Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-28
In letter to White. camp IS miles west Of

81 In letter to White. camp IS miles west
Pedee river, Aug 4.-Gates further says:
In consequence of your informing nue. that,
The Cavalry are called into the field in their pre-
r sent situation nothing but their ruin can ens,,t
! am induced to withdraw my last order to yo
from Hlllsborough and to desire YOU will no
lose an instant, after they are equipped for ser
vice, in marching the 1st. and 3rd. Regiments o
light Dragons TO this army"
After the disaster at Camden. Gates agail
writes to White (II,llsboroIgl,, Sept 1glto pres
the march tle Continental and State Cavalry
10 he Fvi,l OF The Yatlkin 1850
We have omitted to mention that Governo,
JEFFERSON writes 10 Gates, Aug. 4, IN answer 10
rs letter OF July % We have ordered 2f3
thorsesto be purchased for coils White anil Wash
nSton Col. -Fnnie informs me that Major Lees
infantry has been sent back by special orders .
1--we ought also TO have stated that Gates writes
to General Washington, Sept. 3rd. "White's,
Washingion's, and Nelson's Cavalry are not We,
thoroughly equipped"
| we have seen Gates giving, Sept. 10, positive
orders to White to macrh to Hllsborough with.
ont delay. Ii appears that he was soon after put
under arrest-prcbably for not having obeyei
lthese orders-for Gates writes % him, Sept 25th
| The general Court martial which sat th,
morning in camp, having ordered your arrest TO
be superseded, you will proceed Immediately TO
iawkns's, and take the command of the Con.
tnental and ate Cavalry"
] You, Sir, may, perhaps recollect something of
| Whites general manner ard refer his dilatori-
ness 10 causes Which have e.uded our researches.
Many individuals are, no doubt, yet living who
could assist us in ascertaining these causes, but
the above evidence is sufficient to- sk;v,
| l. That II was not in North CG43tna, b,.t IL,
Virginia that White & Washington were recruit.
ing the Cavalry.
4
. Thattar from sighting the aid ofthat species
OF force, & the request of White and Washngto ton,
General Gates duly appreciated the importance
OF their services, and anxiously solicited in their
behalf horses and Northumberland their
march IN the most pressing terms--Hid the gal
anew iiliamWss lington been FIRST in The commend
LOT the Cavalry, the necessary equipments, we
hear, would have been comp lie, ed in tine.
we are not disposed to acqut General Gates
lof all the errors imputedto him during his South
ern Command We merely feel wis to do JUS
tee to his memory-especially, rs he was un-
fortunate. His efforts to retrieve the affairs of
the South, both before and after the 10Th of
August, are worthy of the highest conmenda.
TON His eye pervaded at once all the deficien-
cies and the wants ofthe chaotic force which he
was called 10 mould and to direct Wherever he
saw means of remedying those deficiencies, and
loi supplying those wants, there did he apply.
10 congress, to the Continental Board of War, to
4
arms, for bread, snd for other supplies. Indeed
his cry was sometimes harsh. Had not we before
us the whole OF his correspondence during that
Iarduous period, we could scarcely figure 10 our
selves the extent and intricscy ofhis difficulties
by incorrect intelligence respecting the Enemys
real force; by the slow movements of Caswell to
effect the necessary junction, and his request of
prompt support by the rumour of the appear
snce or French fleet on the coast of South Ca-o-
Ina, to which the concentrating movements of
me enemy were ascrlbed by hunger, and, per-
maps, by the fascination of the z,en UiG ,ici of
Caesar, Gates was hurried into n premature con-
h,ct, in which only part of his troops properly
supported him.
In the gloomy interval between the unfortunate
afiar at Camden, and the and of December he
was Dusiiy employed in repairing the consequ Ell.
ces OF his fatal precipitation ills amiabe and
i"sarloas sueeesacr, General Greene, ,sond,.otet
himself towards him with studied Clelicacy-'rhe
General Assembly of Virginia, remembering hi:
former services, conscious of his indefatgahie eff
forts, and convinced that his errors had origina
ted IN an excess OF patriotic and military zeal
iaeserVing sympathy and not censure, appointed
COMMITTEE OF their Venerable Body to wait OF
the vanquished General, as he passed through
Richmond, on his return to the tranquil obscu
rity OF private life-to assure him of their higl
| regard, esteem and gratitude. The great Wasl,
z ington himself, who had real subjects of com
! plant, acted on that occasion, with his usua
Imagnanimiiy. Gates amply expiated mis- errors
and posterity must chiefly, ifnot exclusively, re
: member his ardent zeal, and his distinguishes
G services.
Il We hope. Sir, that if these hasty remarks eve
meet your eye, they will induce you 10 soften tn
severity oil your structures on the military con
duct OF man who, upon the whole, deserve,
well of the country of his adoption.-While W
teach our children to admire the proves who
lyou and your brave legion so often DISPLAYED il
the scenes of the great revolutionary drama
teach them, in your turn, to pity rather tina
blame the vanquished Gates Let the gloom @
Camden be lost in the spendor of SARATOGA o
one SIDE, humanity inculcates forbearance /; o
the other, candor requires JUSTICE.
We are authorized to st..e, that General Fran
els Preston, Of Washington county, will be
Candidate at tie ensuing April election, nor tn
suiirages Of the freeholders of the Senatoria
District, composed of the counties of B1ttetourt
Montgomery, Giles, Monroe, Greenbrier, Kena
wha, Mason, Cabell, Wythe, Grayson, Tazewel
: Washington, Russell, Lee and Scott.
COMMUNICATION.
The Citizens of Richmond and its vicinity vii
have an opportunity on Monday next to encour
age plan for the improvement of the navigati
OF of James River from Rockets upwards, whic
will be an ornament 10 the City and of grea
public utility, and which promises to the su6scri
bers productive fund.