The  early  retreat  of  the  North  Carolinians
saved  them  from  much  lo^ss.  Though  the
Americans  had  fewer  killed  and  wounded  than
the  British,  yet  their  army  sustained  a  greater
diminution  by  the  numerous  fugitives  from  the
militia,  who  no  more  rejoined  the  camp.  Lord
Cornwallis  suffered  so  severely,  that  he  was  in
no  condition  to  improve  the  advantage  he  had
gained.  The  British  had  only  the  name,  the
Americans  all  the  good  consequences  of  a  vic-
tory. General  Greene  retreated,  and  Lord
Cornwallis  kept  the  field;  but,  notwithstanding,
the  British  interest,  in  North  Carolina,  was
ruined  by  this  action.  Three  days  after  the
battle  Lord  Cornwallis  issued  a  proclamation,
setting  forth  his  complete  victory,  and  calling


GENERAL  GREENE.  223

on  all  loyal  subjects  to  stand  forth,  and  take  an
active  part  in  restoring  good  order  and  govern-
ment ;  and  offering  a  pardon  and  protection  to
all  rebels,  murderers  excepted,  who  would  sur-
render themselves  on  or  before  the  twentieth
day  of  April.  On  the  day  on  which  this  pro-
clamation was  issued,  his  lordship  left  his  hos-
pital and  seventy-five  wounded  men  with  the
numerous  loyalists  in  the  vicinity  of  Guilford,
and  began  a  march  towards  the  sea-coast,
which  had  the  appearance  of  a  retreat.  Thir-
teen days  before  the  expiration  of  this  act  of
grace,  he  had  reached  his  shipping  at  Wilming-
ton, all  the  upper  country  remaining  in  the
power  of  General  Greene's  army.
GENERAL  GREENE.
"The  knowledge  of  Greene"  (said  General
Knox  to  a  distinguished  citizen  of  South  Caro-
lina) "is  intuitive.  He  came  to  us,  the  rawest,
and  most  untutored  being  I  ever  met  with ;  but,
in  less  than  twelve  months,  he  was  equal,  in


224     STORIES  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REVOLUTION.
