The victory at Guilford was dearly purchased.  Official accounts state the loss of the British army at five hundred and thirty-two men, among whom were several officers of high rank and distinguished merit.  Lieutenant Colonel Stuart of the guards was killed, and Lieutenant Colonel Webster, who was ranked by his enemies among the best officers in the British service, was mortally wounded.  This loss, when compared with the numbers brought by Lord Cornwallis into the field, was very considerable.  The Americans did not compute his troops at more than two thousand rank and file, but his own accounts state them at only fourteen hundred and forty-five.

No battle in the course of the war reflects more honour on the courage of the British troops, than that of Guilford.  On no other occasion have they fought with such inferiority of numbers, or disadvantage of ground.  Estimating his first line at nothing, General Greene’s army consisted of three thousand two hundred men, posted on ground chosen by himself; and his disposition was skilfully made.

The American general, expecting to be again attacked, prepared for another engagement.  But the situation of Lord Cornwallis had become too desperate to hazard a second battle, or to maintain his position.  He found himself under the necessity of retreating to a place of greater security, where provisions might be obtained.

When the expedition into North Carolina was originally meditated, Major Craig, at the head of a small military and naval force, took possession of Wilmington, a town near the mouth of Cape Fear, and extended his authority several miles up the river.  Lord Cornwallis now looked to a communication with this post for aids which had become indispensable to the farther operations of the campaign.

On the third day after the battle, he broke up his encampment, and proceeded by slow and easy marches towards Cross creek.

[Sidenote:  Greene advances to Ramsay’s mills with a determination to enter South Carolina.]

General Greene, on hearing that the British army was retreating, resolved to follow it.  The difficulty of subsisting the troops in an exhausted and hostile country; and the necessity of waiting for a supply of ammunition, impeded the march of his army so much that he did not reach Ramsay’s mills until the 28th of March.

[Sidenote:  April 7.]

At this place Lord Cornwallis had halted, and here General Greene expected to overtake and attack him.  But, on the approach of the American army, his lordship resumed his march to Cross creek, and afterwards to Wilmington, where he arrived on the 7th of April.

General Greene gave over the pursuit at Ramsay’s mills.  So excessive had been the sufferings of his army from the want of provisions, that many of the men fainted on the march, and it had become absolutely necessary to allow them some repose and refreshment.  The expiration of the time for which the Virginia militia had been called into service, furnished an additional motive for suspending the pursuit.