American Travel Journal: Tour Road - Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Before arriving at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in June 2017, I had intended to walk as many of the trails that crisscross the battlefield as I could. However, recent heavy rains had deposited mud on parts of the paved trails and left the unpaved trails muddier than I wanted to slog through. So I followed the advice of the ranger at the information desk in the visitor center and walked the 2 ¼ mile Tour Road that encircles the park instead. From the tour road, I made several short excursions to view monuments that had been erected. As I planned to be in the park after almost all the facilities are closed and locked at 5 PM, I moved my vehicle from the visitor center to the parking area on Old Battlefield Road north of New Garden Road. This is the only parking area in the park that is not locked at 5 PM.

Topographic map with GPS route

Beginning at the intersection of Old Battleground Road and New Garden Road, I followed the paved trail back towards the visitor center and Tour Stop number One (TS-1). Along the way, I passed Monument Row and its four monuments.

The view from TS-1 is to the southeast looking down New Garden Road toward the Hoskins Farmstead where General Lord Cornwallis formed his troops to advance across a wide line centered on New Garden Road which was called the Great Salisbury Wagon Road at the time of the battle.

Paved path from Old Battlefield Road parking lot toward visitor center

Looking southwest on Historic New Garden Road

No North, No South
Washington, a Southerner, led Northern troops
Greene, a Northerner, led Southern troops

Bugler James Gillies Monument

Mrs. Keren Happuch Turner Monument
Mrs. Turner rode horseback from Maryland
to nurse her wounded son back to health

Captain James Morehead Monument

Jethro Sumner Monument and Grave
located near Tour Stop 1

Captain James Tate Monument and Grave
near the American First Line just south of
New Garden Road near the entrance sign

The oldest and newest monuments in the park are found on the way to Tour Stop 2 (TS-2). The oldest monument, erected in 1887, is dedicated to Colonel Arthur Forbis of the Guilford County militia who was killed in the battle while part of the American First Line. The newest monument, Crown Forces Monument, is dedicated to the memory of all the British forces that fought in the battle. TS-2 hosts a display denoting the fragmented attack as elements of both sides drifted southeast and continued fighting about ½ mile southeast in what is now Country Park.

Captain Arthur Forbis Monument

Crown Forces Monument
In memory of the men who fought
and the units of the Crown Forces
in which they served at the
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
March 15, 1781

Tour Stop 3 has a display about the American Second Line. This line was held for a sustained period by two Virginia militia brigades as they fought the advancing British in the thick woods. A trail leads north from here toward the Green Memorial and New Garden Road.

Typical terrain defended by the Second Line

Tour Stop 4 (TS-4) has a memorial to Major Joseph Winston, commander of the Surry County militia. In addition, a trail leads from the military park into Greensboro's Country Park. This route seemed to be very popular for bicyclists.

Major Joseph Winston Monument

Tour Stop 5 has a display denoting where David Schenck, the driving force behind creating the park, concluded the American Third Line of Continental Regulars faced the oncoming British. Utilizing additional historical information not available to Schenck, park historians now believe the Third Line was on the ridge line ¼ mile east of this location.

Schenck's Third Line location

Cavalry Monument

Between TS-5 and TS-6, the Tour Road follows the historic route of New Garden Road for a short distance.

Looking west along historic New Garden Road

Tour Road coincident with historic New Garden Road

Estimated American cannon location on the American Third Line

Tour Road veers off of New Garden Road

While the exact location of the Guilford Courthouse and the surrounding community has been lost, Tour Stop 6 marks its approximate location and the American Third Line. In addition, restrooms and a water fountain are located here.

General vicinity of Guilford Courthouse

Field south of New Garden Road

New Garden Road continues east out of the park

Tour Stop 7 is located near the northern boundary of the park between the Second and Third Lines. A short side trail leads to an open field on the northern side of New Garden Road. A display views the battle from the British perspective.

Path from TS-7 to the field

Open field at TS-7

American Third Line Monument

Lt. Colonel James Stewart of the Brigade of Guards
was killed in the fighting on the third line.
Until 2015, this was the only monument
on the battlefield honoring the British army.