USA > Virginia > Historical collections of Virginia : containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities ; together with geographical and statistical descriptions ; to which is appended, an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia. > Part 16
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In October, by Dunmore's orders, a party of men, under cover of their men-of-war, landed at Norfolk, and forcibly carried on board their vessels the press and types of a newspaper imbued with the patriotic principles of the day. Shortly after, Dunmore marched to Kempsville, in Princess Anne, destroyed some fire-arms deposited there, and took prisoner Capt. Matthews, of the minute-men. About this time an attack was made on Hampton, by some vessels com- manded by Capt. Squires, who had threatened to burn the town. The enemy were beaten off with loss, while not a single Virginian was killed.
In the mean time, numbers of armed people from the upper country were arriving at Williamsburg. Dunmore. hearing that the 2d Virginia Regiment and the Culpeper Battalion had been ordered to Norfolk, directed the Kingfisher and three large tenders to move up to Burwell's Ferry, to prevent their crossing the James. These vessels, on their arrival, finding an American skipper at the landing, commenced firing upon her, and in a peremptory tone or- dered her to come alongside the Kingfisher. Some Virginian riflemen, on the bank, directed her master not to obey the order. Upon this the man-of-war commenced a brisk fre upon the vessel, but without effect. Twice the Kingfisher sent a large boat full of men to take possession, and twice they were beaten off by the unerring aim of the riflemen. Foiled in this attempt, the enemy the next day attempted to land a boat filled with armed men at Jamestown. They were again repulsed by some rifle sentinels on the shore. In this month (November) Dunmore, with a superior force, surprised about 200 militia of Princess Anne, on their march to join the troops. Their colonel, with several others, was made prisoner.
Under date of November 7th, Dunmore issued his proclamation, in which he proclaimed martial law, declared all capable of bear- ing arms who did not resort to his majesty's standard traitors, and offered freedom to all slaves "appertaining to rebels" who would join his majesty's troops. On this Dunmore bad staked his best hopes. Had he had a formidable force at hand to execute his threats, some apprehensions might have been excited. But as it was, it only harmonized public opinion, increased public irritation, and engendered a burning detestation of the means to which their late governor unblushingly stooped to awe them into subinission. His Jordship set up his standard in Norfolk and Princess Anne, issued orders to the militia captains to raise a body of troops to oppose
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the colonial army, prescribed, and, in some cases, extorted an oath of allegiance. A multitude of motley partisans flocking to his standard, he designed to destroy the provisions collected at Suf- folk for the Virginia troops. To prevent this, Col. Woodford, on the 20th of November, detached 215 light troops, under Col. Scott and Major Marshall, to that place, and on the 25th arrived there with the main body of the Virginia troops.
About this time evidence was brought to light of a diabolical scheme, matured by Dunmore, against that colony of which he pretended to be a friend. This was a co- operation of the various Indian tribes with the tories on the frontiers. John Connelly, a Pennsylvanian, an artful, enterprising man, was the projector of the intrigue. In July he nearly matured the plan with the governor. Ample rewards were offered to the militia captains inclined to the royal cause, and willing to act under Connelly. To con- nect its extensive ramifications, he was dispatched to General Gage, at Boston, and returned about the 15th of October, with instructions from the latter. These invested bim with the rank of Lient .- Colonel of a regiment of loyalists, to be zoised on the non- tier. Fort Pitt was to be the rendezvous of all the forces to act under him, among which were several companies of the Royal Irish, then at Fort Gage, in the Illinois country. From thence they would march through Virginia, and join Dunmore on the 20th of April at Alexandria, where an army was to land under the cannon of ships-of-war and possess themselves of the town. For a time, fortune favored this formidable pivi, in the prosecution of which Connelly often travelled long distances in various directions. Sus- picions were at length aroused : an emissary of the governor's was arrested, upon whom were found papers partly disclosing the plot. These led to the arrestation of Connelly He, with two confederates, Allen Cameron and Dr. John Sinyth, both Scotchmuen, were taken near Hagerstown, Maryland, on their way to Detroit. Upon searching their bag- gage, a general plan of the whole scheme was found, with large sums of money, and a letter from Danmore to one of the Indian chiefs. " Thus was a plot, originally con- frived with profound and amazing secrecy, and in its subsequent stages managed with consummate skill, brought by patriotic vigilance to an untimely issue."
The only avenue from Suffolk to .Norfolk -- to which place he was destined-by which Col. Woodford could march, was by the Great Bridge, about 12 miles from the latter. The enemy were posted there in a stockade fort, on his arrival with the Virginian troops. Woodford constructed a breastwork within cannon-shot of the fort.
On the 9th of December, Capt. Fordyce, at the head of a party of British grenadiers, in attempting to storm the breastwork, was repulsed by a most destructive and bloody fire. After this, Dun- more, with most of his followers, took refuge on board his vessels. The Virginians marched into Norfolk, and annoyed the enemy by firing into their vessels. In retaliation, Dunmore cannonaded the town, and on the night of the Ist of January, 1776, landed a party. who, under cover of their cannon, set fire to the houses on the river which had sheltered the provincials. The committee of safety ordered Col. Robert Howe to destroy the remainder of the town, to prevent the British from making it a permanent post. Norfolk, then the most populous town in Virginia, contained near 6,000 inhabitants.
Colonels Woodford and Stevens assisted Col. Howe in the com- mand at Norfolk. Besides the two regiments already raised, the Convention resolved to raise seven more. Six of these were placed on the continental establishment, to w hose officers Congress granted
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commissions, in order, beginning with Col. Henry, of the 1st, and ending with Col. Buckner, of the 6th Regiment .*
Col. Patrick Henry resigned his commission, much to the regret of the regiment, and was thereupon chosen a member of the Con- vention from Hanover.
The General Convention of Virginia met at the capital, May 6th, 1776, and appointed Edmund Pendleton. President, and John 'Tazewell, Clerk. Since the flight of Dunmore, the House of Bur- gesses had met twice, pursuant to adjournment, but on neither occasion was there a quorum. They now met on the same day with the Convention, but " did neither proceed to business, nor adjourn as a House of Burgesses." Considering their meeting as illegal, not in conformity with a summons from a governor, they unanimously dissolved themselves. " Thus was the tottering fabric of the royal government utterly demolished in Virginia ; to substi- tute in its stead a structure of more elegant and more solid form, was now the task of the Convention."
On the 15th of this month, the convention, after appealing to " the Searcher of hearts" for the sincerity of their foriner declara- tions in favor of peace and union with the mother country, adopted unanimously the following resolution :
" That the delegates appointed to represent this colony in General Congress, be in- structed to propose to that respectable body, to declare the united colonies free and inde- pendent States, absolved from all allegiance to, or dependence on the crown or parla- ment of Great Britain ; and that they give the assent of this colony to such declaration, and whatever measures may be thought necessary by Congress for forming foreign alliances, and a confederation of the colonies, at such time, and in the manner that to them shail seem best : provided, that the power of forming governments for, and the regulations of the internal concerns of each colony, be left to the colonial legislatures."
The convention appointed a committee to prepare a Declaration of Rights, and a Plan of Government, for the colony. The former was adopted on the 12th of June. On the 29th a constitution was unanimously adopted; "the first which was framed with a view to a permanent separation from Great Britain since those of South Carolina and New Hampshire, which alone preceded it, were to continue only until a reconciliation could be effected be- tween the mother country and the colontes. This plan of govern- ment was proposed by the celebrated George Mason,f and had been adopted in committee before the arrival of one which Mr. Jefferson, then in Congress, had prepared. They however ac- cepted Mr. Jefferson's preamble, which is nearly the same as the recital of wrongs in the Declaration of Independence."}
* The following were appointed field-officers :---
Regiment. Colonels.
Lirut .- Colonels.
Majors. Thomas Marshall.
Third .. Hugh Mercer,
George Weedon,
Fourth, Adam Steven,
Isaac Read,
R. Lawson.
Fifth, William Peachy,
Win. Crawford,
J. Parker.
Sixth, Mordecai Buckner,
Thomas Elliott,
J. Hendricks.
Seventh, Wmn. Dangerfield,
Alex. M .Clanahan,
Win. Nelson.
Eighth, Peter Muhlenburg,
P. Helvistone.
Ninth, Thomas Fleming,
A. Bowman, George Matthews, M. Donavon.
'1 The Declaration of Rights was also drawn up by him. ¿ Tecker's Life of Jefferson
15
*
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The following appointments were made under the constitution : Patrick Henry. Esq., governor. John Page. Dudley Digges, John Taylor, John Blair, Benjamin Harrison of Berkeley, Barthol- omew Dandridge, Charles Carter of Shirley, and Benjamin Harri- son of Brandon, counsellors of state. Thomas Whiting, John Hutchings, Champion Travis, Thomas Newton, jun., and George Webb, Esquires, commissioners of admiralty. Thomas Everard and James Cocke, Esquires, commissioners for settling accounts. Edmund Randolph, Esq., attorney-general.
On the 5th of July the convention adjourned. Though the ses- sion was brief, it was an important one. Among other acts besides the formation of a government, they passed an ordinance for erect- ing salt works in the colony : for establishing a board of com- missioners to superintend and direct the naval affairs of the colony : for raising six troops of horse : for arranging the counties into districts for electing senators, &c. They also resolved to expunge from the litany such parts as related to the king and royal family, and substituted, in the morning and evening service, such forms of expression as were better suited to the new state of affairs
The Declaration of Independence, so strongly recommended by the Virginia convention, was passed in Congress on the 4th of July, 1776; and, agreeably to an order of the privy council, it was proclaimed on the 25th of the same month at the capitol, the court-house, and the palace at Williamsburg, amidst the acclama- tions of the people, and the firing of cannon and musketry.
The energetic measures that had been adopted by the Virginia troops in precluding the flotilla of Dunmore from obtaining sup- plies, had at last obliged them to burn the intrenchments they had erected near the ruins of Norfolk, and seek a refuge on board their ships, where disease and hunger pursued them. The presence of his lordship in the lower country had given countenance to the disaffected, who were there numerous. A vigorous course was ordered to be pursued towards them. Col. Woodford. stationed at Kemps' Landing, (row Kempsville, Princess Anne,) humanely executed these orders, which were intrusted to him by the commit- tee of safety, through Maj. Gen. Chas. Lee.
Dunmore, with his fleet, loft Hampton Roads about the Ist of June, landed and erected fortifications on Gwynn's island, within the limits of what is now Matthew's county. On the 9th of July he was attacked by the Virginians, under Brig. Gen. Andrew Lewis. and forced to abandon the island. Shortly after. Dunmore dispatched the miserable remnant of his followers to Florida and the West Indies, and sailing himself to the north, forever left the shores of Virginia.
The nefarious plot of Connelly was only part of an extensive scheme of operations, which the British had meditated in seeking an alliance with the savages. By their instigation the Indians were harassing the frontiers of the southern srates to such a de- gree that a combination was formed to destroy their settlements
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on the borders. Col. Christian, on the part of this state, marched with a body of Virginia troops into the Cherokee country, burnt four of their towns, and compelled them to sue for peace.
On the 7th of October, 1776, the Assembly of Virginia met for the first time; Edmund Pendleton was chosen Speaker of the House of Delegates, and Archibald Carey of the Senate. One of the earliest of their labors was the repeal of all acts of Parliament against dissenters, which was the first direct blow struck at the established church in the state.
In the session of this fall, the Assembly appointed Thomas Jef- ferson, Edmund Pendleton, George Wythe, George Mason, and Thomas Ludwell Lee, Esquires, a committee to revise the State laws, and prepare a code more suitable to the new state of affairs : the execution of the work devolved on the three first.
At the north, the war was progressing with various success. The Americans had been defeated at Long Island, New York came into the possession of the British, and General Montgomery feil before the walls of Quebec, and his army retreated from Canada. Washington's army, reduced to 3,500 effective men, retreated through New Jersey, before the overwhelming force of the enemy, and crossed the Delaware. On the 25th of December, 1776, Washington recrossed the Delaware, and the victories of Trenton and Princeton, the first on the 20th of December, and the last on the 3d of January, at this the darkest period of the revolution, reanimated the hopes of the friends of liberty.
The principal object of the British in the campaign of 1777, was to open a commu- nication between New York city and Canada, and to separate New England from the other states. Early in the year, Burgoyne was sent for this purpose, with 7,000 men, from Canada. He was arrested by Gen. Gates, and on the 17th of October, was com- pelled to surrender his whole army to him. The capture of Burgoyne spread joy through- out the country. Washington, in the mean while, was in anxious suspense, watching the operations of Sir Wm. Howe, who had sailed from New York with 18,000 men, and a large fleet commanded by Lord Howe. Apprehensive it was a ruse, designed to draw him to the south, and leave the north open to their attacks, Washington proceeded to Bucks co., Penn., and there waited the destination of the enemy.
The British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake, and landed the army in Maryland which soon after defeated the Americans at Brandywine and Germantown. In the former action, the Virginia brigades, under Wayne and Weedon, distinguished themselves. The British did not follow up these victories with vigor. While the Americans lost ooly a few hundred men, these conflicts improved them in discipline, and better fitted them for the contest.
Although the seat of the war was for so long a period transfer- red from Virginia, her soil was doomed soon to be again trod by the foot of the invader. Previous, however, to giving an abstract of the military operations which occurred here in the last few years of the revolutionary struggle, we shall glance at a few mat- ters too important to be omitted in even this brief' sketch of her history.
While the events above alluded to were transpiring at the north, Virginia was exerting every nerve, in furnishing additional men and means, for the common cause, and adopting energetic measures against the disaffected within her own bosom. Among them were many British merchants, settled in the towns, in whose hands was much of the trade. These were compelled to leave the state, or be taken in custody. An oath of allegiance to the com- monwealth, was also required of all free-born male inhabitants
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1
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over 16 years of age. At this time, a taste for elegant literaturc and profound research prevailed throughout Virginia. The learned Dr. Small, of William and Mary College, bad chiefly contributed to the diffusion of that taste before the war, through the encour- agement of Gov. Fauquier, " the ablest character who had then ever filled the chair of government in Virginia." A literary and scientific society was instituted, amid the excitement of revolution- ary scenes, of which Mr. John Page* was president, and Prof. James Madisont one of the secretaries. They held a meeting in the capitol, and several valuable philosophical papers were read. The calls of war, unfortunately, prevented a ripe development of the association.
A loan-office was opened at Williamsburg, to effect two resolu- tions of Congress for the obtaining a loan of continental money for the use of the United States. Another loan-office was estab- lished by the state, for borrowing. on the part of the commonwealth, one million of dollars, to supersede the necessity of emitting more paper money.
It was fortunate for Virginia that she had at this time, on her western borders, an individual of rare military genius, in the person of Col. George Rogers Clarke, " the Hannibal of the West," who not only saved her back. settlements from Indian fury, but planted her standard far beyond the Ohio. The governor of the Canadian settlements in the Illinois country, by every possible method, instigated the Indians to annoy the frontier. Virginia placed a small force of about 250 men under Clarke, who descending the Ohio, hid their boats, and marched northwardly, with their provisions on their backs. These being consumed, they subsisted for two days on roots, and, in a state of famine, appeared before Kaskaskias, unseen and unheard. At midnight, they surprised and took the town and fort, which had resisted a much larger force ; then seizing the golden moment, sent a detachment who with equal success surprised three other towns. Roche. blave, the obnoxious governor. was sent to Virginia. On his person were found written instructions from Quebec, to excite the Indians to hostilities, and reward them for the scalps of the Americans. The settlers transferred their allegiance to Virginia, and she, as the territory belonged to her by conquest and charter, in the autumnal session of 1778 erected it into a county to be called Illinois. Insulated in the heart of the Indian coun. try, in the midst of the most ferocious tribes, few men but Clarke could have preserved this acquisition. Hamilton, the governor of Detroit, a bold and tyrannical personage, determined, with an overwhelming force of British and Indians, to penetrate up the Ohio to Fort Fitt, to sweep all the principal settlements in his way, and besiege Kaskaskias. Clarke despaired of keeping possession of the country, but he resolved to preserve this post, or die in its defence. While he was strengthening the fortifications, be received information that Hamilton, who was at Fort St. Vincent, had weakened his force by sending some Indians against the frontiers. This information, to the genius of Clarke. disclosed, with the rapidity of an electric flash, not only safety but new glory. Te resolve to attack Hamilton before he could collect the Indians, was the work of a moment .- the only hope of saving the country. With a band of 150 gallant and hardy comrades, he marched across the country. It was in February, 1779. When within nine miles of the enemy, it took these intrepid men five days to cross the drowned lands of the Wa- bash, having often to wade up to their breasts in water. Had not the weather been remarkably mild, they must have perished. On the evening of the 23d, they landed in sight of the fort, before the enemy knew any thing of their approach. After a siege of eighteen hours it surrendered, without the loss of a man to the besiegers. The governor was sent prisoner to Williamsburg, and considerable stores fell into the posses- sion of the conqueror. Other auspicious circumstances crowned this result. Clarke, intercepting a convoy from f'anada. on their way to this post, took the mail, 40 prisoners, and goods to the value of $15,000 ; and to crown all, his express from Virginia arrived
Afterwards governor of Virginia. . t Subsequently bishop of the Episcopal Church
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with the thanks of the assembly to him and his gallant band, for their reduction of the . country about Kaskaskias. This year Virginia extended her western establishments, through the agency of Col. Clarke, and had several fortifications erected, among which was Fort Jefferson, on the Mississippi.
On the 2d of January, 1781, the assembly, in conformity to the wishes of Congress, ceded to the United States her large territory northwest of the Ohio. To this liberal Incasure, Virginia was induced by a desire of accelerating the general ratification of the articles for the confederation of the Union.
On the accession of Sir Henry Clinton, in the place of Sir Wil- liam Howe, to the chief command, the war was carried on with greater energy. The reduction of the south seemed an object less difficult, and of as much value as the north ; hence the plan of conquest was somewhat altered. Georgia was threatened with subjection by an expedition under Lieut. Col. Campbell. while Sir Henry Clinton prepared, in person, to invade South Carolina.
The central position of Virginia had hitherto, in a measure, saved her from the incursions of the enemy. Sir Henry Clinton saw that the resistance of the southern states would depend much npon Virginia, and he was determined to humble her pride and destroy her resources. For this purpose an expedition was planned, and early in May, 1779, their squadron, under Sir George Collier, anchored in Hampton Roads. Fort Nelson, just below Portsmouth, was abandoned to them, and on the 11th. the British general, Matthews, took possession of Portsmouth. The enemy destroyed large quantities of naval and military stores at Gosport and Norfolk ; burnt Suifolk, and many private houses, and destroy- ed upwards of 100 vessels. The army shortly embarked for New York with their plunder.
" This destruction of private property, which ought to be held sacred by civilized nations at war, called for the interference of the Assembly. A resolve was passed in that body, requiring the governor to remonstrate against this cruel mode of carrying on the war. The fall of Charleston, and the success of the British arms in the south, under Lord Cornwallis, portended much evil to Vir- ginia. Her reduction was determined on by the commander-in- chief, and a plan, apparently big with success, was laid for that purpose. As soon as Clinton was informed of the defeat of the southern army by Lord Cornwallis, he dispatched Brigadier- General Leslie, with a force of about three thousand men, against Virginia. The co-operation of this detachment with the army under Cornwallis, who was expected to enter Virginia on the south, appeared fully adequate to the object in view.
" Leslie arrived in the Chesapeake bay in October. 1780, and landing at Portsmouth, took possession of such vessels and other property as could be found on the coast. The defeat of Major Ferguson, who had been ordered to mantruvre through the north- ern parts of South Carolina, and was expected to join Cornwallis at Charlotte, caused the latter to alter his plans, and prevented his junction with Leslie. Some time elapsed before Leshe could oh- tain information of the situation of Cornwallis, and the circum
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stances that occurred to prevent the important junction with that officer. Meanwhile the governor of Virginia was earnestly em- ployed in preparing to oppose the invaders. Thomas Jefferson, successor of Patrick Henry, was then governor of the state, and the assembly, composed of men selected for their wisdom and patriotism, was in session. At this crisis, General Greene, who had been appointed to succeed Gates in the command of the south- ern army, arrived in Richmond, on his way to the south. As much reliance had been placed on the supplies to be received from Vir- ginia, Greene was not a little embarrassed to find her in such a weak and exposed situation. After making such arrangements as he deemed necessary, he continued his journey to the south, leav- ing Baron Steuben to direct the defence of the state. General Gates had removed his head-quarters to Charlotte, and there he surrendered into the hands of Greene the command of the southern army. In the mean time, General Leslie, leaving the shores of Virginia, sailed for Charleston, where he found orders requiring him to repair with his army to Camden. On the 19th of Decem- ber he began his march, with about fifteen hundred men, to effect a junction with the army under Cornwallis. This he accomplished without difficulty. On the 11th of January, Cornwallis advanced towards North Carolina. Wishing to disperse the force under General Morgan, who had been manœuvring in the western parts of the state, he dispatched Colonel Tarleton in pursuit of him. The splendid victory of the Cowpens checked the ardor of the pursuers, and revived the drooping spirits of the Americans. The southern army was, however, unable to face their enemy in the field ; and the movements of Cornwallis indicating a design to bring Greene to action, compelled the latter to retreat towards Virginia. This he safely accomplished, notwithstanding the vigor- ous pursuit of the British general, who had destroyed his baggage in order to effect his movements with more celerity. The van of the British army arrived just after the rear of the American had passed the Dan, which forms the dividing line between the two states. The next day General Greene wrote to Mr. Jefferson, governor of Virginia, and to Baron Steuben, giving information of his situation, and requesting reinforcements.
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