318

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE FLEETS.

[CHAP. VIII. were entirely cordial to General Washington's plan, and on the return of De Tilley, being placed on about an equality with the English, avowed their willingness to undertake it. General Washington proceeded to Newport, aided in arranging the expedition, and on the 8th of March it sailed.' Arbuthnot followed two days after, overtook the French off the mouth of the Chesapeake, and an engagement ensued, in which both sides. claimed the victory. In the thanks voted to Destouches by Congress, it was stated that the English had the superiority in force. General Washington declared the same in a letter to Colonel Laurens. Mr. Sparks (whom we regard as an extremely well informed and fair writer) states the English had the superiority in guns, and the French in men. A French council of war determined that it was expedient to return to Newport.

General Washington had written Governor Jefferson on the 21st of February, desiring him to call out a strong force of militia to cooperate with the expedition. The letter reached the Governor in seven days. He immediately ordered four thousand militia into the field; and ten or twelve hundred began to assemble in North Carolina. Early in March the Virginia militia had moved down in the vicinity of Portsmouth, cutting off Arnold's supplies, and greatly distressing him, until it was learned the French fleet had retired. This bootless movement of the Virginia militia was (General Washington wrote Colonel Laurens) attended with "much inconvenience" to that State.

It becomes evident that about as the spring opened General Washington penetrated the intention of the British commanders to exert their principal force, during the ensuing campaign, against the South, and his own views, therefore, underwent some modifications. His detaching Lafayette to Virginia is, we think, the first indication of this. A British expedition, which sailed south under General Phillips in March, showed that Virginia was becoming very seriously menaced. On the failure of the French expedition against Portsmouth, General Washington

1 The particulars of the arrangement of the two expeditions, of the conduct of the French, and of the spirit they manifested towards General Washington throughout, will be found in Sparks's edition of his correspondence, supported by the letters on both sides, In Marshall's Washington, a very different version of the affair is given.

Letter of April 9th. Sparks's Washington, vol. viii. p. 6.

CHAP. VIII.] WASHINGTON ALARMED FOR THE SOUTH.

319

evidently became deeply alarmed. He wrote General Lincoln April 4th:

"Every day convinces me, that the enemy are deter:nined to bend their force against the Southern States, and that we must support them powerfully from this quarter or they will be lost. Unless such support is given in time, it will be ineffectual."

He wrote Lafayette April 6th:

"Since my letter to you of yesterday, I have attentively considered of what vast importance it will be to reinforce General Greene as speedily as possible; more especially as there can be little doubt that the detachment under General Phillips, if not part of that now under the command of General Arnold, will ultimately join, or in some degree cooperate with Lord Cornwallis. I have communicated to the general officers, at present with the army, my sentiments on the subject; and they are unanimously of the opinion, that the detachment under your command should proceed and join the Southern army. It will be well to advise Governor Jefferson of your intended march through the State of Virginia; or perhaps it might answer a good purpose, were you to go forward to Richmond yourself, after putting your troops in motion, and having made some necessary arrangements for their progress."

*

The same fixed opinion that Southern affairs had arrived at a most critical pass, and that reinforcements must be hastened to that quarter, is expressed to General Wayne and other correspondents at this period. We have not the remotest hint that the Commander-in-chief dreamed that Virginia ought to, or possibly could, with such aid as she could derive from the Carolinas, withstand the hostile forces now collecting in the South.' If he speaks about pushing through Virginia, to support Greene in the Carolinas, it was only carrying out the old policy, because he hoped to give the enemy occupation there, and confine them to regions already ravaged, without blackening another and a new State with the fires of desolation.

Perhaps we have clung too long to this period of Mr. Jefferson's official history, and gone into a detail which may appear tedious to some readers. But his history and the history of his State have, through this epoch, been, according to our view of the facts, most singularly misunderstood, in some very important and in some unimportant, but still coloring particulars, which have conveyed wholly false impressions in regard to the character

And especially have we no twaddle about a few hundred State troops "under a soldier of genius," or a handful of militia, devouring hostile armies more Bobadiliano'

320

REASONS FOR DETAIL.

[CHAP. VIII. and progress of the Revolutionary war in the South. We have seen no better way to do what we conceived exact justice to his administration (which is substantially the history of the State during its continuance) than to give the facts, and in that definite and tangible form which admits of ready correction in case of error. Mere opinions, or loose generalities, we have supposed, would not be sufficient to carry that conviction to unprejudiced minds, which it has been our object to convey.

CHAPTER IX.

1781.

Proceedings of Virginia General Assembly-Amount to Nothing-Clinton detaches Phillips to Virginia-Governor Jefferson's Letters to President of Congress-Phillips invades Virginia-Devastates the Country-Arnold destroys the State Marine-Commodore O'Brien's Statement of the Affair-British advance on Richmond-Exploits of the "Tobacco War" unsung-Lafayette at Richmond-Phillips's Threats-Tart Correspondence Phillips retires-Met with Dispatches from Cornwallis-Returns to Petersburg-Cornwallis after Battle of Guilford Court House-Greene marches to South Carolina-General Consequences of this Measure-Terrible Consequences to VirginiaGreene's Justification-Cornwallis advances unresisted on Virginia-Phillips's Death -Lafayette's refusal to correspond with Arnold-American Prisoners threatenedGovernor Jefferson's Proclamation concerning Paroles-Legislature meet and adjourn -The Governor's Personal Movements-His noticeable Letter to Washington, May 28th -Washington's Reply and Personal Acknowledgments-Cornwallis reaches Petersburg-His complete Superiority of Force-Flushed with his Prospects-Pursues Lafayette-Mercer's timely Arrival-"The Boy Escapes"-Simcoe dispatched to the Point of Fork-Steuben's Retreat-Tarleton's attempts to seize Governor and Legislature-A Detachment proceeds to Monticello-Preparations of the Governor, and his Retreat Conduct of two Slaves-Handsome conduct of British at Monticello-Tarleton's Orders on the Subject-Cornwallis's at another of Mr. Jefferson's Estates-Devastation and Butchery-List of Jefferson's Losses from Farm Book-The dying SlavesJefferson's Provocations to such Treatment-Cornwallis's customary Atrocities and Robberies Why these Things should be remembered Jefferson resolves to decline a Reelection-Continental Officers' Opinions of his Military Administration-Differences between Civil and Military Officers in the Revolution-Legislature meet at Staunton"Another Panic "-Another Dictator Project-Necessity of putting Jefferson hors de combat-Resistance justly anticipated from him-Charged with Official MisconductProposed Inquiry supported by his Friends-Dictator Project again relinquished from fear-Jefferson then openly declines a Reelection-Votes of his Friends still required to prevent his Reélection-His Movements after retreating before Tarleton-Inquiry into his Con luct not an "Impeachment"-Inquiry deeply regretted by Friends of the Mover-The "Objections" and "Answers"-Character of the Objections-The "Flights" considered-Error in Congress Edition of Mr. Jefferson's Works-Jefferson enters the Legislature to meet the Inquiry-Inquiry dropped-Unanimous Vindication of Governor Jefferson-George Nicholas's Reparation.

THE Virginia General Assembly re-convened March 1st, 1781, while Arnold continued lying at Portsmouth, and while, on the requisition of the Governor, the militia were mustering to

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ACTION OF THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE, 1781. [CHAP. IX.

coöperate with the expected French expedition from Newport against that place. Richard H. Lee was chosen Speaker by the House of Delegates.

The events of the session we give in the language of Girardin's summary of them:

"The session was short, and almost exclusively devoted to the exigencies of the moment. Legislative provision was made for raising two legions, each of which should consist of six companies of infantry and one troop of horse. The rules of Continental service and all the articles of war were extended to the militia, and martial law established within twenty miles of the American and the hostile camp. The recruiting service was invigorated by further encouragements. The Governor was empowered to call into the field such numbers of militia as circumstances might require; to impress provisions, horses, clothing, accoutrements, boats, vessels, wagons, and negroes to serve as pioneers; to apprehend disaffected persons; to send non-jurors into the enemy's lines; and to punish opposition to military laws with the loss of all civil rights. For the speedy trial of certain offenders, the establishment of commissions of Oyer and Terminer was directed; and the Executive were authorized to discontinue, if necessary, State quarter-masters and commissaries, and to place the resources of the Commonwealth in the hands of Continental staff-officers. The certificates given to citizens for impressed property were made receivable in lieu of specifics to be contributed, according to law, by those citizens. The resource of paper emissions was again recurred to, because no other method of providing for the exigencies of the times could be devised; the treasurer was consequently directed to emit 20,000,000 pounds, and the Governor authorized to issue 5,000,000 in bills to be redeemed in 1792 by means of an assessment on property. The depreciation had nearly reached its acme, and we will see the paper currency expire in the course of the present year."

In a note to the above, Girardin states that the "depreciation" in the paper money when the Legislature was passing these enactments, "was about ninety for one ;" and that it was one;" still going on so rapidly, that it soon reached "a thousand for one," and "became extinct !" It will be seen, therefore, how much the "resource of paper emissions" amounted to, and how deplorable was the condition of affairs, when there was "no other method of providing for the exigencies of the times!" How "legions" were to be raised-how the "recruiting service" was to be "invigorated"—or any other efficient provision made against an invader then in the State-beyond using the present militia and seizing necessary supplies by force, so far as it would be safe to resort to that alternative-does not appear. The Legislature had done perhaps all it could; and besides arming a few officers with additional powers--which would not bring a gun, or a pound of powder, or a cartridge box into the