There general

their adversaries, and occupied that little city. Phillips was carried off by a malignant fever; his military talents rendered his loss peculiarly painful to his party.

After a march of three hundred miles, in the midst of difficulties of every sort, lord Cornwallis at length arrived at Petersburgh, where he took the general command of all the British forces. The establishment of the seat of war in Virginia, coincided perfectly with the designs which the British ministers had formed upon this province. As soon as they were informed of the victory of Guildford, they had persuaded themselves that the two Carolinas were entirely reduced under the authority of the king, and that little else remained to be done besides reorganising in them the accustomed civil administration. They had not the least doubt that wise regulations would consummate the work, which the arms of Cornwallis had so happily commenced. They built, with particular confidence, on the support of the loyalists. Notwithstanding so many fatal experiments, so many abortive hopes, they still eagerly listened to all the illusions, and to all the news spread by the refugees, so unavoidably impelled by their position to cherish the wildest chimeras. The British government therefore expected that the cooperation of the loyalists, a few garrisons left in the most important posts, together with the terror of the arms of Cornwallis, would suffice to curb the patriots, and to confirm the submission of these provinces. As to Virginia, intersected by a great number of broad and deep rivers, whose mouths form upon its coasts several gulfs or bays suitable for anchorage, the naval forces sent thither by Rodney from the West Indies, seemed to guaranty the naval superiority of England in those waters. Accordingly, the ministers never allowed themselves to doubt, that if this province could not be entirely reduced, it would at least be very easy to press it, and waste it to such a degree that its utility should cease for the American union. They had therefore decided that the commanders of the land forces should make choice of an advantageous position upon the coasts of Virginia, and that they should secure the possession of it by fortifications capable of repelling all attacks of the enemy. This measure and the presumed superiority of the British marine, appeared to the cabinet of St. James, a sure pledge of the entire subjugation of Virginia; and for the reasons already stated, it felt perfectly assured of the possession of the two Carolinas, as also of Georgia. It was deemed the more certain that nothing was to be feared from the French squadrons, as the coasts of these vast provinces are nearly without ports, and since the few they offer were in the power of the royal troops. Finding themselves thus already masters of four rich provinces in the south, as well as of that of New York, inestimable alike for its resources, and for its ports, the ministers persuaded themselves that the moment could not be distant when the Americans would yield

through weariness and exhaustion. They felicitated themselves that, at all events, they were able to resume the offensive.

Such were the reasonings at London; but it was not known there that the British fleets, instead of having the advantage in point of force, were decidedly inferior in the American seas; that the Carolinas, instead of being in the power of the king, were returned almost totally under that of the Congress; and that although Cornwallis was indeed arrived in Virginia, he had shown himself there, notwithstanding his success at Guildford, rather as vanquished than victor.

Meanwhile, Cornwallis, after having staid a few days at Petersburgh, where he was reenforced by some hundred soldiers, sent him from New York by Clinton, took a resolution to cross the river James, and penetrate into the interior of Virginia. He had little apprehension of meeting American troops; supposing them both too weak, and too much dispersed to attempt resistance. In effect, the baron Steuben occupied the upper parts of the province, the marquis de la Fayette the maritime districts, and general Wayne, who was on the march with the regular troops of Pennsylvania, was still at a great distance. The British general therefore crossed the river without opposition at Westover; the marquis de la Fayette had retired behind the Chickahominy. Thence, Cornwallis detached a corps which occupied Portsmouth. The loyalists, or those who wished to appear such, repaired to that city in order to give in their paroles and receive protections. The county of Hanover was entirely overrun by the foragers of the British army. Lord Cornwallis was informed, about this time, that many of the most considerable men of the country were assembled in convention at Charlotteville, to regulate the affairs of the province; and that the baron Steuben was posted at the Point of Fork, situated at the junction of the rivers James and Rivana. The Americans had established at this place magazines of arms and munitions of war. These advices, added to the consideration that this part of the territory not having yet been the theatre of war was likely to abound in every kind of supplies, determined lord Cornwallis to attempt, first of all, the expeditions of Charlotteville and the Point of Fork. He committed the first to Tarleton, the second to Semcoe. Both were crowned with success. The first, by the rapidity of his march, arrived so unexpectedly upon the city that he seized a great number of deputies, and made himself master of a considerable quantity of warlike stores and provision. But the personage, whom he had it most at heart to secure, was one of those who escaped him, and that was Thomas Jefferson, since president of the United States; having had the good fortune to be timely apprised of the approach of the British troops, he put himself out of their reach; not however without having first, with extreme pains and the assistance of his neighbors, provided for the safety of

no small quantity of arms and ammunition. If Tarleton had sometimes complained of the two great benignity of his comrades, no one, assuredly, could make him the same reproach. His rapacity and imprudence no longer observed any bounds; nothing was sacred in his sight, nothing escaped his barbarous hands. Simcoe, on his part, had moved with equal celerity against the baron Steuben. That general might have made a vigorous resistance; it is not known what motive could have decided him to a precipitate retreat; and yet he was not able to protect his rear guard against the pursuit of the British, who reached it, and cut a part of it in pieces. When the colonels Tarleton and Semcoe were returned to camp, lord Cornwallis, traversing a rich and fertile country, marched upon Richmond, and, a little after, upon Williamsburgh, the capital of Virginia. His light troops, however, could no longer forage at large; the marquis de la Fayette had joined the baron Steuben, and having been reenforced by the Pennsylvania regiments of general Wayne, he found himself in a situation to watch all the movements of the British army, and to cut off the parties that ventured to stray. from it. Cornwallis received at this same time orders from general Clinton, requiring him to reembark a part of his troops for New York. Not that Clinton meditated any important stroke; but he had been advised of the approach of the allies, and he expected to see the storm burst upon his head. He feared at the same time for New York, Staten Island, and Long Island; his force was not sufficient for their defence. In order to obey, Cornwallis marched his troops towards the banks of the James river. He intended, after having passed it, to repair to Portsmouth, where he would have embarked the corps destined for New York. But as M. de la Fayette followed him extremely close, he found himself constrained to make a halt upon the left bank of the river, and to take possession of a strong position, in order to repress the impetuosity of his adversary, and give time to his troops for passing the artillery, munitions and baggage to the other side. He encamped therefore along the river, having his right covered by a pond, and the centre and left by

swamps.

Meanwhile, the American vanguard, commanded by general Wayne, had advanced very near. The English despatched spies among the Americans, in order to make them believe that the bulk of the royal army had already passed to the right bank, and that only a feeble rear guard remained upon the left, consisting of the British legion and some detachments of infantry. Whether the republicans allowed themselves to be caught in this snare, or that they were hurried away by an inconsiderate valor, they fell with great fury upon the royal troops. Already the regular regiments of Pennsylvania, led by general Wayne, had passed the swamp, and fiercely assailed the left wing of the royalists; and notwithstanding

the great superiority of the enemy, the assailants appeared nowise daunted. But the English having passed the pond, advanced against the left wing, which consisted entirely of militia. Having dispersed it without difficulty, they showed themselves upon the left flank of Wayne. At the same time, extending their own left beyond the swamp, they had turned his right, and manifested an intention of surrounding him on every side. The marquis de la Fayette perceived this manœuvre, and immediately directed Wayne to fall back. He was unable to execute this movement without leaving two pieces of cannon in the power of the enemy. M. de la Fayette remained some time at Green Springs, in order to collect the scattered soldiers. Cornwallis reentered his intrenchments. The approach of night, and the nature of the country, broken with woods and marshes, prevented him from pursuing the Americans. The next morning, before sunrise, he detached his cavalry upon the route taken by the marquis de la Fayette, with orders to hang upon his rear, and harass him as much as possible. All the harm it did him, consisted in the taking of a few soldiers who had lagged behind. It is presumable, that if Cornwallis had advanced the following day with all his force, he might have cut off the republicans entirely. But all his views were directed towards Portsmouth, in order to embark the troops there which Clinton expected at New York. When he had passed the river James with his whole army, he accordingly hastened to Portsmouth; but upon a strict examination of places, he was convinced that they did not offer him a position suitable by its strength and other advantages to favor the ulterior designs of Clinton. He proceeded, however, with diligence to embark the troops. In the meantime, he received new instructions from Clinton, directing him to return to Williamsburgh, to retain all the troops he had with him, and instead of Portsmouth, to make his place of arms of Point Comfort, in order to have, in any

event, a secure retreat.

Two principal causes had determined general Clinton to embrace this new resolution; he had received from Europe a reenforcement of three thousand Germans; and he was influenced, besides, by a desire to open himself a passage by way of Hampton and the James river, towards that fertile and populous part of Virginia which lies between the James and York rivers. But Point Comfort, on attentive examination, was found an equally unfavorable and defective position for an intrenched camp, and no less incompetent than Portsmouth for the purposes in view. It was therefore determined to relinquish the design of fortifying it. The plan of future operations requiring, however, the occupation of a fixed point in the country comprehended by the above mentioned rivers, lord Cornwallis resolved to repass the river James with all his army, and take up his head-quarters at Yorktown. The marquis de la Fayette was desirous to oppose his passage; but the Americans that were in his camp would not consent to march lower down towards Portsmouth.

Yorktown is a village situated upon the right bank of the river York, and opposite to another smaller town called Gloucester. The latter is built upon a point of land which projects into the river from the left side, and which considerably diminishes the breadth of its channel. The water is deep there, and capable of receiving the largest ships of war. On the right of Yorktown flows a marshy stream; in front of the place, for the distance of a mile, the ground is open and level. In advance of this plain is a wood, whose left extends to the river, and whose right is bordered by a creek. Beyond the wood the country is champaign and cultivated. Cornwallis applied his attention to intrench himself in the strongest possible manner upon this ground.

After the affair of Jamestown, the marquis de la Fayette had retired between the rivers Mattapony and Pamonky, the waters of which united, compose the York river. Upon intelligence of the new position taken by Cornwallis, he recrossed the Pamonky, and took post in the county of New Kent; not that he intended to attack the English; his force did not admit of it; but he was disposed, at least, to harass them, to repress their excursions, and to prevent their foraging in the country. Washington had intrusted M. de la Fayette with the charge of defending Virginia; he acquitted himself of it in the most satisfactory manner; sometimes by his mancuvres holding Cornwallis in cheek, and sometimes combating him with vigor, he at length conducted him to a place, where he might hope to be seconded by the powerful French fleet that was expected upon the American coast.

Hitherto the campaign of Virginia had presented no inconsiderable vicissitude of events; but all equally destitute of importance. The scene was changed; and the plan which tended, by a decisive stroke, to put an end to the whole American war, drew day by day more near to its accomplishment. The American government was informed that the count de Grasse, with his fleet and a body of land troops, was about to arrive. It therefore neglected no dispositions that were demanded by the occasion, in order to be in a situation to profit of the great superiority which the allies were soon to have, as well by land, as by sea. To this end, Washington and Rochambeau had an interview at Wethersfield. The count de Barras, who commanded the French squadron at anchor in Rhode Island, was likewise to have been present at the conference, but was detained by other duties. The siege of New York was resolved upon between the two generals. They agreed, that it was necessary to wrest from the English that shelter, which from the commencement of hostilities to the present hour, had been so favorable to their enterprises. From that day, all the movements of the French and Americans were directed towards this object. They had calculated them in such a manner as that the appearance of the count de Grasse upou