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eXplorations>The
Revolution> Mel Gibson's "The
Patriot" as History>History
of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America
History
of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781 in the Southern Provinces of North America
Lt.
Col. Banastre Tarleton, 1787
While
the main body was in Hanover County, and the Marquis de la Fayette lay between
them and Fredericksburg, Earl Cornwallis had clear intelligence of the meeting
of the governor and assembly at Charlottesville, under the protection of a guard,
in order to vote taxes for the exigencies of government, to concert measures
for the augmentation of the eighteen-months men, or state troops, and to issue
commands for a large draft of militia. At the same time he obtained information,
that Baron Steuben was gone to Point of Fork, which is situated at the extremity
of James River, between the Fluvanna and Rivanna, with the eighteen-months men,
to cover a continental store, consisting of cannon, small arms, and accoutrements.
To frustrate these intentions, and to distress the Americans, by breaking up
the assembly at Charlottesville, and by taking or destroying the arms and other
stores at Point of Fork, his Lordship employed Lieutenant-colonel (a.) Tarleton
on the former expedition, as most distant, and on the account more within reach
of cavalry, whilst he committed to later enterprize to the execution of Lieutenant-colonel
Simcoe (b.) with the yagers, the infantry, and the hussars of the rangers. It
was designed that these blows should, as near as circumstances would permit,
be struck at the same moment; that Tarleton, after completing his business,
should retire down the Rivanna, to give assistance to Simcoe, if he failed in
his first attempt, and that both should afterwards join the army, which would
in the mean time file to the left, through Goochland County, and approach the
Point of Fork.
Lieutenant-colonel
Tarleton, with one hundred and eighty dragoons, supported by Captain Champagne
of the 23rd regiment, and seventy mounted infantry, left the army in the beginning
of June, and proceeded between the North and South Anna...
...In
the mean time, Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe executed the plan committed to his
direction with great zeal and indefatigable attention. Baron Steuben did not
wait the attack of the King's troops, but abandoning Point of Fork on their
approach, lost part of his rear guard in retreating from that place. The British
found in the magazine several brass mortars and cannon, and immense quantity
of small arms under repair, and other valuable military stores. If the distance
would have allowed Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe to send a small party of hussars
to inform the corps at Charlotteville [sic] of the flight of the Americans,
Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton might have had time to harass Baron Steuben's progress,
whilst Lieutenant-colonel Simcoe could have pressed him in the rear; and a combination
of this sort would in all probablility have ruined that body of new levies:
but the distance of thirty-five miles in an enemy's country, and the uncertainty
of Tarleton's success, perhaps represented such a co-operation as too speculative
and precarious.
Upon
the arrival of the main body at Jefferson's plantation, in the neighbourhood
of Point of Fork, Earl Cornwallis gave directions for carriages to be provided
for the conveyance of the brass artillery and other stores, captured at Point
of Fork. The prisoners of note brought down the country were, in general, dismissed,
on giving their paroles. Immediately afterwards, the 76th regiment, commanded
by Major Needham, were attached to the British Legion, who were directed to
supply them with horses for an expedition. This business was almost completed,
when Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton received a copy of his instructions, (T.) which
guided his march first to Albemarle court house, to destroy the magazine at
that place, and from thence across the Fluvanna, to at tempt General Steuben:
It was strongly recommended to defeat and disperse his corps, as they were the
foundation of a large body of eifghteen-months men, lately voted by the province.
Tarleton was likewise enjoined to do his utmost to intercept any light troops
that might be on their way from South Carolina, and to destroy all the stores
and provisions between the Dan and Fluvanna, that the continental armies might
receive no assistance from such supplies. These services being performed, the
British light troops were to return with all (a.) their prisoners, both civil
and military, to Manchester, where boats would be in readiness to receive and
convey them to the royal army at Richmond. Before Lieutenant-colonel Tarleton
left his camp to proceed upon this enterprize, reports reached headquarters,
that the stores wwere removed from Albemarle court house, and that the Baron
Steuben had made a circuitous move, in order to form a junction with the American
army, which had now crossed the North Anna; the expedition, therefore, was countermanded,
and the royal forces commenced their march towards Westham.…
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