The loss of Tarleton's Legion was a heavy blow to the British. Cornwallis was now deprived of his most effective weapon against the partisans. As a matter of both policy and prestige, Cornwallis could not let this defeat go unavenged. He set off after Morgan.

Aware of the danger of being cut off by the British, Morgan retreated to the north as quickly as he could. Cornwallis pursued Morgan into North Carolina as far as Ramsour's Mills. There, on April 25, he learned that Morgan was two days' march ahead of him. Cornwallis realized that his conventional force could not run down his prey. Determined to catch the Americans, he ordered all the supplies and baggage that his men could not carry be burned. Tents, wagons, spare provisions, and even the army's rum ration went up in flames. The officers sacrificed their baggage along with their men's. Daunted by the implications of this bonfire, 250 soldiers deserted. Cornwallis renewed the pursuit with the rest.

When Greene learned of Cowpens and the British reaction, he set out almost alone to join Morgan, reaching him in two days. When Greene learned that Cornwallis was marching north, he was delighted. “Then he is ours!” he declared. Greene decided to lure Cornwallis farther north, away from his bases of support and into hostile territory. He would try the delicate task of keeping his army just far enough ahead of the British for security but not so far ahead as to discourage them from following. Morgan thought the plan courted disaster. Greene replied, “I shall take the measure upon myself.” He ordered that boats be collected at the Dan River, near the Virginia line. He directed General Isaac Huger to recall Henry Lee and march the army at Cheraw to a junction with Morgan.

Cornwallis crossed the Catawba River on February 1, brushing aside some North Carolina militia in a skirmish in which General Davidson was killed. Morgan's force was thirty miles ahead on the way to the Yadkin River. The race to the Dan was not a speedy contest. Both armies were increasingly exhausted, and downpours of rain turned the roads into muddy sloughs. Thanks to preplaced boats, Morgan got safely across the Yadkin. On February 9, the two halves of Greene's army reunited at Guilford Courthouse. Cornwallis was close behind. Greene detached a light corps of his best men under Colonel Otho Williams to act as a rearguard. Over the next few days, these men were only a few steps ahead of the vanguard of the British army under General Charles O'Hara. When they finally crossed the Dan River on February 13, O'Hara's advancing men could hear their shouts of triumph.

Cornwallis could not follow Greene across the Dan because Greene had taken all the boats with him. He had to be content with chasing the main American army out of the Carolinas. He fell back to Hillsborough and rested his men. Greene did not remain in Virginia long. He recrossed the Dan and sent out contingents of his army to harass the British. After he and Cornwallis maneuvered against each other, Greene settled his army down at Guilford Court House.

By this time, Greene had finally been reinforced. He had nearly 1,500 Continentals, 2,600 militiamen, Washington and Lee's cavalry, and a small artillery train — 4,400 troops in all. Cornwallis was heavily outnumbered. He had only 2,000 men, but they were all veteran professionals. On March 15, he marched against the American army. Greene had learned from Morgan's experience at the Battle of Cowpens; he placed two lines of militia before his main line of Continentals.

Cornwallis approached at midday. After a cavalry skirmish, the redcoats began advancing against Greene's position. The first line of North Carolina militia fired two volleys and ran away. The Virginia militiamen in the second line fought more stubbornly. A confused and bitterly fought battle developed as the second line was forced aside. Meanwhile, elements of the British force advanced against the third line of Continentals. The Americans drove them back with a withering fire and a bayonet charge.

Greene, unwilling to take risks with his army, did not reinforce this success. This gave the British a chance to rally and they counterattacked. A newly raised regiment of Maryland Continentals fled from the field. The rest of the Continentals attacked with such force that, in order to stop them, Cornwallis had to order his artillery to fire into the melee, cutting down his own men with the Americans. The Continentals fell back. After three hours of combat, and with most of his army scattered, Greene decided to withdraw. The field was left to Cornwallis.