little army were occupied for 16 days in reach- allowed upon giving parole to provide for ing the borders of the Wabash. When with- themselves lodging places within a circuit of in nine miles of the enemy, it required five a hundred miles. Mr. Jefferson exhibited a days to cross "the drowned lands" near that liberal hospitality towards the captives, and river, "having to wade often upwards of two Governor Henry afforded them every humane leagues to our breast in water." But for the indulgence in his power. The amiable dismildness of the season they must have per- position of Col. Bland, who commanded the ished. On the evening of February 23rd they guard placed over the Convention troops, reached dry land and came unperceived with- still further ensured their quiet and comfort. in sight of the enemy. An attack being General Phillips occupied Blenheim, a seat made at 7 o'clock in the same evening, the of Col. Carter's; General de Riedesel, with inhabitants of St. Vincennes gladly sur- his family, resided at Colle, seat of Mr. Mazrendered it and assisted in besieging Hamil- zei. The baroness de Riedesel, whose ro * ton, who held out in the fort. [Feb. 24th.] mantic sufferings at Saratoga are so well He surrendered the garrison. Clarke shortly known, has given an entertaining account of afterwards despatching some armed boats up her sojourn at Colle, in her letters. Charthe Wabash, captured a British convoy in- lottesville, at this period, consisted of a courtcluding 40 prisoners and £10,000 worth of house, a tavern and about a dozen dwelling goods and stores. Hamilton, with some offi- houses. In 1779 congress was convulsed cers and a few privates, was sent to the Gov- by dissensions. Some of the members were ernor of Virginia at Williamsburg. Colo- suspected of treasonable designs, the paper nel Shelby about this time attacking the currency was miserably depreciated, specuCherokees who had taken up the tomahawk. lation raged, dishonesty and corruption preykilled six, burnt eleven towns and 20,000 ed upon the public misfortunes, the demorbushels of corn and captured £25,000 worth alizing effects of war were manifested and a of goods. t languor in the cause of independence seemed [October 1778.] Washington, in compli- everywhere to prevail. Washington deemed ance with the resolutions of congress, ordered this a more gloomy period than any that had the removal of the convention troops of Sar- preceded it. In a letter written at this time atoga, then quartered at Cambridge and Rut- to a friend he exclaims, "where are our men land, in Massachusetts, to Charlottesville in of abilities? why do they not come forth to the county of Albemarle in Virginia. ‡ Gen. save their country? Let this voice, my dear Burgoyne had sailed for England in May, sir, call upon you, Jefferson and others." and from that time the command of the Brit- Until 1779 the British arms had been chiefly ish troops of convention had devolved upon Gen. Phillips. Col. Bland, with an escort, conducted the prisoners of war to Virginia. Upon their arrival they suffered many priva- enemy and tions, being billeted in block-houses, without [May 1779.] A British squadron, under Sir windows or doors, and poorly defended from George Collier, anchored in Hampton roads, the cold of an uncommonly rigorous winter. and General Matthews took possession of But in a short time they constructed better Portsmouth. The enemy destroyed the pubhabitations, and the barracks assumed the lic stores at Gosport and Norfolk, burnt Sufappearance of a neat little town. In the rear folk and destroyed upwards of 100 vessels. of each house they had trim gardens and en-Upon the approach of 600 British infantry closed places for poultry. The officers were upon Suffolk, the militia and greater part of 1. Writings of Jefferson, pp. 451-453. + lb. p. 163. Writings of Washington, vol. vi, pp. 93, 94, 96, 106. 122. [Jan. 1778] Congress, whether from distrust in the British prisoners or from reasons of state, resolved not to comply with the article of the Saratoga Convention allowing the prisoners to embark for England on parole, until the Convention should be ratified by the English government. 1. Marshall's Washington, p. 232. directed against the Middle and Northern the inhabitants fled. Few could save their effects; some who remained for that purpose were made prisoners. The enemy fired the town and nearly the whole of it was destroy *Burk, iv. p. 355. Bland Papers, 1, 116 et seq. Anburey's Travels, 2, 316 and 342 where may be seen an engraving of the encampment of the Convention army. The town was then styled Charlotteville. * ed. Hundreds of barrels of tar, pitch, tur-after an obstinate defence, was compelled pentine and rum lay on the wharves. The to capitulate, [May 12, 1780.] The loss was heads of the barrels being staved, and their about equal and not heavy. The number of contents, which flowed in a commingled continental troops surrendered was 1,977, of mass, catching the blaze, descended to the whom 500 were in the hospital. Shortly river like torrents of volcanic lava. The wind after this disaster Colonel Buford's regiment blowing violently, the flaming mass floated to was cut to pieces by Tarleton, 113 being the opposite shore in splendid conflagration killed, 150 wounded, and 53 made prisoners. and there set on fire the dry grass of an ex- The British loss was 5 killed, 14 wounded. tensive marsh. This broad sheet of fire, the Georgia and South Carolina now succumbed crackling flames of the town, the smoke, the to the enemy. explosion of gunpowder in the magazines, [June 1780.] General Gates was appointed projecting ignited timber like meteors in the to the command in the South. Having colair, presented altogether an awful spectacle lected an army principally militia, he marchof the horrors of civil war. The enemy ed against the British forces posted at Camshortly afterwards, laden with plunder, em- den, in South Carolina, and under command barked for New York. of Lord Cornwallis. While Gates was movWhile Sir Henry Clinton was encamped ing from Clermont towards Camden, in the near Haerlem, and Washington in the High- night, [Aug. 16, 1780,] Cornwallis marched lands on the Hudson, [Aug. 18, 1779,] Major out with a view of attacking the American Lee of Virginia surprised, in the night, a army at Clermont. Thus the two armies met British post at Powles Hook, a point on the unexpectedly. At the first onset the Ameri west bank of the Hudson, and opposite the can line was thrown into disorder. A body town of New York and with a loss of two of light infantry, and in particular a corps killed and three wounded made 159 prison- under command of Colonel Porterfield of ers including three officers. Shortly after Virginia, maintained their ground with unthis affair, a fleet, under Admiral Arbuthnot, daunted constancy. This brave officer rearrived at New York with reinforcements for fusing to give way, fell mortally wounded. Sir Henry Clinton. Not long after, Count The battle was resumed in the morning. D'Estaing returned to the southern coast of Upon the approach of the enemy firing and America with a fleet of twenty-two ships of the shouting, the Virginia brigade of militia, unline, eleven frigates, and having on board der General Stevens, threw down their arms 6,000 soldiers. The Count arrived so sud- ingloriously and in spite of the efforts of their denly, that the British ship Experiment of commander fled from the field. Their examfifty guns and three frigates fell into his hands. ple was quickly followed by the North CaroIn September, Savannah, occupied by a Brit- lina division of militia and others. The right ish force, under General Prevost, was be- wing of continentals, under De Kalb, thus sieged by 3,500 French and 1,000 Ameri- deserted, held their ground and fought with cans, commanded by D'Estaing and Lin- the utmost valor until overpowered by supecoln. [October 9th,] in an ineffectual effort rior numbers and charged by cavalry. De to storm the post, the French lost about 700 Kalb fell covered with many wounds. The in killed and wounded, and the Americans rout of the Americans was now complete, 241, while the loss of the enemy was only and after a very heavy loss the army was enfifty-five. The siege was now raised, and tirely dispersed. The American army conD'Estaing, who had been wounded in the sisted of about 3,000 men, of whom two action, sailed again for the West Indies after thirds were regulars. The British numbered this second abortive attempt to aid the cause about 2,000, of whom 1,900 were regulars. of independence. The condition of the South | Tarleton, with a strong body of cavalry, aswas now more gloomy than ever. Sir Henry sisted Cornwallis, while Gates had only ArClinton, towards the close of 1779, embarked mand's handful of badly mounted cavalry. with a large force in Arbuthnot's fleet and Added to this the Americans had suffered sailed for South Carolina. In April Sir Henry from a long march through hot sands and laid siege to Charleston and General Lincoln, IV. Burk, p. 337. 1. Marshall's Washington, p. 320. from a want of provisions. Charlotte in North Carolina. Gates retired to In 1780, Arthur Lee returned to America after a long absence. This distinguished On the 18th of August Sumpter was over- patriot was born in Westmoreland county, whelmed by Tarleton, and for a time the Brit- Virginia, December 20th, 1740. He was ish arms were in the ascendant throughout the youngest of five brothers, all of whom the southern provinces. Cornwallis, [1st of became eminent. After passing some time September,] detached Col. Ferguson, a gal- at Eton, in England, he entered the Univer lant and expert officer, across the Wateree, sity of Edinburgh, where he took the degree with 110 regulars. In a short time tory re- of doctor of medicine. After travelling cruits swelled his numbers to 1,000 and, con- through Holland, Germany, Italy and France fident of his strength, he sent a menacing Dr. Lee returned to Virginia and commenmessage to the patriot leaders on the Western ced the practice of his profession at Williamswaters. The spirit of the mountaineers was burg. Although successful, the bent of his aroused, and by the 30th of September 1,390 genius induced him to return in a short time men in arms were concentrated on the banks to England for the purpose of studying the of the Wataga. Of these 400 were from Wash- law and fitting himself for taking a part in ington County, Virginia, under Col. William public affairs. Returning to London he asCampbell, the rest from N. Carolina, under sociated himself with Wilkes and other opShelby, Sevier, McDowell, Cleveland & Win- ponents of the Government and prevailed ston. Ferguson, discovering his danger, be- on them to favor the cause of the colonies. gan to retreat, and [6th of October] took up a About this time he held an amicable discusstrong position on King's mountain. The sion with Junius on American matters, subcommand of the patriot force was devolved scribing his publications Junius Americanus. upon Col. Campbell. It was resolved to pursue These procured him the friendship of Burke, Ferguson with all the men capable of such ac- Dr. Price and other popular leaders. [1770.] tive service, amounting to 910. At the Cow- Dr. Lee was admitted to the bar. In the pens, where Ferguson had encamped on the spring of 1774 he set out on a tour to France 4th, Campbell was re-inforced by 460 men, and Italy and while at Paris, published an the greater part from South Carolina under appeal to the people of Great Britain. In Colonel Williams. At 3 o'clock in the after- the same year he succeeded Dr. Franklin as noon of the 7th of October the troops ad- Agent of Massachusetts. The secret comvanced up the mountain and surrounded the mittee of Congress appointed Mr. Lee their enemy. Ferguson defended himself with their London correspondent. Through the desperate valor and fell mortally wounded. French embassador there, he obtained assuOf his troops 150 were killed, the rest made rances of aid from France to the Colonies. prisoners. The patriots lost 30 killed and He was afterwards made commissioner to 50 wounded. The gallant Williams was slain. About twenty of the tories were executed on the following day. Colonel Campbell, on this occasion, led on his men with his coat off. He was a native of Augusta county and removed early to the county of Washington. Fame has awarded him the title of "the hero of King's mountain.” * * See account of the battle of King's mountain, by Gen. Joseph Grahame of North Carolina, in Foote's Sketches of North Carolina. ting the mark by lying on the back or belly, and in every other possible position of the body." "It has been reported that General Washington owed his life at the battle of Brandywine to this gentleman's total ignorance of his person, as he had him sufficiently within reach and view during that action for the purpose." The Annual Register contains a liberal and graphic cotemporaneous ac count of the war. The following is a list of some feinale contributions in Virginia, made in aid of the war, probably in 1780. Mrs. Sarah Cary of Scotchtown a watch-chain, cost £7 sterling; Mrs. Ambler five gold rings; Mrs. Rebecca Ambler three gold rings; Mrs. Nicholas a diamond drop; Mrs. Griffin, of Dover, ten half Joes; Mrs. Gilmer five guineas; Mrs. Anne Ramsay, (for Fairfax,) one half Joe, three gui Dodsley's Annual Register for 1781 gives the following account of Col. Ferguson; "He was perhaps the best marksman living, and probably brought the art of rifle-neas, three pistareens, one bit and upwards of 65,000 dolshooting to its highest point of perfection. He even in lars of paper money; Mrs. Lewis (for Albemarie) £1,559 vented a gun of that kind upon a new construction, which 8 s. paper money; Mrs. Weldon £39, 18s. new instead of was said to far exceed in facility and execution any thing £1,600 old paper money; Mrs. Blackburn (for Prince Wilof the sort before known, and he is said to have greatly ham) $7,506 paper money; Mrs. Randolph, the younger of outdone even the American Indians in the adroitness and Chatsworth, $800; Mrs. Fitzhugh and others £558. 1. quickness of firing and loading, and in the certainty of hit- Writings of Jefferson, pp. 459-460. France in conjunction with Silas Deane, to son did not enter into public debate during whom Dr. Franklin was afterwards added. this session. At the next election, owing to Mr. Lee at the same time served as Agent for his refusal to electioneer by treating the voVirginia and procured from the royal arse- ters and his diffidence, he was superseded nal a large supply of warlike stores for her. by another. He was however at the ensu [1777.] Congress appointed him Commis- ing session of the legislature, [1778,] apsioner to Spain, where he obtained a large pointed a member of the Council of State. loan. Still continuing a member of the This place he held till 1779, when he was French Commission, he next went on a se- elected to Congress. While he was of the cret mission to Berlin, where he negotiated council, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferwith Frederick successfully in behalf of the son were governors. Mr. Madison's knowAmerican colonies. During his French ledge of French, (of which Governor Henry commission, Mr. Lee had exposed the pecu- was ignorant,) rendered him particularly serlations of some of the subordinate agents, viceable in the frequent correspondence held who were employed in conducting the com- with French officers: he wrote so much for mercial details of the public business. This Governor Henry, that, (as is mentioned by interference gave rise to many aspersions Mr. Jefferson,) he was called "the Goverupon Mr. Lee. [1780.] Resigning he re-nor's Secretary." Mr. Madison took his turned to America and prepared to vindicate seat in Congress in March, 1780, and he rehimself before Congress, but that body ex-mained a leading member until the fall of pressed their full confidence in his patriot- 1783. Such was the commencement of the ism. [1781.] He was elected to the assem- career of this illustrious man, who was desbly of Virginia and by it returned to Con- tined to pass through every eminent station gress, where he continued to represent the and to fill all with honor to himself and benState for several years. He never married. * efit to his country and to the world. As a During 1780, Mr. Madison took his seat in writer, a debater, a statesman, a patriot, he Congress. James Madison was born March, was of the first rank and his name goes down 1751, (O. S.) in the county of Caroline, Vir- to posterity one of the brightest of those ginia, on the Rappahannock river near Port that adorn the annals of his country. Royal. He was the son of James Madi- Towards the close of December, 1780, a son, of Orange county, and Nelly Conway hostile fleet appeared within the capes of his wife. At the age of twelve James Madi- the Chesapeake, with a force detached by son was at school under Donald Robertson, Sir Henry Clinton from New York under a distinguished teacher in the neighborhood, command of the traitor Arnold. A frigate and afterwards underthe Rev. Thomas Mar- in advance having captured some small vestin, the parish minister of the established sels, Arnold, with the aid of them, pushed church, who was a private tutor in his fa- on at once up the James River. Attemptther's family. Young Madison was next sent ing to land at Burwell's Ferry, (the Grove to the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, Landing,) his boats were beaten off by 150 of which the celebrated Dr. Witherspoon militia of Williamsburg and James city, under was then president. There Mr. Madison Col. Innes and General Nelson. Nelson on received the degree of bachelor of arts in this occasion retorted a verbal defiance in the autumn of 1771. He had impaired his answer to a letter, with which Arnold had health at college by too close application. ushered in his invasion. Leaving a frigate Nevertheless on his return to his home in and some transports at Burwell's Ferry, ArVirginia, he assiduously pursued a systemat- nold proceeded, [January 4th, 1781,] up the ic course of reading. He became a mem-river to Westover. Here landing a force of ber of the legislature of Virginia in May less than 800 men, † including a small party 1776. It was during this session, that the assembly unanimously instructed the deputies of Virginia in Congress to propose the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Madi-nold's letter without General Nelson's answer? Answer. * In a series of replies made by Mr. Jefferson to strictures thrown out upon his conduct of affairs at this juncture, the following is found. "Query.—Why publish Ar Ask the printer. He got neither from the Executive." † Simcoe, p. 161. * The of badly mounted cavalry, he marched for British lost twenty men killed and wounded, Richmond at 2 o'clock, P. M. of the same but charging put the militia to flight. Simday. Nelson in the meanwhile with a hand- coe then returned. Arnold sending a deful of militia, badly supplied with ammuni- tachment ashore at Hood's, a skirmish ention, had marched up the right bank of the sued with 240 men in ambuscade, under the James river, but had arrived too late to offer brave Colonel George Rogers Clarke. The any opposition to the landing of the enemy. enemy lost 17 killed and 13 wounded at the Arnold at one o'clock of the next day after first fire, when Clarke being charged found he marched from Westover, entered the in- it necessary to retreat. John Marshall, fant capital of Virginia, without having en- afterwards Chief Justice of the United countered any resistance, although his route States, was present at this affair. was very favorable for it. Simcoe with a enemy dismantled the fort at Hood's and detachment proceeded a few miles beyond carried off the heavy artillery. Nelson in Richmond, and destroyed the Foundry, emp- the meantime by a forced march reached tied the contents of the powder magazine Williamsburg just before the enemy's fleet over the cliffs into the James river, struck off came to off Jamestown. Arnold, however, the trunnions of the cannon and set fire to landed part of his forces at Cobham on the the warehouses and mills, the effect of the opposite side of the river, and marched down, conflagration being heightened by occasion- his ships keeping pace with and occasionalal explosions of gunpowder. † Many small ly reinforcing him. On the next day, [Janarms and a large stock of military supplies uary 14th,] Nelson paraded about 400 miliwere likewise destroyed at this place. At tia at Burwell's Ferry to oppose the landing Richmond the public stores fell a prey to the of the enemy. On the 14th reinforcements enemy; private property was plundered; the arriving augmented Nelson's force to 1,200, soldiers breaking into houses procured rum, but the enemy was now beyond their reach. and several buildings were burnt. Arnold Col. Griffin and Col. Temple with a party of withdrew from Richmond on the 6th, and on light horse had hovered near the enemy's the following day encamped at Berkley and lines at Westover and followed the fleet as Westover. Simcoe in a patroling excursion it dropped down the river. In this party in the night surprised a party of 150 militia were Colonels William Nelson, Gregoat Charles City Court House. After some ry Smith, Holt Richardson, Major Claiconfused firing the militia fled, with small borne Lincoln's aid, Majors Burwell, Ragsloss. Some few in attempting to escape dale and others, together with a number of were drowned in a neighboring mill-pond. young gentlemen. Arnold returned to In this skirmish, sergeant Adams, of Sim- Portsmouth without having encountered any coe's Rangers, was mortally wounded. Dy- serious interruption. ing shortly afterwards, he was buried at Thus it happened that while the regular Westover, wrapped in some American col- troops of Virginia were serving at a distance in ors taken a few days before at Hood's. Nel- other states, the militia, after a five years war, son reinforced at Holt's Forge by a party of was so unarmed and undisciplined that no Gloucester militia under Col. John Page, serious resistance was made to this daring finding his whole force not exceeding four invasion, About the time when Arnold hundred men, retreated. On that very night reached Portsmouth, some of his artillerythe British, [January 10th,] embarked at men, foraging on the road towards the Great Westover and dropped down the James river Bridge, were attacked, their wagons captured to Flower-de-Hundred. Here Simcoe was and their officer wounded. Simcoe, with a detached with a force to dislodge some mi- handful of yagers and rangers was detached litia at Bland's Mills. After marching about for the purpose of recovering the wagons. two miles, the advance guard in a dense Ferrying across to Herbert's Point they adwood were fired on by some Americans vanced about a mile, when "an artillery-man, posted at the forks of the road in front. The who had escaped and lay hid in the bushes, Lee's Memoirs. † Simcoe, p. 163, + lb., p. 168. MS. letter dated Rosewell, January 21, 1781, of Col. John Page to Theodorick Bland, Jr., in my possession. Simcoe, p. 169, |