The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan

Thanks to Carroll Headspeth and the late Spurgeon Compton the communitys contribution to the history of the war has not been lost to time as their little book The Retreat to the Dan has continued to sell for twenty-five years. One had to travel to Greensboro to see anything more about the Race to the Dan. Until now the only local reminder of the retreat across the Dan River has been a highway marker a little downriver from Boyds Ferry and another in front of the courthouse in Halifax.

On the New Jersey side, Washington Crossing State Park greets travelers and residents with interpretive displays and exhibits of Revolutionary artifacts at its visitors center and museums. Tours are available and a re-enactment of the crossing takes place each December 25. A 500-acre Washington Crossing Historical Park with a visitors center and historic buildings stands on the Pennsylvania side along with a monument to the event. Communities bearing the name of Washington Crossing have grown up on both the New Jersey and the Pennsylvania riverbanks. Nevertheless, in sharp contrast to the local Dan River sites, visitors by the thousands visit the Delaware River crossing just to experience the view of the river. No battle took place at the crossings of either river and today there is really not much to see at either place. Then followed the Battle of Guilford Courthouse at present day Greensboro, North Carolina and soon after that the British surrendered at Yorktown. Greene led his weary troops in a race to the cold and rain swollen Dan River in mid February to enable him to strengthen his forces prior to recrossing the Dan. Washington led his troops across the Delaware on a cold Christmas Day before surprising and defeating the Hessian mercenaries in the Battle of Trenton the following day. A visit to the site of George Washingtons 1776 crossing of the Delaware River provides an opportunity to compare the location near Trenton, New Jersey, with the historical significance of Nathanael Greenes retreat across the Dan River on February 14, 1781.

The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan