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HIS HOSPITALITY TO THEM.

[CHAP. VI. extraordinary thing with an ill-regulated commissariat and four thousand extra mouths), applied to him with the freedom of an old neighbor. Her Amazonian stature and practice of riding like a man, greatly astonished the Virginia natives; but tradition represents her as a cordial, warm-hearted, highly intelligent, and, withal, handsome woman, whose moderate penchant for gossip, and not unfrequent blunders in talking and pronouncing English, only contributed to the amusingness of her lively conversation. Were we a raconteur, we could give some specimens of those blunders with which, in after years, Mr. Madison was often "wont to set the table on a roar."

With the warm-hearted Germans, Mr. Jefferson was an unbounded favorite. His disregard of official rank-his putting a lieutenant on equal terms of respect and cordiality with a general where, as in the case of De Unger, his personal claims were equal—was incomprehensible to them. His philosophic tastes, his fine scholarship, his warm and cultivated love of art, his easy hospitality, were the theme of letters to all parts of Germany, and these letters, in some instances, found their way into the gazettes, and Jefferson's name became a known and honored one among the reading men of Europe. A pleasing proof of this, and of the gratitude of his present guests, occurred some years afterwards (1788), during a trip of his from Paris through some of the German States. Stopping at a town where a Hessian regiment was in garrison, he unexpectedly encountered the Baron de Geismer (who had written him once or twice since his return to Europe), and who was now delighted to see him, and at once announced his arrival to his brother officers. Many of these had not been in the American war, but they had heard the regimental traditions of this kind-hearted and munificent stranger; and they now flocked about him; enthusiastically welcomed him to the Father-land; "spoke, as Girardin quaintly observes, "of Virginia with sensibility," and pressed upon him a series of attentions which it would have taken a month to accept.

These are pleasant pictures. But the tapestry, unfortunately, has another side. Very soon after Mr. Jefferson's noble stand against the feelings and prejudices of his neighbors in favor of the Convention Prisoners-his kindly attentions to their officers -we shall find his property consigned not only to plunder,

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ITS REWARD.

237

but to wanton devastation-his " roofs " given " to the flames," and if not his "flesh to the eagles," that of his servants to the more terrible talons of the pestilence-a particular and studied attempt made to seize his own person-and all this, not by some fierce partisan out from under the eye of his superiors, but by the orders, and a good share of it under the immediate eye, of the British Lieutenant General in America! But, we gladly add, no German hand, it is believed, applied the torch, no German spur urged the hot pursuit!

CHAPTER VII.

1779-1780.

Jefferson chosen Governor of Virginia-John Page his Competitor-Gloomy Condition of Affairs-Particularly so in the South-Weakness of the three Southern States-Statistical and Natural Causes therefor-The British Plan-War transferred to the SouthWar changes in its Spirit-British Commissioners to Bribe Americans-Their Strange Manifesto-Condition of Virginia-Her Natural Exposure to the Enemy-No Fortifications Her Militia without Arms-A Nursery of Men and Provisions-How freely she supplied these to the Cause-But wholly destitute of defensive Strength-Washington Responsible for her Military Policy-Never was State so exposed to Invasion-General Matthews's Invasion before Jefferson's Accession-Colonel Lawson's Account of itDangers in the West--Hamilton, British Governor of Detroit-His Atrocities to American Prisoners-His projected Campaign of 1779-Colonel Clarke had taken Kaskaskias-His Winter March against Hamilton-Incredible Hardships-Takes St. Vincenne and captures Hamilton-Randolph compares Clarke to Hannibal-Hamilton placed in Irons General Phillips interferes Jefferson consults Washington-Washington's Reply-Retaliations menaced on both Sides-Was Retaliation by Americans expedient?-Machinations in and out of Congress-Virginia ratifies French Treaties Spain declares War--Jefferson takes Possession of Western Country-Anecdote of Colonel Clarke-Territorial Claims of Virginia opposed in Congress-State Rights-Count d'Estaing arrives on the Coast-French and Americans attack Savannah-Webster and other British Officers-Clinton takes Charleston-Losses of Virginia-Losses at Monk's Corners-British Advance-Tarleton cuts Buford to Pieces-Description of Tarleton and his Legion-Lee's Statements respecting British Cruelties-A theory on the Subject-Campaign suspended-De Kalb sent South-Energetic Provisions of Virginia A Fatal Lack-Efforts of the Virginia Ladies-Governor Jefferson's Activity— Letter to Washington-Impressment as a Substitute for Money-Jefferson's Unsectional Spirit His Letters to Washington, Gates and Stevens-He adheres to Washington-Battle of Camden-Shameful Conduct of Virginia Militia-Sumpter surprised by Tarleton-Cornwallis kept inactive by Illness of his Troops-Gloomy Prospects of the South-Jefferson's Letters to Washington, Stevens, and Gates-Virginia Militia desert -Governor's Proceedings thereon-His further Letters-Gates requests no more Men sent Jefferson's Reply-Operations in Western Virginia-Project against DetroitGovernor consults Washington-Gives Clarke an Option-Clarke scourges the Hostile Tribes-Border Heroism-Project against Detroit renewed-The Governor asks Aid of General Washington-Survey of the Mouth of the James-Governor applies to have the French Fleet Winter in the Chesapeake-An Error of Girardin-Proceedings of Virginia Legislature-Cornwallis advances on North Carolina-Clinton's infamous Proclamation-Fully carried out by Cornwallis-Cornwallis's intercepted Letter-His Conduct considered-Consequences of it-Battle of King's Mountain-Tories hung -Gates's Remarks thereon-Just Retaliation-Its Effect Good-Effect of the Battle of King's Mountain-Gates superseded by Greene.

On the first day of June, 1779, Mr. Jefferson was chosen Governor of Virginia. He was the second Republican incum

288

CHAP. VII.]

JEFFERSON GOVERNOR.

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bent of that office, taking the place of Patrick Henry, who, having served three years, was disqualified by the Constitution for a reëlection for the space of the next three years. Mr. Jefferson's early friend, John Page, was his competitor on this occasion. He had served at the head of the Privy Council, and in that capacity had acted as Lieutenant Governor. He was a gentleman of ability, an active patriot, and belonged to a family of great influence in the State. The competition between him and Jefferson was involuntary on the part of both; and was followed by explanations between them evincing a high sense of delicacy and mutual respect.

Mr. Jefferson was thirty-six years old when he entered upon) the chief magistracy of Virginia. The period, in the opinion of General Washington,' was more gloomy in the affairs of the whole country than any by which it had been preceded. The last campaign had been productive of few important results on either side. But the French alliance, without yet introducing into the country anything like a counterpoise to the British strength, had infused a fatal security into the public mind. Enlistments were far more difficult to be procured. Men were not so willing to leave their all, when it was no longer urged by necessity and despair. The State legislatures reflected the public feeling, and their efforts were proportionably languid.

For the South, a new and gloomier era was opening. Hitherto, the active operations of the war, and consequently its direct and desolating ravages, had been principally confined to the North. But the unexpected degree of resistance made by the Colonies, or States, as a whole, and the now open adhesion of France, compelled the British Government to change its policy. That government had become convinced that the prospect of reconquering the entire country was all but desperate. The fertile Southern provinces had fewer natural or artificial defences than the Northern, and they were far more thinly populated. Georgia contained but about twenty-seven thousand white inhabitants, South Carolina about ninety-three thousand, and North Carolina about one hundred and eighty-three thousand. The three together did not contain, by nearly fifty thousand, the number of whites in Massachusetts alone, while

1 See his Correspondence of the year.

U. S. Census of 1850, folio edition, p. xxxi. We have followed its estimate for

240

GLOOMY SOUTHERN PROSPECTS.

[CHAP. VII. their territory was more than double that of New England entire.' The scattered agricultural population of the South could not be easily concentrated for military purposes; the low level country where most of its population then resided, was unfavorable for defence by irregular troops, and was particularly accessible to a foe by means of its rivers; while the remote and isolated position of these States, with respect to most of the stronger parts of the Confederacy, cut them off from the chance of speedy succor except by sea. But notwithstanding the strong fleets sent from France, the British had generally, thus far, maintained an incontestable superiority in the North American waters. They could strike a sudden and serious blow, from New York, at any point south of Cape Charles-in fact, south of Cape May-before an efficient resistance could be matured out of the provincial militia, necessarily intent most of the time on their occupations as husbandmen, and long before reinforcements of regulars could arrive from those northern points, where the presence of the main force of the enemy and the consequent policy of the American commander-in-chief, kept them principally concentrated.

The British plan-adopted some time in 1778, and just entered upon before the close of the campaign that year-was, therefore, to seize and utterly subjugate Georgia and the Carolinas, restoring them by one decisive effort to the Crown, and returning the people to their allegiance by reëstablishing royal governments. This point gained, the career of reconquest north was to be governed by circumstances. The control of the Chesapeake, the natural outlet of such an immense region of country, was a prize worth a determined struggle. In any event, then, Virginia was to become, ultimately, the debatable ground, for the three Southern States were certain not to be given up without a protracted and bloody struggle to save them by their northern sisters. Virginia, particularly, lying next them, would fiercely put forth her last and most desperate efforts for their protection.

The war was to change as much in its character'as in its the

1775, in regard to the three preceding States. In the same, the whole population of Massachusetts is given at 352,000.

Georgia, South and North Carolina contain, according to the best authority, 131,500 square miles; New England, entire, 58,280, of which Maine (then but little inhabited) comprises 35,000.