prepa Lieutenant Spencer with twenty hussars Fluvanna in consequence of intelligence of formed Simcoe's advanced guard of chosen Tarleton's incursion, which he apprehended men mounted on fleet horses. Simcoe cross- was aimed at him. The river was broad and ing the South Anna pushed on with his ac- unfordable, and Steuben was in possession customed celerity, by Byrd's Ordinary tow- of all the boats. Simcoe himself was now ards Napier's Ford on the Rivanna. No in- in an exposed position, but his apprehenhabitant of the country coming within view, sions were relieved, when the Baron's peoescaped capture. From some of the pris-ple were heard at night destroying their oners intelligence was obtained that Steu- boats with great noise. At midnight they ben was at the Point of Fork and in the made up their camp-fires. Soon after a deact of crossing to the South side of the serter and a little drummer-boy passed over James river. The Baron adopted this mea- in a canoe and gave information that Steusure in consequence of intelligence of Tarle- ben had marched off on the road by Cumton's incursion. Within two miles of Steu-berland Court-House, towards North Caroliben's camp, a patrol of dragoons appeared, na. The drummer-boy belonged to the was chased and taken. It consisted of a 71st regiment; he had been taken prisoner French officer and four of Armand's corps. at the Cowpens, had enlisted in Morgan's The advanced men of Spencer's guard chang- army and now making his escape, haped clothes with the prisoners, for the purpose pened to be received by a picket guard which of attempting to surprise the Baron at the his own father commanded. On the followonly house at the Point of Fork. Just as ing morning, by aid of some canoes, SimSimcoe was about to give the order to his coe sent across the river Captain Stevenson men to lay down their knapsacks in with twenty light infantry and Cornet Wolration for an engagement, the advanced sey with four hussars, who carried their sadguard brought in a prisoner, Mr. Farley, dles with them. The infantry detachment Baron Steuben's aid, who had mistaken them were ordered to bring off such supplies as for the patrol which had just been captured. Simcoe might need and to destroy the reMr. Farley assured Simcoe that "he had mainder. The hussars were directed to mount seen every man over the Fluvanna before he upon such straggling horses as they could left the Point of Fork." This was confirm- find and patrol in Steuben's wake. ed by some waggoners, who with their teams orders were successfully executed. were now taken. Simcoe's cavalry advan- stores were destroyed and Steuben's retreat cing, plainly saw the Baron's force on the accelerated. Simcoe in the meantime emopposite side. About thirty of Steuben's ployed his force in constructing a raft, by people collected on the bank where the em- which he might pass the Rivanna at its juncbarkation had taken place, were captured. tion with the South Anna. There was deSimcoe employed stratagem to persuade the stroyed a large quantity of arms, the greater Baron that the party was Earl Cornwallis's part of them, however, out of repair, togethwhole Army, so as to cause the arms and er with ammunition and military stores. The stores that covered the opposite banks to be quantity and value of property destroyed were abandoned. Captain Hutchinson with the greatly exaggerated by the enemy. Simcoe 71st regiment clothed in red, was directed to took away also a mortar, five brass howitzers approach the banks of the Fluvanna, while and four long brass nine pounders, mounted the baggage and women halted in the woods, afterwards at Yorktown † According to on the summit of a hill where they made Simcoe's opinion, a small guard left by Steuthe appearance of a numerous corps. The ben would have protected these stores. The woods mystified their numbers and numer- want of military intelligence exhibited on ous camp-fires aided the deception. The this occasion is what the disaster must be atthree-pounder was carried down and one shot fired, by which was killed the horse of one of Steuben's orderly dragoons. The Baron was encamped on the heights on the opposite side, about three quarters of a mile back from the river. He had passed the Burk, vol. 4, p. 498. tributed to. Simcoe, pp. 212-223. Lee, pp. 293-294. Both The + Simcoe, p. 223. These may perhaps be the brass pieces recaptured at Yorktown, now to be found at the Armory at Richinond. Tarleton, Cornwallis and the historian Stedman, it is said, have exaggerated the American loss. tinction, captured by Tarleton, were treated At the same time when Simcoe was de- ton was in the neighborhood of Charlottestached, Lord Cornwallis had sent out, [June, ville, 20 British and Hessian prisoners of 1781,] that other distinguished partisan, the Convention troops," cantoned with the Tarleton, with 180 cavalry, and 70 mounted planters, joined him. The prisoners of disinfantry of the 23rd regiment under Captain Champagne, with instructions to surprise the Virginia Assembly, then sitting at Charlottesville, to seize Mr. Jefferson at Monticello, near that town, and to destroy such stores as could be of use to the Americans. Elkhill, on their paroles. Tarleton moving rapidly towards Charlottes- Earl Cornwallis, with the main army, arville, met with twelve wagons laden with riving, [June 7th,] near the Point of Fork, clothing for the Southern army and he burnt Simcoe and Tarleton rejoined him. [June them. Learning that a number of gentle- 9th.] Simcoe was detached to the Seven Ismen, who had escaped from the lower coun- lands, where he destroyed 150 barrels of try, were assembled, some at Dr. Walker's, gunpowder, and burnt the tobacco in the the others at Mr. John Walker's, Tarleton ware-houses on the river side. Some militiadespatched Captain Kinloch, with a party, to men were surprised and made prisoners. † Mr. John Walker's, while he proceeded with The British army was now encamped along the the rest to the doctor's mansion. Here he bank of the James river, from the Point of Fork surprised Col. John Syme, a half-brother to to Elkhill, a plantation of Mr. Jefferson's, Patrick Henry, and some other gentlemen, where Cornwallis for ten days made his headwho were found asleep, † it being early in the quarters. This plantation was utterly laid waste morning. Captain Kinloch captured Francis by the enemy. Wherever his lordship's army Kinloch, (his relative ‡ and a delegate to con- went, plantations were despoiled and private gress from South Carolina,) together with houses plundered. During the six months. William and Robert Nelson, brothers to Gen- of his stay in Virginia, she lost 30,000 slaves, eral Thomas Nelson. Mr. Iouitte, one of the of whom the greater part died of small pox inmates, effecting his escape on a fleet horse, and camp fever, and the rest were shipped to conveyed intelligence of Tarleton's approach, the West Indies, Nova Scotia, &c. The to Charlottesville, so that the greater part of whole devastations committed by the British the members of the Assembly escaped. army, during these six months, was estimaTarleton, after a delay of some hours, enter- ted at upwards of thirteen millions of doled Charlottesville. Seven Burgesses fell into his hands and the public stores there were destroyed. lars. Lafayette being joined by Wayne's brigade, eight or nine hundred strong, marched at Captain McCleod, with a troop of horse, once towards Albemarle old Court-house, visited Monticello and reached the house a where some magazines remained uninjured few moments after Mr. Jefferson had fled. by the British. He succeeded in saving these The magnificent prospect visible there, must stores from the attempts of Tarleton. Lahave afforded some compensation to the par- fayette, at Albemarle Court-house, was jointy for their disappointment. While Tarle-ed by Col. Campbell, the hero of King's * Belvoir, about seven miles from Charlottesville, and residence of the late Judge Hugh Nelson. † Lee, pp. 294-295. Tarleton, p. 296. It is said that as one of the gentlemen, who was rather en-bon-point and who had found time to put on nothing but his breeches, ran across the yard in full view of the British dragoons, they burst into a fit of laughter at so unique and extraordinary a phenomenon. There is a family tradition, that when this Captain Kinloch was about to leave England, the Ladies of his family playfully begged him not to kill their cousin in America, and that he replied, "No, but I will be sure to take him prisoner"-which jocular prediction was thus fulfilled. See Lee, p. 295, in note. Mountain, with his brave riflemen. § Cornwallis now, in accordance with advices from Sir Henry Clinton, retired to the lower country and was followed by Lafayette, who had in the meantime, above Richmond, been reinforced by Steuben, with his 600 levies and Tarleton, p 298. † Simcoe, p. 223. It was here, that Mr. Jefferson, when confined by an arm fractured by a fall from a horse, composed his "Notes on Virginia." Lee, p. 297. by the militia. Cornwallis halted for a few reported, except that three officers and twendays at Richmond. Simcoe was posted at ty-eight privates were made prisoners. The Westham, Tarleton at the Meadow Bridge.* number of killed and wounded probably exLafayette's army amounted now to 4,500, of ceeded that of the British. * Major McPherwhom one half were regulars and of these son was unhorsed, but crept into a swamp 1,500 were veterans. He was still inferior and made his escape. Simcoe after retreatto Cornwallis in numbers, by one third, and ing two miles towards Williamsburg, met very deficient in cavalry. † Cornwallis leav- Lord Cornwallis, with the advance of his aring Richmond, [June 20th, 1781,] reached my, coming to his relief. Coret Jones, who Williamsburg on the 25th. Lafayette fol- had fallen in the skirmish, was buried at Willowed and passing Richmond, arrived at liamsburg on the next day with military honNew Kent Court-house on the day after the ors. Col. Butler, the American commander British general had left it. Lafayette now in the action, was the same who afterwards took a position on Tyre's plantation, twenty fell at St. Clair's defeat, being on that occamiles from Williamsburg. Cornwallis having sion second in command. † The party was ineffec tually fired at from Gloucester Point and returned on the same day to Williamsburg. After halting here nine days, Cornwallis, [4th of July,] marched and encamped near James detached Simcoe, to destroy some boats and June 28th, Cornwallis with an escort of stores on the Chickahominy, that energetic cavalry, under Simcoe, visited Yorktown, for and accomplished partisan performed the ser- the purpose of examining the capabilities of vice with his accustomed promptness. La- that post. His lordship formed an unfavorfayette discovering this march of Simcoe, able opinion of it. detached Col. Butler, of the Pennsylvania line, in quest of him. Butler's van consist ing of the rifle corps, under Majors Call and Willis, and the cavalry-the whole not exceeding 120 effectives, was led by Major town island, for the purpose of crossing the McPherson of Pennsylvania. Having mount- James river and proceeding to Portsmouth. ed some infantry behind the remnant of Ar- The Queen's Rangers passed over the river in mand's dragoons, he overtook Simcoe on his the evening of the same day, to cover the return, near Spencer's plantation, about six baggage which was now transported. Lamiles above Williamsburg, at the Forks of the fayette, as Cornwallis had predicted, now adroads leading to Williamsburg and James-vanced, with the hope of striking at the reartown. The ground there, in Simcoe's phrase, guard only of the enemy, supposing upon was "admirably adapted to the chicanery of imperfect intelligence that the main body had action." The suddenness of McPherson's already crossed to the left bank of the river. attack threw the yagers into confusion, but Accordingly about sunset, [July 6th, 1781,] they were firmly supported by the Queen's Lafayette attacked Cornwallis and after a Rangers. Call and Willis having now join-warm conflict, was compelled to retreat, haved McPherson, a warm conflict ensued. ing discovered that he was engaged by the Simcoe found occasion for all his resources. main body of the British army. Of the conThe advanced party of Butler's corps was re-tinental troops, 118, including ten officers, pulsed and fell back in confusion upon the continentals. Simcoe satisfied with this advantage, retired. Both parties claimed the advantage in this rencontre. The loss of the British was eleven killed and twenty-six wounded. The loss of the Americans is not * Tarleton, p. 300. † Lee, p. 299. Tarleton, p. 301. Trumpeter Barney gave the alarm to the Rangers, exclaiming, "draw your swords Rangers, the Rebels are coming." Simcoe, p. 228. Barney captured a French of ficer. were killed, wounded or taken. Some cannon also fell into the hands of the enemy. The British state their loss at five officers and seventy privates, killed and wounded. Cornwallis now crossed the James and marched [9th of July] for Portsmouth. Lafayette re-inforced by some dragoons from Baltimore, retired to a strong position near West Point, at the head of York river, The militia had already been discharged. Simcoe, pp. 227-237. He gives a plan of the affair and says that he "considered this action as the climax of a campaign of five years, p. 234. † Lee, p. 300. THE FORTUNES OF ESTHER, THE JEWESS. CHAPTER XI. pay him the same worship that is given to the king?" "The king of kings," replied Mordecai, “has commanded that thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou worship.'" The slave glad of an opportunity to ingratiate Could those who envy the great and judge of himself with Haman watched his approach, and their happiness from the glare of external circum- and bowing down before him, said in a submissive stances, but look into the hidden recesses of the voice, "O prince of royal dignity, before whom heart and contemplate the hot-bed of exotic cares all knees should bend, the Jew, Mordecai, sitting and wants accumulating at an even pace with the in the king's gate, scorns to bow down and do homadvance of rank; the alarms and cravings of jeal-age to Haman according to the king's decree." ous pride-the wounds and ranklings of a morbid In an instant the blood mounted to Haman's sensibility-the vindictive hatred of opposing ri- cheeks in a torrent of wrath, and his eye flashed vals and the midnight labors of restless ambition, with a fire dreadful to behold. Too haughty to reply they would retire from the scene convinced that to the prostrate slave, he turned impatiently away the enjoyments of life are not so unequally dis- and resolved to test at once the truth of what he tributed among the different classes of mankind as had heard. "This accursed Jew and his juggling a superficial view leads them to believe. The daughter, so much like the present queen," mutterhumble peasant, whose aspirations mount no higher ed Haman," have made sport of me and laughed than to the supply of animal wants and creature my power to scorn, till I have become a cowardly comforts, is happier than many a prince surround-dastard in my own eyes. One of them, thanks to ed by the splendors of state; for the sources of Vashti, who at least did one good deed in her time, contentment lie not in the capricious gifts of for- has already been crushed and the other soon shall tune, but in the moral government of the mind. be, in defiance of the favor of this stupid king." Haman, the Amalekite, who had come to Persia a He now drew near to Mordecai and stopping dipoor adventurer, not conceiving in his wildest rectly opposite to the gate, confronted him with a dreams of ambition the remotest possibility of ri- look of concentrated vengeance. The old man sing to the height he had obtained, was a far hap-sat perfectly quiet, and looking with the most plapier man in his first humble station than now, the cid composure, first on the scowling brow of Hasecond man in dignity throughout the empire. The man, then on his magnificent dress, and seeming homage of the prostrate forms that bent before to discover nothing about him worth much attenhim was to his haughty spirit grateful incense, yet tion, turned imperturbably away and followed with he reflected that this kingly honor was paid to him at his eye a gay equipage that dashed along the street. the commands of another and might as easily be Haman's wrath was nearly suffocating him, yet his withheld by the same breath that bestowed it. His proud soul could not bend to utter a word to the unscrupulous and inappeasable ambition was a burn- old Jew; nor could he, though trembling with eaing and a consuming flame, that wasted his restless gerness to crush him, proclaim to the king the fact spirit with one absorbing aspiration. There stood so galling and humiliating to his haughty spirit, that but one man between him and single absolute su- one man was found who refused to bow down and premacy. Nothing less than the title and the pow-pay him homage. Tortured nearly to madness, he er of the great king could now satisfy his tower-suddenly turned homewards to ease the pangs of ing pride. With a stern and haughty carriage he his heart in domestic sympathy and advice. Weak strutted in gloomy promenades about the courts of and infatuated wretch! Had your greatness so the palace with his arms locked upon his bosom, perverted your reason as to make your peace dehis lips compressed and his head proudly erect, pendent on the action of an old man's body? Hascarcely deigning to cast a glance upon the pros- man entered his splendid palace amidst all that trate forms that bent before him. Old Morde- could give comfort to the body, or delight the eye, cai sat calmly resting his back against one of and yet perhaps he was the most unhappy man in the pillars of the king's gate, with his right leg the Persian empire. Throwing himself upon a across his left, his hands locked around his knees couch in all the agony of a haughty and turbulent and his eyes attentively surveying the motley spirit under imaginary outrage and insult, he recrowds that thronged the streets when Haman, volved in his dark mind various schemes of fierce with an air of lofty dignity, slowly passed before revenge against the Jew; yet his proud heart could him. The old man turned his eyes and viewed him leisurely from head to foot, then looked another way and hummed a tune. not bend to the confession so humiliating-that an object so contemptible in his eye as Mordecai, had for a moment employed his thoughts. After "Know you not," asked a servitor of the palace, torturing his heated brain for many minutes, he stepping up to Mordecai, "that the king has com- suddenly started from his seat and exclaimed, "I manded all men to bow down before Haman and have it-the lives of a thousand such accursed VOL. XIII-85 slaves would but mock my thirst for revenge. I prove abortive as long as this unsocial and disjuncwill crush the whole detested race at one blow. tive people holds a place in the provinces of the That fortunate decree that has gone forth for the dominions. As well may he attempt to mingle oil consolidation of the empire, and which this hateful and water, as connect the Jews in social compact people-like bodies in chemistry without affinity or with any other people; for it is known to all men, the attraction of cohesion-alone obstruct, shall O king, that this malicious people have laws and afford me a theme of accusation so weighty as to customs differing wholly from those of every other extort from this credulous king the license to sa-nation under heaven; and that they inculcate the tiate my vengeance." Neglecting for the first time the studied decorations of his person in his impatience to execute his plans, he sallied forth hastily from his palace; his gorgeous robe hanging awry upon him, and all rumpled by his restlessness while recumbent on his couch of thorns; and forgetful of his staid and stately dignity of carriage, passed with rapid strides into the king's palace. Scarcely waiting to announce his presence, he appeared before the monarch, still wearing in his countenance the traces of ruthless indignation. "Speak, Haman," commanded the king, as the crafty hypocrite bowed down before him, "your haste and clouded brow bespeak some weighty affair of state for our special ear." duty of disobedience to all laws and lawgivers save Moses and their Sanhedrim; and an uncompromi sing hatred and malevolence towards all mankind, who acknowledge the supremacy, or even the existence of any other god save their God Jehovah. An article of their creed enjoins the obligation to defraud, oppress, and even to murder where impunity may follow, the subjects of all governments, of customs differing from their own; and to uproot the foundation of every throne that acknowledges not a single and undeviated devotion to their God. The truth standing thus, great king, but few things would more delight this misanthropic race than the utter subversion of your throne and empire and to that end, whenever a glimmering of success shall be promised, their whole energies will "Great king of kings, the light and splendor of be directed. By secret and stealthy means, and the world," began Haman, "your high and dread hidden practices, and in dark conclaves, their agents decree sent forth to the hundred and twenty- are continually at work. Since the days of Nebuseven provinces of your unlimited empire com- chadnezzar their implacable hatred to the people manding peace, unity of government, and obe- and governments of the empire-the Persian no dience to the laws, to the end that local interest less than the Assyrian-has been handed down and jealousies may cease to distract the public from generation to generation, and it has come to mind, and that a sense of fraternity and communi- my knowledge, by the most conclusive evidence, ty of interests as one people, might produce gen-that nearly all the rebellions, intestine commotions eral tranquillity and contribute to the prosperity and bloodshed of the provinces have been secretly of all, has been duly forwarded by couriers and fomented by Jews in disguise. Therefore, great acknowledged with humble and dutiful reverence king, it remains for you to determine whether this by all the princes, governors and people of the detested people, inflexible and incorrigible as they empire, save an accursed and misanthropic race in are in their wickedness, be suffered to continue our midst—and would beyond all question secure in our midst, to increase in numbers, wealth and the end the king has so much at heart, but for the power, till they shall become too mighty for foreimalevolent and unsocial customs of this incorrigible subjugation; or by a wise precaution be now, ble people, the Jews, who are a canker-a foul while weak, suddenly and without a remnant, cut ulcer upon the body politic and diffuse the poison off by the sword in one day, and thus by a single of their rebellious example through every grade stroke free the State from the intolerable nuisance of society. Now I beseech the king to judge of of their practices. If they be permitted to live, the truthfulness of my report and the singleness great king, in all your future decrees commanding of my purpose, by the fidelity I have proven to the obedience of your people, except the Jews; three successive kings, untouched even by suspi- for they already laugh to scorn those that are pubcion, when treason, with all its temptations, has con-lished." tinually reared its head around me; and the nobles Though naturally generous and humane, Artaof the land have forgotten, in their guilty dreams of ambition, even the sanctity that attaches to the sacred persons of kings and have impiously shed the royal blood. If then these considerations deserve any weight with the king, let the devotedness of his servant, directed by his long experience and his knowledge of men, impress him with the truth, that all his efforts to harmonize the empire by a general fraternity and social consolidation of interests, will xerxes, who had been reared in the school of despotism, and was as fully persuaded that resistance to his will was a crime as deserving of death as those of treason or murder, became exceedingly indignant as the wily and bypocritical Haman proceeded in his artful and provoking address. Unpractised in the arts of the designing, and from the frankness of his own nature, without suspicion, he ascribed the bold and vehement exhortation of Ha |