The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-20

perievering oppohton to the uiilrpations of
| Great Britain, than thofe of this relpcctable and
| much viiifed fate.
| MILITARY ExESTIoNs.-The hiftory of paft
| times, enables us TO afcertain with much niore
precion, the relative merits of the different
itates in the cabinet than in the field. We have
complete RICHTER the firt in the records of
their fate aiiembles and of Congreis. By COM
| par1ng the different dates when politcaimeafires
were hrit prOpofe2, and the maorities by whom
they were Adopted, we can eafy determine
which fate had firt perceived the danger, and
which was the mof refolute in oppoling it.
But the operations of the war have b, en- re-
corded with much lefs diitin6tnefs and preciiion.
The hittorlansof the revelation have generally
been fatisIed with giving a satisfactory view of
the consequences of each military maneuvre,
OF the officers who conducted it, and iometi,nes
OF the particular regiments who were engagedin
its execution. But they have not always ftopt
to inform us, what was the number and what the
valour oftae troops from the different hates, nor
what proportion of the fuccefs and defeat of
each operation was due TO various lines of the
iarmy. Had even the mot minute account
been preiei-ed of their iepai.itc cxertions, had
the number, and the courage of the troops from
each tate being faithfully recorded, and their pc
culinary expenditures been accurately adiufted
we mould Till have been unable to calculate the
military ipirlt and active patrotifin of our differ.
ent country,nen. The war frequently ihiftedits
ground. The army ofthe invaders often varied
the points OF attack, and fometimes the northern
and fometimes the fJuthern quarter of the
Union came within tie range of IFS f,rv.
-Wherever the icene of the war was laid, the
exertions or that neighbourhood or that fate
were necedarily the greateft. The provincial
militia, embodied for the purpofe of defending
their own frontiers, few to the fcene of imme
date danger; and even the regular army, who
were competed of troops from the different
ftates, and Whole duty it was to march to dific-
rent parts or the country, wherever there was
an enemy to meet, generally entitled a GER
tain number of provincial troops in the fate
which demanded their affitance. 1t would not
nave beer iuiprhrg then, that the money and
troops advanced by each fate fhould have vari-
ed IN the different periods of the revolution ac-
cordlng as the theatre of war receded from. or
came within their respective frontiers. ExceDt
a few petty nurrettions which aroie from the
Vaccinations OF lord Dunmore, and the dcful-
tory invaiions of the Indians on the weNern from
tiers Virginia did not experience many of the
dangers of war, until ieveral other p1yts Of the
union had been expofed to its ravages Tins.
even II ITS eXcrtons were found UNEQUAL at the
commencement of the rC-olution, 70 tbofi. of
her filter itates; if ihe had exhaufted lefs blood
and treafure in the defence of their common IL
berries, we ihoud afcribe the iifproportion ra-
ther to the circumstances of the times than to
any want OF military ardour or enlightened pa
tnotiim. We ihal not, however place her
conduct during the war upon this foundation
only She can advance much higher pretentions
J TO military merit. fight ikctch of the opera
tions OF the war will clearly demonftrate, that
inc conduct OF her officers and regular troops
did not little contribute to the triumphs of the
revolution.
The commander in chief of the continental
forces was unanimously fcle6ted from her inha-
bitants. The glorious iile of the war. has
efficiently determined how we'll General
Warrington deferved that diftnguiGleti no.
nour.-At the battle of Brandywne, when
the American troops were 70 feverely prefYed
oy the br1tlih army under Sir William Howe,
the VrglnIan line acquired comfortable honor.
"ihe whole brigade" Gays Gordon ++) &" ex-
hioitS fuch degree of order, firmnefs and refo-
lution, and preierves iuch a countenance in ex-
tremeiy HARP iervice, as would not difcredit We
terans. In the next page of this hiforian we
find g. that Gen. Greene has been rather dif.
iatlSf1ed with Gen. Wafhington's emitting to
take fpecial notice of Wceden's brigade, in ee
neral orders, for Its bravery."-Thc battle of
frnceton is afociated inthe mind of every Virgil
man, with the heroic valour and unfortunate
rate or Gen. Mercer.-We need not bluih at the
conduct OF our troops, in the action at German
town.-Ihe victory of Gen. Morgan and his &C.
oNCI LlCul SOl. 4 drltOn at the
battle OF the CowpenS, throws anew luitre upon
the Virglnian name. BY this victory"t the defpond-
lngtriendS ofAmerica in the fouthern ftates were
terminated ; and enjoyed fleming resurrection
from the dead. "tt-In the action at Guildford
Court-houie, where Gen. Greene acquired fuch
dlitinguiihed reputation, the Virginia continent
tails and militia confttuted the greater part of
the army, and deferved at leaf ain equal fbare
OF the honour.-When Lord CORVALLIS inva-
ded their fate, he experienced an oppoGtion too
fatal to his caufe, and he found himielf compel
led to reign at York Town his reputation will
his iword TO the commander in chief of the Anne
rican army.
But why Purfue any further thi, hftorcarnyeRioat-
on! Why exPatiate any longer upon the political fnea
lures or the military achievements of VIRGINIA ,
why continue the invidious Office of DISCRIMINATING
between the dhtinguiihed worthless of the differ
ent itates! Why ihould We dwell upon the a.
chievenents of Wilmington, Mercer, or a Nor
gam when we are equally willing to incorpo.
rate with our affections the luxurious fervices of
Hancock and Adams, Gates and Green Montgomery
and Warren Let fuch odious dRncfions be confined
to thoie tederaliits OF the north who with 70 erea
their petty merefts upon the doution of the union
Let 1t be the executive province of iuch men tn INDULGE
their Overlooking modification in the following
itrains The inhabitants of this part Of the country
know too well what Virginia courage is to quake at its