Wayne's advance force and the British pickets then began an extended skirmish lasting nearly two hours.
 The British forces slowly retreated, suffering significant casualties under the persistent American advance.
 Wayne's riflemen performed particularly well, picking off several of the British commanding officers.
  However, the tables turned around 5 pm when the Americans reached an "abandoned" gun that Cornwallis had left in the road.
 Their seizure of the gun was the signal for the British counterattack, which began with a barrage of canister and grape shot, and was followed by an infantry charge.

Lafayette, from his vantage point on the river, had spotted the main British force and realized that Wayne was entering a trap.
 However, he was not able to reach Wayne in time to recall him.
 He immediately began moving additional troops forward in an attempt to prevent the trap from closing on Wayne.
 In the meantime, the British charge had thrown the Americans into some confusion, and Wayne was concerned that a retreat would turn into a disorderly rout.
 Wayne reformed his line, ordered his artillery to fire a blast of grape shot, and then had the line charge the numerically overwhelming British with bayonets fixed.

Wayne's audacious charge worked; it successfully halted the British advance long enough for Lafayette's covering force to approach.
Lafayette rode forward to assist in managing the American retreat, which began to crumble after Cornwallis personally led a countercharge.
 During the retreat, two of the American guns had to be abandoned because their horses were shot, and Lafayette was also unhorsed.
 As the sun was beginning to set, Cornwallis chose not to pursue the Americans, who retreated to Green Spring.
Wayne's advance force and the British pickets then began an extended skirmish lasting nearly two hours.  The British forces slowly retreated, suffering significant casualties under the persistent American advance.  Wayne's riflemen performed particularly well, picking off several of the British commanding officers.   However, the tables turned around 5 pm when the Americans reached an "abandoned" gun that Cornwallis had left in the road.  Their seizure of the gun was the signal for the British counterattack, which began with a barrage of canister and grape shot, and was followed by an infantry charge.
Lafayette, from his vantage point on the river, had spotted the main British force and realized that Wayne was entering a trap.  However, he was not able to reach Wayne in time to recall him.  He immediately began moving additional troops forward in an attempt to prevent the trap from closing on Wayne.  In the meantime, the British charge had thrown the Americans into some confusion, and Wayne was concerned that a retreat would turn into a disorderly rout.  Wayne reformed his line, ordered his artillery to fire a blast of grape shot, and then had the line charge the numerically overwhelming British with bayonets fixed.
Wayne's audacious charge worked; it successfully halted the British advance long enough for Lafayette's covering force to approach. Lafayette rode forward to assist in managing the American retreat, which began to crumble after Cornwallis personally led a countercharge.  During the retreat, two of the American guns had to be abandoned because their horses were shot, and Lafayette was also unhorsed.  As the sun was beginning to set, Cornwallis chose not to pursue the Americans, who retreated to Green Spring.
Battle of Green Spring