282

GREENE SUCCEEDS GATES.

[CHAP. VII.

"For what has been done by our people after the battle at King's Mountain, I have nothing to say. It is my private opinion no person ought to be executed, but after legal conviction, and by order of the supreme civil or military authority, in the department where the offence is committed; but I must confess my astonishment at Lord Cornwallis's finding fault with a cruelty he and his officers are constantly practising. This is crying rogue first."

"Supreme civil or military authority," was not much better than a name, in the locality and exigency; and was quite as well represented, in our judgment, as it could elsewhere have been, in the intelligent and responsible gentlemen-for emphatically they were such-who by their own danger and exertions had done what no formally constituted "authority" was able to do; and if the victors of King's Mountain hung fewer men than the documents found on British officers clearly proved had been executed of Americans, by their orders, they enforced less, we believe, than the full measure of rightful and proper retaliation. And there is not a doubt that the practical effect of the measure was good, not only on the British Lieutenant-General, but on the parricides who were so keen to scent out, among their countrymen, the breakers of enforced and withdrawn paroles. The hunt became less intensely amusing, when it was understood that the hunter placed the noose that had strangled his victim round his own neck, in the event of his capture!

The battle of King's Mountain not only weakened Cornwallis physically, but it proved to him that a dangerous spirit was rising behind. Its effect on the Americans was everywhere visible. It taught them what even undisciplined men could do, if courage and effort were not wanting. It was the beginning of a new era, in the Southern war, in the conduct of raw troops, and also in the event of battles. The British General-in-chief, instead of continuing his march in North Carolina, fell back to Wynnsborough, a point from which he could protect his posts, and awaited reinforcements from the North.

General Gates was suspended by Congress, and General Washington was directed to select his successor. The choice most fitly fell upon Greene-an officer second only in experience, and in the wise forecast of a great general, to the illustrious Commander-in-chief of the American armies. He arrived at Hillsborough on the 2d of December, and the next day assumed command of the Southern Department.

CHAPTER VIII.

1780-1781.

Sir H. Clinton's Plans in Fall of 1780-Sends Leslie to Portsmouth-Governor Jefferson's Preparations Convention Prisoners removed-Leslie Abandons Portsmouth-Unpreparedness of Virginia to resist Invasion-The State now Forewarned-Was it put in Preparation?-Physical and Pecuniary Impossibility of this-Troops and Money raised by the State Governor accused of doing too Much-But his Efforts expended out of the State-Congress and General Washington urge this Policy-Was it sound?-Virginia cedes Northwestern Territory-Expedition against Detroit resumed-Washington notifies Jefferson of British Embarkation-He did not intend to specially alarm Virginia Judge Marshall's Statements-Washington to Steuben-Why Virginia was not alarmed-Washington foresaw this-Arnold enters Chesapeake December 30thGovernor's Measures-Legislature adjourns-Arnold lands and advances on Richmond-Governor's Measures and Personal Movements-Arnold enters Richmond-His Proposals contemptuously rejected by the Governor-The most valuable Public Stores saved-Amount of the Public Losses-Arnold retires-The Governor unaided by other Public Functionaries-Militia assembled-Arnold's Fortuitous Escape-Harry Lee's Misrepresentation of this Affair-Lee's Character as a Writer-Some of his Statements examined-Arnold intrenches himself at Portsmouth-Arrangement of Militia Jefferson's Views of Future Prospects-Sends Succors to save GreeneAttempts to seize Arnold's Person-Strikes the Hostile Cherokees-Battle of Cowpens -Cornwallis pursues Greene-Greene reaches Virginia-Correspondence between him and Jefferson-Lee cuts off the Tories on Haw River-Battle of Guilford Court HouseView of Greene's Biographer of Jefferson's Services-Greene's Written Views of same -A Virginia Party censure Jefferson's Policy-It was, in reality, Washington's PolicyWashington's Declarations on the Subject-His Letters to Jefferson and Steuben-Not surprised at Arnold's Success-Madison not surprised at same-Washington urges Jefferson to persevere in his Policy-Cornwallis's and Clinton's View of that Policy-De Tilley's Expedition to Portsmouth-Destouches sails for the Chesapeake-His Action with Arbuthnot and Return-Movement of Virginia Militia to aid the French-Washington now seriously alarmed for the South.

As the autumn of 1780 approached, Sir Henry Clinton found himself so far in a position of superiority, in the North, that he felt able to make a considerable detachment from his army to reinforce Cornwallis in the South. Having heard only of that commander's successes, and not yet apprised of the disaster of King's Mountain, he had little doubt North Carolina was to be

284

LESLIE INVADES VIRGINIA.

[CHAP. VIII. easily overrun; and now, with extended views, he anticipated. making a permanent lodgment on the Chesapeake before the close of the fall and winter campaign. He judged that Cornwallis would require little or no assistance south of Virginia, and that, therefore, it would accelerate matters to dispatch his reinforcements directly to the mouth of the James, with orders to erect a strong post on the Elizabeth River.' This would give the Virginians employment at home, enable an easy coöperation with Cornwallis as he approached from the South, and prepare for him, in advance, a reliable base of operations, in easy communication with New York, provided the opposition from Virginia, on the arrival of the French aids, should render it desirable. And it was Clinton's intention to send a further reinforcement, and make the post a permanent one.

In accordance with these views, General Leslie was dis patched from New York, on the 16th of October, with three thousand men. The fleet entered Hampton Roads on the 23d, and took possession of Hampton; but it passed, immediately after, up Elizabeth River, and Leslie disembarked at Portsmouth and commenced the erection of fortifications at that point. This, the principal Virginia post occupied by the invaders in the subsequent stages of the war, lies on the south bank of Elizabeth River, opposite Norfolk—and at the head of the bay which the whole river actually forms. At common flood tide, there were eighteen feet of water to Norfolk; and sixty-gun ships had reached it by lightening to cross a bar at Sowel's point. Leslie also occupied Suffolk on the Nansemond, and thus controlled the pass between it and the Dismal Swamp, which formed the avenue of communication between the country east of that great morass and the interior of the State.

The British allowed it to get out that after drawing the forces of the State to Suffolk, they intended to sail up the Chesapeake for Baltimore. Governor Jefferson, however, at once divined

1 The commanding officer of the reinforcement (Gen. Leslie) was ordered "to enter the Chesapeake, and establish a post on Elizabeth River, with the design of creating a diversion in favor of Lord Cornwallis's operations in North Carolina. General Leslie was to be under the command of Lord Cornwallis, and to act on James River, towards the Roanoake, but not to pass this latter river without orders from his commander. Should Lord Cornwallis meet with serious opposition in crossing the Yadkin, it was recommended to General Leslie to move upon Cape Fear River, but this was left to his discretion. Should a post be established on the Chesapeake, it was Sir Henry Clinton's intention to reinforce it with more troops."-Substance of MS. letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, November 10th, quoted in Sparks's Co. of General Washington, vol. vii. p. 269, note.

CHAP. VIII.]

CONVENTION PRISONERS REMOVED.

285

their true object, and apprising General Washington of the situation of things (November 3d), he intimated that the fate of Leslie's army hung "on a very slender naval force." He had already proposed to Gates to send a swift boat from some of the inlets of Carolina, "to notify the French Admiral that his enemies where in a net, if he had leisure to close the mouth of it."

The Governor had first got intelligence of the arrival of the British fleet within the Capes, on the 22d of October. He immediately ordered out all the force in the lower counties. which could find arms, and stopped such of the detachments intended for the Southern army as had not yet marched; but to compensate Gates (yet in command) he exempted the counties lying nearest to him from the present levy. Generals Weeden and Muhlenburg of the line, and Generals Nelson and Stevens of the militia, were directed to take command of the State troops.

The arrival of General Leslie probably hurried forward arrangements which seem to have been already concerted with General Washington' for the removal of the "Convention prisoners" to Fort Frederick, in Maryland, where barracks were being prepared for them. On the 20th, the British portion of them (they being inclined to desert and to correspond with disaffected persons, while the Germans remained quiet) were ordered forward, with the expectation that the remainder would follow as soon as sufficient structures were prepared for their reception. The Governor assigned as a reason for temporarily doing now what he had a year before so warmly remonstrated against-namely, separating these troops-that safety demanded their movement in two bodies, and that it would be improper to crowd the whole into barracks not more than sufficient for half of them. But he says, if their officers complain at this, the second division can be moved speedily, and in that case their exposure" to a want of covering would be justly imputable to themselves only." The transfer of these troops, at all, to Maryland, was, we take it, a measure directed by Congress, as we know not on what other authority it could have been done, or preparations made for them in their new situation."

General Leslie, on learning the course that affairs had taken

1 See Jefferson's letters to General Washington, Nov. 3d and 8th.

And their General officers had now been mostly, if not entirely, exchanged.

284

LESLIE INVADES VIRGINIA.

[CHAP. VIII. easily overrun; and now, with extended views, he anticipated making a permanent lodgment on the Chesapeake before the close of the fall and winter campaign. He judged that Cornwallis would require little or no assistance south of Virginia, and that, therefore, it would accelerate matters to dispatch his reinforcements directly to the mouth of the James, with orders to erect a strong post on the Elizabeth River.' This would give the Virginians employment at home, enable an easy coöperation with Cornwallis as he approached from the South, and prepare for him, in advance, a reliable base of operations, in easy communication with New York, provided the opposition from Virginia, on the arrival of the French aids, should render it desirable. And it was Clinton's intention to send a further reinforcement, and make the post a permanent one.

In accordance with these views, General Leslie was dis patched from New York, on the 16th of October, with three thousand men. The fleet entered Hampton Roads on the 23d, and took possession of Hampton; but it passed, immediately after, up Elizabeth River, and Leslie disembarked at Portsmouth and commenced the erection of fortifications at that point. This, the principal Virginia post occupied by the invaders in the subsequent stages of the war, lies on the south bank of Elizabeth River, opposite Norfolk-and at the head of the bay which the whole river actually forms. At common flood tide, there were eighteen feet of water to Norfolk; and sixty-gun ships had reached it by lightening to cross a bar at Sowel's point. Leslie also occupied Suffolk on the Nansemond, and thus controlled the pass between it and the Dismal Swamp, which formed the avenue of communication between the country east of that great morass and the interior of the State.

The British allowed it to get out that after drawing the forces of the State to Suffolk, they intended to sail up the Chesapeake for Baltimore. Governor Jefferson, however, at once divined

The commanding officer of the reinforcement (Gen. Leslie) was ordered "to enter the Chesapeake, and establish a post on Elizabeth River, with the design of creating a diversion in favor of Lord Cornwallis's operations in North Carolina. General Leslie was to be under the command of Lord Cornwallis, and to act on James River, towards the Roanoake, but not to pass this latter river without orders from his commander. Should Lord Cornwallis meet with serious opposition in crossing the Yadkin, it was recom mended to General Leslie to move upon Cape Fear River, but this was left to his discretion. Should a post be established on the Chesapeake, it was Sir Henry Clinton's intention to reinforce it with more troops."-Substance of MS. letter from Sir Henry Clinton to Lord George Germain, November 10th, quoted in Sparks's Co. of General Washington, vol. vii. p. 269, note.