In late March 1781, Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene made one of the most important decisions of the Revolutionary War. Rather than pursue Lord Cornwallis’s British force toward Wilmington, North Carolina, Greene resolved to lead the American army back to South Carolina.

Greene knew that if Cornwallis followed him, North Carolina would be fairly secure. Should Cornwallis not return to South Carolina, Greene saw an opportunity to strike the British posts scattered across that state. He ordered the partisan leaders to gather their men and be ready to cooperate with the Continental Army.

Cornwallis chose not to follow Greene; instead he marched to Virginia, leaving Lord Rawdon to contend with Greene’s invasion.

“All these considerations have determined me to change my route, and push directly into South Carolina.” Nathanael Greene

Marker is at the intersection of Laurens Street and Broad Street, on the right when traveling south on Laurens Street.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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