IV. CHAP. plete and decisive victory would not be too dearly purchased at the price of some inconsiderable delay; and his ideas on this subject happening ultimately to coincide with those impressed on Lieutenant Scott's mind by more particular enquiries into the enemy's force, the projected atThat plan is tack was for the present relinquished. The patriots conrelinquish tented themselves with throwing up a strong breast-work, and stationing under cover, within one hundred and sixty yards of the hostile Fort, a party of choice riflemen, whose unerring fire sorely galled their opponents. Major Spotswood, with two companies of regulars, advanced to reinforce the detachment already at the Great-Bridge; and'a body of volunteers was stationed between that post and Suffolk, in order to keep open the necessary communication, and to cut off all sources of intelligence to the enemy from that quarter. Many of the inhabitants rallyed round their country's standard, whilst others still adhered to Dunmore. To disarm these, scouting parties explored the adjacent country in every direction. Two companies of militia who had assembled, in conformity to the late Governor's orders, were in one of those excursions, dispersed i dispers by Colonel Wells, at the head of a party of Volunteers, ed by Weis an their officers secured. Two compa nies of disaf fec ed mili After a short stay at Suffolk, the interval of which was actively employed in providing for the security of the adWoodford jacent country, and in procuring new supplies of military marches from Suffolk implements, Woodford himself marched with the main boto the Great dy of the troops, towards the Great Bridge, where he arbridge, De rived on the 2d day of December. He found the enemy cember 2 Operations there posted on the other side of the Bridge, in a stockade Fort, with two 4 pounders, some swivels and a few other small pieces. Their whole force amounted to about 250 men; nearly 200 regulars, including the Grenadiers of the 14th regiment, and a body of Norfolk volunteers; the rest a motley and despicable mixture of blacks and whites, commanded by Sergeants of the regular troops, and by disaf fected individuals, acting as officers. Woodford immediately proceeded to raise a strong breast work, on the lower part of the street, adjacent to the causeway; and, in advance of that breast work, centinels were posted, under ea er of large heaps of rubbish, at a small distance from the Bridge, some parts of which the enemy had purposely destroyed. At the same time, batteries were commenced for the cannon hourly expected, in a situation whence it might play with the greatest advantage upon the hostile "Fort. By his instructions, Woodford was authorised to call in sufficient aid from the minute men and militia of the neighbouring Counties; but these, with the exception of a few individuals could not be relied on; and had not it heen for the timely arrival of the detachment under Lieutenant Scott, it is probable that several other Counties besides CHAP. IV. Offer of ima, accept Norfolk and Princess-Anne, would have joined Dunmore. Even among those, who, in that quarter, resorted to the standard of their Country, few were disposed to act with vigor. These circumstances rendered the prompt and efficient aid of the troops offered by North-Carolina highly desirable. Accordingly, Woodford urged troops from their co-operation, recommending to their able and Norin Caro gallant Commander, Col. Robt. Howe, to bring no men but such as were well provided with arms, and announcing December é bis intention to order them to be furnished with provisions from the Commissary, in the same manner as the Virginia troops, until he should receive further directions, on that head, from the proper authority. Howe, no less ardent than sincere in the popular cause eagerly anxious to promote the glorious object for which he and his men had taken the field, overjoyed, besides, at recognizing in Woodford the brother-officer, the acquaintance, and the friend, (for, in the last war, they had, on the banks of the Holston, known and esteemed each other) expressed a cheerful readiness to effect with all possible dispatch the contemplated junction, and promised his most active exertions in procu ring the warlike implements desired. Four or five hundred men, with some cannon and ammunition, might, he informed Woodford, be immediately expected at the Camp, and there were, at different places in North-Carolina, nine hundred men in motion to join the Virginians. Only part of this auxiliary force speedily reached the Great-Bridge; and Colonel Howe himself, owing to unavoidable delays, did not arrive there till the 11th. Much was done, in the mean time to invigorate and regularize the new army and to soften the chilling rigours of a winter-campaign, to men suddenly taken from their houses, and yet unaccustomed to military hardships,, at all times unpleasant, but peculi arly severe at so inclement a season. If even in the maturity of consolidated Governments, in the lap of national wealth and power, and under the vivifying controul of an active, vigilant, and experienced administration, armies are often known to suffer from famine, disease, aspery of season, and other incidental calamities more than from the fire and sword of the enemy, it is easily conceived that in this infant state of Virginia, as a Belligerent, her troops must have been subjected to many inconveniencies and deprivations. On their march to the Great-Bridge, the conveyance of the baggage of the offcers and soldiers had, from want of pack horses, pack-saddles, and publie waggons, been attended with considerable delays and difficulties; and this circumstance alone, independently of the great expence which, it must occasionally produce, threatened to render inactive, on the most pressing emergencies, a large portion of the troops, and ma terially to injure the military operations of the country. CHAP. The barren region in which the army was now stationed, IV. afforded but a scanty supply of corn and forage for the horses; and as to the men, their uncomfortable situation is strongly depictured in a letter from Woodford to the com mander in chief then at Williamsburg. "We are here, he writes, in mud and mire, exposed to every hardship that can be conceived, except the want of provisions, of which, however, our stock is but small. The men suffer 66 66 for shoes, and if ever soldiers deserved a second blanket in any service, they do in this. Our stock of ammuniti❝on much reduced-no bullet-moulds that were good for any thing furnished, to run up our lead, 'till those sent the "other day by Mr. Page.-If these necessaries and better arms, had been furnished in time for this detachment, they might have prevented much trouble and great ex"pence to the Colony. Most of those arms, I received the "other day from Williamsburg, are rather to be considered "as lumber than fit to put into men's hands in the face of "an enemy. I hope we shall be better armed in a few "days." 66 Yet, in the midst of so many hardships calculated to impair the body, and depress the mind, Woodford and his brave companions enjoyed perfect health and unabated cheerfulness. By the most powerful of all moral stimulants, the love of country, they were animated and supported. This noble and sacred sentiment never fails to stamp on the defenders of liberty, a character which honorably distinguishes them from the satellites of mad ambition, and iron-sceptered despotism, It is this sentiment which raises men above effeminate, creeping, cowardly, selfish, and ignoble passions, breathes into them boldness, constancy, heroism, and sends them into the battles of their country, armed with holy and irresistible enthusiasm."* The fervid and eloquent letters of several influential members of the Convention, greatly contributed to feed the generous flame. • Mackintosh. CHAPTER Y. Meeting of the Convention-E. Pendleton is appointed Pres sident-Further operations at the Great Bridge—State of the Carolina troops-The disaffected destroy Bachelor's mill-dam-Alarm and preparations of Dunmore-Affair of the Great Bridge- Fordyce is killed and his men routed—British loss-Humanity of the Virginians— l'he British evacuate the Fort-Woodford is reinforced-Resolves to march against Norfolk-Alarm in that town-Decla ration to the people of Princess-Anne and Norfolk counties-Effects thereof-Petitions addressed to Woodford -Relief afforded to the Highlanders-Declarations issued by the Convention-Woodford enters Norfolk-Resigns the chief command to Colonel Howe-Message to the magistrates of Norfolk-Not answered-Proceedings in Norfolk-Subsequent events-American force under Howe Arrival of the frigate Liverpool-Captain Bellew's message-Burning of Norfolk-Some differences among the officers-Financial and other difficulties of the Colony-Want of salt-severely felt-Colonial forces increased P. Henry resigns-Effervercence caused by this resignation soon subsides. The Delegates met at Richmond on the 1st day of December. It had now become necessary for them to appoint the Conven Meeting of a new President. Peyton Randolph was no more. That tion. illustrious citizen, distinguished, at first, by the eminence December1 of his forensic station, and afterwards by the abilities, zeal, integrity, and dignity which he displayed in the higher offices of public life, had been several times elected Speaker of the house of Burgesses. On the 20th of March, 1775, he was unanimously appointed President of the first Convention; and on the 11th of August following, first nominated one of the Delegates for Virginia to the General Congres.* A new and well merited honour awaited him CHAP. there. Without one dissentient voice, he was called to pro V. side over that great and venerable body; and while attending it, a third time, on the 22d day of October, a sudden stroke of apoplexy, deprived America of this virtuous firm, and wise patriot, in the 54th year of his age. The re mains of this worthy Patriot were afterwards brought from Philadelphia to Williamsburg by Edmund Randolph, his ne phew, and, in November 1776, deposited in the family vault, in the College-Chapel, with suitable funeral solemnities. A short time before his departure for the general continen tal Congress, the convention, observing with great concern, that he was much indisposed, recommended to him to retire for the present from the fatigues of public duty, tendering to him, at the same time, their unfeigned thanks for his unremitted attention to the important interests of his Country, and his unwearied application to, and able, faithful, and impartial discharge of the duties of his office; and assuring him that he had the warmest wishes of the Convention for a speedy return of health, and an interupted enjoyment of every felicity. R. C. Nicholas was, on the following day, appointed to act as President during Mr. Randoldh's indisposition or absence, an appointment which did him great honour, and upon which he reflected the splendor of his own worth, during the remainder of the Edmund session.-To fill the vacancy thus produced by the lament Pendleton is ed death of Mr. Randolph, no person was deemed better appointed qu qualified than the venerable Edmund Pendleton. He was accordingly elected President. After taking into consideration a dispatch from Woodford respecting his situation, and that of Lord Dunmore and his motley auxiliaries, and solemnly enjoining to the Commander of the for ces actually in the field, to risk as little as possible the success of his arms, at so important a crisis, and, if his num bers should not, in his judgment, afford a moral probability of answering the purposes of the expedition, immedi ately to request the assistance of the troops offered by North Carolina, the Convention odjourned till Monday following, then to meet in Williamsburg We have al ready stated the measures of Woodford in regard to the North-Carolina reinforcements. Colonel Wells. who had joined the Patriots at the head of a few volunteers, was dispatched to meet those reinforcements, and to collect and transmit, certain information of every circumstance relative to their march. President. In the mean time. an almost incessant firing was kept up at the Great-Bridge, between the Patriots and Dun R. Bland having declined the appointment, on account of his advanced age |