The Crossing of the Dan River

The Crossing of the Dan River. . Thousands of feet scrambled up this riverbank., Greene's army arrived at the far bank of the surging river on February 14, 1781. Along the river, at Boyd's Ferry and nearby Irwin's Ferry, bloody feet stumbled into boats to cross, and horses swam desperately through the current. The last Americans crossed the river in darkness and the first British arrived soon after. With all the boats pulled to the north riverbank, the British could advance no further. Greene had won the race to the Dan River, leaving Cornwallis with nothing but his exhausted army., "The enemy have been pressing our rear and are in full march not three miles from our camp. But we are happy to have the river between us..." American General Nathanael Greene on the north bank of the Dan River. February 15, 1781, (captions) , General Greene, on horseback, welcomes the last of his army across the Dan River on February 14, 1781 at Boyd's Ferry. (Painting courtesy of Werner Willis) , The army's horses swam across the river along with the ferry boats that carried soldiers and supplies.