battle green spring took place near virginia american revolutionary war july united states brigadier general mad leading advance forces ambushed near plantation british army major land battle virginia campaign prior siege following month marching central virginia late june moved received orders portsmouth send army new_york_city followed fairly closely arrival reinforcements consider making attacks british force july departed planning cross route portsmouth believed stage attack rear guard crossing anticipated idea laid elaborate trap general wayne forces nearly caught trap bold bayonet charge numerically overwhelming british enabled forces retreat follow victory pursuit instead following plan cross river action reinforced perception contemporaries justified moniker mad describe wayne opinion merits actions divided battlefield partially preserved staged background arrived virginia lengthy campaign addition troops assumed command troops command soon reinforced troops sent new_york forces opposed smaller continental_army force led located richmond following orders originally given arnold predecessor command died week arrival worked eliminate virginia ability support revolutionary cause giving chase army numbered barely included large number inexperienced militia successfully avoided engaging numerical advantage forces raids economic military political targets central virginia month activity turned east marching force grew number arrival continental_army reinforcements general additional experienced followed increase troop strength aggressive tactics sending detachments force counteract sent forage raiding expeditions foray led clash ordinary crossroads far late june arrived received orders general sir portsmouth prepare detachment troops return new_york_city orders began moving south july planning cross wide ferry followed advance units reaching mill miles ferry july saw opportunity attack british force difficult crossing james recognized possibility decided lay trap hoping capture portion army sent baggage train queen rangers river concealed main force near crossing sent men desert americans information british force crossed leaving rear guard north river prelude position hid army chosen left impassable terrain sloped river right ground ponds access rest mainland ferry yard causeway surrounded advancing army negotiate earl arranged army lines regiments 43rd left right wings included light infantry companies left small company german men legion appearance rear guard picket gave specific orders resist american advance possible brigadier general mad led advance company men early july wayne reached surveyed terrain noted presence british guards came main force men decided ahead attack ordered troops forward minor took place awaited troops wayne soldiers included virginia majors richard backed additional light infantry led colonel battalion formed reserve sent forward battalions major light infantry battalion beginning suspect held light infantry battalions battalion reinforcement increased size force wayne ordered swamps men wayne force consisted companies included pieces field artillery moved rode spit land observe action battle wayne advance force british began extended skirmish lasting nearly hours british forces slowly retreated suffering significant casualties persistent american advance wayne performed particularly picking british commanding officers tables turned americans reached abandoned gun left road seizure gun signal british counterattack began barrage shot followed infantry charge point river spotted main british force realized wayne entering trap able reach wayne time recall immediately began moving additional troops forward attempt prevent trap closing wayne meantime british charge thrown americans confusion wayne concerned retreat turn rout wayne reformed line ordered artillery fire blast shot line charge numerically overwhelming british fixed wayne charge worked successfully halted british advance long covering force approach rode forward assist managing american retreat began personally led retreat american guns abandoned horses shot sun beginning set chose pursue americans retreated aftermath british reports casualties battle listed officers enlisted men killed wounded american casualties reported number including killed satisfied victory pursue retreating americans instead crossed james planned moved portsmouth arrangements embark troops new orders clinton instead ordered use force establish fortified naval station chose compelled surrender brief siege october dispatches reports later stages virginia campaign painted movements portsmouth retreat reports bolstered reputation battle tactical setback harm reputation general wayne wrote decision charge british force daring seldom fail producing desired effect result instance fully justified publicly lauded wayne performance recorded privately wayne tactical mistakes battle read gazette militia general blamed loss brother brigadier wayne biographer americans day hardly decide battle admire wayne brave character condemn legacy portions green spring plantation purchased national_park_service holdings added national_register_of_historic_places june open special arrangement
Battle of Green Spring