University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER VII.

FROM THE TERMINATION OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR TO THE SURRENDER
OF CORNWALLIS.

"Questions touching the power of the British Parliament to interfere
with the concerns of the colonies had arisen more than once

before the war, and during its continuance the delicate question
arose, of the proportions which the several colonies should pay for
the common defence. The British ministry proposed that deputies
should meet and determine the amount necessary, and draw on
the British treasury, which in turn should be reimbursed by an
equal tax on all the colonies, to be laid by Parliament; but the
colonies were afraid to let the lion put his paw in their pockets,
even to take back his own; and this being no time to raise difficulties,
the colonial legislatures were left to their own discretion in
voting supplies, which they did with a liberality so disproportioned
to their ability, as to excite the praise, and in some instances to
induce a reimbursement on the part of the mother country. Virginia
had always resisted any interference on the part of Parliament,
especially in the navigation acts, and asserted as early as
1624, that she only had the undoubted right `to lay taxes and impositions,
and none other,' and afterwards refused to let any member
of the council of Governor Berkeley, in the height of his popularity,
assist them in determining the amount of the public levy.
Again in 1676, even stronger language was used and acquiesced
in by the king, to whom it was immediately addressed.

"The slight taxes imposed for the regulation of commerce, and
the support of a post-office, were borne by the colonies without a
murmur, being considered only a fair compensation for a benefit
received. In March, 1764, the ministers declared it `expedient to
raise a revenue on stamps in America, to be paid into the king's
exchequer.' The discussion of this was postponed until the next
year in Parliament, but commenced immediately in America, and
the proposition was met by every form of respectful petition and
indignant remonstrance; which were, however, equally unavailing,
and the stamp act passed in 1765. The passage of this act excited
universal and indignant hostility throughout the colonies, which
was displayed in the forms of mourning and the cessation of business;
the courts refused to sanction the act by sitting, and the bar
by using the stamps. In the succeeding Virginia legislature,
Patrick Henry introduced and carried, among others, the following
resolution:—

"After the passage of Henry's resolutions, the governor dissolved
the Assembly; but the people re-elected the friends, and excluded
the opposers of the resolutions. The spirited conduct of Virginia
fired the ardor of the other colonies; they passed similar resolutions,
and a general Congress was proposed. The deputies of nine
states met in New York on the 1st of October; they drafted a
declaration of rights, a petition to the king, commons, and lords.

The stamp act was repealed, and Virginia sent an address of
thanks to the king and parliament."

Francis Fauquier, Lieut. Governor of Virginia, died in 1767, and
the government devolved on John Blair, until the arrival of Lord
Bottetourt, the following year.

"The joy of the colonies at the repeal of the stamp act was
short-lived. British ministers imagined that they could cheat the
colonies out of their opposition to taxation without representation,
by laying an import duty instead of a direct tax; and accordingly,
a duty was laid upon glass, tea, paper, and painter's colors; but
this was equally against the spirit of the British constitution, and
met with a warmer and more indignant resistance on the part of
the colonies, who now began to believe they had little hope from
the justice of parliament. The legislature of Virginia passed very
spirited resolutions, which it ordered to be sent only to the king;
upon the passage of which the governor dissolved it; and the
members immediately met and entered unanimously into a nonimportation
agreement.

"The British ministers perceived their error, and determined to
pause in their violence; to effect this object the governors were
directed to inform the colonies, that his majesty's ministers did not
intend to raise a revenue in America, and the duties objected to
should be speedily repealed. These assurances, made to Virginia
by Lord Bottetourt, a governor whom they highly respected, served,
with his own good conduct, for a time to allay her suspicions of
the ministry; but the course they pursued towards Massachusetts
was more than sufficient to rekindle her jealousy. She passed a
protest, declaring that partial remedies could not heal the present
disorders, and renewed their non-importation agreement. In 1771
Bottetourt died, and Virginia erected a statue to his memory, which
still stands in the town of Williamsburg. Wm. Nelson, then
president of the council, occupied the chair of government until
the arrival of Lord Dunmore, in 1772. The delay of Lord Dunmore
in New York for some months after his appointment to the
gubernatorial chair of Virginia, excited the prejudices of the colony,
which his sending a man of some military distinction as a
clerk, and raising a salary and fees for him out of the colony, were
by no means calculated to dissipate. The first legislature that
met compelled the governor to dispense with the emoluments of
his secretary, Capt. Foy; and the next, after thanking him for his
activity in apprehending some counterfeiters of the colony paper,
strongly reproved him for dispensing with the usual forms and
ceremonies with which the law has guarded the liberty of the
citizen. The same legislature, having provided for the soundness
and security of the currency, the punishment of the guilty, and
required the governor to respect the law, turned their eyes to their
sister colonies, and appointed a committee of correspondence[123] to

inquire into the various violations of their constitutional rights by
the British ministry. While Virginia was employed in animating
her sister states to resistance, her governor was employed in the
ignoble occupation of fomenting jealousies and feuds between the
province, which it should have been his duty to protect from such
a calamity, and Pennsylvania, by raising difficult questions of
boundary, and exciting the inhabitants of the disputed territory to
forswear allegiance to the latter province; hoping thus, by affording
a more immediately exciting question, to draw off the attention
of these two important provinces from the encroachments of
Great Britain. This scheme, as contemptible as it was iniquitous,
wholly failed, through the good sense and magnanimity of the
Virginia council. Lord North, full of his feeble and futile schemes
of cheating the colonies out of their rights, took off the obnoxious
duties with the exception of three pence per pound on tea; and,
with the ridiculous idea that he might fix the principle upon the
colonies by a precedent, which should strip it of all that was
odious, offered a draw-back equal to the import duty. This induced
the importation of tea into Boston harbor, which, being
thrown overboard by some of the citizens, called down upon their
city all the rigor of the celebrated Boston port bill. A draft of
this bill reached the Virginia legislature while in session; an animated
protest, and a dissolution of the assembly by the governor,
of course followed. On the following day the members convened
in the Raleigh tavern, and, in an able and manly paper, expressed
to their constituents and their government those sentiments and
opinions which they had not been allowed to express in a legislative
form. This meeting recommended a cessation of trade with
the East India Company, a Congress of deputies from all the colonies,
`declaring their opinion, that an attack upon one of the
colonies was an attack upon all British America,' and a convention
of the people of Virginia. The sentiments of the people accorded
with those of their late delegates; they elected members who met
in convention at Williamsburg, on the 1st of August, 1774. This
convention went into a detailed view of their rights and grievances,
discussed measures of redress for the latter, and declared their
determination never to relinquish the former; they appointed deputies
to attend a general Congress, and they instructed them how
to proceed. The Congress met in Philadelphia, on the 4th of September,
1774. While Virginia was engaged in her efforts for the
general good, she was not without her peculiar troubles at home.
The Indians had been for some time waging a horrid war upon the
frontiers, when the indignation of the people at length compelled
the reluctant governor to take up arms, and march to suppress the
very savages he was thought to have encouraged and excited to
hostility by his intrigues.

"Lord Dunmore marched the army in two divisions: the one under
Col. Andrew Lewis he sent to the junction of the Great Kanawha
with the Ohio, while he himself marched to a higher point
on the latter river, with pretended purpose of destroying the Indian
towns and joining Lewis at Point Pleasant; but it was believed
with the real[124] object of sending the whole Indian force to
annihilate Lewis' detachment, and thereby weaken the power and
break down the spirit of Virginia. If such was his object he was
signally defeated through the gallantry of the detachment, which
met and defeated the superior numbers of the enemy at Point
Pleasant, after an exceeding hard-fought day, and the loss of nearly
all its officers. The day after the victory, an express arrived from
Dunmore with orders for the detachment to join him at a distance
of 80 miles, through an enemy's country, without any conceivable
object but the destruction of the corps. As these orders were
given without a knowledge of the victory, Col. Lewis was proceeding
to the destruction of the Shawanese villages, when he
was informed the governor had made peace.

The affairs between Britain and her American colonies were
now verging to a crisis. The hostile attitude of the latter, soon
occasioned orders to be issued to their governors to remove the
military stores out of their reach. Accordingly, on the 19th of
April, 1775, Dunmore secretly removed the gunpowder from the

magazine at Williamsburg, to the Magdalen man-of-war, anchored
off Yorktown. Thereupon, the volunteers of Williamsburg immediately
flew to arms, and could with difficulty be restrained from
seizing the person of the governor. The people of the town sent
a deputation to Dunmore, who remonstrated with him for this act,
especially at a time when they feared an insurrection of the slaves.
His reply "was everywhere considered as a mean and scandalous
evasion." Fearful of the consequences of his conduct, he established
a guard of negroes at his palace. Exasperated to the highest
degree, he openly swore, "by the living God," that if any injury
was offered to himself, or the officers who had acted under his
direction in the affair of the gunpowder, he would proclaim freedom
to the slaves, and reduce Williamsburg to ashes. These
savage threats wrought the indignation of the people to the highest
pitch, which spread like electricity throughout the colony.
Over six hundred people of the upper country armed themselves,
assembled at Fredericksburg, and offered their services to defend,
if necessary, Williamsburg from the threatened attack of Dunmore.
Thousands also, in all parts of Virginia, stood ready, at a moment's
warning, to lend their aid. In the mean time, those ardent patriots,
Peyton Randolph and Edmund Pendleton, transmitted their advice
to the Fredericksburg meeting to abstain, for the present, from
hostilities, until Congress should decide on a general plan of resistance.

The volunteers of Hanover, however, determined to recover the
powder, or perish in the attempt. With Patrick Henry at their
head, they marched from Hanover town to Doncastle's ordinary,
within 16 miles of the capitol, their numbers swelled by accessions
of volunteers from King William and New Kent. They here
disbanded, (May 4th,) and returned to their homes, Patrick Henry
having received ample compensation for the powder from Richard
Corbin, the king's receiver-general. Two days after the above,
Dunmore issued a proclamation against "a certain Patrick Henry,
of the county of Hanover, and a number of deluded followers," and
forbade all persons to countenance him, or others concerned in like
combinations. On the 11th, Henry left Virginia to attend the
Continental Congress, of which he was a member.

By this time, every county in Virginia was fairly aroused to the
dangers that beset them. County committees were formed, who

anticipated measures of defence, by arming and raising minutemen,
and taking all practicable means to make an effectual resistance.
The people sympathized with the sufferings of the Bostonians,
and the citizens of Williamsburg assembled, and unanimously
resolved to subscribe money for their aid. The news of
the battle of Lexington reached Virginia about this time.

The proclamation of Dunmore had scarce made its appearance,
when some persons privately entered the magazine and carried
away a great number of arms and military equipments. New
causes of irritation between the governor and the people were continually
arising.

When Patrick Henry marched down to make reprisals for the
gunpowder, Dunmore dispatched a messenger to the Fowey man-of-war,
anchored off Yorktown, for aid. A detachment of 40 marines
and sailors was sent to Williamsburg, where they remained
about 10 days. Previous to their landing at Yorktown, Capt. Montague
sent a letter from on board the Fowey to Col. Thomas Nelson,
threatening to fire upon the town if the troops were molested
or attacked,—a message which still further increased the indignation
of the people.

On the 1st of June the governor convened the Assembly, and
addressed them in a speech. With this commenced a political
correspondence between him and the House of Burgesses, which
was, on the part of the latter, a clear and forcible defence of the
rights of the colonies. On the 8th of June, the governor, with his
family, fled on board the Fowey, off Yorktown, from ill-grounded
apprehensions of his safety at Williamsburg. Several communications
passed between him and the Assembly, relative to public
business generally, the late disturbances respecting the removal
of the gunpowder, and the governor's proclamation and course of
conduct.

Dunmore "refused, upon invitation of the Assembly, to return
to his palace or to sign bills of the utmost importance to the colony,
and refused to perform this branch of duty, unless the Assembly
would come and hold their meetings under the guns of his ship at
Yorktown. In this emergency, the governor was declared to have
abdicated, and the president of the council appointed to act in his
place. His lordship, on the termination of the intercourse between
himself and the Assembly, which was towards the close of June,
sailed down the river." Thus ended the royal government in Virginia.

The Assembly now dissolved, and, pursuant to agreement, the
delegates, on the 17th of July, met in convention at Richmond, to
organize a provincial form of government and a plan of defence.
The following illustrious characters composed the committee of
safety:—Edmund Pendleton, George Mason, John Page, Richard
Bland, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Paul Carrington, Dudley Digges,
James Mercer, Carter Braxton, William Cabell, and John Tabb.
The convention made arrangements to raise troops for defence,

and the general committee met at Hanover Town, in Hanover
county, on business connected with the military establishment,
and then adjourned to Williamsburg about the last of September.

Previously, the committee of safety recommended to the district
committees to direct the contractors in each district to provide,
among other things, a stand of colors, bearing on one side
the name of the district, on the other, "Virginia for Constitutional
Liberty."

In October, by Dunmore's orders, a party of men, under cover of
their men-of-war, landed at Norfolk, and forcibly carried on board
their vessels the press and types of a newspaper imbued with the
patriotic principles of the day. Shortly after, Dunmore marched
to Kempsville, in Princess Anne, destroyed some fire-arms deposited
there, and took prisoner Capt. Matthews, of the minute-men. About
this time an attack was made on Hampton, by some vessels commanded
by Capt. Squires, who had threatened to burn the town.
The enemy were beaten off with loss, while not a single Virginian
was killed.

In the mean time, numbers of armed people from the upper
country were arriving at Williamsburg. Dunmore, hearing that
the 2d Virginia Regiment and the Culpeper Battalion had been
ordered to Norfolk, directed the Kingfisher and three large tenders
to move up to Burwell's Ferry, to prevent their crossing the James.
These vessels, on their arrival, finding an American skipper at the
landing, commenced firing upon her, and in a peremptory tone ordered
her to come alongside the Kingfisher. Some Virginian
riflemen, on the bank, directed her master not to obey the order.
Upon this the man-of-war commenced a brisk fire upon the vessel,
but without effect. Twice the Kingfisher sent a large boat full
of men to take possession, and twice they were beaten off by the
unerring aim of the riflemen. Foiled in this attempt, the enemy
the next day attempted to land a boat filled with armed men at
Jamestown. They were again repulsed by some rifle sentinels on
the shore. In this month (November) Dunmore, with a superior
force, surprised about 200 militia of Princess Anne, on their march
to join the troops. Their colonel, with several others, was made
prisoner.

Under date of November 7th, Dunmore issued his proclamation,
in which he proclaimed martial law, declared all capable of bearing
arms who did not resort to his majesty's standard traitors, and
offered freedom to all slaves "appertaining to rebels" who would
join his majesty's troops. On this Dunmore had staked his best
hopes. Had he had a formidable force at hand to execute his threats,
some apprehensions might have been excited. But as it was, it
only harmonized public opinion, increased public irritation, and
engendered a burning detestation of the means to which their late
governor unblushingly stooped to awe them into submission. His
lordship set up his standard in Norfolk and Princess Anne, issued
orders to the militia captains to raise a body of troops to oppose

the colonial army, prescribed, and, in some cases, extorted an oath
of allegiance. A multitude of motley partisans flocking to his
standard, he designed to destroy the provisions collected at Suffolk
for the Virginia troops. To prevent this, Col. Woodford, on
the 20th of November, detached 215 light troops, under Col. Scott
and Major Marshall, to that place, and on the 25th arrived there
with the main body of the Virginia troops.

The only avenue from Suffolk to Norfolk—to which place he
was destined—by which Col. Woodford could march, was by the
Great Bridge, about 12 miles from the latter. The enemy were
posted there in a stockade fort, on his arrival with the Virginian
troops. Woodford constructed a breastwork within cannon-shot
of the fort.

On the 9th of December, Capt. Fordyce, at the head of a party
of British grenadiers, in attempting to storm the breastwork, was
repulsed by a most destructive and bloody fire. After this, Dunmore,
with most of his followers, took refuge on board his vessels.
The Virginians marched into Norfolk, and annoyed the enemy by
firing into their vessels. In retaliation, Dunmore cannonaded the
town, and on the night of the 1st of January, 1776, landed a party,
who, under cover of their cannon, set fire to the houses on the
river which had sheltered the provincials. The committee of
safety ordered Col. Robert Howe to destroy the remainder of the
town, to prevent the British from making it a permanent post.
Norfolk, then the most populous town in Virginia, contained near
6,000 inhabitants.

Colonels Woodford and Stevens assisted Col. Howe in the command
at Norfolk. Besides the two regiments already raised, the
Convention resolved to raise seven more. Six of these were placed
on the continental establishment, to whose officers Congress granted

commissions, in order, beginning with Col. Henry, of the 1st, and
ending with Col. Buckner, of the 6th Regiment.[127]

Col. Patrick Henry resigned his commission, much to the regret
of the regiment, and was thereupon chosen a member of the Convention
from Hanover.

The General Convention of Virginia met at the capital, May
6th, 1776, and appointed Edmund Pendleton, President, and John
Tazewell, Clerk. Since the flight of Dunmore, the House of Burgesses
had met twice, pursuant to adjournment, but on neither
occasion was there a quorum. They now met on the same day
with the Convention, but "did neither proceed to business, nor
adjourn as a House of Burgesses." Considering their meeting as
illegal, not in conformity with a summons from a governor, they
unanimously dissolved themselves. "Thus was the tottering fabric
of the royal government utterly demolished in Virginia; to substitute
in its stead a structure of more elegant and more solid form,
was now the task of the Convention."

On the 15th of this month, the convention, after appealing to
"the Searcher of hearts" for the sincerity of their former declarations
in favor of peace and union with the mother country, adopted
unanimously the following resolution:

The convention appointed a committee to prepare a Declaration
of Rights, and a Plan of Government, for the colony. The former
was adopted on the 12th of June. On the 29th a constitution
was unanimously adopted; "the first which was framed with a
view to a permanent separation from Great Britain since those of
South Carolina and New Hampshire, which alone preceded it,
were to continue only until a reconciliation could be effected between
the mother country and the colonies. This plan of government
was proposed by the celebrated George Mason,[128] and had
been adopted in committee before the arrival of one which Mr.
Jefferson, then in Congress, had prepared. They however accepted
Mr. Jefferson's preamble, which is nearly the same as the
recital of wrongs in the Declaration of Independence."[129]

The following appointments were made under the constitution:

Patrick Henry, Esq., governor. John Page, Dudley Digges,
John Tayloe, John Blair, Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley, Bartholomew
Dandridge, Charles Carter of Shirley, and Benjamin Harrison
of Brandon, counsellors of state. Thomas Whiting, John
Hutchings, Champion Travis, Thomas Newton, jun., and George
Webb, Esquires, commissioners of admiralty. Thomas Everard
and James Cocke, Esquires, commissioners for settling accounts.
Edmund Randolph, Esq., attorney-general.

On the 5th of July the convention adjourned. Though the session
was brief, it was an important one. Among other acts besides
the formation of a government, they passed an ordinance for erecting
salt works in the colony: for establishing a board of commissioners
to superintend and direct the naval affairs of the colony:
for raising six troops of horse: for arranging the counties into
districts for electing senators, &c. They also resolved to expunge
from the litany such parts as related to the king and royal family,
and substituted, in the morning and evening service, such forms of
expression as were better suited to the new state of affairs.

The Declaration of Independence, so strongly recommended by
the Virginia convention, was passed in Congress on the 4th of
July, 1776; and, agreeably to an order of the privy council, it was
proclaimed on the 25th of the same month at the capitol, the
court-house, and the palace at Williamsburg, amidst the acclamations
of the people, and the firing of cannon and musketry.

The energetic measures that had been adopted by the Virginia
troops in precluding the flotilla of Dunmore from obtaining supplies,
had at last obliged them to burn the intrenchments they had
erected near the ruins of Norfolk, and seek a refuge on board their
ships, where disease and hunger pursued them. The presence of
his lordship in the lower country had given countenance to the
disaffected, who were there numerous. A vigorous course was
ordered to be pursued towards them. Col. Woodford, stationed
at Kemps' Landing, (now Kempsville, Princess Anne,) humanely
executed these orders, which were intrusted to him by the committee
of safety, through Maj. Gen. Chas. Lee.

Dunmore, with his fleet, left Hampton Roads about the 1st of
June, landed and erected fortifications on Gwynn's island, within
the limits of what is now Matthew's county. On the 9th of July
he was attacked by the Virginians, under Brig. Gen. Andrew
Lewis, and forced to abandon the island. Shortly after, Dunmore
dispatched the miserable remnant of his followers to Florida and
the West Indies, and sailing himself to the north, forever left the
shores of Virginia.

The nefarious plot of Connelly was only part of an extensive
scheme of operations, which the British had meditated in seeking
an alliance with the savages. By their instigation the Indians
were harassing the frontiers of the southern states to such a degree
that a combination was formed to destroy their settlements

on the borders. Col. Christian, on the part of this state, marched
with a body of Virginia troops into the Cherokee country, burnt
four of their towns, and compelled them to sue for peace.

On the 7th of October, 1776, the Assembly of Virginia met for
the first time; Edmund Pendleton was chosen Speaker of the
House of Delegates, and Archibald Carey of the Senate. One of
the earliest of their labors was the repeal of all acts of Parliament
against dissenters, which was the first direct blow struck at the
established church in the state.

In the session of this fall, the Assembly appointed Thomas Jefferson,
Edmund Pendleton, George Wythe, George Mason, and
Thomas Ludwell Lee, Esquires, a committee to revise the State
laws, and prepare a code more suitable to the new state of affairs:
the execution of the work devolved on the three first.

Although the seat of the war was for so long a period transferred
from Virginia, her soil was doomed soon to be again trod by
the foot of the invader. Previous, however, to giving an abstract
of the military operations which occurred here in the last few
years of the revolutionary struggle, we shall glance at a few matters
too important to be omitted in even this brief sketch of her
history.

While the events above alluded to were transpiring at the
north, Virginia was exerting every nerve, in furnishing additional
men and means, for the common cause, and adopting energetic
measures against the disaffected within her own bosom. Among
them were many British merchants, settled in the towns, in whose
hands was much of the trade. These were compelled to leave the
state, or be taken in custody. An oath of allegiance to the commonwealth,
was also required of all free-born male inhabitants

over 16 years of age. At this time, a taste for elegant literature
and profound research prevailed throughout Virginia. The learned
Dr. Small, of William and Mary College, had chiefly contributed
to the diffusion of that taste before the war, through the encouragement
of Gov. Fauquier, "the ablest character who had then
ever filled the chair of government in Virginia." A literary and
scientific society was instituted, amid the excitement of revolutionary
scenes, of which Mr. John Page[130] was president, and Prof.
James Madison[131] one of the secretaries. They held a meeting in
the capitol, and several valuable philosophical papers were read.
The calls of war, unfortunately, prevented a ripe development of
the association.

A loan-office was opened at Williamsburg, to effect two resolutions
of Congress for the obtaining a loan of continental money
for the use of the United States. Another loan-office was established
by the state, for borrowing, on the part of the commonwealth,
one million of dollars, to supersede the necessity of emitting more
paper money.

On the accession of Sir Henry Clinton, in the place of Sir William
Howe, to the chief command, the war was carried on with
greater energy. The reduction of the south seemed an object less
difficult, and of as much value as the north; hence the plan of
conquest was somewhat altered. Georgia was threatened with
subjection by an expedition under Lieut. Col. Campbell, while Sir
Henry Clinton prepared, in person, to invade South Carolina.

The central position of Virginia had hitherto, in a measure,
saved her from the incursions of the enemy. Sir Henry Clinton
saw that the resistance of the southern states would depend much
upon Virginia, and he was determined to humble her pride and
destroy her resources. For this purpose an expedition was
planned, and early in May, 1779, their squadron, under Sir George
Collier, anchored in Hampton Roads. Fort Nelson, just below
Portsmouth, was abandoned to them, and on the 11th, the British
general, Matthews, took possession of Portsmouth. The enemy
destroyed large quantities of naval and military stores at Gosport
and Norfolk; burnt Suffolk, and many private houses, and destroyed
upwards of 100 vessels. The army shortly embarked for New
York with their plunder.

"This destruction of private property, which ought to be held
sacred by civilized nations at war, called for the interference of
the Assembly. A resolve was passed in that body, requiring the
governor to remonstrate against this cruel mode of carrying on the
war. The fall of Charleston, and the success of the British arms
in the south, under Lord Cornwallis, portended much evil to Virginia.
Her reduction was determined on by the commander-in-chief,
and a plan, apparently big with success, was laid for that
purpose. As soon as Clinton was informed of the defeat of the
southern army by Lord Cornwallis, he dispatched Brigadier-General
Leslie, with a force of about three thousand men, against
Virginia. The co-operation of this detachment with the army
under Cornwallis, who was expected to enter Virginia on the south,
appeared fully adequate to the object in view.

"Leslie arrived in the Chesapeake bay in October, 1780, and
landing at Portsmouth, took possession of such vessels and other
property as could be found on the coast. The defeat of Major
Ferguson, who had been ordered to manœuvre through the northern
parts of South Carolina, and was expected to join Cornwallis
at Charlotte, caused the latter to alter his plans, and prevented his
junction with Leslie. Some time elapsed before Leslie could obtain
information of the situation of Cornwallis, and the circum

stances that occurred to prevent the important junction with that
officer. Meanwhile the governor of Virginia was earnestly employed
in preparing to oppose the invaders. Thomas Jefferson,
successor of Patrick Henry, was then governor of the state, and
the assembly, composed of men selected for their wisdom and
patriotism, was in session. At this crisis, General Greene, who
had been appointed to succeed Gates in the command of the southern
army, arrived in Richmond, on his way to the south. As much
reliance had been placed on the supplies to be received from Virginia,
Greene was not a little embarrassed to find her in such a
weak and exposed situation. After making such arrangements as
he deemed necessary, he continued his journey to the south, leaving
Baron Steuben to direct the defence of the state. General
Gates had removed his head-quarters to Charlotte, and there he
surrendered into the hands of Greene the command of the southern
army. In the mean time, General Leslie, leaving the shores of
Virginia, sailed for Charleston, where he found orders requiring
him to repair with his army to Camden. On the 19th of December
he began his march, with about fifteen hundred men, to effect
a junction with the army under Cornwallis. This he accomplished
without difficulty. On the 11th of January, Cornwallis advanced
towards North Carolina. Wishing to disperse the force under
General Morgan, who had been manœuvring in the western parts
of the state, he dispatched Colonel Tarleton in pursuit of him.
The splendid victory of the Cowpens checked the ardor of the
pursuers, and revived the drooping spirits of the Americans. The
southern army was, however, unable to face their enemy in the
field; and the movements of Cornwallis indicating a design to
bring Greene to action, compelled the latter to retreat towards
Virginia. This he safely accomplished, notwithstanding the vigorous
pursuit of the British general, who had destroyed his baggage
in order to effect his movements with more celerity. The van of
the British army arrived just after the rear of the American had
passed the Dan, which forms the dividing line between the two
states. The next day General Greene wrote to Mr. Jefferson,
governor of Virginia, and to Baron Steuben, giving information of
his situation, and requesting reinforcements.

"Early in December, 1780, Governor Jefferson received a letter
from General Washington, informing him that preparations were
making by the enemy at New York, for an expedition to the south,
which was probably designed against Virginia. On the 30th,
Brigadier-General Arnold, with near fifty sail of vessels, arrived in
the Chesapeake, and embarking in lighter vessels, proceeded up
James River. On receiving news of this approaching squadron,
Mr. Jefferson dispatched General Nelson to collect and arrange a
force with as much haste as possible, while Baron Steuben, with
about two hundred men, marched to Petersburg. On the 4th of
January, Arnold landed his force, consisting of about nine hundred
men, at Westover, the seat of Mr. Byrd, and marched to Richmond

without opposition. Thus was the metropolis of Virginia exposed
to the insult and depredation of a traitor; her stores and archives
plundered, and her governor compelled to seek security by immediate
flight. From Richmond, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was
dispatched to Westham, where he destroyed the only cannon foundry
in the state. At this place they also destroyed the military
stores, which had, on the alarm caused by Arnold's approach, been
removed from Richmond. After two days spent in pillaging public
and private property, General Arnold returned to Westover, where
on the 10th he re-embarked his men, and descended the river. On
his way he landed detachments at Mackay's mill, and at Smithfield,
where they destroyed some public stores; and on the 20th, arrived
at Portsmouth.

"Major-General Steuben, assisted by General Nelson, having
collected a considerable force, marched in pursuit of Arnold. But
the movements of the latter were too rapid to be interrupted by
the tardy advances of undisciplined militia. They were, however,
able to prevent similar incursions, and by remaining in the vicinity
of Portsmouth, they confined the enemy to their entrenchments.
On hearing of the invasion of Virginia by the traitor Arnold, and
his encampment at Portsmouth, General Washington formed a plan
to cut off his retreat. He intimated to Count Rochambeau and
Admiral D'Estouches, the importance of an immediate movement
of the French fleet to the Chesapeake; and at the same time detached
the Marquis De la Fayette, with twelve hundred men, to
Virginia. The French admiral, not entering fully into the views
of Washington, detached only a small part of his squadron, who,
from their inability to effect the desired purpose, returned to the
fleet at Rhode Island. The situation of Arnold had induced Sir
H. Clinton to detach to his aid Major-General Phillips, to whom
the command of the British forces in Virginia was committed.
The united detachments under Arnold and Phillips formed a body
of about three thousand five hundred men. Being able to act on
the offensive, General Phillips left one thousand men in Portsmouth,
and proceeded with the remainder up James River, for the purpose
of completing the destruction of the internal strength and resources
of the state. Opposite to Williamsburg he landed, and from thence
sent to Yorktown a detachment, who destroyed the naval stores in
that place. Re-embarking, they ascended the river to City Point,
where James River receives the waters of the Appamattox. At
this place Phillips landed, and directed his march to Petersburg,
which stands on the bank of the last-mentioned stream, about
twelve miles from its junction with the former.

"Virginia was at this time in a defenceless situation; all the
regular force of the state was under Greene, in South Carolina,
and her whole reliance was upon militia, of whom about two thousand
were now in the field. This force, half of which was stationed
on each side of James River, was under the command of Baron
Steuben and General Nelson. Steuben directed the southern division,

on whom the defence of Petersburg devolved, and from which
place he was compelled to retreat by the superior force of Phillips.
During his stay in Petersburg, General Phillips destroyed the warehouses,
and spread terror and devastation, the constant attendants
of British invasion, through the town. Leaving Petersburg, he
crossed the Appamattox into Chesterfield, and detaching Arnold to
Osborne's to destroy the tobacco at that place, he proceeded himself
to Chesterfield court-house, where he destroyed the barracks
and stores which had been formed there for the accommodation of
recruits designed for the southern army. The two divisions of the
army uniting again, marched into Manchester, where was renewed
the scene of pillage and devastation transacted in Petersburg and
Chesterfield. The fortunate arrival of the Marquis De la Fayette
at Richmond, with a body of regular troops, saved the metropolis
from a similar fate. From Manchester, General Phillips proceeded
down the river to Bermuda hundred, opposite City Point, where
his fleet remained during his incursion. Here he re-embarked his
troops, and fell down the river, while the marquis followed on the
north side to watch his movements. He soon learned that Phillips,
instead of returning to Portsmouth, had suddenly relanded his
army on the south side of the river, one division at Brandon, and
the other at City Point, and was on his march to Petersburg. It
immediately occurred to the marquis, that a junction with Cornwallis,
who was then approaching Virginia, was the object which
Phillips had in view, and to prevent which he determined to throw
himself, by forced marches, into Petersburg before the arrival of
that general. Phillips, however, reached that place first, and Lafayette
halting, recrossed the river, and posted himself a few
miles below Richmond. The death of General Phillips, soon after
his arrival in Petersburg, devolved the command of the army
again on General Arnold.

"Cornwallis was now on his way to Petersburg, and having
crossed the Roanoke, he detached Colonel Tarleton to secure the
fords of the Meherrin, while Colonel Simcoe, with the rangers, was
sent for the same purpose to the Nottoway. The enemy effected
his passage over these rivers without interruption, and on the 20th
of May entered Petersburg. In addition to this united force, which
seemed fully sufficient to crush every germ of opposition in Virginia,
General Leslie had again made his appearance on the coast,
with a reinforcement of two regiments and two battalions, part
of which was stationed in Portsmouth, under the command of that
officer. The Marquis De la Fayette continued near Richmond,
with a force of about four thousand men, nearly three-fourths of
whom were militia. Steuben, who was on the south side of James
River, proceeding with about six hundred levies to reinforce General
Greene, was suddenly recalled, and ordered to take a position
at the Point of Fork, where were deposited some military stores.
General Weedon was requested to collect a force near Fredericksburg,
for the purpose of protecting an important manufactory of

arms at Falmouth. In addition to these different forces, General
Wayne was on his way to Virginia, with a detachment from the
northern army of about nine hundred men. The strength of the
enemy was, however, too great for any force Virginia could bring
into the field, and her fate, as far as superior numbers and discipline
could influence it, seemed now to be decided.

"Cornwallis, after resting four days in Petersburg, proceeded
down the south side of Appamattox and James rivers, until he
came opposite Westover, where he determined to cross. Lafayette,
informed of the enemy's movement, left his encampment
below Richmond, and retreated behind the Chickahomony River,
keeping the direction towards Fredericksburg. The enemy pursued
him across that stream, anxious to bring him to battle before his
junction with Wayne. Lafayette, however, escaped the impending
blow, and hastening across the Pamunky and Mattapony, the
confluence of whose streams form York River, he endeavored to
gain the road on which Wayne was approaching. The British
commander, failing in his project of bringing the marquis to battle,
thought proper to change his course, and determined to penetrate
with his detachments the interior of the state. Lieutenant-Colonel
Simcoe was directed to attack Baron Steuben at Point of Fork, (a
point of land formed by the junction of the Rivanna and Fluvanna
rivers,) and destroy the stores at that place; while Colonel Tarleton
advanced to Charlottesville, where the General Assembly was
then convened.

"Simcoe succeeded in driving Steuben from his post, and destroying
the magazines under his protection; while Tarleton pushed on
to Charlottesville, eager to add to his numerous exploits the capture
of a corps of republican legislators. His approach, however, was
discovered by the Assembly in time for the members to make their
escape. Mr. Jefferson, the governor, on hearing of their approach,
sought an asylum in the wilds of the mountain adjacent to his
house. After destroying some military stores, which had been
deposited in Charlottesville as a place of safety, Tarleton proceeded
down the Rivanna, towards the Point of Fork, near to which
Cornwallis had arrived with the main body of the army. Uniting
with his army the different detachments, the British commander
marched to Richmond, which he entered on the 16th of June.
Meanwhile Lafayette had formed a junction with Wayne, and
was watching with a cautious eye the movements of the foe.

"After halting a few days in Richmond, Cornwallis resumed his
march towards the coast, and on the 25th of the month arrived in
Williamsburg, while the marquis, with a force of between four
and five thousand men, followed close on his rear. From that place
the British commander detached Colonel Simcoe to the Chickahomony,
for the purpose of destroying some boats and stores on
that river. Colonel Butler, with a detachment from the American
camp, was immediately sent against this party, and a severe conflict
ensued, in which each side claimed the victory. After remaining

about a week in Williamsburg, the British commander prepared
to cross the river, and selected James City island as the most
eligible place to effect a passage. In the mean time, Lafayette
and the intrepid General Wayne pressed close on his rear, with a
view to strike as soon as the enemy should be weakened by the
van having crossed the river. Under a mistaken belief that the
separation of the enemy's force had actually taken place, an attack
was made on the whole strength of the British army drawn up in
order of battle. The approach of night saved the American army,
who effected a retreat after losing, in killed, wounded and prisoners,
upwards of a hundred men. From a belief that a grand attack
was intended on New York by the combined army, Sir H.
Clinton had ordered Cornwallis to take a position near Portsmouth
or Williamsburg, on tide-water, with a view to facilitate the transportation
of his forces to New York, or such aid as might be
deemed necessary. In obedience to this command, Cornwallis
selected York and Gloucester as the most eligible situations, where
he immediately concentrated his army. The bold and discerning
mind of Washington soon formed a plan to strike his lordship while
encamped at York—a plan no less wisely devised than successfully
executed. The arrival of the French fleet in the Chesapeake, at
this juncture, contributed essentially to the completion of his designs.
Count De Grasse, on obtaining intelligence from Lafayette
of the situation of the enemy, immediately detached four ships
of the line to block up York River. Washington, fearful that
Cornwallis might attempt to retreat to the south, sent orders to Lafayette
to take effective measures to prevent his escape; and also
wrote to Mr. Jefferson, who was still governor of Virginia, urging
him to yield every aid which his situation could afford, and which
the importance of the object required. On the 14th of September,
General Washington arrived in Williamsburg, which was now the
head-quarters of Lafayette, and proceeding to Hampton, the plan
of siege was concerted with the Count De Grasse. About the 25th
of the month the troops of the north arrived, and formed a junction
with those under De la Fayette. The whole regular force thus
combined, consisted of about twelve thousand men. In addition to
these, there was a body of Virginia militia under the command of
the brave and patriotic General Nelson. The trenches were
opened by the combined forces on the 6th of October, at the distance
of six hundred yards from the enemy's works. On the 19th
the posts of York and Gloucester were surrendered to the combined
forces of America and France."

The news of the surrender of Cornwallis spread universal joy
throughout the country. The termination of the war was evidently
near,—a war for constitutional liberty. In its trying scenes, Virginia
was among the foremost. When the colonies had gone too
far to allow a hope for an honorable submission, she was the first
to adopt a perfectly independent constitution—the first to recommend
the Declaration of Independence: her great son was the first

among the leaders of the armies of the nation, and her officers and
soldiers, whether in the shock of battle, or marching half-clad, ill-fed,
and barefooted, amid the snows of the north, through pestilential
marshes, and under a burning sun at the far south, evinced a
bravery and fortitude unsurpassed.