Part 18 (1/2)
[290] _Jour Va House Del_ 72, 81, 85, 125, 126
[291] _Ibid_ 15, 16, 17
[292] _Ibid_ 26, 30
CHAPTER XV
THIRD YEAR IN THE GOVERNORshi+P
Governor Henry's third official year was ress, by the arrival of the French fleet, and by its futile attempts to be of any use to those hard-pressed rebels whoe in their insubordination; by awful scenes of carnage and desolation in the outlying settle, Cherry Valley, and Schoharie; by British predatory expeditions along the Connecticut coast; by the final failure and departure of Lord North's peace commissioners; and by the transfer of the chief seat of war to the South, beginning with the capture of Savannah by the British on the 29th of December, 1778, followed by their initial movement on Charleston, in May, 1779 In the month just mentioned, likewise, the enee Collier, suddenly swooped down on Virginia, first seizing Portslorious military debauch of robbery, ruin, rape, andthe undefended populations of Suffolk, Keathered up their booty, and went back in great glee to New York
In the autuovernor had the happiness to hear of the really brilliant success of the expedition which, with statesers Clark, into the Illinois country, in the early part of the year[293] Some of the more important facts connected with this expedition, he thus announced to the Virginia delegates in Congress:--
WILLIAMSBURG, November 14, 1778
GENTLEMEN,--The executive power of this State having been i apprehension of incursions on the frontier settlees situated about the Illinois, and supposing the danger would be greatly obviated by an enterprise against the English forts and possessions in that country, which ell known to inspire the savages with their bloody purposes against us, sent a detachhty ers Clark, on that service so By despatches which I have just received from Colonel Clark, it appears that his success has equalled the uine expectations He has not only reduced Fort Chartres and its dependencies, but has struck such a terror into the Indian tribes between that settlement and the lakes that no less than five of them, viz, the Puans, Sacks, Renards, Poantanies, and Mialish elish presents, and bound themselves by treaties and proreat Blackbird, the Chappo chief, has also sent a belt of peace to Colonel Clark, influenced, he supposes, by the dread of Detroit's being reduced by A to Colonel Clark's representation, is at present defended by so inconsiderable a garrison and so scantily furnished with provisions, for which they must be still more distressed by the loss of supplies froht be reduced by any nuovernor of that place, Mr
Haes to assist hi the places that had fallen into our hands; but the favorable ieneral in that quarter, the influence of the French on them, and the reenforcement of their militia Colonel Clark expected, flattered hier to be apprehended If the party under Colonel Clark can cooperate in any respect with theor have in view, I shall with pleasure give him the necessary orders In order to iained by Colonel Clark, I propose to support him with a reenforcement of militia But this will depend on the pleasure of the assembly, to whose consideration the measure is subreat zeal and attach with theree to, because the safety of our own frontiers as well as that of these people demands a compliance with this request Were it possible to secure the St Lawrence and prevent the English atte some post on it, peace with the Indians would seeard I have the honor to be, Gentn, Yourthe autumn session of the General asseovernor by passing several acts conferring on him extraordinary powers, in addition to those already bestowed[295]
A letter which the governor wrote at this period to the president of Congress, respecting ive us some idea, not only of his own practical discernment in the matters involved, but of the confusion which, in those days, often attendedfrom a many-headed executive:--
WILLIAMSBURG, November 28, 1778
SIR,--Your favor of the 16th instant is coress of the 26th of August for establishi+ng provision for soldiers and sailors maimed or disabled in the public service,--of the 26th of Septeeneral thanksgiving, and three copies of the alliance between his most Christian Majesty and these United States
I lost no ti your letter before the privy council, and in deliberating with the 1000 ress of the great zeal of every ive full efficacy to their designs on every occasion But on the present, I areat and I fear unsurmountable are opposed to the immediate march of the eneral in this departons, he inforin will be severe and inclement, and, without the forementioned necessaries, impracticable to men indifferently clad and equipped as they are in the present general scarcity of clothes
The council, as well asthis requisition to defend South Carolina and Georgia from the assaults of the enealleys to conquer East Florida The galleys have orders to rendezvous at Charlestohich I was taught to consider as a place of acknowledged safety; and I beg leave to observe, that there see militia such a distance in the depth of winter, under the want of necessaries, to defend a place which the former measures seemed to declare safe
The act of assembly whereby it is made lawful to order their march, confines the operations to er there is certain inforress have not been pleased to explain the ood deal of perplexity remains with iven orders for 1000 ot into readiness to march to Charlestown, and they will march as soon as they are furnished with tents, kettles, and wagons In the ence is received that their march is essential to the preservation of either of the States of South Carolina or Georgia the men will encounter every difficulty, and have orders to proceed in the best way they can without waiting to be supplied with those necessaries commonly afforded to troops even on a suress will please to remember the state of embarrassment in which I alleys to Charlestown, in their way to invade Florida, while theon it, and that they will please to favor ence of every circumstance that is to influence the measures either offensive or defensive
I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient and very hu of 1779, it became still more apparent that the purpose of the enemy was to shi+ft the scene of their activity froinia, whose soil had never thus far been bruised by the tread of a hostile army, must soon experience that dire calamity Perhaps no one saw this more clearly than did Governor Henry At the sainiato defend her sister States at the South, across whose territories the advance of the enerasp of the military situation, in all the broad relations of his own State to it, is thus revealed in a letter to Washi+ngton, dated at Willia, 13th of March, 1779:--
”My last accounts froia is said to be in full possession of the eneer The number of disaffected there is said to be forainst us One thousand militia are ordered thither from our southern counties; but a doubt is started whether they are by law obliged to march I have also proposed a scheth of the eneral scarcity of bread, which prevails in some parts of North Carolina and this State, may impede this service About five hundred militia are ordered down the Tennessee River, to chastise soade Cherokees that infest our southwestern frontier, and prevent our navigation on that river, froes Our militia have full possession of the Illinois and the posts on the Wabash; and I am not without hopes that the same party may overawe the Indians as far as Detroit They are independent of General McIntosh, whose nuh upwards of two thousand, I think could not ress, on account, it is said, of the route they took, and the lateness of the season
”The conquest of Illinois and Wabash was effected with less than two hundredposts on the back of the Indians, it is hoped ain in the enemy's hands; and from thence they infest and ruin our trade on the Mississippi, on which river the Spaniards wish to open a very interesting coress to authorize the conquest of those two posts, as the possession of theive a colorable pretence to retain all West Florida, when a treaty may be opened”[297]