On
March 15, 1781
a British army led by Lord
Cornwallis and an American army commanded by General Nathanael Greene
fought the fiercely contested Battle of Guilford Court House. A prominent Member of Parliament at the time, when told the British
Army had won a victory at
Guilford, but at such a high cost in
casualties, exclaimed,
“...another such victory will ruin the British Army!”
The severe damage inflicted on the British Army in this encounter,
was a primary factor influencing the Parliament and King George to accept
their army’s isolation and encirclement at
Yorktown
later in the year, as a
final military end to the war.
Today,
on the grounds of the Guilford
Court
House
National
Military
Park
which is located on the site of that battle, there are 28
monuments. However, only a single monument-one that marks the spot where a
British officer was thought to have fallen-recognizes the American
adversaries in this significant battle. Many British soldiers and their
comrades in arms still rest there
in unmarked graves.
The
Guilford Battleground Company proposes to construct a monument to
recognize all of the soldiers who fought and died under the British flag
at Guilford. The Guilford Battleground
Company believes that such a monument, not only will acknowledge their
sacrifice in war, but will also better enable the park in interpreting the battle to its
visitors.
Through the efforts
of Colonel Jonathan Lloyd, representing the British Army on duty as
Counselor and Military Advisor to the United Kingdom Mission to the United
Nations, we have received generous donations from the following British
Regimental Associations.
Men
of these historic regiments have fought for freedom alongside American
soldiers in both World Wars,
Korea
and in the
Middle East
. In order to provide a
monument that will appropriately memorialize the valor and sacrifice of
previously brave adversaries which are now our closest allies, we need to
raise a total of $25,000. To date $5,300 have been contributed. Your
support for this too long delayed recognition is deeply appreciated.
Contributions should be made
payable to the Guilford Battleground Company.
Please write on the check that it is for the
British
Memorial
Monument
. The
Guilford Battleground Company is a 501(c) 3 not for profit organization.
Your contribution is tax deductible. We
will acknowledge in writing, the receipt of each contribution.
Checks should be mailed to:
Guilford Battleground Company
P.O. Box 39508
Greensboro, NC 27438
USA
Any questions about this project may be addressed to
Jim Plyler at jdply1781@hotmail.com
Thank
You Most Sincerely !
