general Phillips destroyed the warehouses, and spread terror and devastation, the constant attendants of British invasion, through the town. Leaving Petersburg, he crossed the Appamattox into Chesterfield, and detaching Arnold to Osborne's to destroy the tobacco at that place, he proceeded himself to Chesterfield courthouse, where he destroyed the barracks and stores which had been formed there for the accommodation of recruits designed for the southern army. The two divisions of the army uniting again, marched into Manchester, where was renewed the scene of pillage and devastation transacted in Petersburg and Chesterfield.* The fortunate arrival of the marquis De la Fayette at Richmond, with a body of regular troops, saved the metropolis from a similar fate. From Manchester, general Phillips proceeded down the river to Bermuda hundred, opposite City Point, where his fleet remained during his incursion. Here he re-embarked his troops, and fell down the river, while the marquis followed

* Marshall's Washington. Lee's Memoirs, &c. &c.

on the north side to watch his movements. He soon learned that Phillips, instead of returning to Portsmouth, had suddenly re-landed his army on the south side of the river, one division at Brandon and the other at City Point, and was on his march to Petersburg. It immediately occurred to the marquis, that a junction with Cornwallis, who was then approaching Virginia, was the object which Phillips had in view, and to prevent which he determined to throw himself by forced marches into Petersburg before the arrival of that general. Phillips however reached that place first, and La Fayette halting, recrossed the river and posted himself a few miles below Richmond. The death of general Phillips, soon after his arrival in Petersburg, devolved the command of the army again on gene. ral Arnold.

Cornwallis was now on his way to Petersburg, and having crossed the Roanoke he detached colonel Tarleton to secure the fords of the Meherrin, while colonel Simcoe with the rangers was sent for the same purpose to the Nottoway. The enemy effected his passage over

S

these rivers, without interruption, and on the 20th of May entered Petersburg.

In addition to this united force, which seemed fully sufficient to crush every germ of opposition in Virginia, general Leslie had again made his appearance on the coast, with a reinforcement of two regiments and two battalions, part of which was stationed in Portsmouth under the command of that officer. The marquis De la Fayette continued near Richmond with a force of about four thousand men, nearly threefourths of whom were militia.

Steuben, who was on the south side of James river, proceeding with about six hundred levies to reinforce general Greene, was suddenly recalled and ordered to take a position at the Point of Fork, where were deposited some military stores. General Weedon was requested to collect a force near Fredericksburg, for the purpose of protecting an important manufactory of arms at Falmouth. In addition to these different forces, general Wayne* was on his way to Vir

* Note VI. Appendix.

ginia, with a detachment from the northern army of about nine hundred men. The strength of the enemy was however too great for any force Virginia could bring into the field, and her fate, as far as superior numbers and discipline could influence it, seemed now to be decided.

Cornwallis, after resting four days in Petersburg, proceeded down the south side of Appamattox and James river until he came opposite Westover, where he determined to cross. La Fayette, informed of the enemy's movement, left his encampment below Richmond and retreated behind the Chickahomony river, keeping the direction towards Fredericksburg. The enemy pursued him across that stream, anxious to bring him to battle before his junction with Wayne. La Fayette however escaped the impending blow, and hastening across the Pamunky and Mattapony, the confluence of whose streams form York river, he endeavoured to gain the road on which Wayne was approaching. The British commander, failing in his project of bringing the marquis to battle, thought proper to change his course, and determined

to penetrate with his detachments the interior of the state. Lieutenant colonel Simcoe was directed to attack baron Steuben at Point of Fork,* and destroy the stores at that place; while colonel Tarleton advanced to Charlottesville, where the general assembly was then convened.

Simcoe succeeded in driving Steuben from his post, and destroying the magazines under his protection; while Tarleton pushed on to Charlottesville, eager to add to his numerous exploits the capture of a corps of republican legislators. His approach however was discovered by the assembly in time for the members to make their escape. Mr. Jefferson, the governor, on hearing of their approach sought an asylum in the wilds of the mountain adjacent to his house.

After destroying some military stores, which had been deposited in Charlottesville as a place of safety, Tarleton proceeded down the Rivannah, towards the Point of Fork, near to which Cornwallis had arrived with the main body of

* A point of land formed by the junction of the Rivannah and Fluvannah rivers.