 Chapter 9 Part 1 of the Life of Washington, Volume 3 by John Marshall. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 9 Part 1. Transactions in South Carolina and Georgia. Defeated Ferguson. Lord Cornwallis enters North Carolina. Retreats out of that state. Major Wimus. Defeated by Sumter. Green. Appointed to the command of the Southern Army. Arrives in camp. Detaches Morgan over at the Catawba. Battle of the Cowpens. Lord Cornwallis drives Green through North Carolina into Virginia. He retires to Hillsborough. Green recrosses the Dan. Loyalists under Colonel Pyle cut to pieces. Battle of Guilford. Lord Cornwallis retires to Ramsey's Mills. To Wilmington. Green advances to Ramsey's Mills. Determines to enter South Carolina. Lord Cornwallis resolves to march to Virginia. 1780. In the South, Lord Cornwallis, after having nearly demolished the American Army at Camden, found himself under the necessity of suspending for a few weeks. The new career of conquest on which he had intended to enter. His army was enfeeble by sickness as well as by action. The weather was intensely hot and the stores necessary for an expedition into North Carolina had not been brought from the North Carolina. His army was enfeeble by sickness as well as by action. The weather was intensely hot and the stores necessary for an expedition into North Carolina had not been brought from the North Carolina. In addition, a temper so hostile to the British interests had lately appeared in South Carolina as to make it unsafe to withdraw any considerable part of his force from that state until he should subdue the spirit of insurrection against his authority. Exursions were made in other parts of the state, not inferior to those of Sumter in the Northwest. Colonel Marion, who had been compelled by the wounds he received in Charleston to retire into the North Carolina, had not been brought from the North Carolina. In addition, a temper so hostile to the British interests had lately appeared in South Carolina and had not been brought in Charleston to retire into the country, had been promoted by Governor Rutledge to the rank of a Brigadier General. As the Army of Gates approached South Carolina, he had entered the northeastern parts of that state with only sixteen men, had penetrated into the country as far as the Santee and was successfully rousing the well-affected inhabitants to arms when the defeat of the 16th of August chilled the growing spirit of resistance which he had contributed to increase. With the force he had collected about one hundred and fifty continental troops who had been captured at Camden and were on their way to Charleston. Though compelled for a short time to leave the state he soon returned to it, and at the head of a few spirited men made repeated excursions from the swamps and marshes in which he concealed himself and skirmished successfully with the militia who had joined the British standard and the small parties of regulars by whom they were occasionally supported. His talents as a partisan added to his knowledge of the country enabled him to elude every attempt to seize him, and such was his humanity as well as respect for the laws that no violence or outrage was ever attributed to the party under his command. The interval between the victory of the 16th of August and the expedition into North Carolina was employed in Quelling what was termed the spirit of revolt in South Carolina. The efforts of the people to recover their independence were considered as new acts of rebellion and were met with a degree of severity which policy was supposed to dictate but which gave a keener edge to the resentments which civil discord never fails to engender. Several of the most active militia men who had taken protections as British subjects and entered into the British militia having been afterwards found in arms and made prisoners at Camden were executed as traitors. Orders were given to officers commanding a different post to proceed in the same manner against persons of a similar description and these orders were in many instances carried into execution. A proclamation was issued for sequestering the states of all those inhabitants of the province not including the capitulation of Charleston who were in the service or acting under the authority of Congress and of all those who by an open avial of what were termed rebellious principles or by other notorious acts should manifest a wicked and desperate perseverance in opposing the re-establishment of royal authority. While taking these measures to break the spirit of independence Lord Cornwallis was applicable in urging his preparations for the expedition into North Carolina the day after the battle near Camden emissaries have been dispatched into that state for the purpose of inviting the friends of the British government to take up arms. Meanwhile the utmost exertions were continued to embody the people of the country as a British militia and major Ferguson was employed in the district of 96 to train the most loyal inhabitants and to attach them to his own core. After being employed for some time in 96 he was directed to enter the western parts of North Carolina for the purpose of embodying the royalists in that quarter. The route marked out for the main army was from Camden through the settlement of the wax halls to Charlottes town in North Carolina on the 8th of September Lord Cornwallis moved from Camden and reached Charlott late in that month where he expected to be joined by Ferguson but in attempting to meet him Ferguson was arrested by an event as important as it was unexpected. Colonel Clark a refugee from Georgia had formed a plan for the reduction of Augusta which was defended only by a few provincials under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Brown. September about the time Lord Cornwallis commenced his march from Camden Clark advanced against Augusta at the head of a body of irregulars whom he had collected in the frontiers of North and South Carolina and invested that place Brown made a vigorous defense and the approach of Lieutenant Colonel Kruger with a reinforcement from 96 compelled Clark to relinquish the enterprise and to save himself by a rapid retreat. Intelligence of the transactions at Augusta was given to Ferguson who to favor the design of intercepting Clark moved near the mountains and remained longer in that country than had been intended. This delay proved fatal to him. It gave an opportunity to several volunteer corps to unite and to constitute a formidable force. The hearty mountaineers inhabiting the extreme western parts of Virginia and North Carolina assembled on horseback with their rifles under Colonel's Campbell, McDowell, Cleveland, Shelby and Sevier and moved with their accustomed velocity towards Ferguson and receiving notice of their approach that officer commenced his march for Charlotte dispatching at the same time different messengers to Lord Cornwallis with information of his danger these messengers being intercepted no movement was made to favor his retreat when within about 16 miles of Gilbert town where Ferguson was then supposed to lie, Colonel McDowell deputed to Gates with a request that he would appoint a general officer to command them and in the meantime Colonel Campbell of Virginia was chosen for that purpose on reaching Gilbert town and finding that the British had commenced their retreat it was determined to follow them with the utmost celerity at the cow pens this party was joined by Colonel Williams Tracy and Brandon of South Carolina with about 400 men who also gave information respecting the distance and situation of their enemy about 900 choice men were selected by whom the pursuit was continued through the night and through a heavy rain and the next day about three in the afternoon they came within view of Ferguson who finding that he must be overtaken had determined to await the attack on Kings Mountain and was encamped on its summit average five or six hundred and sixty or seventy wide October 7th the Americans who had arranged themselves into three columns the right commended by Colonel Severe and Major Winston the center by Colonel Campbell and Shelby and the left by Colonel Cleveland and Williams immediately rushed to the assault the attack was commenced by the center while the two wings gained the flanks of the British line and in about five minutes the action became general Ferguson made several impetuous charges with the bayonet which against riflemen was fairly successful but before any one of them could completely disperse the corps against which it was directed the heavy and destructive fire of the others who pressed him on all sides called off his attention to other quarters and the broken corps was rallied and brought back to the attack in the course of these successive repulses the right and center had become intermingled and were both by one furious charge of the bayonet driven almost to the foot of the mountain with some difficulty in which the British in turn gave way and were driven along the summit of the ridge on Cleveland and Williams who still maintained their ground on the left defeated Ferguson in this critical state of the action Ferguson received a mortal wound and instantly expired the courage of his party fell with him and quarter was immediately demanded the action continued rather more than an hour in this sharp action 150 of Ferguson's party were killed on the spot and about the same number were wounded 110 of whom 100 were British troops were made prisoners and 1500 stand of excellent arms were taken the Americans fought under cover of trees and their loss was inconsiderable but among the slain was Colonel Williams who was greatly unjustly lamented as cruelty generally begets cruelty the example set by the British encampment was followed and 10 of the most active of the royalists were selected from the prisoners and hung upon the spot the victorious mountaineers having accomplished the assembled returned to their homes Lord Cornwallis retreats out of North Carolina the destruction of this party arrested the progress of Lord Cornwallis in North Carolina and inspired serious fears for the post in his rear he retreated to Winsborough between Camden and 96 where he waited for reinforcements from New York the victory obtained on the 16th of August having suggested views of more extensive conquest in the south Sir Henry Clinton had determined to send a large reinforcement to the Southern Army in the opinion that Lord Cornwallis could meet with no effectual resistance in the Carolinas he had ordered the officer commanding this reinforcement to enter the Chesapeake in the first instance and to take possession of the lower parts of Virginia after which he was to obey the orders he should receive from Lord Cornwallis to whom a copy of his instructions had been forwarded the detachment amounted to near 3,000 men under the command of General Leslie it sailed on the 6th of October James River after a short passage took possession of the country on the south side as high as Suffolk after a short time Leslie drew in his outpost and began to fortify Portsmouth at this place he received orders from Lord Cornwallis to repair to Charleston by water while Cornwallis waited at Winsborough for this reinforcement the light corps of his army were employed in suppressing the parties which were rising in various quarters of the country in opposition to his authority Marion had become so formidable as to endanger the communication between Camden and Charleston Tarleton was detached against him and Marion was under the necessity of concealing himself in the swamps from the unavailing pursuit of him through marshes which were scarcely penetrable Tarleton was called to a different quarter where an enemy supposed to be entirely vanquished had reappeared in considerable force Sumter had again assembled a respectable body of mounted militia at the head of which he advanced towards the post occupied by the British unreceiving intelligence of his approach Earl Cornwallis formed a plan for suppressing him in his camp on Broad River the execution of which was committed to Major Wemmys that officer marched from Winsborough at the head of a regiment of infantry and about 40 dragoons reached the camp of Sumter several hours before day and immediately charged the outpiquet which made but a slight resistance Major Wemmys attacks and is defeated by Sumter only five shots are said to have been fired but from these Wemmys received two dangerous wounds which had disabled him from the performance of his duty the assailants fell into confusion and were repulsed with the loss of their commanding officer and about 20 men after this action Sumter crossed Broad River and having formed a junction with Clark and Brandon threatened 96 Alarmed for the safety of that post Earl Cornwallis recalled Tarleton and ordered him to proceed against Sumter so rapid was his movement that he had nearly gained the rear of his enemy before notice of his return was received in the night preceding the day on which he expected to effect his purpose a deserter apprised Sumter of the approaching danger and that officer began his retreat Tarleton pursuing with his usual rapidity overtook the rear guard at the fort of the Annerie and cut it to pieces after which fearing that Sumter would save himself by passing the Tiger he pressed forward with as he states about 280 cavalry and mounted infantry and in the afternoon came within view of the Americans who were arranged in order for battle Sumter had reached the banks of the Tiger when the firing of his vedettes announced the approach of his enemy he immediately posted his troops to great advantage on a steep eminence having their rear in part of their right flank secured by the river and their left covered by a barn of logs into which a considerable number of his men were thrown Tarleton without waiting for his infantry or for a field piece left with him in his rear rushed to the charge with his usual impetuosity after several ineffectual attempts to dislodge the Americans he retired from the field with great precipitation and disorder leaving 92 dead and 100 wounded after remaining in possession of the ground for a few hours Sumter who was severely wounded in the action crossed the Tiger after which his troops dispersed his loss was only three killed and four wounded abailing himself of the subsequent retreat and dispersion of the American militia Tarleton denominated this severe Czech victory while Congress in a public resolution voted their thanks to General Sumter and the militia he commanded for this and other services which had been previously rendered the shattered remains of the army defeated near Camden had been slowly collected at Hillsborough and great exertions were made to reorganize and reinforce it the whole number of Continental troops in the Southern Army amounted to about 1400 men unreceiving intelligence that Lord Cornwallis had occupied Charlotte Gates detached Smallwood to the Adkin with directions to post himself at the Ford of that river and to take command of all the troops in that quarter of the country the more effectually to harass the enemy a light corps was selected from the army to extend of the command of Morgan now a Brigadier General as Lord Cornwallis retreated Gates advanced to Charlotte Smallwood encamp lower down the Catawba on the road to Camden and Morgan was pushed forward some distance in his front in the expectation that farther active operations would be postponed until the spring Gates intended to pass the winter in this position such was the arrangement of the troops when their general was removed November 5th on the 5th of November in the previous indications of dissatisfaction Congress passed a resolution requiring the commander in chief to order a court of inquiry on the conduct of General Gates as commander of the Southern Army and to appoint some other officer to that command until the inquiry should be made green appointed to the command of the Southern Army Washington without hesitation selected green for that important and difficult service in a letter to Congress recommending him to their support General Green as an officer in whose abilities fortitude and integrity from a long and intimate experience of them he had the most entire confidence to Mr. Matthews a delegate from South Carolina he said you have your wish in the officer appointed to the Southern Command I think I'm giving you a general but what can a general do without men without arms without clothing without stores without provisions about the same time the Legion of Lee was ordered into South Carolina arrives in camp green hastened to the army he was to command and on the 2nd of December reached Charlotte then its headquarters soon after his arrival in camp he was gratified with the intelligence of a small piece of good fortune obtained by the address of Lieutenant Colonel Washington small would having received information that a body of royal militia had entered the country in which he foraged for the purpose of intercepting his wagons detach Morgan and Washington against them intelligence of Morgan's approach being received the party retreated but Colonel Washington being able to move with more celerity than the infantry resolved to make an attempt on another party which was stationed at Rouge Lee's farm within 13 miles of Camden he found them posted in a logged barn strongly secured by an inaccessible to cavalry force being of no avail he resorted to the following strategy having painted the trunk and mounted it on a carriage so as to resemble a field piece he paraded it in front of the enemy and demanded a surrender the whole party consisting of 112 men with Colonel Rouge Lee at their head alarmed at the prospect of a cannonade surrendered themselves prisoners of war detaches Morgan over the Kotaba to narrow the limits of the British army and to encourage the inhabitants green detach Morgan west of the Kotaba with orders to take a position near the confluence of the Pakalat with the broad river his party consisted of rather more than 300 chosen continental troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Howard of Maryland of Washington's regiment of Light Dragoons amounting to about 80 men and of two companies of militia from the northern and western parts of Virginia commanded by captains triplet and Tate which were composed almost entirely of old continental soldiers he was also to be joined on broad river by seven or eight hundred volunteers and militia commanded by General Davidson and by Colonel Clark and few after making this detachment green for the purpose of entering a more plentiful country advance lower down the Padi ending camped on its east side opposite the Cheraw Hills Lord Cornwallis remained at Winsborough preparing to commence active operation so soon as he should be joined by Leslie the position he occupied on the Padi was about 70 miles from Winsborough and towards the north of east from that place the detachment commanded by Morgan had taken post at Grindel's Ford on the Pachelet one of the south forks of broad river not quite 50 miles northwest of Winsborough the active courage of his troops and the enterprising temper of their commander rendered him extremely formidable to the parties of Royal Militia who were embodying in that quarter of the country supposing Morgan to have designs on 96 Lord Cornwallis detached Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton with his legion part of two regiments of infantry and a corps of artillery with two field pieces consisting all together of about 1000 men across the broad river to cover that important post as he lay between green and Morgan he was desirous of preventing their junction end of striking at one of them while unsupported by the other to leave it uncertain against which division his first effort would be directed he ordered Leslie to halt at Camden until the preparations for entering North Carolina should be completed having determined to penetrate into that state by the upper root he put his army in motion and directed his course north westward between the Cotaba and broad rivers Leslie was directed to move up the banks of the former and to join him on the march and Tarleton was ordered to strike at Morgan should that officers gave Tarleton the hope was entertained that he might be intercepted by the main army High waters delayed Cornwallis Leslie longer than had been expected but Tarleton overcame the same obstacles and reached Morgan before a correspondent progress was made by the other divisions 1781 January 14 the combined movements of the British army were communicated to General Morgan on the 14th of January perceiving the insecurity of his own position he retired across the Pakalet the forts over which he was desirous of defending but a passage of that river being affected at a fort about six miles below him he made a precipitate retreating on the evening of the same day his pursuers occupied the camp he had abandoned Morgan retired to the cow pens where he determined to risk a battle 16th it was believed that he might have crossed the broad river or have reached a mountainous country which was also near him before he could have been overtaken and the superiority of his adversary was so decided as to induce his best officers to think that every effort ought to be made to avoid an engagement but Morgan had great and just confidence in himself and in his troops he was unwilling to fly from an enemy not so decidedly his superior as to render it madness to fight him and he also thought that if he should be overtaken while his men were fatigued and retreating the probability of success would be much less than if he should exhibit the appearance of fighting from choice these considerations determined him to halt earlier than was absolutely necessary battle the cow pens Tarleton having left his baggy gender a strong guard with orders not to move until break of day recommends the pursuit at three in the morning before day Morgan was informed of his approach and prepared to receive him although centered by many for having determined to fight and by some for the ground he chose all admit the judgment with which his disposition was made on an eminence in an open wood he drew up his continental troops and triplets core deemed equal to continentals amounting to between four and five hundred men who were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Howard in their rear on the descent of the hill Lieutenant Colonel Washington was posted with his cavalry and a small body of mounted Georgia militia commanded by Major McCall as a corps to reserve on these two corps rested his hopes of victory and with them he remained in person the front line was composed entirely of militia under the command of Colonel Pickens Major McDowell a battalion of North Carolina volunteers a major Cunningham with a battalion of Georgia volunteers were advanced about one hundred and fifty yards in front of this line with orders to give a single fire as the enemy approached and then to fall back into the intervals which were left for them in the center of the first line the militia not being expected to maintain their ground long were ordered to keep up a retreating fire by regiments until they should pass the continental troops on whose right were directed again to form his whole force as stated by himself amounted to only eight hundred men soon after this disposition was made the British van appeared in sight confident of a cheap victory Tarleton formed his line of battle and his troops rushed forward with great impetuosity shouting as they advanced after a single well directed fire McDowell and Cunningham fell back on Colonel Pickens who after a short but warm conflict retreated into the rear of the second line the British press forward with great eagerness and the received by the continental troops with a firmness unimpaired by the route of the front line continued to advance soon after the action with the continental troops had commenced Tarleton ordered up his reserve perceiving that the enemy extended beyond him both on the right and left in that on the right especially his flank was on the point of being turned Howard ordered the company on his right to change its front so as to face the British on that flank and the officer commanding this company it fell back instead of fronting the enemy upon which the rest of the line supposing a change of ground for the whole to have been directed began to retire in perfect order at this moment General Morgan wrote up and directed the infantry to retreat over the summit of the hill about 100 yards through the cavalry this judicious but hazardous movement was made in good order and extricated the flanks from immediate danger believing the fate of the day to be decided the British pressed on with the army starter and in some disorder and when the Americans halted were within 30 yards of them the orders then given by Howard to face the enemy were executed as soon as they were received and the whole line poured in out fire as deadly as it was unexpected some confusion appearing in the ranks of the enemy Howard sees the critical moment and ordered a charge with the bayonet these orders were instantly obeyed and the British line was broken at the same moment the detachment of cavalry on the British side by Washington the militia of Pickens who rode to the ground had tied their horses as in the rear of Howard's left when the front line was broken many of them fled to their horses were closely pursued by the cavalry who while the continental infantry were retiring past their flank and were cutting down the scattered militia in their rear Washington who had previously ordered his men not to fire a pistol now directed them to charge the British cavalry withdrawn swords a sharp conflict but it was not of long duration the British were driven from the ground with considerable slaughter and were closely pursued both Howard and Washington pressed advantage they had respectively gained until the artillery and great part of the infantry had surrendered so sudden was the defeat that a considerable part of the British cavalry had not been brought into action and though retreating remained unbroken Washington followed by Howard with the infantry pursued them rapidly and attacked them with great spirit they were superior to him in numbers his cavalry received a temporary check and in this part of the action he sustained a greater loss than in any other but the infantry coming up to support him Tarleton resumed the retreat in this engagement upwards of 100 British including 10 commissioned officers were killed 29 commissioned officers and 500 privates were made prisoners 800 muskets two field pieces two standards 35 baggage wagons and 100 dragoon horses fell under the hands of the conquerors Tarleton retreated towards the headquarters of Lord Cornwallis then about 25 miles from the cow pens this complete victory cost the Americans less than 80 men in killed and wounded seldom has a battle in which greater numbers were not engaged been so important in its consequences as that of the cow pens Lord Cornwallis was not only deprived of a fifth of his numbers but lost the most powerful and active part of his army unfortunately Green was not in a condition to press the advantage the whole southern army did not much exceed 2,000 men a great part of whom were militia the camp of Lord Cornwallis at Turkey Creek on the east side of Broad River was as near as the cow pens to the forts at which Morgan was to cross the Catawba proceeded the American army through North Carolina into Virginia of consequence that officer had much cost to fear that encumbered as he was with prisoners in military stores he might be intercepted before he could pass that river hinting the full extent of his danger he abandoned the baggage he had taken in leaving his wounded under the protection of a flag detached the militia as an escort to his prisoners and brought up the rear in person with his regulars passing Broad River on the evening of the day on which the battle was fought he hastened to the Catawba which he crossed on the 23rd at Sherrods forward and encamped on its eastern bank January Lord Cornwallis employed the 18th informing a junction with Leslie early next morning his army in motion and on the 25th reached Ramsey's Mills where the roads taken by the two armies unite at this place to accelerate his future movements he destroyed his baggage and after collecting a small supply of provisions resumed the pursuit he reached Sherrods Fort in the afternoon of the 29th and in the night an immense flood of rain rendered the river impassable January 31 while Morgan remained on the Catawba watching the motions of the British army and endeavoring to collect the militia General Green arrived and took command of the detachment in his camp on the Padi opposite the Churrah Hills Green had been joined by Lee's Legion amounting to about 100 cavalry and 120 infantry the day after his arrival he was ordered to join Marion for the purpose of attempting to carry a British post at Georgetown distant about 75 miles from the American army before it was surprised but the success was only partial unreceiving intelligence of the victory of the Calpans Green detached Stevens Brigade of Virginia militia whose terms of service were on the point of expiring to conduct the prisoners to Charlottesville and Virginia and turned his whole attention to the effecting of a junction between the two divisions of his army it was principally with a view to this object that he hastened to the detachment under Morgan leaving the other division to be commanded by General Huger End of Chapter 9 Part 1 Chapter 9 Part 2 of The Life of Washington Volume 3 by John Marshall this LibriVox recording is in the public domain Chapter 9 Part 2 February 1 Early in the morning of the 1st of February Lord Cornwallis forced a passage over the Catawba at a private ford which was defended by General Davidson with about 300 North Carolina militia Davidson was killed and his troops dispersed they were followed by Tarleton who hearing in the pursuit that several bodies of militia were assembling at a tavern about 10 miles from the ford hastened to the place of rendezvous and charging them with his usual impetuosity broke their center killed some and dispersed the whole party it was found impracticable to bring the militia into the field and Huger who had been directed to march to Salisbury was ordered to effect a junction between the two divisions of the army at some place farther north Green retreated along the Salisbury road and in the evening of the 3rd crossed the Yadkin at the trading ford his passage of the river then already much swollen by the rain of the preceding day was facilitated by boats which had been previously collected the rear guard which being impeded by the baggage of the weeks who fled from Salisbury did not cross till midnight was overtaken by the van of the British army and a skirmish ensued in which some loss was sustained but the Americans effected the passage of the river February 3 9th the rains having rendered the Radkin unfortable and the boats being collected on the opposite side the pursuit was necessarily suspended but Green continued his march to Guilford court house where he was joined by Huger after some delay and apparent hesitation respecting his movements Lord Cornwallis marched up the Yadkin which he crossed near its source on the morning of the 8th after the junction between the divisions of Huger and Morgan the infantry of the American army including 600 militia amounted to about 300 units and the cavalry to between 2 and 300 Lord Cornwallis lay 25 miles above them at Salem with an army estimated from 2500 to 3000 men including 300 cavalry having failed in his attempt to prevent the junction of the two divisions of the American army his object was to place himself between Green and Virginia and force that officer to a general action before he could be joined by the reinforcements which were known to him in that state his situation favored the accomplishment of this object Green on the other hand was indefatigable in his exertions to cross the dam without exposing himself to the hazard of a battle to effect this object the whole of his cavalry with the flower of his infantry amounting together to rather more than 700 men were formed into a light core for the purpose of harassing and impeding the advance of the enemy still the less active part of his force with the baggage the military stores should be secured Morgan being rendered incapable of duty by severe indisposition the command of this corps was conferred on colonels Otho and Williams Lord Cornwallis had been informed that it would be impossible to obtain boats at the ferries on the dam in sufficient numbers for the transportation of the American troops before he could overtake them and as the river could not be forwarded he calculated with confidence on succeeding in his object by keeping above green and prevent his reaching those shallow force by which alone it was thought possible to escape into Virginia Dix's ferry is about 50 miles from Guilford courthouse and was almost equidistant from the two armies considerably below and more than 70 miles from Guilford courthouse were two other ferries Boyd's and Irwin's which were only four miles apart directing their march towards the lower and more remote ferries the distance from Lord Cornwallis was so much ground gained and by dispatching an officer with a few men to Dix's the boats at that and that an intermediate ferry might be brought down the river in time to meet the army at the intended crossing place these facts being suggested by Lieutenant Colonel Carrington quarter master general for the southern department the proposition was instantly adopted by the dispatch to bring the boats from above down to Boyd's ferry the next day both armies resumed their line of march while General Green pressed forward to Boyd's Williams gained an immediate road leading to Dix's ferry and thus placed himself between the two armies a small distance in front of the one and considerably in rear of the other such was the boldness and activity of this corps that Lord Cornwallis found it necessary for the eagerness of his pursuit with caution yet he moved with great rapidity marching nearly 30 miles each day on the morning of the third day he attempted to surprise the Americans by marching from the rear of his column into the road which had been taken by then while his van proceeded slowly on its original route information of this movement was received and Lieutenant Colonel Lee charged his advance cavalry with such impetuosity a captain and several privates were made prisoners the whole British army turned into this road and followed in the rear of Williams who used every effort to delay their march February 14 the measures adopted by Green for collecting the boats were successful and on the 14th he affected the passage of his troops and stores when Williams supposed that the American army had reached the dam he left the road leading to Dix's ferry when Green had taken urged his march to the lower ferries with the utmost celerity Lord Cornwallis being at length informed that Green had taken the lower road turned into it about the same time by a nearer way and his front was inside of the rear of Williams so rapid were the movements of both armies that in the last 24 hours the Americans marched 40 miles and the rear has scarcely touched the northern bank when the van of the enemy appeared on the opposite shore that General Green was able to affect this retreat without loss evidences the judgment with which he improved every favorable circumstance the exertions the fatigues, the sufferings and the patience of both armies during this long, toilsome and rapid pursuit were extreme without tents, without spirits often without provisions and always scantily supplied with them through deep and frozen roads high waters and frequent rains the severe duties assigned to it the difference between them consists only in this the British troops were well clothed the Americans were almost naked and many of them barefooted great praise was bestowed by the general on his whole army but the exertions of Colonel Williams and of Lieutenant Colonel Carrington were particularly noticed although that part of North Carolina through which the armies had passed was well affected to the American cause such was the rapidity with which they moved the terror inspired by the presence of the enemy that no aid was drawn from the militia indeed those who had joined the army from the more remote parts of the country could not be retained and when it reached the dam the militia attached to it did not exceed 80 men having driven Green out of North Carolina Lord Cornwallis turned his attention to the re-establishment of regal authority in that state Lord Cornwallis retires to Hillsborough for this purpose he proceeded by easy marches to Hillsborough at that time its capital where he erected the royal standard and issued a proclamation inviting the inhabitants to repair to it and to assist him in restoring the ancient government as soon as it was known that General Green had entered Virginia he was reinforced by 600 militia drawn from the neighboring counties the command of which was given to General Stevens apprehension that Lord Cornwallis if left in the undisturbed possession of North Carolina would succeed to the extent of his hopes in recruiting his army and procuring the submission of the people General Green determined on receiving this small reinforcement to re-enter that state and avoiding a general engagement to keep the field against the superior enemy who had demonstrated his capacity for rapid movement and hardy enterprise February Green re-crosses the dam on the 18th while Lord Cornwallis remained on the opposite shore the legion of Lee had passed the dam on the 21st the light infantry also re-crossed it and on the 23rd they were followed by the main body of the army the light infantry hung around the quarters of the enemy while the main body advanced slowly keeping in view the roads to the western parts of the country from which a considerable reinforcement of militia was expected General Green was not mistaken by the consequences of leaving Lord Cornwallis in the peaceable possession of North Carolina he was informed that seven independent companies were raised in one day a large body of royalists had begun to embody themselves on the branches of the Hall River and Colonel Tarleton with the cavalry of his legion and some infantry was detached from Hillsborough to favor their rising and to conduct them to the British army Intelligence of the movements of the loyalists and of Tarleton being received Green ordered Lieutenant Colonel Lee with the cavalry of his legion and General Pickens with between three and four hundred militia who had just formed a junction near Hillsborough to move against both parties in a long lane Lee whose cavalry was in front of the whole detachment came up with the royalists he was mistaken by them for Tarleton whom they had not yet seen to whose encampment they were proceeding and whose corps was then taking refreshment distant from them perceiving their mistake Lee received their expressions of joy and attachment and had just reached their colonel to whom he was about to make communications which might have enabled him to proceed on his design of surprising Tarleton when the infantry who followed close in his rear were recognized by the insurgents and the firing took place between them party of loyalists commanded by Colonel Pyle cut to pieces it being apparent that the circumstance must give the alarm to the British Lee changed his plan and turning on the royalists who still supposed him to be a British officer cut them to pieces while they were making protestations of loyalty and asserting that they were the very best friends of the king more than one hundred among whom was Colonel Pyle their leader fell under the swords of his cavalry this terrible but unavoidable carnage broke in a great measure the spirits of the Tories in that part of the country some who were on their march during the British standard returned determined to await the issue of events before they went too far to recede the hope of surprising Tarleton being thus disappointed Pickens and Lee determined to postpone the attack till the morning and took a position for the night between him and a corps of militia which was advancing from the western counties of Virginia under Colonel Preston Tarleton had meditated an attempt on this corps but at midnight during this design he received an express from Lord Cornwallis directing his immediate return to the army in obedience to this order he began his retreat long before day and crossed the hall just as the Americans who followed him appeared on the opposite bank two pieces of artillery commanded the fort and stopped the pursuit to approach more nearly the great body of the loyalists who were settled between hall and deep rivers and to take a position in a country less exhausted than that around Hillsborough Lord Cornwallis crossed the hall and encamped on Alamance Creek as the British army retired General Green advanced not being yet in a condition to hazard an engagement he changed his ground every night in the course of the critical movements which were made in order to avoid inaction and at the same time to overall the loyalists and maintain a position favorable to a junction with the several detachment who were marching from different quarters to his assistance he derived immense service from a bold and active light infantry and from a cavalry which though inferior in numbers was rendered superior in effect to that of his enemy by being much better mounted they often attacked boldly and successfully and made sudden incursions into the country which so intimidated the royalists that Lord Cornwallis found it difficult to obtain intelligence by these means all his attempts to bring the American general to action were frustrated and his lordship was under the necessity of keeping his men close in their quarters during this hazardous trial of skill Lord Cornwallis moved out in full force towards Rudy Fork where the night infantry lay in the hope of surprising that corps under cover of a thick fog and probably with ulterior views against Emma Green his approach was perceived in a sharp skirmish ensued between a part of the light infantry and a much superior body of British troops commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Webster in which the loss was supposed to be nearly equal the advance of the British army obliged Williams to retire and General Green by re-crossing the hall and uniting with the light infantry on his northeastern bank at the Rocky Fort disappointed in the further designs which might have been formed against the army then under his command or against the reinforcements which were approaching being thus foiled Lord Cornwallis withdrew to deep river and General Green fell back to the iron works on troublesome creek at length his reinforcements so much inferior to the number he had been taught to expect were received and Green in his turn sought a battle with his view he dissolved the corps of light infantry advanced towards his enemy and encamped within eight miles from him at Guilford courthouse his army including officers amounted to about 4,500 men of whom not quite 2,000 were continental troops and the residue consisted of Virginia and North Carolina militia those of Virginia were commanded General Stevens and Lawson and by colonels Preston, Campbell and Lynch and those of North Carolina by Generals Butler and Eden of the four regiments which composed the continental infantry only one the first of Maryland was veteran the other three consisted of new levies with a few old continental soldiers interspersed among them the Legion of Lee and the Cavalry of Washington like the first regiment of Maryland added every advantage of experience to approved courage and nearly all the officers commanding the new levies were veteran March 15 having determined to risk an action Green chose his ground with judgment early in the morning of the 15th the fire of his reconordering parties announced the approach of the enemy on the Great Salisbury Road and his army was immediately arranged in order of battle Battle of Guilford it was drawn up in three lines on a large hill surrounded by other hills chiefly covered with trees and underwood the front line was composed of the two brigades of Malaysia who were posted to great advantage on the edge of the wood behind a strong rail fence with an extensive open field in front the two brigades of Virginia militia formed the second line they were drawn up entirely in the wood about 300 yards in rear of the first and on either side of the Great Salisbury Road the third line was placed about 300 yards in rear of the second and was composed of continental troops the Virginia Brigade commanded by General Huger was on the right that of Williams was on the left they were drawn up obliquely with their left diverging from the second line and partly in open ground the first and third regiments of Dragoons amounting to 102 troopers Kirkwood's company of light infantry and a regiment of militia riflemen under Colonel Lynch formed a corps of observation for the security of the right flank which was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Washington the legion consisting of 168 horse and foot and a body of riflemen Colonel's Campbell and Preston formed a corps of observation for the security of the left flank which was placed under Lieutenant Colonel Lee the artillery was in the front line in the great road leading through the center with directions to fall back as the occasion should require the Lord Cornwallis was sensible that the numbers of the American army were greatly augmented by troops whose continuance in service would be of short duration he deemed it so important to the interests of his sovereign to maintain the appearance of superiority in the field that he was unwilling to decline the engagement now offered him March 14, 15 on the advance of green therefore he prepared for action and early in the morning moving from his ground determined to attack the adverse army wherever it should be found about four miles from Guilford courthouse the advance led by Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton fell in with Lee and a sharp skirmish ensued which was terminated by the appearance of such large bodies of British troops and under the prudent for Lee to retire his lordship continued to advance until he came within view of the American army his disposition for the attack was then made in the following order the 71st British regiment with the German regiment of bows led by General Leslie and supported by the 1st battalion of the guards under Colonel Norton formed the right and the 23rd and 33rd regiments led by Lieutenant Colonel Webster and supported by Brigadier General O'Hara with the grenadiers and 2nd battalion of the guards formed the left the light infantry of the guards and the Yeagers posted in the wood on the left of the artillery and the cavalry and column behind it in the road formed the core of observation this disposition being made the British troops advance to the charge with the cool intrepidity which discipline inspires the North Carolina Militia were not encouraged by the great advantages of their position to await the shock they broke instantly and throwing away their arms and flying through the woods soft the British then advanced on the second line which received them with more firmness and maintained their ground for some time with great resolution Lord Cornwallis perceiving the core on his flanks brought the whole of his reserve infantry into the line on the right General Leslie brought up the guards too opposely and on the left Webster changed his front to the left and attacked Washington while the grenadiers and 2nd battalion of guards moved forward to occupy the place which he had just quitted the ground being unfavorable to the action of horse Washington had posted Lynch's rifleman with whom he remained in person on a height covered with thick woods and had drawn up his cavalry and continental infantry about 100 yards in their rear on being attacked by Webster the rifleman broke and Washington finding it impossible to rally them rejoined his cavalry the British continuing to advance and it being well understood that the militia could not stand the bayonet general Stevens who had received a ball in his right to retreat Lawson's brigade having given way a short time before the 2nd line was entirely routed and the enemy advanced boldly on the 3rd the several divisions of the British army had been separated from each other by extending themselves to the right and left in order to encounter the distinct core which spread their flanks and by advancing regiments at different times as the different parts of the 2nd line had given way the thickness of the wood increased the difficulty of restoring order they pressed forward with great eagerness and with considerable degree of irregularity green in the state of the action entertained the most sanguine hopes of a complete victory his continental troops refreshed in perfect order and upon the point of engaging an enemy broken into distinct parts and probably supposing the severity of the action to be over this fair prospect was blasted by the misconduct of a single core the 2nd regiment of Maryland was posted at some distance from the 1st and open ground its left forming almost a right angle line so as to present a front to any core which might attack on that flank the British in advancing inclined to the right and the 2nd battalion of guards entered the open ground immediately after the retreat of Stevens and rushed on the 2nd regiment of a Maryland while the 1st was engaged with Webster without waiting to receive the charge that regiment broke in confusion by pursuing them the guards were thrown into the rear of the 1st regiment from which they were concealed by the unevenness of the ground by a skirt of wood Green was himself on the left and witnessed the misfortune without being able to remedy it his militia being entirely routed the flight of one-fourth of his continental troops would most probably decide the fate of the day unwilling to risk his remaining three regiments only one of which could be safely relied on without a man to cover their retreat should the event prove unfortunate he ordered Colonel Green of Virginia to withdraw his regiment from the line and to take a position in the rear for the purpose of affording a rallying point and of covering the regiments which still continued in the field the guards were soon called from the pursuit of the 2nd Maryland regiment and led by Lieutenant Colonel Stewart against the 1st about this time Webster finding himself overpowered by the 1st Maryland regiment then commanded by Colonel Gunby and by Kirkwood's company and the remaining regiment of Virginia with whom he was engaged at the same time had him a great measure withdrawn from the action and retired across the ravine into an adjoining wood this critical respite enabled to provide for the danger in his rear facing about he met the guards and a very animated fire took place on both sides during which the Americans continued to advance in this critical moment Lieutenant Colonel Washington who was drawn to this part of the field by the vivacity of the fire made a furious charge upon the guards and broke their ranks at this juncture Gunby's horse was killed under him and the command devolved on Lieutenant Colonel Howard the regiment advanced with such rapidity as within 30 yards of the guards when they were charged by the cavalry almost at the same instant the Maryland infantry rushed upon them with the bayonet and following the horse through them were masters of the whole battalion and passing through it Captain Smith of the infantry killed its commanding officer after passing through the guards into the open ground where the 2nd regiment had been originally posted Howard perceived several British columns with some pieces of artillery believing his regiment to be the sole infantry retreated in good order and brought off some prisoners the cavalry also retreated about the same time the remaining Virginia regiment commanded by Colonel Hawes and Kirkwood's infantry who were still engaged with Webster were directed by General Greene to retreat the artillery was unavoidably abandoned the horses which drew the pieces being killed and the woods too thick to admit of there being dragged elsewhere then along the great road the retreat was made in good order and Greene in person brought up the rear on the right and center Campbell's rifleman still maintained their ground on the extreme of the American left against General Leslie with the regiment of Bowes and the first battalion of guards after the guards had routed the brigade commanded by Lawson they were attacked on that right flank by the infantry of Lee's religion and by Campbell's rifleman and were driven behind the regiment of Bowes which having moved with less impetuosity was advancing in compact order this regiment sustained the American fire until Lieutenant Colonel Norton was able to rally the guards and to bring them back to the charge after which the action was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides until the battle was decided on the right Lieutenant Colonel Tarleton was then ordered to the support of Leslie the Legion infantry had retreated and only a few resolute marksman remained in the rear of Campbell who continued firing from tree to tree being unable to resist a charge of cavalry they were quickly driven from the field two regiments of infantry and a detachment of cavalry pursued for a short distance but were soon ordered to return on examining his situation Lord Cornwallis found himself too much weakened and his troops too much fatigued by the action to hazard its renewal or to continue the pursuit General Green halted about three miles from the field of battle behind Rudy Fort Creek for the purpose of collecting his stragglers after which he retired about 12 miles to the Iron Works on Troublesome Creek the place appointed for the rendezvous of his army in the event of its being defeated the returns made immediately after the action exhibited a loss and killed wounded and missing in the Continental troops of 14 commissioned officers and 312 non-commissioned officers and privates Major Anderson a valuable officer of Maryland was killed and General Heager the commander of the Continental troops of Virginia was wounded the same return states the loss of the militia at four captains and 17 privates killed and in addition to General Stevens one major three captains eight subalterns the privates were wounded a great proportion of this part of the army was missing but it seems to have been expected that they would either rejoin their corps or be found at their homes the victory of Guilford was dilly purchased official accounts state the loss of the British army of 532 men among whom were several officers of high rank and distinguished merit Lieutenant Colonel Stewart of the Guards was killed and Lieutenant Colonel Webb who was ranked by his enemies among the best officers in the British service and compared with the numbers brought by Lord Cornwallis into the field was very considerable the Americans did not compute his troops at more than 2,000 rank and followed his own account state then at only 1,445 no battle in the course of the war reflects more honor on the courage of the British troops than that of Guilford on no other occasion have they fought with such inferiority of numbers or disadvantage of ground estimating his first line at nothing General Green's army consisted of 3,200 men of ground chosen by himself and his disposition was skillfully made the American general expecting to begin attack prepared for another engagement but the situation of Lord Cornwallis had become too desperate to hazard a second battle or to maintain his position he found himself under the necessity of retreating to a place of greater security where provisions might be obtained when the expedition into North Carolina was originally meditated Major Craig at the head of a small military took possession of Wilmington a town near the mouth of Cape Fear and extended his authority several miles up the river Lord Cornwallis now looked to a communication with his post for aids which had become indispensable to the further operations of the campaign on the third day after the battle he broke up his encampment and proceeded by slow and easy marches towards Cross Creek Green advances to Ramsey Mills with a determination to enter South Carolina General Green on hearing that the British army resolved to follow it the difficulty of subsisting the troops in an exhausted and hostile country and the necessity of waiting for a supply of ammunition impeded the march of his army so much that he did not reach Ramsey's Mills until the 28th of March at this place Lord Cornwallis had halted and here General Green expected to overtake and attack him but on the approach of the American army his lordship resumed his march to Cross Creek and afterwards to Wilmington where he arrived on the 7th of April General Green gave over the pursuit at Ramsey's Mills so excessive have been the sufferings of his army from the want of provisions that many of the men fainted on the march and it had become absolutely necessary to allow them some repose and refreshment the expiration of the time for which the Virginia militia have been called into service furnished an additional motive for suspending the pursuit at this place the bold and happy resolution was taken to carry the war into South Carolina the motives which induced the adoption of this measure were stated by himself in a letter communicating his determination to the commander-in-chief it would compel Lord Cornwallis to follow him and thus liberate North Carolina or to sacrifice all his posts in the upper parts of South Carolina and Georgia the southern army amounted to about 1700 effectives that of Lord Cornwallis is understood to have been still less numerous so impotent were the means employed by the conquest and defense of states which were of immense extent and value this unexpected movement gave a new aspect to affairs and produced some resolution in the British general respecting his future operations after weighing the probable advantages and disadvantages of following Green into South Carolina he decided against this retrograde movement and determined to advance into Virginia end of chapter 9 part 2 chapter 10 part 1 of the life of Washington volume 3 by John Marshall this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 10 part 1 Virginia invaded by Arnold he destroys the stores at Westham and at Richmond retires to Portsmouth mutiny in the Pennsylvania line Sir H. Clinton attempts to negotiate with the mutineers they compromise with the civil government mutiny in the Jersey line mission of Colonel Lawrence to France propositions to Spain recommendations relative to a duty on imported and prized goods reform in the executive departments confederation adopted military transactions Lafayette detached to Virginia Cornwallis arrives presses Lafayette expedition to Charlottesville to the point of fork Lafayette forms a juncture with Wayne Cornwallis retires to the lower country General Washington's letters are intercepted action near Jamestown 1781 the evacuation of Portsmouth by Leslie afforded Virginia but a short interval of repose so early as the 9th of December 1780 a letter from General Washington announced to the governor that a large embarkation for the South was about taking place at New York on the 30th the fleet of transports under convoy having on board between one and two thousand men commanded by General Arnold anchored in Hampton Road Virginia invaded by Arnold the troops were embarked the next day on board vessels adapted to the navigation and proceeded up James River under convoy of two small ships of war on the 4th of January they reached West over which is distant about 25 miles from Richmond the capital of Virginia January 2 on receiving intelligence that a fleet had entered the capes, General Nelson was employed in raising the militia of the lower country and on the 2nd of January orders were issued to call out those above the metropolis and in its neighborhood on reaching West over Arnold landed with a greater part of his army and commenced his march towards Richmond the few continental troops at Petersburg were directed to the capital and between one and two hundred militia had been collected from the town and its immediate vicinity were directed to harass the advancing enemy this party was too feeble for its object and the day after landing at West over Arnold entered Richmond where he halted with about 500 men the residue amounting to about 400 including 30 horse proceeded under Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe to Westem where they burnt the valuable foundry mill, powder magazine and other smaller buildings with military stores to a considerable amount and many valuable papers belonging to the government which had been carried thither as to a place of safety he destroys valuable stores at Richmond this service being affected Lieutenant Colonel Simcoe rejoined Arnold at Richmond where the public stores and a large quantity of ROM and salt the property of private individuals were entirely destroyed January leaving Richmond the next day the army returned to West over on the 7 and re-embarking on that morning of the 10th proceeded down the river it was followed by the Baron Steuben who commanded in Virginia and near hoods Colonel Clark drew a party of them into an ambush squad and gave them one fire with some effect but on its being partially returned the Americans broke and fled in the utmost confusion Arnold proceeded slowly down the river and on the 20th reached Portsmouth where he manifested the intention of launching a permanent post the loss of the British in this expedition was stated in the Gazette of New York at seven killed including one subaltern and 23 wounded among whom was one captain this small loss was sustained almost entirely in the ambush squad near hoods in the north the year commenced with an event which for a time threatened the American cause with total ruin the accumulated sufferings and privations of the army constitute a large and interesting part of the history of that war which gave independence to the United States winter without much lessening their toils added to those sufferings the soldiers were perpetually on the point of starving were often entirely without food were exposed without proper clothing to the rigors of the season and now served almost 12 months without pay this state of things have been of such long continuance that scarcely the hope of change could be indulged it produced unavoidably some relaxation of discipline and the murmurs occasionally escaping the officers sometimes heard by the soldiers were not without their influence in addition to the general causes of dissatisfaction the Pennsylvania line complained of grievance almost peculiar to itself when Congress directed enlistments to be made for three years or during the war the recruiting officers of Pennsylvania in some instances instead of engaging their men definitively for the one period of the other engage them generally for three years or the war this committee in the terms of enlistment produced its natural effect the soldier claimed his discharge of the expiration of three years and the officer insisted on retaining him in service during the war the soldiers submitted with the more reluctance to the supposed imposition as he constantly witnessed the immense bounties given to those who were not bound by a former enlistment mutiny in the Pennsylvania line the discontents which these various causes have been long fomenting broke out on the night of the 1st of in an open and almost universal revolt of the line on a signal given the great body of the non commissioned officers and privates paraded under arms of our the determination to march to the seat of Congress and either obtain redress of their complicated grievances or serve no longer in the attempt to suppress the mutiny six or seven of the mutineers were wounded on the one side and on the other captain billing was killed and several other officers were dangerously wounded the authority of general Wayne availed him on cocking his pistol and threatening some of the most turbulent the bayonet was presented to his bosom and he perceived that strong measures were produced his own destruction and perhaps the massacre of every officer in camp a few regiments who did not at first join the mutineers were paraded by their officers but had they even been willing to proceed to extremities they were not strong enough to restore order infected quickly with the general contagion or intimidated by the threats of the mutineers they joined their comrades and the whole body consisting of about thirteen hundred men with six field pieces marched under the command of their sergeants towards Princeton the next day general Wayne accompanied by colonels butler and steward officers possessing in a high degree the affections of the soldiery followed them in the hope of bringing them back to their duty or at least of dividing them they were overtaken near a broken invited by a written message from general Wayne to appoint one man from each regiment to state the grievances of which they were complained in consequence of this invitation a sergeant from each regiment met the officers at their quarters and some verbal communications were made from the complexion of which sanguine hopes were entertained that the affair might be terminated without further hazard or much injury to the service on the following day the line of march was resumed and the soldiers proceeded to Princeton the propositions of the general and field officers were reported to them and the committee of sergeants to whom were stated their claims these were first a discharge for all those who had served three years under their original engagements whatever those engagements might have been and who had not taken the increased bounty and re-enlisted for the war second an immediate payment of all their arrears of pay and clothing as well to those who should be discharged as to those who should continue in service third the residue of their bounty and future real pay to those who should continue in the army general wane being unwilling to discharge all those who had not re-enlisted for the war the subject was referred to the civil power on receiving intelligence of the mutiny congress appointed a committee to confer with the executive of pennsylvania respecting it the result of this conference was that both the committee and the governor was some members of the executive council left philadelphia for the purpose of endeavoring to accommodate this dangerous commotion at his headquarters at new Windsor on the north river general and received intelligence of this alarming mutiny accustomed as he had been to contemplate hazardous and difficult situations it was not easy under existing circumstances to resolve instantly on the course it was most prudent to pursue his first impression to repair to the camp of the mutineers soon gave place to opinions which were formed on more mature reflection it was almost certain that the business was already in the hands of the civil government with his arrangements it might be a proper for him to interfere independent of this consideration other motives of irresistible influence detained him on the north river the most important among those subjects of complaint which were alleged as the causes of the mutiny were true in fact were common to the whole army and were of a nature to disseminate to generally those seeds of disquiet which had attained their full growth and maturity in the pennsylvania line strong symptoms of discontent had already been manifested and it was therefore the evidence how far the same temper existed among the other troops and how far the contagion of example had or would spread the danger arising from this state of things was much increased by the circumstance that the river was perfectly open and afforded Sir Henry Clinton and easy and rapid transportation for his army to west point should the situation of its garrison invite an enterprise against that pose it was an additional consideration of great weight that it might have a most pernicious on the discipline of the whole army should the authority of the commander in chief be disregarded he ought not to place himself in a situation where his orders might be disobeyed with impunity and it had much to be apprehended should he repair it to the camp of the mutineers unattended by military force adequate to the occasion such a force could not be immediately commanded his effectives in the highlands amounted only to thirteen hundred and seventy six men and that whole division of the army dispersed the various and distant stations excluding those on furlough did not exceed four thousand assuming therefore the fidelity the troops it was impracticable to march immediately with a force of vision to reduce the Pennsylvania line without leaving the highlands undefended no was it unworthy of consideration that in the actual situation of the mutineers the probability of their being attacked by such a force might drive them to the enemy or disperse them events either of which would deprive the army of a valuable part of its string it was thought advisable to leave the negotiation with the civil power and to prepare for those measures without to be adapted in the event of its failure the disposition of the troops on the north river was sounded and found to be favorable after which a detachment of eleven hundred men was ordered to be in readiness to move on a moments morning on the first notice of the mutiny the militia of Jersey took the field under general Dickinson and measures were taken to call out those of New York should the occasion require it and attempts to negotiate with the mutineers to avail himself of an event appearing so auspicious to the royal cause Sir Henry Clinton ordered a large body of troops to be in readiness to move on the shortest notice and dispatch three emissaries with tempting offers to the revoltors and instructions to invite them while the negotiation should be depending to take a position behind the south river where they should be effectively covered by detachments from New York while these measures were taking Sir Henry kept alive on West Point and held himself in readiness to strike at that place should any movement on the part of general Washington open to him a prospect of success his emissaries were immediately seized by the revoltors and their proposals communicated to general Wayne with assurances of the other detestation in which every idea of going over to the common enemy was held this favorable symptom however was accompanied by suspicious circumstances they retained the British emissaries were not being induced to cross the Delaware or to march from Princeton they would not permit any of their former officers other than those already mentioned to enter their camp in general St. Clair the Marquis de Lafayette and Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence were ordered to leave Princeton such was the state of things when the committee of Congress and president Reed with a part of his executive council arrived in the neighborhood of the revoltors the former having delegated their power to the latter a conference was held and the proposals were made and distributed among the troops for consideration in these proposals the government offered first to discharge all those who had enlisted indefinitely for three years or during the war the fact to be examined into by three commissioners to be appointed by the executive and to be ascertained when the original enlistment could not be produced by the oath of the soldier secondly to give immediate certificates for the depreciation on their pay and to settle the arerages thirdly to furnish them immediately with certain specified articles according which were most wanted they compromised with the civil authority on receiving these propositions the troops agreed to march to Trenton at that place the terms were accepted with the addition that three commissioners should also be deputed by the line who can jointly with those of the executive should constitute the board authorized to determine on the claims of the soldiers to be discharged and there upon the British emissaries were surrendered by the spies until the investigation should be made and discharged as given to those who should be found entitled to them the sergeants retained their command in consequence of the irksomeness of this state of things the business was pressed with so much precipitation that before the enlistments themselves could be brought from the huts almost the whole of the artillery and of the five first regiments of infantry were liberated on the testimony of their own oaths the enlistments being then produced regiments had engaged on the terms which under the compact would entitle them to leave the service and that of those actually dismissed for the greater number had been enlisted absolutely for the war the discharges given however were not cancelled and the few who were to remain in service received furloughs for 40 days thus ended in a temporary dissolution of the whole line of Pennsylvania mutiny which a voluntary performance of much less than was extorted would have prevented and which in the condition of the army was of that nature and extend to inspire the most serious along the dangerous policy of yielding even to the just demands of soldiers made with arms in their hands was soon illustrated mutiny in the Jersey line the success of the Pennsylvania line inspired that of Jersey many of whom were also foreigners with the hope of obtaining similar advantages on the night of the 20th a part of the Jersey brigade which had been stationed at Pompton Rose and Arms and making precisely the same claims which had been yielded to the Pennsylvanians March to Chatham where part of the same brigade was cantoned in the hope of exciting them also to join in the revolt General Washington who had been extremely she granted the issue of the mutiny in the Pennsylvania line and it was now assured of the confidence to be placed in the fidelity of the Eastern troops who were composed of natives determined by strong measures to stop the father progress of a spirit which threatened the destruction of the army in order to suppress the mutiners and to bring them to unconditional submission General Howe who commanded this detachment was instructed to make no terms with the insurgents while in a state of resistance and as soon as they should surrender to seize a few of the most active leaders and to execute them on the spot these orders were promptly obeyed and the Jersey mutiny has returned to their duty in the hope of being more successful with the revoltors of Jersey then he had been with those of Pennsylvania Sir Henry Clinton offered them the same terms mutiners at Princeton and General Robertson at the head of 3,000 men was detached to Staten Island with the about purpose of crossing over into Jersey and covering any movement which they might make towards New York the emissary being in the American instance delivered his papers to the officer commanding at the first station to which he came other papers were dispersed among the mutiners but the mutiny was crushed too suddenly to allow time for the operation of these propositions the vigorous measures taken in this instance were happily followed by such an attention on the part of the states to the actual situation of the army as checked the progress of discontent influenced by the representations of the commander-in-chief they raised three months pay in specie which they forwarded to the soldiers who received it with joy considering it as evidence that their fellow citizens were not entirely unmindful of their sufferings although the army was thus reduced to such extreme distress the discontents of the people were daily multiplied which they were required to make and by the irritating manner in which those contributions were drawn from them every article for public use was obtained by impressmen and the taxes were either unpaid or collected by coercive means strong remonstraces were made against the system and the dissatisfaction which pervaded the mass of the community was scarcely less dangerous than that which have been manifested by the army to the judicious patriots throughout America the necessity of giving greater powers to the federal government became every day more apparent but the efforts of enlightened individuals were too feeble to correct that fatal disposition of power which have been made by enthusiasm and uninstructed by experience to relieve the United States from their complicated embarrassments a foreign loan seemed inexpedient of indispensable necessity and from France they hoped to obtain it mission of Colonel Lawrence France Congress selected Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence a gentleman whose situation in the family of the commander-in-chief to take a comprehensive view of the military capacities and weaknesses of his country for this interesting service and instructed him also to urge the advantage of maintaining a naval superiority in the American seas before his departure he passed some days of headquarters and received from General Washington in the form of a letter the result of his reflections on the existing state of things in this paper he detailed the pecuniary embarrassments of the government and represented with great respect the inability of the nation to furnish a revenue adequate to the support of the war he dwelt on the discontents which the system of imprisonment had excited among the people and expressed his fears that the evils felt in the prosecution of the war might weaken the sentiments which began it from the state of things he deduced the vital importance of an immediate and ample supply of money which might be the foundation for substantial arrangements of finance for reviving public credit giving vigor to future operations as well as a decided effort of the allied arms on the continent to effect the great objects of the alliance in the ensuing campaign next to a supplied money he considered a naval superiority in the American seas as an object of the deepest interest to the United States it would be of decisive importance and France also might derive great advantages from transferring the maritime war to the coast of her ally the future ability of the United States to repay any loan which might now be obtained was displayed and he concluded with references that there was still a fund of inclination and resource in the country equal to great and continued exertions provided the means were afforded of stopping the progress of disgust by changing the present system and adopting another more consonant with the spirit of the nation and more capable of infusing activity and energy into public measures of which a powerful soccer and money must be the basis the people were discontented but it was with the feeble and oppressive mode of conducting the war not with the war itself thus urge on the cabinet of their side the policy of advancing a sum of money to the United States which might be adequate to the exigency deep was the gloom with which their political horizon was overcast the British and possession of South Carolina and of Georgia had overrun the greater part of North Carolina also and it was with equal hazard and address that green maintained himself in the northern frontier of that state a second detachment from New York was making a deep impression on Virginia where the resistance have been so prompt nor so vigorous as the strength of that state and the unanimity of its citizens had given reason to expect the perplexities and difficulties in which the affairs of America were involved were estimated by the British government even above their real value intercepted letters of the state from the minister express the most sanguine hopes that the great superiority of force at the disposal of Sir Henry Clinton would compel Washington with his feeble army to take refuge on the eastern side of the Hudson even Congress to relax for an instant from its habitual firmness and receding from that decisive manner in which that body had insisted on that territorial and maritime rights of the nation directed the American minister at Madrid to relinquish if it should be absolutely necessary the claims of the United States to navigate the Mississippi below the 31st degree of North latitude and to a free port on the banks of that river within the Spanish territory it is remarkable that only Massachusetts Connecticut Carolina dissented from this resolution New York was divided propositions to Spain on a subsequent day the subject was again brought forward and a proposition was made for a still farther concessions to Spain but this proposition was negative by all the states happily for the United States Mr. J their minister at the court of Madrid required at the price of the concessions he was instructed to make that the treaty he was laboring to negotiate should be immediately concluded the establishment of a revenue subject to the exclusive control and direction of the continental government was connected in separately with the restoration of credit the efforts therefore to negotiate a foreign loan were accompanied by resolutions requesting the respective states to place a fund under the control of congress which should be both permanent and productive recommendations relative to a duty on imported and prize goods a resolution was passed recommending to the respective states to vest a power in congress to levy for the use of the states a duty of five percent and while arm on all goods imported into any of them and also on all prizes condemned in any of the american courts of admiralty this fund was to be appropriated to the payment of both the principal and interest of all debts contracted in the prosecution of the war and was to continue until those debt should be completely discharged congress at that time contained several members who perceive the advantages which would result from bestowing on the government of the nation the regulating commerce and consequently of increasing the import as circumstances might render advisable but state influence predominated and they were overruled by great majorities even the inadequate plan which they did recommend was never adopted now withstanding the greatness of the exigency and the pressure of the national wants never during the existence of the confederation that all the states unite in assenting to this recommendation so unwilling our men possessed the power to place it in reform in the organization of the executive departments about the same time a reform was introduced into the administration the necessity of which have been long perceived from a misplaced prejudice against institutions sanctioned by experience all the great executive duties have been devolved either on committees of congress on boards consisting of several members this unwieldy and expensive system had maintained itself against all the efforts of reason and public utility but the scantiness of the national means that link prevailed over prejudice and the several committees and boards yielded to a secretary for foreign affairs a superintendent of finance a secretary of war and a secretary of marine but so miserably defective was the organization of congress as an executive body that the year had far advanced before this measure utility of which all acknowledged could be carried into complete operation by making all the appointments confederation adopted about this time the articles of confederation were ratified much earlier this year and the committee was encountered in obtaining the adoption of this instrument the numerous objections made by the states yielded successfully to the opinion that a federal compact would be of vast importance in the prosecution of the war when impediment it was found peculiarly difficult to remove within the chartered limits of several states were immense tracks of vacant territory which it was supposed would constitute a large fund of future well and the states not possessing at length this difficulty also was surmounted and in February 1781 to the great joy of America this interesting compact was rendered complete like many other human institutions it was productive neither in war nor in peace of all the benefits which its sanguine advocates had expected had peace been made before any agreement for a permanent union was formed it is far from being improbable that the different parts might have fallen asunder and a dismemberment have taken place if it was not until the good sense of the nation adopted a more efficient system this service alone entitles that instrument to the respectful recollection of the American people and its frameless to their gratitude end of chapter 10 part 1 chapter 10 part 2 of the life of Washington volume 3 by John Marshall this LibriVox recording is in the public domain chapter 10 part 2 military transactions such was the defensive strength of the positions taken by the adverse armies on the Hudson and such their relative force that no decisive blow could be given by either in that quarter of the continent the anxious attentions of general Washington therefore were unremittingly directed to the south one of those incidents which fortune occasionally produces on the seizing or neglect of which the greatest military events frequently depend presented sooner than was expected an opportunity which he deemed capable of being improved to the destruction of the British Army in Virginia the French fleet from its arrival on the American coast had been blocked up in the harbor of Newport and the land forces of that nation had been reduced to a state of inactivity by the necessity of defending their ships late in January a detachment from the British fleet was encountered on the east end of Long Island by a furious storm in which such damage was sustained as to destroy for a time the naval superiority which are both not had uniformly preserved to turn this temporary superiority to advantage Monsieur Detouche resolved to detach a ship of the line with two frigates to the Chesapeake a force which the delegation from Virginia had assured him would be sufficient for the purpose on receiving certain accounts of the loss sustained in the storm general Washington conceived the design of improving that circumstance by immediate and powerful operations against Arnold confident that the critical moment must be seized or the enterprise would fail he ordered a detachment of 1200 men under the command of the Marquis de Lafayette to the head of the Chesapeake there to embark for that part of Virginia which was to become the theater of action under convoy of a French frigate for which he applied to the Admiral he immediately communicated this measure to the Chambot and to Monsieur Detouche to whom he also stated his conviction that no serious advantage could be expected from a few ships unaided by land troops there were he set a variety of positions to be taken by Arnold one of which was Portsmouth his present station where his ships might be so protected by his batteries on the shore as to defy a mere naval attack and where he would certainly be able to maintain himself until the losses sustained in the late storm should be repaired and the superiority at sea recovered when he would unquestionably be relieved to ensure the success of the expedition he recommended that the whole fleet should be employed on it and that a detachment of 1000 men should be embarked for the same service February 9 these representations did not prevail the original plan had already been put in execution on the 9th of February as 64 gunship with two frigates under Monsieur Detille had sailed for the Chesapeake and as some of the British ships had been repaired the French Admiral did not think it prudent to put to sea with the residue of his fleet as had been foreseen by General Washington Detille found Arnold in a situation not to be assailed by any prospect of success after showing himself therefore in the bay and making an ineffectual attempt to enter Elizabeth River he returned to Newport at the capes he fell in with the Romulus a 50 gunship coming from Charleston to the Chesapeake which he captured both the Count de Rochambeau and the Chevalier Detouche being well disposed to execute the plan suggested by General Washington they determined on the return of Monsieur Detille to make a second expedition to the Chesapeake with the whole fleet and 1100 men General Washington therefore hastened to Newport that in a personal conference with them he might facilitate the execution of an enterprise from which he still entertained sanguine hopes March 6 early on the 6th of March he reached Newport and went instantly on board the Admiral where he was met by the Count de Rochambeau it was determined that a detachment from the army then in perfect readiness should be embarked under the Count de Vio Manille and that the fleet should put to sea as soon as possible the wind was favorable to the French and adverse to the British yet the fleet did not sail until the evening of the 8th it appears from a letter of Monsieur Detouche that this delay was in some measure attributable to a disaster which befell one of his frigates in getting out of port and there is reason to suppose that it may be ascribed to a want of supplies whatever may have been the cause Arnold is most probably indebted to it for his escape from the fate which his trees merited two days after Detouche had sailed he was followed by Arbuth Knot who overtook him off the capes of Virginia a partial engagement ensued which continued about an hour when the fleets were separated the French Admiral called a council of war the next day in which it was declared unadvisable to renew the action and he returned to Newport March 26 the arrival of 2,000 men commanded by General Phillips gave the British a decided superiority in Virginia and the formation of Lafayette who had been ordered to join the Southern Army but to whom the defense of that state was now committed the troops under his command being taken chiefly from the Eastern Regiments had imbibed strong prejudices against the Southern climate and desertions became so frequent as to threaten the dissolution of the Corps this unpromising state of things was completely changed by a happy expedient by Lafayette appealing to the generous principles of his soldiers' principles on which the feelings of his own bosom taught him to rely he proclaimed in orders that he was about to enter on an enterprise of great danger difficulty in which he persuaded himself his soldiers would not abandon him if however any individual of the detachment was unwilling to accompany him a permit to return to him this measure had the desired effect and put an end to desertion to keep up the good dispositions of the moment this ardent young nobleman who was as unmindful of fortune as he was ambitious of fame borrowed from the merchants of Baltimore on his private credit a sum of money sufficient to purchase shoes linen, spirits and other articles of immediate necessity for the detachment having made these preparations for the campaign he marched with the utmost celerity to the defense of Virginia that state was in great need of assistance the enemy had penetrated deep into its bosom and was committing those excesses on its inhabitants to which a country unable to repel invasion must always be exposed General Phillips on his arrival took command of all the British troops in Virginia and after completing the purification of Portsmouth commenced offensive operations about 2,500 men were embarked on board some small vessels and landed at various places in the neighborhood of Williamsburg April 24 different detachments spread themselves over the lower part of that neck of land which is made by York and James rivers and after destroying without opposition a shipyard belonging to the state with some armed vessels and public stores re-embarked and proceeded to city point where they landed in the afternoon of the 24th the next day they marched against Petersburg at which place immense quantities of tobacco and other stores were deposited Baron Steuben was not in a position to check their progress the levees of Virginia had marched to the aid of General Green and the whole number of militia at that time in the field did not much exceed 2,000 men unwilling to abandon so important a place as Petersburg without the semblance of fighting the Baron posted about 1,000 men a mile below the town with orders to skirmish with the enemy the British troops without being able to bring him to a close engagement were two or three hours employed in driving him across the Appomattox the bridge over which being taken up as soon as the militia had passed it further pursuit became impracticable this skirmish having terminated with scarcely any loss on either side the Baron retreated towards Richmond and Phillips took quiet possession of Petersburg where he destroyed a considerable quantity of tobacco and all the vessels lying in the river this service being accomplished Arnold was detached through Osborne's two warwick between which place and Richmond a respectable naval force consisting of small armed vessels have been collected with the intention of cooperating with the French fleet against Portsmouth and a few militia were stationed on the northern bank of the river to assist in defending the flotilla the crews of the vessels on receiving a fire from a few field pieces ordered by Arnold to the bank, scuttled them escaped to the opposite shore and dispersed with the militia Phillips marched with the residue of the army to Chesterfield courthouse the place of rendezvous for the new levies of Virginia where he destroyed the barracks with a few public stores after which he joined Arnold in the neighborhood of warwick April 30 and marched without interruption to Manchester a small town on the southern bank of the James River immediately opposite to Richmond where, as was the general practice the warehouses were set on fire and all the tobacco consumed on the preceding evening the Marquis de Lafayette who had made a forced march from Baltimore arrived with his detachment at Richmond and that place in which a great proportion of the military stores of the state were then collected was saved for the time and returned the regular troops composing this detachment were joined by about 2,000 militia and 60 degrunes not thinking it advisable to attempt the passage of the river in the presence of so respectable an army general Phillips retired to Bermuda 100 a point of land in the confluence of the James and Appomattox at which place he re-embarked his troops and fell down the river to Hog Island the Marquis fixed his headquarters on the north of Chickahominy about 18 miles from Richmond where he remained until a letter from Lord Cornwallis called Phillips again up James River when that nobleman determined on marching from Wilmington into Virginia he signified his wish that the British troops in that state should take their station at Petersburg on receiving this letter Phillips proceeded to comply with the request it contained as soon as the fleet moved up the river Lafayette returned to the defense of Richmond having on his arrival received intelligence that Lord Cornwallis was marching northward and finding Phillips landed at Brandon on the south side of the river he was persuaded that a junction of the two armies must be intended and hastened to take possession of Petersburg before Phillips could reach that place in this however was anticipated by the British general upon which he recrossed James River and encamping a few miles below Richmond used his utmost exertions to remove the military stores in that town to a place of greater security Cornwallis arrives in this position his army was permitted to repose itself but a few days Lord Cornwallis after passing through North Carolina and the southern parts of Virginia without encountering much opposition and defecting a junction with Arnold who had succeeded by the death of Phillips to the command of the army in Virginia found himself at the head of a force which nothing in that state could resist and determined on a vigorous plan of offensive operations his immediate object was to bring the marquee to an action for which purpose he crossed James River at Westover where he was joined by a reinforcement from New York and attempted by turning the left flank of the American army to get into its rear Lafayette was not in a condition to risk an engagement his objects were the security of the public stores the preservation of a small army for future services and a junction with the Pennsylvania line which was on its march southward under the command of general Wayne as Lord Cornwallis crossed James River he retired towards the upper country inclining his route to the north in order to favor a junction with Wayne the fine horses found in the stables of private gentlemen gave to the British general an efficient cavalry and enabled him to mount so many infantry as to move large detachments with unusual rapidity with these advantages he was so confident of overtaking and destroying his enemy as to say exultingly in a letter which was intercepted the boy cannot escape me his sanguine hopes however were disappointed Lafayette moved with so much celerity and caution as to convince Cornwallis of the impracticability of overtaking him or preventing his junction with Wayne after marching some distance up the northern side of Nora Vanora his lordship relinquished the pursuit and turned his attention to other objects which were more attainable military stores had been collected in various parts of the middle country and among others at the point of fork a point of land made by the confluence of the Ravana and Fluvana the two branches of James River Colonel Simcoe was detached with 500 men against this post which was protected by between 500 and 600 new levies and a few militia Tarleton with 250 cavalry and mounted infantry was ordered at the same time against Charlottesville where the General Assembly was in session so rapid were his movements that a mere accident prevented his entering the town before any notice of his approach was given a private gentleman Mr. Jouyette who was acquainted with a nearer route than the Great Road hastened to Charlottesville on a fleet horse with the interesting intelligence and entered the town for the British cavalry nearly all the members of the legislature made their escape and reassembled at Stanton on the western side of the Blue Ridge Tarleton after destroying the stores at Charlottesville proceeded down the Ravana to the point of fork the detachment commanded by Simcoe being composed deeply of infantry could not move with equal celerity that officer however conducted his march was so much secrecy and address that Steuben seems to have been either unapprised of his approach or to have had no accurate information of his numbers intelligence of the expedition to Charlottesville had reached him and he appropriately employed himself in removing his stores from the point of fork to the south side of the Fluvana the river was at the time affordable and the boats were all secured on the southern bank yet Steuben suspecting the detachment of Simcoe to be the van of the British army or apprehending Stanton might get into his rear withdrew precipitately in the night and marched near 30 miles leaving behind him such stores as could not be removed these were destroyed next morning by a small detachment of men who crossed the river in a few canoes presses Lafayette over the Rapidan to secure his junction with Wayne and to keep open his communication towards the north Lafayette had crossed the Rapidan Lafayette forms a junction with Wayne these movements of the two armies had thrown Lord Cornwallis between Lafayette and the military stores which had been transported from Richmond up James river and deposited at different places but principally at Albemarle old courthouse high up that river to this place Lord Cornwallis directed his march the Marquis having affected a junction with the Pennsylvania line consisting of 800 men recross the Rapidan and advanced with so much celerity towards the British army that he encamped within a few miles of it while upwards of a day's march from its point of destination confident that the object of the American general must be to protect the magazines on the Fluvanna Lord Cornwallis encamped at Elk Island and advanced his light troops to a position commanding the road by which it was supposed the Americans Lafayette however discovered in the night a nearer road which had long been disused and the next morning the British general had the mortification to perceive that the American army had crossed the Ravanna and taken a strong position behind the Mi-Chunk Creek which in a great measure commanded the route leading from the camp of his lordship to Albemarle old courthouse at this place a considerable reinforcement of mountain militia was received Cornwallis retires to the lower country apprehending the force opposed to him to be greater than it was in reality and probably desirous of transferring the war to the lower country Lord Cornwallis abandoned the objects he had pursued and retired first to Richmond and afterwards to Williamsburg June 18 the Marquis followed with cautious circumspection on the 18th of June he was reinforced by 500 new levies under the Baron Steuben which augmented his army to 4,000 men of whom 2,000 were regulars that of Lord Cornwallis was probably rather more numerous as the British army retreated to Williamsburg Lafayette who sought a partial though he avoided a general engagement pressed its rear with his light parties Colonel Simcoe who covered the retreat was overtaken by Colonel Butler about six miles from Williamsburg and a sharp action ensued the Americans claimed the advantages but were compelled to retire by the approach of the whole British army in the bold and rapid course taken by Lord Cornwallis through the lower and central parts of Virginia much private as well as public property was destroyed and the resources of the state were considerably diminished but no solid advantage was obtained although from various causes from a want of arms and from that general repugnance which a harassed unpaid militia will universally manifest a military service less resistance was encountered than was to be expected from the strength and population of the state no disposition was openly manifested to join the royal standard or withdrawal from the contest the Marquis complained of much slowness and much carelessness in the country but the dispositions of the people were good and they required only to be awakened this he thought would be best affected by the presence of General Washington an event for which he expressed the most anxious solicitude but Washington deemed it of more importance to remain on the Hudson for the purpose of digesting and conducting a grand plan of combined operations then meditated against New York by the execution of which he counted more certainly on relieving the southern states the other measure it was in his power to adopt General Washington's letters are intercepted and express caring letters communicating to Congress the result of his consultations on this subject with the commanders of the land and naval forces of France was intercepted in Jersey the interesting disclosure made by these letters alarmed Sir Henry Clinton for the safety of New York and determined him to require the return of a part of the troops in France supposing himself too weak after complying with this requisition to remain at Williamsburg Lord Cornwallis took the resolution of retiring to Portsmouth in pursuance of this resolution he marched from Williamsburg and encamped in such a manner as to cover the fort into the island of Jamestown on the same evening the Queens Rangers crossed over into the island and the two succeeding days went to cover the baggage the morning after the evacuation of Williamsburg Lafayette changed his position and pushed his best troops within nine miles of the British camp with the intention of attempting their rear when the main body should have passed into Jamestown suspecting his design Lord Cornwallis encamped the greater part of his army on the mainland as compactly as possible and displayed a few troops on the island in such a manner as in appearance to magnify their numbers all the intelligence received by Lafayette concurred in the representation that the greater part of the British army had passed over to the island in the night July 6 believing this to be the fact he detached some riflemen to harass their outposts while he advanced at the head of the Continental troops in order to secure their rear every appearance was calculated to countenance the opinion he had formed the British light parties were drawn in and the piques were forced by the riflemen without much resistance but an advanced post which covered the encampment from the view of the Americans was perseveringly maintained though three of the officers commanding it were successively picked off by the riflemen Lafayette who arrived a little before sunset suspected from the obstinacy with which this post was maintained that it covered more than a rearguard and determined to reconnoiter the camp and judge of its strength from his own observation it was in a great measure concealed by woods but from a tongue of land stretching into the river he perceived the British force to be much more considerable than had been supposed than action near Jamestown he found Wayne closely engaged a piece of artillery had been left weakly defended which Wayne determined to seize scarcely was the attempt made when he discovered the whole British army arranged in order for battle moving out against him to retreat was impossible and the boldest had become the safest measure under this impression he advanced rapidly and with his small detachment not exceeding eight hundred men made a gallant charge on the British line a warm action ensued which was kept up with great spirit until the arrival of Lafayette who perceiving Wayne to be outflanked both on the right and left ordered him to retreat and form in a line with the light infantry who were drawn up about half a mile in his rear the whole party then saved itself behind a morass fortunately for Lafayette Lord Cornwallis did not improve the advantage he had gained suspecting this to be a stratagem of the American general to draw him into an ambush god a suspicion equally favored by the hardiness and time of the attack Lord Cornwallis who suppose his enemy to be stronger than he was in reality would allow no pursuit and in the course of the night crossed over into the island whence he soon afterwards proceeded to Portsmouth in this action the Americans lost 118 men among whom were 10 officers and two pieces of artillery were left on the field the horses attached to them being killed the British loss was less considerable all active operations were now suspended and the Harris army of Lafayette was allowed some repose although no brilliant service was performed by that young nobleman the campaign of Virginia enhanced his military reputation and raised him in the general esteem that was so decided in inferiority of effective force and especially of cavalry he had been able to keep the field in an open country and to preserve a considerable portion of his military stores as well as his army was believed to furnish unequivocal evidence and vigor of his conduct End of Chapter 10 Part 2