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 17
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" Early in December, 1780, Governor Jefferson received a letter from General Washington, informing him that preparations were making by the enemy at New York, for an expedition to the south, which was probably designed against Virginia. On the 30th, Brigadier-General Arnold. with near fifty sail of vessels, arrived in the Chesapeake, and embarking in lighter vessels, proceeded up James River. On receiving news of this approaching squadron, Mr. Jefferson dispatched General Nelson to collect and arrange a. force with as much haste as possible, while Baron Steuben, with about two hundred men, marched to Petersburg. On the 4th of January, Arnold landed his force, consisting of about nine hundred men, at Westover, the seat of M.r. Byrd, and marched to Richmond
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without opposition. Thus was the metropolis of Virginia exposed to the insult and depredation of a traitor ; her stores and archives plundered, and her governor compelled to seek security by imme- diate flight. From Richmond, Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was dispatched to Westham, where he destroyed the only cannon foun- dry in the state. At this place they also destroyed the military stores, which had, on the alarm caused by Arnold's approach, been removed from Richmond. After two days spent in pillaging public and private property, General Arnold returned to Westover, where on the 10th he re-embarked his men, and descended the river. On his way he landed detachments at Mackay's mill, and at Smithfield, where they destroyed some public stores ; and on the 20th, arrived at Portsmouth.
" Major-General Steuben, assisted by General Nelson, having collected a considerable force, marched in pursuit of Arnold. But the movements of the latter were too rapid to be interrupted by the tardy advances of undisciplined militia. They were, however, able to prevent similar incursions, and by remaining in the vicinity of Portsmouth, they confined the enemy to their entrenchments. On hearing of the invasion of Virginia by the traitor Arnold, and his encampment at Portsmouth, General Washington formed a plan to cut off his retreat. He intimated to Count Rochambeau and Admiral D'Estouches, the importance of an immediate movement of the French fleet to the Chesapeake; and at the same time de- tached the Marquis De la Fayette, with twelve hundred men, to Virginia. The French admiral, not entering fully into the views of Washington, detached only a small part of his squadron, who, from their inability to effect the desired purpose, returned to the fleet at Rhode Island. The situation of Arnold had induced Sir H. Clinton to detach to his aid Major-General Phillips, to whom the command of the British forces in Virginia was committed. The united detachments under Arnold and Phillips formed a body of about three thousand five hundred men. Being able to act on the offensive, General Phillips left one thousand men in Portsmouth, and proceeded with the remainder up James River, for the purpose of completing the destruction of the internal strength and resources of the state. Opposite to Williamsburg he landed, and from thence sent to Yorktown a detachment, who destroyed the naval stores in that place. Re-embarking, they ascended the river to City Point, where James River receives the waters of the Appamattox. At this place Phillips landed, and directed his march to Petersburg, which stands on the bank of the last-mentioned stream, about twelve miles from its junction with the former.
" Virginia was at thus time in a defenceless situation : all the regular force of the state was under Greene, in South Carolina, and her whole reliance was upon militia, of whom about two thou- sand were now in the field. This force, half of which was stationed on each side of James River, was under the command of Baren Steuben and General Nelson. Steuben directed the southern divi-
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sion, on whom the defence of Petersburg devolved, and from which place he was compelled to retreat by the superior force of Phillips. During his stay in Petersburg, General Phillips destroyed the ware- houses, and spread terror and devastation, the constant attendants of British invasion, through the town. Leaving Petersburg, he crossed the Appamattox into Chesterfield, and detaching Arnold to. Osborne's to destroy the tobacco at that place, he proceeded him- self to Chesterfield court house, where he destroyed the barracks and stores which had been formed there for the accommodation of recruits designed for the southern army. The two divisions of the army uniting again, marched into Manchester, where was renewed the scene of pillage and devastation transacted in Petersburg and Chesterfield. The fortunate arrival of the Marquis De la Fayette at Richinend, with a body of regular troops, saved the metropolis · from a similar fate. From Manchester, General Phillips proceeded down the river to Bermuda hundred, opposite City Point, where his fleet remained during his incursion. Here he re-embarked his troops. and fell down the river, while the marquis followed on the north side to watch his movements. He soon learned that Phillips, instead of returning to Portsmouth, had suddenly relanded his army on the south side of the river, one division at Brandon, and the other at City Point, and was on his march to Petersburg. It immediately occurred to the marquis, that a junction with Corn- wallis, who was then approaching Virginia, was the object which Phillips had in view, and to prevent which he determined to throw himself, by forced marches, into Petersburg before the arrival of that general. Phillips, however, reached that place first, and La- fayette halting, recrossed the river, and posted himself a few miles below Richmond. The death of General Phillips, soon after his arrival in Petersburg, devolved the command of the army again on General Arnold.
"Cornwallis was now on his way to Petersburg, and having crossed the Roanoke, he detached Colonel Tarleton to secure the fords of the Meherrin, while Colonel Simcoe, with the rangers, was sent for the same purpose to the Nottoway. The enemy effected bis passage over these rivers without interruption, and on the 20th of May entered Petersburg. In addition to this united force, which seemed fully sufficient to crush every germ of opposition in Vir- ginia, General Leslie had again made his appearance on the coast. with a reinforcement of two regiments and two battations, part of which was stationed in Portsmouth, under the command of that officer. The Marquis De la Fayette continued near Richmond. with a force of about four thousand men. nearly three-fourths of whom were militia. Steuben, who was on the south side of James River, proceeding with about six hundred Jevies to reinforce Gen- eral Greene, was suddenly recalled, and ordered to take a position at the Point of Fork, where were deposited some military stores. General Weedon was requested to collect a force near Fredericks- burg, for the purpose of protecting an important manufactory of
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arms at Falmouth. In addition to these different forces, General Wayne was on his way to Virginia, with a detachment from the northern army of about nine hundred men. The strength of the enemy was, however, too great for any force Virginia could bring into the field, and her fate, as far as superior numbers and disci- pline could influence it, seemed now to be decided.
"Cornwallis, after resting four days in Petersburg, proceeded down the south side of Appamattox and James rivers, until he came opposite Westover, where he determined to cross. Lafay- ette, informed of the enemy's movement, left his encampment below Richmond, and retreated behind the Chickahomony River, keeping the direction towards Fredericksburg. The enemy pursued him across that stream, anxious to bring him to battle before his junction with Wayne. Lafayette, however, escaped the impend- ing blow, and hastening across the Pamunky and Mattapony, the confluence of whose streams form York River, he endeavored to gain the road on which Wayne was approaching. The British commander, failing in his project of bringing the marquis to battle, thought proper to change his course, and determined to penetrate with his detachments the interior of the state. Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe was directed to attack Baron Steuben at Point of Fork, (a point of land formed by the junction of the Rivanna and Fluvanna rivers.) and destroy the stores at that place : while Colonel Tarle- ton advanced to Charlottesville, where the General Assembly was then convened.
" Simcoe succeeded in driving Steuben from his post, and destroy- ing the magazines under his protection ; while Tarleton pushed on to Charlottesville, eager to add to his numerous exploits the capture of a corps of republican legislators. His approach, however, was discovered by the Assembly in time for the members to make their escape. Mr. Jefferson, the governor, on hearing of their approach, sought an asylum in the wilds of the mountain adjacent to his house. After destroying some military stores, which had been deposited in Charlottesville as a place of safety, Tarleton proceeded down the Rivanna, towards the Point of Fork, near to which Cornwallis had arrived with the main body of the army. Uniting with his army the different detachments, the British commander marched to Richmond, which he entered on the 16th of June. Meanwhile Lafayette had formed a junction with Wayne, and was watching with a cautious eye the movements of the foe.
" After halting a few days in Richmond, Cornwallis resumed his march towards the coast, and on the 25th of the month arrived in Williamsburg, while the marquis, with a force of between four and five thousand men, followed close on his rear. From that place the British commander detached Colonel Simcoe to the Chicka- homony, for the purpose of destroying some boats and stores ou that river. Colonel Butler, with a detachment from the American camp, was immediately sent against this party, and a severe con- flict ensued, in which each side claimed the victory. After remain
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ing about a week in Williamsburg, the British commander pre- pared to cross the river, and selected James City island as the most eligible place to effect a passage. In the mean time, Lafayette and the intrepid General Wayne pressed close on his rear, with a view to strike as soon as the enemy should be weakened by the van having crossed the river. Under a mistaken belief that the separation of the enemy's force had actually taken place, an attack was made on the whole strength of the British army drawn up in order of battle. The approach of night saved the American army, who effected a retreat after losing, in killed, wounded and prison- ers, upwards of a hundred men. From a belief that a grand at- tack was intended on New York by the combined army, Sir H. Clinton had ordered Cornwallis to take a position near Portsmouth or Williamsburg, on tide-water, with a view to facilitate the trans- portation of his forces to New York, or such aid as might be deemed necessary. In obedience to this command, Cornwallis selected York and Gloucester as the most eligible situations, where he immediately concentrated his army. The bold and discerning mind of Washington soon formed a plan to strike his lordship while encamped at York-a plan no less wisely devised than successfully executed. The arrival of the French fleet in the Chesapeake, at this juncture, contributed essentially to the completion of his de- signs. Count De Grasse, on obtaining intelligence from Lafay- ette of the situation of the enemy, immediately detached four ships of the line to block up York River. Washington, fearful that Cornwallis might attempt to retreat to the south, sent orders to La- fayette to take effective measures to prevent his escape ; and also wrote to Mr. Jefferson, who was still governor of Virginia, urging him to yield every aid which his situation could afford, and which the importance of the object required. On the 14th of September, General Washington arrived in Williamsburg, which was now the head-quarters of Lafayette, and proceeding to Hampton, the plan of siege was concerted with the Count De Grasse. About the 25th of the month the troops of the north arrived. and formed a junction with those under De la Fayette. The whole regular force thus combined, consisted of about twelve thousand men. In addition to these, there was a body of Virginia militia under the command of the brave and patriotic General Nelson. The trenches were opened by the combined forces on the 6th of October, at the dis- tance of six hundred yards from the enemy's works. On the 19:h the posts of York and Gloucester were surrendered to the combined forces of America and France." .
The news of the surrender of Cornwallis spread universal joy throughout the country. The termination of the war was evidently near,-a war for constitutional liberty. In its trying scenes, Vir- ginia was among the foremost. When the colonies had gone too far to allow a hope for an honorable submission, she was the first to adopt a perfectly independent constitution -- the first to recom- mend the Declaration of Independence : her great son was the first
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among the leaders of the armies of the nation, and her officers and soldiers, whether in the shock of battle, or marching half-clad, ill-fed, and barefooted, amid the snows of the north, through pestilential marshes, and under a burning sun at the far south, evinced a bravery and fortitude unsurpassed.
CHAPTER VIII.
FROM THE CLOSE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
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End of the war .- Action of the Virginia Convention upon the Federal Constitution .- Origin of the Federal and Democratic parties .--- Opposition to the Alien and Sedition Iuws in Virginia .- Report of Mr. Madison thercon .- War of 1812 .- Revision of the Sinic Constitution in 1829-30 .- Action of Virginia upon the subject of Slavery in 1831-2 .-- Policy of the state in reference to Internal Improvement and Education.
ALTHOUGH active military operations were prolonged in various parts of the country, especially at the south, after the capture o Cornwallis's army, it may be said that the war was effectually extinguished in Virginia by that memorable event. Most of the troops which had been raised for the defence of the state were in a short time disbanded, and although the negotiations for peace be- tween the two countries were rather slow in their progress, yet the conviction soon became general. that the signal defeat of the enemy at Yorktown would lead to that happy result. The states- men of Virginia took an active part in the discussions which fol- lowed the treaty of peace, growing out of the acknowledged in. competency of the articles of confederation to bind the states to- gether by ties sufficiently strong. The firmest patriots were alarm- ed at the symptoms of approaching dissolution, and none were more conspicuous in their efforts to avert that catastrophe than the great man who led the armies of the Republic, and achieved its in- dependence. The Convention which assembled in Richmond, in June, 1788, to ratify the federal constitution, was composed of some of the most illustrious men in the state. The names of Mar- shall,* Madison,* Monroe,* Mason,f Nicholas,į Henry.§ Ran-
* Chief-Justice Marshall, and Presidents Madison and Monroe.
t There were two Masons in the convention : George Mason, a man of transcendent talents, aad an active participator in the formation of the first Constitution of Virginia, in 1776 ; and Stevens Thompson Mason, who was also a man of fine abilities, and a Sena- tor in Congress during Washington's administration.
# There were two gentlemen of the name of Nicholas ; Wilson Carey Nicholas, af- terwards governor of Virginia, and George Nicholas, his brother, who removed to Kens- tueky, and was a prominent man in that state. They have an only surviving brother Judge Philip N. Nicholas, of Richmond.
§ The celebrated Patrick Henry.
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dolph, Pendleton,t Lee,} Washington,§ Wythe,|| Innes,"T Har- rison, ** Bland, t+ Grayson,t and a host of others, shed a lustre upon the deliberations of that august body, which has never been surpassed in the annals of the commonwealth. " The de- bates as given to the public, though no doubt imperfect, exhibit a. display of eloquence and talents, certainly at that time unequalled in the country."§§
Yet it may appear strange to the present generation, that such was the diversity of opinion which prevailed, and so serions were the apprehensions entertained by many, that too much power was conceded to the general government by the instrument proposed for adoption, that it was only ratified by a lean majority of ten, out of 168 members, who voted on the final question. The opposite political opinions which were developed on that occasion, were strongly impressed upon the public mind, and traces of their influ- ence may be easily distinguished in the subsequent history of par- ties in Virginia. The name of federalist, which was originally ap- plied to those who were in favor of adopting the Constitution, was afterwards used to designate the party which favored that construction of the instrument supposed to give greater efficiency to the powers it conferred ; while those, for the most part, who were hostile to the new form of government, preferred to be distin- goished by the title of democrats, or republicans.|||| These dis- tinctions, were aggravated and widened by the subsequent action of Congress, and especially by the passage of the Alien and Sedi- tion laws, in Mr. Adams's administration. These measures en- countered the most decided opposition in Virginia. Mr. Madison, who was one of the ablest and most distinguished advocates of the federal constitution, conceived that its true meaning had been grossly perverted by the measures referred to-and having been
* Edmund Randolph, a distinguished lawyer ; governor of Virginia, and a member of Washington's first Cabinet.
f Edmund Pendleton, an eminent jurist, and president of the Court of Appeals.
+ Henry Lee, an active partisan officer of the revolution, and afterwards governor of the state. He was the historian of the Southern war.
6 Bushrod Washington, nephew of George Washington, and a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.
|| The venerable Judge Wythe, Chancellor of the state.
" James Innes, an eloquent and eminent lawyer, and attorney-general of the state.
** Benjamin Harrison, the father of President Harrison ; a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and governor of the state in 1781.
tt Theodorick Bland, an active officer of the revolution, in the family of Washington.
#! Mr. Grayson. an eminent lawyer and statesman, of surpassing merit.
§§ Political and Civil History of the United States ; by the Hon. Timothy Pitkin, of Connecticut.
fill The great orator, Patrick Henry, was one of the most prominent opponents to the adoption of the federal constitution ; but after its adoption, he determined to support the government in the exercise of these powers which he believed to have been legitimately conferred, but against the giving of which he had so earnestly comended. Accordingly he was elected to the Legislature. in the spring of 1799, resolved to sustain in that body the constitutionality of the Alien and Sedition laws. His death, which occurred before the meeting of the Legislature, spared him the great and perhaps unequal conflict .- See Wirt's Life of Henry.
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elected to. the state legislature for the session of 1799, prepared his celebrated report, which received the sanction of that body, by a considerable majority. This report, ever since its adoption, has been regarded by the state-rights, or democratic party, as a political text-book, or authoritative exposition of the federal con- stitution ; yet it is affirmed by their opponents, that its reasons and deductions have been frequently applied to cases which were not within the contemplation of its original framer. or of many oth- ers, who sanctioned its application to the Alien and Sedition laws.
Passing over the minor events in the annals of the state, it may be sufficient to observe, that she gave a constant and cordial sup- port to the measures of her presidents. Jefferson and Madison, which were preliminary to the war of 1812, declared against Great Britain. During the existence of that war, she contributed liber- ally her treasure, and the services of her people, to the defence of the country. To say nothing of the distinguished men and nu- merous recruits with which she supplied the land and naval forces of the Union, instances were not wanting of the display of heroic valor within her own borders, in repelling the predatory and sau- guinary depredations of the enemy. Hampton, Craney Island, the White House, and various other points on the Potomac, will long be remembered as scenes of gallant enterprise or patient endurance of the hardships of war. Her sons from the mountains and val- leys of her extensive western domain. marched with alacrity to the seaboard, and submitted, without murpairing, to the toils and perils of the camp ; and hundreds paid the forfeit of their lives in a climate which, to them, habit and nature had rendered uncon- genial and fatal.
Although the state was a cordial and zealous supporter of the war, and perhaps suffered less than some of the more exposed of her sister commonwealths, yet she was by no means disinclined to peace ; although, in the opinion of many, the terms upon which that blessing was acquired were not precisely consistent with the objects for which the war was declared. This, however, is one of the usual contingencies upon which the mortal conflicts of nations are waged. They fight for principle, but are obliged to make peace from necessity ; and there is no truth which is taught us by experience more salutary, than that peace, even with its at- tendant disadvantages, is more tolerable than war, which places every thing at hazard, and is always followed by multiplied hor- rors.
Nothing, perhaps, occurred of sufficient consequence to be no- ticed by the general anualist or historian. after the peace of 1815. until the period which brought about the Coneral Convention of 1829, assembled for the purpose of revising the state constitution; a frame of government which had been established prior to the Declaration of Independence. and which was, therefore, consecrated in the affections of a large portion of the people by being asso-
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ciated with revolutionary scenes and recollections. It is not to be denied, however, that some of the complaints of those who were clamorous for reform, were in themselves reasonable, even if no serious inconvenience and mischief had been experienced in prac- tice. The grievance which had been most earnestly dwelt upon in the popular discussions, was the great inequality of representa- tion in the state legislature. Counties of unequal size, wealth, and population, were represented in the state councils by an equal number of delegates ; and although perhaps the interests of large sections or divisions were fully protected in the practical operation of government, yet the sense of local wrong was too powerful to be resisted. The call of a convention was sanctioned by a ma- jority of the people, and that body assembled in Richmond in Oc- tober, 1829. No set of men of more varied talents, or of riper experience and wisdom, had been organized as a public body in Virginia, since the meeting of the state convention which ratified the federal constitution ; and there are many conspicuous names found in the proceedings of both those distinguished assemblies .* How strikingly different were the results of the deliberations of the two conventions ! The first in the order of time contributed essentially to cement the union of the states, by the substitution of a solid fabric of government for a feeble confederation, which, in the language of the day, had been aptly compared to a "rope of sand." The Jabors of the latter, in the opinion of able minds, have not only resulted in no essential good, but in much practical mis- chief. Whether the opinion be or be not well-founded, it is not necessary to decide ; but it is certain that the amended constitu- tion has dissatisfied many, and that propositions have already been made to the legislature to adopt preliminary measures for a third convention.
Virginia having the most extensive territory of any of the states of the Union, and being the largest slaveholder, has always been peculiarly sensitive in regard to that species of property. As far back as the first administration of Gov. Monroe, at the commence- ment of the present century, a well-organized insurrection of the slaves in the immediate vicinity of the seat of government, was only prevented from resulting in the most frightful consequences to the persons and property of the whites, by the timely interposi- tion of Providence. From the best authenticated accounts, found- ed upon evidence taken at the time by the constituted authorities, a large body of slaves, supposed to be a thousand in number, head- ed by skilful leaders, and provided with the means of offensive
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