Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-28

i"ch!enm. Co1s',cs CemnGn6l1nt OF the Partisan
LeSien during the .4n'e,scdn War: aud
Author 81 ise Memoirs If the Har III the Southern
Department Of ne United States.
SiE-Shonln this short, unadoraed, we'll mean
| ing address ever reach you, wecla;m your cantl ID
attention to the sta, ement which it conlains--and
| should your intention be Gas we are assured itis)
represent the world with another work on the
military transactions OF your native country, du.
ring the revolutionary war, we appeal to that sa-
cred regard waich every individual assuming the
| task OF AN historian owes to matters of fact es-
peciS.iy where The memory ofan unfortunate sol
dier IS concerned, and we call on you again to
investigate the subject ofthe following remarks:
and II, upon full impartial, and calm enqu ~,
YOU should become convinced of the error which
we mpute TO you, TO rectify that error. and prove
TO your Fellow Citizens that if, in the course of
Jour narrative, you have fallen into occasional
mistakes, these are attributable, not to mal;r-
nant intentions. but to wait of sufficient data
and to that faib.lity of Judgment which is inse-
parable from the condition oil h,imanna are. do
not, Sir, intend to point out in this place the nu-
inerous mistakes of this kind which have struck
us, while perusing your memoirs of the war in
the Southern Department of the United States
our sole object is, at present, to arrest your at
| tentlon on Particular passage OF your work, re-
iative to General Gates. The conduct of this
unfortunate General was, on many occasions
highly rePrehensble. History will not absolve
no. tor the part which he disngenuously acted
when, IN 1873, party was formed to hurl Wash
inS'on from the summit of military power, and
10 transfer to The Hero of Saratoga the chief COM
mand OF the American armies. This was a great.
adePiorable error in the conqueror Of Burgoyne
iiis correspond ence with the factionist Conway
betrayed an ambitious hope, if not an ungene-
rous intention But because man has erred on
one occasion, we are not 10 refuse to his head or
to his heart, that credit to which he NAV have
Y INC al 9TH
In tiiefrst volume OF your memoirs, page 100,
| you say -
White and Washington, after the fall of
Charleston, bad retired to North Carolina, with
view of recruiting their regiments of Cavalry
(Moyian's and Baylor's originality VIII CHI had so
severely suffered at Monks Corner, and at Lin.
ers Ferry; and they solicited General Gates to r-
ylgorate their efforts by the aid ofhis authority
so %s to enable them to advance with him to the
Theatre OF action. Gates paid no attention TO
TINS proper request, and thus deprived himself
loI tne most operative corps belonging to the
Southern army. Although unfortunate. these
regiments had displayed undaunted courage, and
had been taught, in the school of adversely, that
knowledge which actual service only can
bestow. 1t is probable that this injurious n6f-
ference on the part of the American commander
resulted from his recurrence to the campaign OF
1III, when British army surrendered to him
| unalded by Cavalry; leading him to concluda
that Armant's corps, already with him, gave
MN an adequate portion Of this species Of fsree
Fatal mistake 1t is not improbable that the
icioseness and ruggedness ofthe country in which
he had been SO triumphant did render the aid OF
horse less material; but the moment he threw
ms eyes upon the plains of the Carolinas, the
moment he saw their dispersed settlements, ad.
ding difficulty to difficulty in the procurement
tot intelligence and provisions knowing too,
as he did, that the enemy not only had a respect.
able body OF dragons, but that it had been used
without lnterr1isslon, and with much effect, IL
would seem that's discriminating mind must have
been led 20 acfuiesce in the wish suggested by
the two officers of horsen
To the neglect of this salutary proposition
may, with reason, be attributed the heavy disas
Ter soon after experienced. In no country in the
world are the services OF cavalry more 10 be de.
sired than that which was then committed TO the
Icare OF Major General Gates and how it was
possible for officer Of his experience to have
been regardless Of this powerful auxiliary, re-
mains inexplicable"
And YOU add, page 1873:
Had he General Gaies) wisely taken with
him The old regiment Of Dragons under White
and Washington, as those brave officers in raj,
solicited, instead of dastardIy fight, an exam
pie ofheroism would have been exhibited The
enemy would have been driven in &C. &c
Thus, Sir, do you charge General Gates Will
paying no attention to the request of White and
Washington to aid their efforts in recruiting. n
North Carolina. their regiments of Cavalry and
to his neglect of that species of orce YOU ascribt
the disaster at Camden. These, SIR are besv,
Charges. II correct, they add considerably 10 the
load of censure which has been accumulated or
the head OF that unfortunate General. 1t be
hoyes us, therefore, in accordance with the die
tates OF candor and impartality. to investigate
the subject, and to confirm or reverse the sentence
whch you have passed. We have before us, CO
PIES OF The whole official correspondence of Gen
eral Sates, during his southern Command We
ransack this vouminous correspondence forwbat
ever is connected with your charges and we
make the following appropriate extracts.
On the Doth July, 1880, Gates writes to White
from Hllsborough:
/ BY this time; the issue Of your application IL
the Governor and Council of Virginia, must be
determined, hope favorable TO your '. she's and
nt''e look MP TO fhe caUairy for mann service,
IN campaign which, from our domestic manage
lnent, as well rs the support of energetic opera
tons OF the Enemy, must I've campaign o, much
hazard, and some enterprise on our part"
! tic then repeats the orders given to White IN
Richmond, viz: To arm the detachment lately a,
| Petersburg, and march the whole 10 Halifax-
leave an officer to stimulate the State gents &c
and mount at Halifax such number Of both rep
ments as the horses and accutrcments will DER
mi, proceed Immediately 70 Headquarters. He
adds "lf you cannot be provided with arms al
Richmond, some steps shall be taken 10 furnish
you here"
In letter to the President ofthe Board og war
At Philadelphia, written from IIillsborouvb. also
July 10th, $780, Gates saws Enclosed is a COW
LOT letter to Col. White az Halifax. l desire
the Board Of war will IL possible, leave the Ca.
valTy under his command zp;fyiotf N hyo,s,c. e..