1781. formed and extended their line to their left. It was near April 27. three o'clock before the firing commenced, which continued from poft to poft till paft five, when the fuperiority of the enemy, and want of ammunition, obliged the baron to order a retreat, and the bridge to be taken up; which were executed with great regularity notwithstanding the fire of the British cannon and musketry. The Americans difputed the ground inch by inch, and executed their manoeuvres with much exactnefs. The baron retired to Chesterfield court-house, ten miles from Petersburgh. The next day the British destroyed at Petersburgh 400 hogfheads of tobacco, a fhip, and a number of small veffels. On the 27th Arnold marched to Ofborn's, four miles above which place the Virginians had a confiderable marine force, with which they meant to oppose him. Arnold fent a flag to treat with the commander, who declared that he would defend his fleet to the laft. Arnold advanced with fome artillery, and at length overpowered him. The feamen took to their boats and escaped, but not before they had scuttled and fet fire to several of their fhips. The militia were driven from the oppofite fhore. Two fhips and ten fmaller veffels, loaded with tobacco, cordage, flour and other articles, fell into Arnold's hands. Four fhips, five brigantines, and a number of small veffels, were either burnt or funk. The whole quantity of tobacco taken or destroyed in this fleet exceeded 2000 hogfheads. The British by the 30th reached Manchester, where they deftroyed 1200 hogfheads of tobacco: the marquis de la Fayette, with his troops, who arrived at Richmond on the oppofite fide the preceding evening, being spectators of the conflagration. The royal army on their re turn turn made great havoc at Warwick. Befide the ships 1781. on the ftocks and in the river, a large range of rope walks, a magazine of flour, a number of warehouses, containing tobacco and other commodities, tan-houses full of hides and bark, and several fine mills, were destroyed or consumed in one general conflagration. The army then returned to the shipping, and the whole fell down toward the mouth of the river. While this force was fufficient for deftroying every fpecies of property to an almost incredible amount, and for accumulating a great deal of spoil for the parties commanding it, the main purpose was not answered: it was incapable of bringing matters to any decifive conclufion. Here, and in the Carolinas, the veteran battalions were worn down and confumed, without producing any permanent advantage. The marquis de la Fayette has been mentioned as prefent in Virginia. When he had marched back to the head of Elk, he received an order from gen. Washington to go on to Virginia, that he might oppose gen. Phillips. His troops were in want of almoft every thing, however they proceeded to, and arrived at Baltimore on the 17th of April. Here he was under the greatest embarraffment for want of fhoes; there not being a pair in his whole command. But the love and confidence he had excited, enabled him to borrow of the merchants two thousand guineas upon his own credit; with which he procured fuch neceffaries as were wanting for the forwarding of his detachment, The marquis, being jealous that Richmond was Phillips's object, made a forced march of 200 miles, and arrived at that place the evening before the latter reached Manchester, 29. 1781. During the night, which was spent in making dispositions of defence, the marquis was joined by fome militia under baron Steuben. His prefence with fuch a body of troops fecured Richmond from the hoftile attack of the British, and faved the military ftores with which it was then filled. The marquis, with a very inferior force, kept on the north fide of James river; and acted fo entirely on the defenfive, and at the fame time made fo judicious a choice of pofts, and fhowed fuch vigor and defign in his movements, as prevented any advantage being taken of his weakness. Upon the falling down of the British forces to the mouth of the river, with a view of collecting contributions at Williamsburgh and in the neighbourhood, the marquis difcovered no fmall activity in counteracting them. On their fudden return up James river, he conceived their object to be the forming a junction with lord Cornwallis, of whose marching through North Carolina he had received fome faint intelligence. He therefore made a rapid movement, that he might get before them to Peterfburgh; but was foiled in his defign, through the vigilance of the British commanders. The laft act of gen. Phillips was the taking poffeffion of this place late in the night of May the 9th: on the 13th he died. May 9. Lord Cornwallis, after the action with Greene near Guilford court-house, croffing Deep river, marched for Wilmington, and arrived in the neighbourhood on the 7th of April. He concluded upon marching to Virginia, and endeavouring a junction with Phillips. The troops were now to encounter a new march of 300 miles ; while fo deftitute of neceffaries, that the cavalry might be faid to want every thing, and the infantry every thing but shoes. Neither were in any suitable condition 1781. to move, even the day before marching. His lordship provided for every poffible contingency as far as in his power; and then began his march on the 25th of April. He arrived at Petersburgh on the 20th of May. Here 20. he received the unwelcome news of Phillips's death; but had the confolation of meeting with a fresh reinforcement of about 1800 men, whom Sir Henry Clinton had fent to fupport the war with vigor. Lord Cornwallis, on taking the command, felt himself fo fuperior to the American force, that he exulted in the prospect of fuccefs; and defpifing the youth of his opponent unguardedly wrote to Great Britain-" the boy cannot escape me." The marquis's little army confifted of 1000 continentals, 2000 militia, and 60 dragoons. Cornwallis procéeded from Petersburgh to James river, which he croffed in order to diflodge Fayette from Richmond: it was evacuated on the 27th. His lordship then marched 27, through Hanover county, and croffed the South Anna river, Fayette conftantly following his motions, but at a guarded distance in every part of his progrefs. His lordship at one time planned the furprifal of the marquis, while on the fame fide of James river with himself; but was diverted from his intention by a fpy, whom Fayette had sent into his camp. The marquis was very defirous of obtaining full intelligence concerning his lordship; and concluded upon prevailing, if poffible, upon one Charles (generally called Charly) Morgan, a Jersey soldier, of whom he had entertained a favorable opinion, to turn deferter, and go over to the British army, in order to his executing the bufinefs of a spy more effectually, Charly was fent for, and agreed to undertake the 1781. the hazardous employ; but infifted, that in cafe he fhould be discovered and hanged, the marquis, to fecure his reputation, should have it inserted in the Jersey paper, that he was fent upon the fervice by his commander. Charly deferted, and when he had reached the royal army was carried before his lordship; who inquired into the reason of his deferting, and received for answer<< I have been, my lord, with the American army from the beginning, and while under gen. Washington was fatisfied; but being put under a Frenchman, I do not like it, and have left the fervice." His lordship commended and rewarded his conduct. Charly was very diligent in the discharge of his military duty, and was not in the least fufpected; but at the fame time carefully obferved all that paffed. One day while on particular duty with his comrades, Cornwallis in clofe converfation with fome officers, called Charly to him, and faid"How long time will it take the marquis to crofs James river?" Charly paufed a moment, and anfwered"Three hours, my lord." His lordfhip exclaimed<< Three hours! why it will take three days.' No, my lord," faid Charly, "the marquis has fo many boats, and each boat will carry fo many men. If your lordship will be at the trouble of calculating, you will find he can crofs in three hours." His lordship turned to the officers, and in the hearing of Charly remarked"The scheme will not do." Charly concluded this was the moment for his returning to the marquis. He, as foon as poffible, plied his comrades with grog*, till they > were * A mixture of rum and water, which gained its name in the following way. When admiral Vernon commanded in the Weft Indies, to |