Lafayette vs Cornwallis in Virginia 

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Latest changes: 08Jun05 - split from Hist-01.htm /

In 1781 January British Gen. Benedict Arnold -- traitor to the cause of independence -- invaded Virginia and burned Richmond. In respose Gen. Rochambeau promised to sent 1,200 French troops by sea from his Newport base to Virginia, and Gen. Washington ordered 1,200 American troops under American Gen. Lafayette to march from their New York camp to Virginia: Regiment Commander Massachusetts Continentals Col. Vose New Jersey Continentals Col. Barber a light infantry regiment Col. de Gimat (France) The light infantry was made up of men drawn from various MA, CT, and RI regiments. 1781 Mar 03 - Lafayette's force arrived at Head of Elk MD, where they boarded small sailing transports bound for Richmond VA. 1781 Mar 08 - A French squadron under the command of Chevalier Des Touches left Newport RI with 1,200 French troops to augment Lafayette's force. Unfortunately, on March 16 a British squadron beat them off at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, so they returned to Newport. This allowed the British to deliver Gen. William Phillips (with 2,000 troops) to take command of Gen. Arnold and his 1,200 troops and to further ravage Virginia. 1781 Apr 25 -- The British force burned Petersburg VA. On April 29 Lafayette's forces arrived in Richmond, deterring its capture. Added to Lafayette's command now were 2,000 militia: Regiment Commander Virginia militia regiment Gen. Muhlenberg Virginia militia regiment Gen. Nelson Virginia militia regiment Gen. Weedon Virginia Continentals Gen. (von) Steuben Most of these units later participated in the siege of Yorktown. The EP site has more on Lafayette in Virginia 1781 May 20 -- British Gen. Cornwallis moved north with 3,500 men into Virginia and became the senior commander over about 7,000 men. Since Lafayette (with militia supplementing his Continentals) had only 3,700 men he withdrew to the Rapidan River west of Fredricksburg and waited for reinforcements as the British resumed raiding. 1781 June 10 - Gen. Anthony Wayne joined Lafayette with four small regiments (800 men total): Regiment Commander Pennsylvania Continentals Col. Butler Pennsylvania Continentals Col. Stewart Pennsylvania Continentals Col. Humpton (Proctor's) 4th Continental Artillery Lt.Col.Forrest By mid-July Lafayette had added 1,500 more men to his army: Regiment Commander 600 riflemen; June 13 militias of VA, NC, SC Gen. William Campbell 450 recruits;June 19 Virginia Continentals Gen. Steuben 180 more by June 23 militias of VA, NC, SC Gen. William Campbell perhaps 300 Pennsylvania Continentals Gen. Daniel Morgan The growing American strength (about 6,000 now) and a request from his superior (Gen. Clinton) to send 3,000 troops back to New York caused Cornwallis to draw back toward Richmond, then Williamsburg, and finally to Yorktown (and Gloucester on the opposite shore), where he had a good port with satisfactory defensive topography.

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