That always-dreamed-of but ever-elusive goal of soldiers—a double envelopment

From The Road to Guilford Courthouse by John Buchanan. Page 325.

Thomas Young recalled hearing the bugles sound the cavalry charge, and astride his fine new horse “we made a sort of half circuit at full speed came upon the rear of the British line, shouting and charging like madmen.” But John Eager Howard claimed that Washington was engaged with Tarleton’s cavalry during the bayonet charge, and Morgan’s official account only nine days after the battle supports Howard’s recollection.

There was only one British unit on the field that fought on, but they were beleaguered. Andrew Pickens’s militia, after being rallied behind Washington’s horse, had come almost full circle and on the right charged the Scottish Highlanders. While Washington’s horsemen pursued and rounded up the fleeing infantry from Tarleton’s main line, John Eager Howard wheeled his Continentals to the right and came at the Scots from the other direction. The Americans had wrought that always-dreamed-of but ever-elusive goal of soldiers—a double envelopment. The Highlanders fought on alone, stubbornly, hand to hand against numbers rapidly becoming overpowering.