USA > Virginia > A history of Virginia : from its discovery and settlement by Europeans to the present time. Vol. II > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
The Marquis de la Fayette had earnestly sought for service in the South, and Washington, who had
a Girardin, 466.
-
261
LAFAYETTE.
1781.]
great confidence in his prudence, assigned to him the responsible duty of defending Virginia. Full of hope, the chivalrous young Frenchman sought his charge; he brought with him a small body of Continental troops from Annapolis, and, on the 29th of April, entered Richmond. His very name excited enthusiasm; militia came in on all sides, and, under the stimulus of his addresses, desertions ceased, and courage kindled into flame. When the British learned of his arrival and preparations, they abandoned all thought of attacking Richmond, and marched down to Bermuda Hundreds, burning and destroying tobacco, flour, mills, and shipping on the way. They re-embarked their land forces and sailed down the river; but, on the 6th of May, a boat with despatches from Portsmouth, met Phillips, and the moment he read them, he gave a signal, and the whole fleet turned once more up the James, and with a fair wind sailed to Brandon. Here provisions for six days were dealt out to every man, and on the 9th of May the army once more entered Petersburg.ª We shall soon see the cause of this sudden return.
General Phillips was already labouring under a mortal disease, but his ruling passion appeared strong in death. He was a proud man, thoroughly English in feeling, and he would fain have held Americans in contempt. In reply to a message from the Governor, he wrote to him and directed his letter to "Thomas Jefferson, Esq., American Governor of Virginia." Mr. Jefferson felt the
a Girardin, 461 ; Jefferson, i. 420.
262
DEATH OF GENERAL PHILLIPS. [CHAP. IV.
stroke, and soon returned it; having heard of the arrival of a British vessel at Alexandria, with re- freshments for the "Convention troops," before he granted a passport he wrote to Phillips, directing to " William Phillips, Esq., commanding the British forces in the Commonwealth of Virginia." This was a bitter pill for the proud Englishman to swallow, but Mr. Jefferson resolved that no sup- plies should go to the Convention troops until his lesson had been learned.ª Providence dissolved this vapour of punctilio which threatened to suffo- cate humanity. General Phillips died at Peters- burg, on the 13th of May, and the command of the British again devolved upon Arnold.
Meanwhile a new and most important actor was preparing to come forward. Lord Cornwallis was advancing from the south ; he had sent an express to apprise Phillips of his motions, in order that they might effect a junction at Petersburg. This had caused the rapid return of which we have spoken. On the 25th of April, his lordship marched towards Halifax, sending before him the dashing Colonel Tarleton, with one hundred and eighty dragoons and light troops, who scoured the country in every direction. Near Roanoke, an in- cident occurred highly honourable to Cornwallis. A sergeant and private of Tarleton's troop, during the night had forcibly violated an unhappy girl in the country, and robbed the house in which she lived. The next morning, Lord Cornwallis, at- tended by six dragoons of his guard, overtook
a Jefferson, i. 220, 221; Girardin, 469.
-
263
CONDUCT OF LAFAYETTE.
1781.]
Tarleton, and directed him to draw up his men in a line. Some country people were present, and pointed out the delinquents. They were seized, tried by martial law, condemned and instantly executed.ª This well-timed rigour did much to preserve order in the subsequent march. On the 20th of May, Cornwallis entered Petersburg, and formed a junction with Arnold.b
It would be hard to find terms of praise too high for the conduct of Lafayette at this crisis. Young, brave, impetuous, with fiery blood running through his veins, there was much to tempt him to a rash encounter. But to the courage of a Cæsar, he added the prudence of a Fabius. He now com- manded three thousand troops, Continental and militia ; but an expected supply of eleven hundred muskets had not arrived, and they were imperfectly armed. Cornwallis moved from Petersburg, and crossed the James at Westover, fully convinced that "the boy" could not escape him. As he ad- vanced, Lafayette retreated, watching his every motion, and detecting every stratagem to ensnare him. His lordship was very anxious to prevent the junction of Lafayette and General Wayne, who, with eight hundred men of the Pennsylvania line, was rapidly approaching from the north. But finding his young adversary too wary to be entrapped, he suddenly changed his plan, and en- camped on the North Anna River, in the county
a Tarleton's Campaigns, 289, 290, quarto edit .- See Stedman's Amer. War, ii. 385, note.
b Stedman, 385 ; Girardin, 489.
264
GENERAL NELSON.
[CHAP. IV.
of Hanover. The Marquis passed through Spot- sylvania County to the Raccoon Ford, in Culpeper, where, on the 10th of June, he was joined by General Wayne.
In the meantime, Governor Jefferson had been in great trouble. War was approaching on all sides, and feeling a painful sense of his incom- petency, he wished to withdraw from public ser- vice, that a more efficient successor might take his place.ª The Legislature met in Richmond on the 7th of May, but finding Phillips and Arnold un- comfortably near to them, they adjourned on the 10th, to meet in Charlottesville on the 24th. Mr. Jefferson's term of office expired on the 1st June ; a re-election was a matter of course, if the incum- bent desired it, and if he appeared to be equal to all the duties; but neither of these conditions existing in the Governor's case, he signified his wish to retire, and that General Nelson should be elected in his stead.' The Legislature readily ac- quiesced in his views ; and in thus relieving him from harassing cares, they were doubtless well pleased to promote the welfare of the state. The same regard for the interests and honour of the Commonwealth, required that the Assembly should investigate Mr. Jefferson's conduct during the months of invasion. In the course of the session, George Nicholas, a member of the body, young, but talented and honest, introduced articles of impeach-
ª Compare his letter to Washing- 136, 137; see also Jefferson's ton, i. 222, 223, with Henry Lee, Works, iv. 41.
b Jefferson's Works, iv. 41.
265
1
SIMCOE AND STEUBEN.
1781.]
ment, founded on regular charges of incompetency, against the Governor, but . ere they were acted upon, the Legislature fled before Tarleton; and after the triumph at Yorktown, they were finally dropped.ª In their place the Assembly passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Jefferson, confining their plaudits to his civic attainments, which were worthy of all praise.b
Cornwallis had halted, but he was not inactive; two objects engaged his thoughts. Just between the Rivanna and the southern branch of the James, is a spot known as the Point of Fork, where the Virginians had gathered a quantity of military stores. Baron Steuben, with about six hundred raw militia, defended it. At the same time, the Legislature were assembled in Charlottesville, and Mr. Jefferson had sought repose at Monticello. To strike Steuben, Cornwallis detached Lieutenant- Colonel Simcoe, with five hundred picked men, Queen's Rangers, infantry and cavalry, trained to partisan warfare, and full of confidence in their leader. To catch the law-makers and Governor, together, Tarleton was started with his hundred and eighty dragoons, and a number of mounted infantry. These two detachments moved nearly at the same time.
As Simcoe approached, Steuben caught intima- tions of an intended attack, and, with proper cau- tion, he retreated across the south branch of the
a Compare Jefferson's Works, iv. b Girardin, Appen. C. xv .; Henry 42, 43; Tucker, i. 149-155, with Lee, 143, 144. Henry Lee's remarks, 143.
266
TARLETON
[CHAP. IV.
James, carrying with him all the important stores. Hardly had he passed, before the British partisan appeared on the heights skirting the Rivanna, and so sudden was the rush of his cavalry, that thirty Virginians fell into his hands. The prey had escaped ; but, determining, if possible, to get at the stores, Simcoe resorted to a most ingenious strata- gem, and the plain-sailing old Prussian fell into the snare. The British spread their camp far and wide over the hills, lighted a large number of fires, and used every sign that would indicate the presence of the whole British army. Hearing of Tarleton's approach on his left, and fearing that he would be crushed, Steuben retreated as fast as possible, marching during the night nearly thirty miles, and leaving behind him all the more heavy stores. Simcoe followed up his advantage, by sending on a small body, as if in hot pursuit, and having driven the Baron out of reach, and destroyed the stores, he prepared to rejoin Cornwallis.ª
Meanwhile Tarleton moved forward with his accustomed speed towards Charlottesville, passing through the county of Louisa. (June 4.) On his way he fell in with twelve wagons loaded with clothing for the southern army; these he imme- diately captured and burned. Learning that a number of distinguished gentlemen were at the houses of Mr. John Walker, and Dr. Walker, in Albemarle, and nearly on his route, he resolved to pay his respects to them. He detached a party to Mr. John Walker's, while he himself, with his
ª Stedman's American War, ii. 389 ; Girardin, 497, 498.
267
IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.
1781.]
dragoons, galloped up to the residence of the Doctor. At the two places, were captured Colonel John Simms, a member of the Virginia Senate, and William and Robert Nelson, brothers of Ge- neral Nelson, who was soon to be Governor of the state.a Tarleton was not discourteous to his host ; but he wanted a morning meal, and as two break- fasts had been already secretly devoured by his subordinates, he placed a guard in the kitchen to secure the third.b. Slight as were these delays they saved the Legislature; while the Englishman was pursuing single birds, the flock escaped him.
As the British dragoons passed through Louisa, a Mr. Jouitte had observed them, and divining their object, he mounted a fleet horse, and galloped off like lightning, through paths and by-roads, to Charlottesville, while the enemy followed the beaten track. The moment he arrived, the Assembly passed a vote to convene in Staunton on the 7th, and then dissolving, the members fled away, like a covey of partridges before a keen sportsman. The very name of Tarleton had a melting effect upon the body. Knowing nothing of their flight, he came on at a sweeping pace, and when near the Fords of the Rivanna, he detached a party under Captain McLeod to seize Mr. Jefferson, at his well- known mountain residence. The sage of Monti- cello was then entertaining some friends from the Legislature, but hearing that the dragoons were winding round the road which led to his house, he sent off Mrs. Jefferson and her three children in a
a Girardin, 499. b Note in Tucker's Jefferson, i. 147.
268
JEFFERSON'S NARROW ESCAPE. [CHAP. IV.
carriage to Colonel Carter's, about six miles distant, and directing his horse to be brought to a back gate, opening on the road, he mounted, and leaving the road, plunged into the dark recesses of Carter's Mountain.a Thus he easily made his escape ; his prudence and self-possession saved him from capti- vity. Demosthenes fled from Cheronæa, and Horace was frightened at Philippi: these illustrious ex- amples shall for ever excuse the orator, the states- man, the wit, who shall withdraw his precious life from the field of battle ; but Mr. Jefferson needs no such excuse ; he did not fly the well-contested field ; he only retreated before overwhelming odds ; he could not be expected to cope singly with a squad- ron of armed dragoons.
It is due to Captain McLeod to say, that he per- mitted no violence to be offered to private property at Monticello. All of Mr. Jefferson's books and papers were treated with sacred respect, and if any pillage was done, it was unknown to the com- mander. In Charlottesville, finding his chief game had escaped him, Tarleton sought for military stores : he destroyed one thousand new firelocks made at the foundry near Fredericksburg, four hundred barrels of powder, and a stock of clothing for soldiers.' Seven members of the Legislature had fallen into his hands, and with these he turned again to join Cornwallis and Simcoe, near the Point of Fork. Tarleton's career in Virginia illustrated the prominent traits of his character : always active
a Jefferson, iv. 42; Tucker, i. 147;
Girardin, 502 ; Henry Lee, 142.
b Tarleton's Campaigns, 297; Stedman's Am. War, ii. 387.
269
LEGISLATURE IN STAUNTON.
1781.]
and reckless ; not cruel, unless policy required it ; unscrupulous in measures to gain his ends. He slept on the floor, while his subordinates rolled in comfortable beds; and once on a sudden alarm, he threw aside his razor, sprang half shaved into his saddle, and with sabre in hand, prepared to rush into the thickest of the fight.ª It is not strange that such a partisan should have had reputation.
Even in Staunton, the Legislature did not feel safe. On the morning of the 7th, Lieutenant Brooke, at the head of a small body of Virginia in- fantry, crossed the Blue Ridge, to convey a message from the Baron Steuben. As this squadron ap- proached at a rapid gait, the Assembly received notice of their coming, and instantly betook them- selves to flight, believing that they were still pur- sued by Tarleton.' Some time elapsed before they could be reassured and brought back to their du- ties. On the 12th of June, they elected General Nelson Governor of the Commonwealth.
Cornwallis had advanced from the North Anna, and established himself near the Point of Fork. He took possession of Elk Hill, one of Mr. Jeffer- son's farms, and on this and other plantations in Virginia, a system of frightful devastation was car- ried on. The cattle were slaughtered or driven off, all the horses fit for use were seized, and the throats of the young horses were wantonly cut; the growing crops of grain and tobacco were destroyed, .
a Girardin, 502. a venerable Judge of the Virginia
b This incident was related to me Court of Appeals.
by Lieutenant Brooke himself, now
270
SKILFUL MOVEMENT.
[CHAP. IV.
and every barn and fence was reduced to ashes. Indeed, from the opening of the game by Arnold, to its close at Yorktown, the British appeared intent upon breaking the sinews of the Commonwealth. In their invasions thirty thousand slaves were car- ried off, of whom twenty-seven thousand are sup- posed to have died of small-pox or camp fever, in the course of six months. In the same time it is estimated that property amounting to three million pounds sterling, was destroyed or carried away by the invaders.ª It was just that the authors of this ruin should suffer the full retribution which finally overtook them.
At Albemarle Old Courthouse, the Virginians had collected a large quantity of valuable military stores. To destroy these now became an important object to Cornwallis; to protect them an equally important one to Lafayette. After his junction with Wayne, the Marquis moved cautiously from Cul- peper through Orange and the upper part of Louisa, to Boswell's Tavern, near the Albemarle line. Cornwallis marked his movement, and threw forward Colonel Tarleton, with a strong advanced guard, to such a position, that it seemed inevitable that Lafayette should either hazard a fight with the whole British army, or abandon the stores. But " the boy" was equal to the crisis. There was a rough road, long disused, leading from a few miles below Boswell's, to a point on Mechunk Creek ; forthwith Lafayette set to work his pioneers and axemen; the road was opened, the army passed
a Girardin, 503, 504, with his notes ; Tucker, i. 148; Gordon, iii. 389.
271
AN INCIDENT.
1781.]
along it, and the next morning, to the utter asto- nishment of Cornwallis, his adversary was en- camped in an impregnable position on the Creek, and just between the British army and the stores at Albemarle Courthouse !a His English lordship was once more baffled, and having in the mean- time received instructions from Sir Henry Clinton, in New York, he changed his front, and marched slowly towards the eastern coast.
An incident occurred during the opening of the " Marquis's Road," which happily illustrated the commingled soldier and gentleman of Lafayette's character. Full of zeal, he was dashing at a swift gallop along the line, when his horse struck a pri- vate at work on the road, and felled him to the earth. The Marquis instantly dismounted. "Sol- dier, are you hurt?" he said. The man, who had risen uninjured, replied, that he was not. "I ask your pardon," said Lafayette, and waving his hand with a smile, he remounted and resumed his course.b It was by such conduct, that the chivalric French- man riveted the chains which already bound to him all American hearts.
(June 16.) Now at last Cornwallis was on the retreat, and Lafayette was the pursuer ; but the English retired slowly, and as if in perfect security, while the Marquis used the same eagle-eyed vigi- lance which had distinguished his own retreat.
a Gordon's America, iii. 210; Gi- integrity was only one of the quali- rardin, 506, 507.
b This incident was related to me all who knew him.
by a friend now no more, but whose
ties which drew to him the love of
-
.
272
LAFAYETTE DECEIVED.
[CHAP. IV.
On the Chickahoming, and not far from Williams- burg, a partial engagement occurred between Sim- coe with his rangers, and Lieutenant-Colonel Butler of the Pennsylvania line. It was sharply contested, and was attended with loss to both; Simcoe pur- sued his retreat, and Butler did not follow him, fearing the presence of Cornwallis. After halting nine days in Williamsburg, on the 4th of July his lordship prepared to cross the James, having selected Jamestown Island as the proper point. During the 5th and 6th he sent over wheel-car- riages of every sort, baggage, bat-horses, every thing in short except troops ; his army in full force remained on the north side of the river. Now La- fayette narrowly escaped ruin ; inexperienced spies had informed him of the movements at the Island, and assured him that the army itself was crossing. Believing that a feeble rear-guard only was left on the northern side, he determined to attack it. General Wayne, with his wonted eagerness for battle, second- ed his views. At about three o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th, the riflemen, under Call and Willis, ad- vanced across a causeway leading from Greenspring towards Williamsburg, and commenced the assault ; the cavalry, under Armand and Mercer, came next ; then followed the Continentals, under Wayne, and Baron Steuben with the militia formed a corps de reserve. With consummate art, Cornwallis took advantage of Lafayette's error, drew his troops into a compact mass, and ordered his pickets to suffer themselves to be driven in, as if in confusion. Suddenly the British displayed in strength ; Yorke attacked on the right, and Dundas on the left ; the
1781.]
YORK AND GLOUCESTER POINTS. 273
riflemen, after a fierce contest, gave way; the cavalry were broken; two field-pieces were cap- tured, and the Continentals under Wayne were left to sustain the conflict. By this time Lafayette had discovered his mistake, and finding Wayne outflanked, directed a retreat. The darkness of the night favoured them ; the causeway was gained and secured, and Cornwallis, content with his ad- vantage, withdrew his troops.ª In a few hours he crossed over to Jamestown Island, and soon after- wards proceeded to Portsmouth.
Various movements and intercepted orders of Washington, had led Sir Henry Clinton to suppose that New York was soon to be the object of a com- bined attack by land and sea, to be made by the French and American forces. Alarmed for his safety, he had instructed Lord Cornwallis to send him such troops as he could spare, and then to take a convenient position on Chesapeake Bay, from which he might either communicate with the sea, or send war into the heart of Virginia, as might be expedient. Subsequently the order for a detach- ment to New York was recalled; but Cornwallis, in obedience to remaining instructions, selected York and Gloucester Points, and by the 22d of August had occupied them with his army, and thrown up strong intrenchments. Here was to be enacted the last scene of the Revolutionary drama.
It has been supposed by some that all of Wash- ington's demonstrations against New York, were parts of an ingenious stratagem, intended to con-
a Stedman, ii. 394, 395 ; Girardin, 512, 513.
VOL. II.
18
274
YORKTOWN. [CHAP. IV.
centrate Clinton's thoughts on himself, and to lull Cornwallis into security. But this was not so; New York was verily his object; yet with that ex- pansion of purpose which made him formidable even with inadequate means, he watched the southern army, ready, if expedient, to shift his line of attack.ª Learning that the Count De Grasse with his heavy fleet was in condition to co-operate with him on the Chesapeake, he now resolved to invest Cornwallis in his posts; and turning south with the French and American armies, from the Jerseys he conducted that celebrated march which was the forerunner of his country's triumph. Be- fore he joined Lafayette, he learned with joy that De Grasse had entered the Chesapeake with twenty-five sail of the line, and with nearly three thousand soldiers aboard his ships. Not a moment was lost in drawing the combined forces around the enemy, in landing mortars and munitions, and in making preparation for a regular siege. Corn- wallis could not conceal from himself the danger that threatened him; but trusting to Sir Henry Clinton's promises, he resolved on an obstinate re- sistance. His army consisted of seven thousand fine troops ; a sufficient guard protected Gloucester Point, but the larger part were assembled within the intrenchments of Yorktown.
In the memorable siege that followed, every event of which has become familiar to Englishmen and Americans, nothing strikes us more forcibly than the incessant vigour with which the besiegers
a See Girardin, 521; Gordon, iii. 216, 217.
1
275
YORKTOWN.
1781.]
pressed their work. From the night of the 7th of October, when the first line of trenches was com- pleted, the besieged knew not a moment's repose. Mortars poured a storm of shells upon the out- works and the town, tearing down the defences, and often throwing the bodies of artillerists into the air ;ª heavy cannon pierced the houses with balls, and dismounted the guns in the British bat- teries. The fire of the engineers was astonishingly accurate and effective. Often their shells struck within three feet of the point at which they were aimed, and exploded within a few seconds of the intended time; at one discharge during the night, a red-hot shell from the French battery passed en- tirely over the town, and fell amid the rigging of the Charon, a British forty-four gun ship lying in the harbour ; instantly masts, shrouds, and running- gear were a sheet of flame, and threw a brilliant light over the whole port; two other ships near the Charon caught fire, and like her were burned to the water's edge. Even from the first parallel the fire was so destructive that the enemy's batteries were nearly silenced, and much of the town was reduced to ruin.b
General Nelson, the Governor of Virginia, had joined the army with his militia, eager to lend his aid to the patriot cause. Seeing that the gunners did not aim at his own house in Yorktown, and knowing that it was occupied by British officers, he earnestly remonstrated ; at his request two can-
a Dr. Thatcher's Account. b Girardin, 527 ; Dr. Thatcher's Account ; Howe, 525.
276
YORKTOWN.
[CHAP. IV.
non were trained upon the building ; the first balls pierced its side and killed two officers then at table, and in a short time the house was cut to pieces by the fire.ª The tenable part of the town was rapidly narrowed; the besiegers were soon ready to open their second parallel, within three hundred yards of the outworks; in approaching it, they had been severely annoyed by two redoubts thrown in ad- vance of the intrenchments, and Washington re- solved to carry them by storm.
To capture the redoubt on the right was the task of the Americans; they were under Lafayette, and were led to the assault by Colonel Hamilton, the gallant aid of the Commander-in-chief. The French advanced upon the other, under the Baron De Viomesnil. Nothing could exceed the emula- tion of these two parties, and the heroism of their attack; they rushed forward with unloaded mus- kets, trusting to the bayonet. Hamilton and his men drove the garrison before them, and took pos- session of their prize with small loss; but on the left, a bloody conflict took place ; the English were dislodged, but not until the French had lost one hundred and twenty of their number. Hardly had these works been carried, before they were in- cluded in the second line of trenches, and mortars and battering-pieces were pouring destruction upon the town.b
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.