5177. MILITIA, Bravery.—
Ill armed and
untried militia, who never before saw the
face of an enemy, have, at times during
the course of this war [of the Revolution]
given occasions of exultation to our enemies,
but they afforded us, while at Warwick, a
little satisfaction in the same way. Six or
eight hundred of their picked men of light
infantry, with General Arnold at their head,
having crossed the [James] river from Warwick,
fled from a patrol of sixteen horse,
every man into his boat as he could, some
pushing North, some South as their fears
drove them.—
To General Washington. Washington ed. i, 306.
Ford ed., iii, 33.
(R.
1781)
