CHAP. IX.] AMOUNTED TO NOTHING. 323 State, or scarcely a dollar into the wholly bankrupt treasuryhad done, substantially, nothing. We have already shown why the power of impressment, in men or specifics, was, to a considerable extent, but a nominal resource; that at best it was no approach to an adequate resource against the merest handful of bold and active invaders. On the 21st of March, Sir Henry Clinton detached two thousand men, under General Phillips, from New York, for Virginia. They soon landed at Portsmouth, where Phillips assumed the principal command. On the 28th, not yet informed of the arrival of the British forces in the State, Governor Jefferson wrote the President of Congress: " I observe a late resolve of Congress, for furnishing a number of arms to the Southern States; and I lately wrote you on the subject of ammunition and cartridge paper. How much of this State the enemy, thus reinforced, may think proper to possess themselves of, must depend on their own moderation and caution, till these supplies arrive. We had hoped to receive by the French squadron under Monsieur Destouches, eleven hundred stand of arms, which we had at Rhode Island, but were disappointed. The necessity of hurrying forward the troops intended for the Southern operations, will be doubtless apparent from this letter." To the same, March 31st: "The amount of the reinforcements to the enemy, arrived at Portsmouth, is not yet known with certainty. Accounts differ from fifteen hundred to much larger numbers. We are informed they have a considerable number of horse. The affliction of the people, for want of arms, is great; that of ammunition is not yet known to them. An apprehension is added, that the enterprise on Portsmouth being laid aside, the troops under the Marquis Fayette will not come on. An enemy three thousand strong, not a regular in the State, nor arms to put in the hands of the militia, are, indeed, discouraging circumstances." To the same, April 7th: "Hearing that our arms from Rhode Island have arrived at Philadelphia, I have begged the favor of our delegates to send them on in wagons immediately, and, for the conveyance of my letter, have taken the liberty of setting the continental line of expresses in motion, which I hope our distress for arms will justify, though the errand be not purely continental." Phillips remained strengthening the fortifications at Portsmouth, and preparing boats for an expedition, until the 18th of April, when he embarked twenty-five hundred men, and com menced ascending the James. He landed near Williamsburg 324 PHILLIPS'S INVASION. [CHAP. IX. compelling Colonel Innes, in command of a body of militia there, to retire. One of his divisions entered Williamsburg on the 20th, and the other proceeded to the State shipyard on the Chickahominy, and burnt the small amount of shipping and stores found there. He reëmbarked on the 22d, and two days after again landed at City Point, on the south bank of the Appomatox at its confluence with the James. The next day he advanced on Petersburg. The place was defended by Baron Steuben with a thousand militia. By a series of skillful movements, the latter contrived to hold the enemy in check for a couple of hours, and he then retired over the Appomatox, taking up the bridge to prevent immediate pursuit. Phillips destroyed here a large quantity of tobacco, a considerable amount of other stores, and some small vessels. On the 27th, he marched with one division to Chesterfield Court House, and burnt the barracks and stores there. Arnold was dispatched with the other to Osborne's, where he destroyed a large quantity of tobacco, and then ascended the river to a place where most of the small marine force of the State had been collected. Arnold's artillery entirely commanding the river, the crews were speedily compelled to retire, which they did after scuttling and setting fire to their vessels.' Phillips and Arnold reunited and advanced to 1 It may be a matter of some curiosity to Virginia readers to compare the statements of this affair given by several Virginia writers, with the following, by a participator in the action, who was subsequently Consul-General of the United States to the Barbary Powers. "Commodore O'Brien" is honorably mentioned in the diplomatic papers of the period. He became, on his return, a respected citizen of Pennsylvania, represented his county in the legislature, etc. His letter (the original of which is before us) is addressed to Andrew Monroe, residing near Milton, Albemarle county, Virginia: "TO MR. MONROE, ETC. "Washington City, February, 1922. "SIR-It is nearly forty years since we have been shipmates, or that I have seen you. I was first-lieutenant of the State Brig Jefferson, under Captain Traverse, and had the command of said vessel when we destroyed her at Osborne's, below Richmond. I believe the date was, in 1781. Mr. Jefferson was Governor of Old Virginia. "I had been at Princess Anne and Norfolk counties when the British Arnold, Simcoe and Dundas ravaged those counties, and found the citizen militia under the orders of Col. Matthews Thoroughgood, Robinson Walker and Weeks Lawson, etc.; and when we were drove out to Blackwater Bridge, I then had the command of the artillery, when all came under the orders of General Gregory of North Carolina. I quitted the same with dispatches for Richmond, crossed from Lynhaven Bay, after burning the bridges in Norfolk County: and from the eastern shore crossed to York, forwarded on the letters, and entered the State navy service at the request of the Honorable James Maxwell; and was first-lieutenant superintending the building of the State frigate, the Thetis, at Chickahominy. "[On] the hostile appearance of the British from Norfolk and Portsmouth, I was ordered on board the State Brig Jefferson, and proceeded up James River where we considered with Mr. Maxwell, Markham, Steele, Saunders and yourself, that at Osborne's was the best place to take a stand, the militia to secure the land position under Steuben. But the militia gave way on the advance and fire of the British, and the State ships under Capt. Markham, Steele, etc., in trying to bring across the river, the current drove them CHAP. IX.] THE TOBACCO WAR. 325 Manchester, lying on the opposite bank of the river from Richmond. Here the tobacco suffered its usual fate. 1 In Richmond, there was a quantity of public stores again collected, and considerable tobacco, and therefore it was important to again capture the town! Nelson was in it with a corps of militia; Muhlenburg higher up on the other side, and Steuben advancing. Lafayette, learning at Baltimore the critical condition of Virginia, had left his artillery and tents to follow him, and hurried forward by forced marches to Richmond." He reached there with nine hundred men April 29th, the day before Phillips entered Manchester. The latter had addressed Lafayette from his camp at Osborne's, April 28th, demanding certain persons alleged to have fired on a flag of truce, and a public disavowal of their conduct, under pain of desolating the towns and villages lying at the mercy of the King's troops; and under the battery and shore of [at?] the spot occupied by the British, and said State ships surrendered. "This circumstance left the State brig Jefferson [alone], for you well know the ship Letter of Marque, commanded by C. Lewis, was soon abandoned, and we had to resist all the British force of cannonading and in firing at the enemie; and that shortly after all the other vessels had been evacuated by their crews. "You will remember, Monroe, I sent you to scuttle and set fire to several vessels, to prevent their falling into the power of the British; and I well remember you, a youth, performing that arduous duty, under the fire from the British battery, and also the additional fire of the surrendered ships, which Markham had a few minutes before commanded; and that the State brig Jefferson covered your exertions, until you, with SailingMaster Nicholson, accomplished this requisite service. "When between us, with Nicholson, Saunders, and our doctor, and I believe young Mococke, we did determine after all that the State brig should not fall into the power of the invading foe, [but] to set said vessel on fire fore and aft, and to blow her up by a fire placed near the powder magazine. You well know that you and O'Brien were the officers in the last boat prior to the burning and blowing up of said State brig The Jefferson. "That we saved nothing but the clothes we had on. "That after this, next day we were employed at Manchester removing stores and provisions to Richmond; and I shall never forget but with my last breath, the desolate manner in which the officers and seamen left Richmond, steering on to the N. E.-when before we came to Bowling Green we parted and after 41 years navigating the world by land and water, we again come, I believe, in these letters, [within] hailing [of] each other. How fare you, friend? My left knee and leg was injured by the splinters, when covering your exertions in destroying the vessels. "I was 19 years on the Algerine coast, and was negotiator in Commodore Preble's fleet in the attacks on Tripoli; and latterly [have] resided at Carlisle, in Pennsylvania. "I shall always hold you my old friend, Monroe, in kind remembrance. "Your most obt. servt. "R. O'BRIEN. "P. S. You know by the event to Capt. Markham that I was [left] the senior officer on the event at Osborne's." 1 It is singular that among the Revolutionary doggerels, the exploits of the "Tobacco War" were not fitly commemorated! The banner which, under Cœur de Lion, unfurled to the breezes of Palestine, in the Crusades-which waved proudly on the fields of Agincourt and Cressy. of Blenheim and Ramilies-now glancing fitfully through the dun clouds, not of battle but of tobacco smoke, would be an inspiring theme! Lafayette to Washington, April 18th. (Memoirs, Correspondence, etc., of General Lafayette, published by his family, vol. i. p. 403.) 326 PHILLIPS AND LAFAYETTE. [CHAP. IX. further demanding that no vessels or public stores be destroyed at Richmond, inasmuch as they were driven "beyond a possibility of escaping," and were consequently "in the predicament and condition of a town blockaded by land, when it was contrary to the rules of war that any public stores should be destroyed." The next day his insolence took a still higher flight. He wrote that if any persons holding his protections were put to death under the pretence of being spies, or friends to the British government, "he would make the shore of James River an example of terror to the rest of Virginia," and he added: "It was from the violent measures, resolutions of the present House of Delegates, Council, and Governor of Virginia, that he was inpelled to use this language, which the common temper of his disposition was hurt at." The reply of the Marquis was tart and sarcastic, and closed by informing the British General that should his future communications be wanting in the "regard due to the civil and military authority in the United States," he "should not think it consistent with the dignity of an American officer, to continue the correspondence."" Phillips prepared to cross the river to Richmond on the 30th, and issued his orders for the attack. The number and size of his boats gave him facilities for a quick passage. But after reconnoitering the imposing force on the opposite heights, he concluded to raise his "blockade by land," dropped quietly down to Warwick, and attacked the tobacco there. Here Arnold crossed the river with six hundred men, but his troops being charged by a patrol of sixteen horse, under Major Nelson, fled precipitately to their boats. It would seem that Arnold's shadow was becoming terrible to him! Phillips proceeded to Bermuda Hundred, and reëmbarking, May 5th, fell down the river. Lafayette sent a party to Hood's to annoy the retiring foe, Phillips to Lafayette. (Lafayette's Memoirs, etc., vol. i. p. 412.) 2 Lafayette's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 413. Phillips here, we suppose, had reference to an official proclamation of the Governor (in pursuance of authority vested in him by the Legislature), in regard to citizens giving paroles and accepting protections, which will presently be mentioned. 3 Lafayette's Memoirs, vol. i. p. 414. Phillips's Letters do not sustain the impressions of him that would be drawn from the Baroness of Riedesel's statements. They do not read like the letters of a man of breeding, written, to borrow the General's phrase, in any "temper of his disposition." They are marked by gasconade, and by that inflation and inaccuracy which distinguish the attempts of an uneducated man to use lofty language. Lafayette's reply is broadly, contemptuously sarcastic, showing that he felt little respect for his correspondent. CHAP. IX.] GREENE MARCHES SOUTH. 327 and detaching General Nelson to Williamsburg, advanced himself between the Pamunky and Chickahominy to be in a position to rapidly succor Williamsburg or Richmond, as circumstances might require. Phillips, after passing Burwell's ferry, received a dispatch from Lord Cornwallis, informing him of his own rapid approach towards Petersburg, and ordering him to join him at that place. Phillips immediately crowded all sail to reascend the river. He anchored at Brandon on the 7th of May, disembarked, and commenced his march. After the battle of Guilford Court House, Cornwallis retired in the direction of Wilmington, and Greene kept within striking distance of him, until he reached Ramsay's Mills. Here the American commander came to his celebrated determination to turn his back on Virginia-leave it uncovered -and carry the war into South Carolina. His reasons for the step, assigned to the Commander-in-chief, were that it would compel Cornwallis to follow him, and thus free North Carolina from invasion, or else to sacrifice all his posts in the interior of South Carolina and Georgia. This measure has been compared to Scipio's leaving Hannibal in Italy, to carry the war into Africa. Scipio left Italy filled with soldiers and means, and Hannibal himself reduced to the defensive. Greene left Virginia unarmed to the grasp of foes able at once to crush her. He left the centre to defend the outskirt-a hitherto unsubjugated State, to recover subjugated ones. He broke up the communication between the northern and southern American armies-uncovered the southern approaches of the middle States and placed himself beyond relief, unless the plan hitherto acted upon. by the Commander-in-chief should be departed from. But the result was success. Previous plans were departed from. The northern and French army were compelled to come to the rescue of Virginia. The capture at Yorktown was the consequence. In military affairs, "all is well that ends well." But a flood of woes was to precede this auspicious result. When Greene turned the heads of his columns south on the banks of Deep River, he gave up the most populous and largely 1 General Alexander Hamilton used this comparison in his funeral eulogy on General Greene, before the Cincinnati. |