loyalists in these first moments, when the Virginian government was still so recent, the most terrible consequences might have resulted, and perhaps the total extermination of the province. This consideration decided the Virginians to form a convention, in which they placed great confidence. They proceeded immediately to levy troops, provide munitions, and raise money; in a word, to take all the measures they believed proper to secure the success of their

cause.

Lord Dunmore, finding himself thus expelled from his own government, as well by his personal obstinacy as by the force of things, would not, however, being versed in arms, abandon the hope of recovering his authority. Independent of his character, (pertinacious, and capable of the greatest resolutions) he was also animated by a desire to perform some brilliant achievement for the service of his king, and encouraged by the idea that some violent movement would inevitably discover itself among the slaves. He likewise believed, that the number of the loyalists was considerable; and that their party would not fail to put themselves in motion, when he should make his appearance upon the coasts, and even in the heart of the province, with a formidable squadron. This hope, if not absolutely chimerical, was at least very slightly founded; but it is an error common to all times, and to all generals, to build extravagantly upon the intestine divisions of revolted subjects. All the auxiliaries that joined the governor, consisted in those individuals, who, having incurred the suspicion of the people, could no longer reside with safety in the province, and a certain number of slaves, of a profligate stamp.

With this troop, and with the frigates upon that station, he flattered himself he should be able to make some impression of importance in the adjacent country. He omitted no exertion to increase the strength of his squadron, and the number of his men; and especially to approach nearer to the land. Having accomplished this purpose, by joining to his frigates a great number of light vessels, he began to move, at one time showing himself in this part, at another in that; but of himself he was not able to produce any considerable effect. He expected, but in vain, that the people would rise, and take arms in favor of the king. Reduced to his own forces, he commenced hostilities which more resembled the attacks of pirates, than a fair and regular war. It was, in truth, a shocking spectacle, to see the governor of a province rushing upon all points to lay it waste, and to wrest by violence the provisions of which he had need; while the people, who recently had obeyed his orders, endeavored to repulse him. But the Virginians alleged, that their conduct was sufficiently authorised by that of the royal troops, who under pretext of selfpreservation, meditated the destruction of the whole province. They complained, that persons obnoxious to the governor was seized, and

confined on board ships; that their plantations were ravaged, their houses fired, their negroes carried off; devastations that were never executed without effusion of blood. The Virginians marched for the protection of the rivers and coasts, a few corps of militia, recently taken into pay by the provincial convention. The war that ensued was the more cruel, as it was useless, and could have no other effect but that of still more inflaming and exasperating the minds on both sides.

The governor, having surprised the town of Hampton, situated upon the bay of the same name, devoted it to the flames. His wish had been to take up his quarters, and assemble a considerable force at that point; but the Virginians came up in multitude, and forced him to reembark.

Lord Dunmore proclaimed martial law; the effect of which would have been to suspend all civil authority in the province. He exhorted the loyalists to repair to the royal standard; to retain in their hands the contributions due to the crown, as well as other taxes, until the reestablishment of peace. Moreover, he declared free all slaves or servants, black or white, belonging to rebels, provided they should take arms and join the royal troops.

This proclamation, and especially the clause concerning slaves, proved that lord Dunmore was a man extremely deficient in prudence and moderation, but produced none of the effects he had expected. In the colonies, and even in all other countries, an universal cry arose against a measure which tended to disturb society in its very foundations, to destroy domestic security, to engender mortal suspicions, and to excite a race, naturally ferocious, to vengeance and to murder. In fact, this step of the governor was not merely useless,it was pernicious; it irritated the minds of the greater number, and gained over none.

Meanwhile, lord Dunmore again came on shore, and occupied Norfolk, an important city, situated upon the banks of Elizabeth river. In this place and its vicinity, a great number of loyalists resided. Some hundreds of these, and of the negroes, joined the governor, and gave him, in this part, the superiority over the enemy. Some of the provincial militia, having made a show of resistance, were routed without difficulty. He had already conceived the hope of reconquering the province, and of replacing it under the authority of the king.

The administration of the state of Virginia directed all their attention upon this point, where they perceived, with reason, the germ of a war more formidable; and resolved to avert the evil, by a prompt remedy. They despatched, therefore, with all speed, for Norfolk, a regiment of militia, and a detachment of minute-men, under the command of colonel Woodford. The governor, apprised of this movement, very prudently occupied a strong position upon

the north bank of Elizabeth river, called Great Bridge, a few miles from Norfolk. This point was situated upon the direct route of the provincial troops. Here he promptly threw up works on the Norfolk side, and furnished them with a numerous artillery. The intrenchments were surrounded on every part with water and marshes, and were only accessible by a long dike. As to the forces of the governor, they were little formidable; he had only two hundred regulars, and a corps of Norfolk volunteers; the residue consisted in a shapeless mass of varlets of every color. The Virginians took post over against the English, in a small village, at cannon shot distance. Before them they had a long narrow dike, the extremity of which they also fortified. In this state, the two parties remained for several days, without making any movement. Lord Dunmore, having at length perceived that this delay was prejudicial to him, as well as beneficial to the Americans, who abounded in provisions, and received every day new reenforcements, found a motive in his personal courage, and perhaps in his contempt for the enemy, sufficient to order the attack. He hoped to be able thus to open himself a passage into the heart of the country. Accordingly, the 9th of December, before day, he directed captain Fordyce to assault the enemy, at the head of a company of grenadiers.

They marched boldly towards the American works, captain Fordyce leading the vanguard, and lieutenant Bathurst the forlorn hope. Captain Leslie followed, with a detachment of three hundred blacks and whites, and two hundred soldiers of the line. All the American camp instantly flew to arms, and prepared to defend themselves. The action continued for a good space of time, with incredible obstinacy. At length, captain Fordyce having been killed, at a few paces from the intrenchments, after exhibiting prodigies of valor, and a great part of his troop being either wounded or slain, the British fell back upon the bridge. The artillery of the redoubt prevented the Americans from pursuing. The negroes behaved very shabbily, and saved themselves by flight. The Americans treated the English fallen into their power with humanity, but the loyalists with rigor. This feat, on the part of lord Dunmore, savored more of the rash general, than the soldier of courage.

Experience having convinced the governor that he could not hope to make progress in this part, be abandoned Great Bridge, and retired to Norfolk, leaving a few pieces of cannon in the power of the enemy. Finally, not thinking himself secure in this city and the adjacent country, he took the resolution to repair to his ships again, the number of which was increased by the junction of all those that were found in the port of Norfolk. He could not, in fact, have too many; for many of the loyalists, forced to quit their country, sought refuge on board the fleet, bringing with them their furniture and most valuable effects. The provincials occupied Norfolk, which they found almost

deserted; the greater part of the inhabitants having departed in the squadron of the governor.

While these events were passing upon the coasts of Virginia, a project of great importance was planned; this was to raise in arms the inhabitants of the parts situated in the west of the colonies, but particularly of Virginia and of the two Carolinas, which were known to be well affected towards the royal cause. It was also hoped that the Indians would take the field, and not only harass the rear of the provincials, but even that, increasing in number and force, they would be able to traverse the provinces, and coalesce with lord Dunmore upon the coasts. A certain John Connelly, an enterprising, audacious man, born in the county of Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, was considered a fit instrument for the execution of this project. Having conferred with lord Dunmore, he received from him the most brilliant promises, and the most ample authority, to enable him to accomplish the objects of the mission which was confided to him. In pursuance whereof, he repaired to the banks of the Ohio, in order to sound the dispositions of the Indians, and of the loyalists who inhabited this part of the frontiers. Having succeeded beyond his hopes, he returned to make report to the governor. It was arranged, that the garrisons of the vicinity, and principally those of Detroit and fort Gage, in the country of the Illinois, should lend him assistance; and it was expected, also, that the officers of the garrisons of Canada would second him. It was understood, that whenever his troops should have made their preparations, they were to assemble at Pittsburgh, and thence, passing the Alleganies, scour Virginia, and effect their junction with lord Dunmore at the city of Alexandria, situated upon the banks of the Potomac. Fortune had shown herself propitious to these first essays. Connelly had passed several times without accident from one place to another, and kept his correspondence with the loyalists and Indians a profound secret. On his way to Detroit, he had already reached the extreme frontier of Maryland, near the town of Tamar, rejoicing within himself at having escaped so many perils, when he was detected, and arrested. The papers of which he was the bearer were published by order of Congress. Thus this mysterious plot, which lord Dunmore, for want of open arms, had been reduced to concert, proved like several others, completely abortive; its sole results were greater animosity on the part of the colonists, and the annihilation of his own influence.

Meanwhile, Norfolk was menaced with a disastrous event. Although the greater part of the loyalists of this city and its environs, had sought refuge in the governor's fleet, there had, nevertheless, remained a considerable number of them; either on account of their reluctance to leave their properties, or their dread of the sea and of famine, or perhaps because they hoped to find more lenity on the part of their fellow-citizens, who made profession of liberty, than

they had shown towards them, when they had been superior in this country.

But it is certain that the patriots, on acquiring the ascendency, made them feel it cruelly, and overwhelmed them with all those vexations of which there are so many examples in civil wars, between men of different parties. The governor, transported with rage, and touched by the piteous cries of the loyalists, panted to avenge them. This reciprocal hatred was daily exasperated by the rencounters which took place very frequently between the two parties; the provincials watching at all the points of the shore to prevent the royal troops from landing, in order to forage in the country, and the latter, on the contrary, eagerly spying every means to plunder provisions upon the American territory. The multitude of mouths to be fed, kept them continually in a famishing state. A ship of war arrived in the meantime, in the bay of Norfolk. Lord Dunmore sent a flag on shore to apprise the inhabitants, that they must furnish provisions, and cease firing, otherwise he should bombard the town. The provincials answered only by a refusal. The governor then resolved to drive them out of the city with artillery, and to burn the houses situated upon the river. He sent in the morning to give notice of his design, in order that the women, children, and all except combatants, might retreat to a place of safety. The first of January, 1776, the frigate Liverpool, two corvettes, and the governor's armed sloop, opened a terrible fire upon the city, and at the same time a detachment of marines landed and set fire to the houses. The flames spread with rapidity, the conflagration became general, all was consumed. Finally, the provincials themselves fired all the adjacent country, that nothing might fall into the hands of the enemy, and to deprive the royal troops of this position.

Such are the effects of civil fury; such the results of human discords. But man is too often ambitious or deceived; and if all ages are fertile in the authors of tumults and wars, these artisans of mischief are no less fertile in expedients to clothe their projects with plausible pretexts; and thus the unfortunate people, victims of every calamity, are frequently ignorant of the real origin of the woes that overwhelm them. In this manner was destroyed one of the most opulent and flourishing cities of Virginia.

Having described the state of the province of Virginia, after the royal government had ceased, the order of history requires that we should relate what took place at this epoch in the other provinces. We have already mentioned the ardor manifested by the inhabitants of South Carolina, on their receiving intelligence of the affair of Lexington, that a provincial convention was formed, that its members entered into a confederation, and organised corps of infantry and cavalry, for the defence of the colony.