In a message dated 98-09-20 17:30:46 EDT, you write: << Anyone have any specifics about Colonel John Green's ( 1730-1793) service in the Revolutionary War?? Thanks. >> Hi Beth, One story about Col. John Green was that he was assigned the job of covering the planned retreat of Gen. Nathaniel Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse March 15, 1781. The story is that Col. John Green was very unhappy with this assignment, and Gen. Nathaniel Greene had to promise that he would assign Col. John Green the forward assignment in the next battle to calm him down. In order to understand the meaning of this story you must understand that the Americans did not have adequate troops in any battle, and seldom would stand and fight, as was the traditional way war was fought in the 1700's. As a result, the planning for any battle where lines were formed and American troops always included a plan to withdraw. One of the more intersting events of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse was that Lord Cornwallis turned his cannons on his own troops during the battle because it looked as if the Americans were going to win the battle. Cornwallis knew that Gen. Nathaniel Greene did not have adequate troops, and he apparently did not care about his own troops, so he apparently had no hesitation in turning his cannons on his troops as they were being forced back by the Americans. It was at this point that Gen. Nathaniel Greene withdrew from the battle. Because of the "rules" of war in that day, this withdrawal of the Americans allowed the British to claim victory even though they lost 1/4 of their army. One British politian was said to have commented that if they had one more "vidtory" such as the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, they would not have an army remaining. Many historians say that the American Revolution was won at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, but the surrender was taken at Yorktown. Hope this help in some way. Tom Green