under Gen. Anthony Wayne and 600 riflemen under Gen. William Campbell (total now 5,300), Cornwallis began to withdraw down the York penninsula to Yorktown in mid-June. brief description [Georgia Society SAR] 1781 June 03: Jack Jouette saved the Virginia legislature from capture by theBritish. The Jack Jouette Chapter C.A.R.
tells what happened on that day.
1781 Jun 04: Charlottesville VA -- British forces under Tarleton raid this capitol city, capturing several legislators, including Yorktown's Dudley Digges and Daniel Boone. Governor Jefferson escapes by hiding in the woods near Monticello. The Virginia Raids of Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton
[The SAR Magazine]
1781 Jun 10 - Jul 3: After eleven months of recuperation and planning General Rochambeau led the second French Expeditionary Force out of Newport, was joined in Providence by additional French troops who had landed at Boston MA, marched to the area around Philipsburg NY (now the Ardsley / Hartsdale area), and established several camps near the main U.S. Continental Army camp. (See W3R hist-02)
1781 Jun 19: Ninety-Six (SC) -- The British garrison in western SC survived an American siege but was then withdrawn as the British consolidated their remaining forces in Charleston SC. Description of the battle [National Park Service]
1781 Jul 5-Aug 13: Testing the New York Defenses -- The U.S.-French allied troops under Generals Washington and Rochambeau spent six weeks in several campsites near Ardsley NY. Rochambeau was quartered at the Odell farm, at 425 Ridge Road, Hartsdale NY. They sent strong parties to probe the British lines for weakness. The British had spent five years developing their defenses, which included 18,000 troops and a strong fleet. (See W3R hist-03)
1781 Jul 06: Battle of Green Spring (near Williamsburg VA): The American Continentals under Gens. Lafayette and Wayne were almost drawn into an ambush by the British army under Gen. Cornwallis. Battle of Green Spring [2d Virginia Regiment]
1781 Aug 14 - Oct 01: Departure for Yorktown -- Upon getting word that Admiral deGrasse would take the French fleet only as far north as the Chesapeake Bay (where a British army of about 9,000 troops under British Gen. Cornwallis was vulnerable to attack at Yorktown VA) Generals Washington and Rochambeau decided to focus their foces on Yorktown. Washington split the American forces -- 2,500 Continentals (backed by thousands of local militia) remained in New York under General Heath to keep the British bottled up in New York City. Washington and Rochambeau led the other 2,500 American troops and all 4,000 French troops on a rapid march 450 miles to Yorktown VA to join with Lafayette's troops in Virginia and the large French fleet heading north from the Caribbean (led by French Admiral de Grasse) with additional French troops. See W3R hist-04 The W3R-US site
provides a brief history of the allied forces' activities during the march to Yorktown
and current activities to develop the trail and to encourage the U.S. Congress
to designate it as a National Historic Trail.
For a high-resolution map of Cornwallis' withdrawal into Virginia and Washington's march to Yorktown, noting the final Yorktown battle formations, see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. 1781 Aug 24: Lochry's Defeat -- British forces operating out of forts Detroit and Niagara were supporting Amerindian allies posing a threat to U.S. settlements in the Mohawk Valley, west and central Pennsylvania, and western areas of Virginia that are now West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. U.S. Gen. George Rogers Clark had 400 troops from Virginia and requested additional troops for an attack on the Fort at Detroit. Colonel Archibald Lochry led one hundred Pennsylvania militiamen from old Westmoreland County to join Clark. They followed the Ohio River downstream from Fort Pitt. About 4 miles southwest of Lawrenceburg IN Lochry's force was attacked and overwhelmed by an Amerindian force led by Joseph Brant, capturing or killing them all. As a result of this defeat Clark called off the prospective attack on Fort Detroit. The creek entering the Ohio River near the site of the battle is now known as Laughery Creek (a variant spelling of Lochry). The Battle at Lochry Creek [from Patriots
of the American Revolution], by Charles G. Edwards (Ohio Society SAR)
Lists of those killed and captured A letter from the Haldimand Papers
by Judy Longley [on MyRootsPlace] shows that this ambush was just a part of
a much larger British program to drive back the patriot forces.
1781 Sept 05: Second Battle of the Virginia Capes off the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay (VA) A French fleet under Adm. de Grasse rebuffed efforts by a British fleet under Adm. Graves to enter the Chesapeake Bay and relieve the British garrison at Yorktown. For a full description see the French battle page 1781 Sep 06: Battle of Groton Heights (New London CT) -- A British force of some 500 men under (formerly-American) Gen. Benedict Arnold (a native on New London) landed near New London CT with the objective of destroying Fort Griswold, which held important supplies. They hoped to draw American or French forces back from the allied column marching south to Yorktown. An American ship full of gunpowder was accidentaly blown up, setting fire to much of the town, burning about 130 buildings. The patriots in Fort Griswold fought fiercely, but were overwhelmed and surrenderd. Many of those who surrendered were then killed by Arnold's forces. (Casualties: U.S. 83 killed, 39 wounded; British 51 killed, 142 wounded) About 70 Americans were captured.  Public Service Audio
full description,
by Evan Andriopoulos, with many graphics and maps.
Fort Griswold web site,
by Michael Meals, has more details, photos, and lists of the American casualties,
prisoners, and those who escaped.
1781 Sept 08: Eutaw Springs (SC) U.S. Gen. Greene and 2,200 troops attacked the British garrison of about 1,900 men under Lt. Col. Alexander Stewart. After a furious battle the British held their post. Casualties: U.S. 139 killed, 375 wounded; British 85 killed, 351 wounded Taken Prisoner: British 430 description
from Vol. 2 of A Household History for All Readers,
by Benson J. Lossing (1877). [Posted by www.publicbookshelf.com]
For a high-resolution map see the RSAR map page link to the USMA map index. photos of 2006 commemoration
by Robert Yankle [North Carolina Society SAR]
1781 Sept 12: Hillsborough NC - In the early morning hours Loyalist David Fanning led 600 Tory militiamen on a daring raid of Hillsborough, where Governor Thomas Burke had taken refuge. Taken by surprise, the Hillsborough District militia and handful of Continentals offered little resistance. Fanning's men quickly captured the Governor, 71 Continentals, and a large number of Whig militia while also freeing 30 Loyalist prisoners held in the jail. After their success -- in which they suffered only one wounded -- the victorious militia began to plunder the town, and after finding liquor, a number of them celebrated by becoming increasingly drunk. Recognizing that he needed to restore order and reestablish discipline, Fanning ordered his troops to form and marched out of town with his prisoners. The next day, North Carolina Militia under General John Butler would surprise Fanning's force at Lindley's Mill. [notes from Robert Yankle, North Carolina Society SAR] photos of 2006 commemoration
by Robert Yankle [North Carolina Society SAR]
1781 Oct 3: Battle of the Hook at Gloucester Point VA -- - French Brig. Gen. de Choisy with French troops and a battalion of 800 Virginia militiamen clashed with 1,000 men under British Lt. Col. Dundas at Gloucester VA -- across the York River from Yorktown. The allied presence cut off British ability to forage for supplies outside their defensive perimeter and prevented an easy breakout from the siege. The major battle action was between Lauzun's legion and Tarlton's light cavalry. 
David R. Wagner's
"Virginia Militia Battle Tarleton" (used with the artist's permission)
1781 Oct 6 - 19: Yorktown (VA) -- The allied armies (11,000 American, 8,800 French) and a quarter of the French navy converged on Yorktown, isolating the British army (8,300 British) from supplies and military support. The allies besieged the British camp and gained victory with minimal losses. Gen. Cornwallis declined to participate in the surrender and grounding of arms, sending instead the second in command, Gen. O'Hara, to present his sword to the the commander of the victors as a token of surrender. O'Hara offered the sword to Gen. Rochambeau, who directed him to Gen. Washington, who directed him to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln -- who had been forced to surrender Charleston SC to the British in 1780 May. Thus the sword was presented by a senior subordinate of Cornwallis to a senior subordinate of Washington. Land battle casualties: 250 dead (30 American, 60 French, and 160 British)
PRINT RESOURCES: Search Resource Page for: Greene, Hallahan, Landers After Yorktown activity in the global allied conflict continued outside of the U.S. theater of operations. The naval and land forces of France and Spain forces engaged in many battles with British forces all around the globe. This prevented any expansion of British forces in the United States to aid in expanding their fortified enclaves here. See After Yorktown [Expédition Particulière]
and the RSAR page on allied battles
The British continued to hold the ports of New York NY, Charleston SC, and Savannah GA, and the U.S. sought to eject them so that these cities could not be used as bargaining chips in the peace negotiations, possibly allowing Britain to be granted control of some of the rebelling colonies. 1781 Dec: Evacuation of Charleston SC by British forces due to continued pressure on that garrison by Gen. Nathaniel Greene and the Southern Continental Army, as well as the state militia. |
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