Battle of Summerfield

Last updated
Battle of Summerfield
Part of the American Revolutionary War
DateFebruary 12, 1781 [1] [2]
Location
Result United States victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg  United States Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg  Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg Henry Lee III
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg James Armstrong
Flag of the United States (1777-1795).svg Stephen Lewis
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Banastre Tarleton
Union flag 1606 (Kings Colors).svg Cornet Williams (POW)
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
1 killed (James Gillis) 20 killed
4 captured [3]

The Battle of Summerfield was a skirmish, in the area that today is Summerfield, North Carolina in present-day northern Guilford County, between Patriot forces under the command of Col. Henry Lee III and British forces of Banastre Tarleton on February 12, 1781. [5] [1] One month prior to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, the armies of Col. Otho Williams and Col. Henry Lee stopped to dine at the home of a Patriot supporter, Charles Bruce. While they were encamped at the home of Bruce, a farmer and supporter of the Patriot cause, Isaac Wright, appeared to inform the soldiers that a group of British Dragoons was on the march and not far from their location. Col. Otho Willims directed Lee to investigate this finding. Lee dispatched a division of his men under the command of Captain James Armstrong, to follow him and to see if they could verify Wright's report. [6]

Wright's horse was in no condition to return to the location from exhaustion after riding at top speed and so Lee offered the horse of his bugler boy, 14 year old James Gillis. Gillis was worried that he would not see his horse again and decided to follow along with the farmer's party. The expeditionary party accidentally surprised the British and rode back to warn Lee and prepare for the battle that was to come. The Dragoons, under the command of Banastre Tarleton, pursued the retreating Patriots and Gillis was overtaken by the faster calvary. Col. Lee ordered his men to return and rescue Gillis. They arrived just as the unarmed Gillis was being mercilessly cut down by Tarleton's dragoons while begging for quarter. [4] [7] Lee's troops, enraged at witnessing the merciless ordeal, clashed into Tarleton's men and killed seven of his Dragoons immediately. More of Tarleton's calvary arrived as the fighting was intensifying. Captain Cornet Miller arrived with reinforcements into the engagement and suffered thirteen additional casualties. Seeing that the battle was losing favor with the British, Captain Miller attempted to escape from the area but was captured by Lt. Stephen Lewis along with three of his men. [8]

Handing him a pen and a sheet of paper, Lee told Miller to write down his last words to his loved ones, as he held Miller responsible for the death of the young Gillis. Just as Miller was about to be executed, Lord Cornwallis's army was spotted not too far near their location. Lt. Col. Lee was in no condition to engage Cornwallis and had no choice but to return to Col. Otho Williams camp. Evading death, Capt. Miller was escorted to Major General Nathanael Greene as a prisoner of war.

Today there are two memorials dedicated to the sacrifice of James Gillis. One has been placed at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park and another at the actual site of his death as well as a state historical marker in the town of Summerfield. [9] [10] [1] [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina". docsouth.unc.edu. March 19, 2010.
  2. "Charles Bruce and James Gillis, Summerfield". Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina. 2010-03-19. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  3. 1 2 "The American Revolution in North Carolina - Summerfield". www.carolana.com.
  4. 1 2 "Bruce's Crossroads | American Revolution Tour of N.C." amrevnc.com. May 15, 2021.
  5. Petersen, Bruce L. (2021-09-01). "The Importance of a Small Skirmish during the Race to the Dan". Journal of the American Revolution. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
  6. "List of Revolutionary War Battles, Raids & Skirmishes for 1781 • American Revolutionary War".
  7. 1 2 "Historical marker locations". www.summerfieldnc.gov.
  8. "Revolutionary War Raids & Skirmishes in 1781". www.myrevolutionarywar.com.
  9. "Commemorative Landscapes of North Carolina". docsouth.unc.edu. March 19, 2010.
  10. "Bugler Boy Historic Site". Summerfield, NC. 1923-09-29. Retrieved 2024-09-19.