CHAP.VIII. long been disused; and the next morning, 1781. when the British general expected to seize his prey, he had the mortification to perceive that the American army had crossed the Rivanna, and taken a strong position behind Mechunck creek. This position, which in a great measure commanded the route leading from the camp of his lordship to Albemarle old courthouse, could not be attacked but with disadvantage. At this place too, a strong reenforcement of mountain militia was received.

retires to the lower country.

Apprehending the force opposed to him to be greater than it was in reality, lord Cornwallis abandoned the objects which he had pursued, and retired first to Richmond, and afterwards Cornwallis to Williamsburg. It is not improbable, that on perceiving the difficulties to be encountered near the mountains, where even a victory might be attended with no decisive consequences, he chose to transfer the war to the lower country, the face of which was more favourable to his views.

The marquis followed with cautious circumspection, taking care to keep the command of the upper country, and to avoid a general enJune 18. gagement. On the 18th of June, while in the

neighbourhood of Richmond, he was re-enforced by baron Steuben, with four or five hundred new levies. His army was now in. creased to four thousand men, of whom two thousand were regulars; but only one thousand

five hundred of them were disciplined troops. CHAP.VIII. That of lord Cornwallis was probably rather 1781. more numerous, was composed entirely of veterans, and was furnished with a powerful and well mounted cavalry, who had spread terror as well as desolation through the country, and had greatly intimidated the militia.

As the British army retreated to Williamsburg, La Fayette who sought a partial, though he avoided a general engagement, kept his main body at the distance of about twenty miles, while his light parties pressed on their rear, which was covered by a strong corps commanded by colonel Simcoe.

That officer was overtaken by colonel Butler about six miles from Williamsburg, and a sharp action ensued attended with loss on both sides. The Americans claimed the advantage; but they were obliged to retire by the approach of the whole British army, which moved out to protect their rear. After this skirmish the marquis encamped about twenty miles above Williamsburg, in a secure position near James river, interposing the Chicahominy between him and the enemy.

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. The tobacco es

While the British army overran the country, their ships sailed up the rivers, pillaged the farms, received

CHAP. VIII. pecially was every where committed to the 1781. flames, and the resources of the state were

considerably diminished: but no solid advantage was obtained from which a reasonable expectation might be indulged, that any consider. able progress had been made in accomplishing the great object of the war. Although from

the negroes who fled from their masters, and in some instances reduced the houses to ashes. While they were in the Potowmac, a flag was sent on shore at Mount Vernon, requiring a supply of fresh provisions. The steward of general Washington, believing it to be his duty to save the property of his principal, and entertaining fears for the magnificent buildings of the commander in chief, went on board with the flag, carried a supply of fresh provisions, asked the restoration of the slaves who had taken refuge in the fleet, and requested that the buildings and improvements might be spared. Mr. Lund Washington, to whose care the general had intrusted the management of his estate, immediately communicated these circumstances to him, and at the same time informed him that he too had sustained considerable losses. "I am sorry," said the general, in reply, "to hear of your loss: I am a little sorry to hear of my own. But that which gives me most concern is, that you should have gone on board the vessels of the enemy and furnished them with refreshments. It would have been a less painful circumstance to me, to have heard, that in consequence of your non-compliance with their re quest they had burnt my house and laid the plantation in ruins. You ought to have considered yourself as my representative, and should have reflected on the bad example of communicating with the enemy, and making a volun tary offer of refreshment to them, with a view to prevent a conflagration."

various causes, especially from a want of arms, CHAP.VIII. and from that general repugnance to the ser- 1781. vice which a harassed, unpaid militia, must be expected to manifest, less resistance was encountered than the strength and population of the state had rendered probable; yet no disposition was openly manifested, except in a remote quarter,* to join the royal standard or to withdraw from the contest. The marquis complained of "much slowness, and much carelessness in the country: but the disposi tions of the people," he said, "were good, and they required only to be awakened." This he thought would be best effected by the presence of general Washington, an event for which he expressed the most anxious solicitude.

The governor also, with most of the members of congress as well as many other respectable citizens, urged the commander in chief to the defence of his native state.

But Washington, contemplating America as his country, and the general safety as his object, deemed it of the utmost importance to remain on the Hudson, for the purpose of

* In the county of Hampshire some disposition to take up arms in support of the royal cause was discovered; Morgan, but whose ill health had forced him out of the army, immediately formed a body of mounted riflemen, at whose head he placed himself, and speedily reduced the malcontents to unconditional submission.

CHAP.VIII. digesting and conducting a grand plan of com1781. bined operations, then meditated against New

York. By executing this plan, he counted more certainly on relieving the southern states than by any other system of conduct it was then in his power to adopt.

An express carrying letters which were designed to communicate to congress the result of his consultations on this subject, with the commanders of the land and naval forces of France, was intercepted in the Jerseys; and ton's leiters when brought before sir Henry Clinton, his

General
Washing

are inter

cepted.

letters disclosed the views of the American general against the seat of the British power in the United States. This interesting discovery seems to have alarmed sir Henry for the safety of New York, and to have determined him to require the return of a part of the troops in Virginia. Supposing himself too weak, after complying with this requisition, to remain at Williamsburg, lord Cornwallis took the resolution of passing James river, and retiring to Portsmouth.

In pursuance of this resolution, he marched from Williamsburg; and encamped in such a manner as to cover a ford into the Island of Jamestown; and on the same evening, the queen's rangers crossed over into the island, and the two succeeding days were employed in passing over the baggage.