The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-07-08

upon Va, as did the Renown OF twenty six
guns, the Jefferson. a State brigantine of
fourteen guns. and severa! other armed
ships and brigantines. About two or
three hun fred militia on the opposite
shore at the same time kept up heavy
fire of musketry upon US. NOtwithstsnd-
ing which, the FIRE OF the artillery under
Captain Fsge and Lieutenant Rogers
took such place that the ships we're
obliged to strike their colors and the
militia drove from the opposite shore.
Want Of boats and The wind blowing hard
prevented our capturing many OF the sea-
men, who took 20 their boats aud escaped
on shore, but not without iirs, scuttllng
and setting fire 10 some Of their ships,
which could not be saved. Two ships,
five sloops, and two schooDers, Loaded
with tobacco, cordage, etc, fell into our
hands. Four ships, five brigantines and
a number Of small vessels were sunk and
brrn,-not man killed or wounded
In this one sided and disingenuous
account the traitor has striking!y Illus
trated his mendaoious prOclivity. We
would not do even Arnold injustice, but
in this last and fatal blow 10 the patriot
navy the facts. are AT variance with MS
statements. lie was evidently trying to
produce a strong impression OF the value
OF his services upon the mind of Sir
Henry Clinton. Ia he outset be was
entirely mistaken in stating that the yes
sells were drawn pin Hne 10 oppose him
They as stated above, had teen sent there
for safely. The enemy had landed much
further down The river, and il was hoped,
on this account, would not discover their
hiding places. He was moving
by land, and az he admits he had no
boats, how then could vessels be,drawn up
in line to receive land force approaching
them by uncertain and tortuous routes 1t
does not accord with even remote prob
ability that four small field pieces, such as
he mentions, could have successfully con
tended against the number and caii5re OF
the ornaments he describes on board the
Virginia vessels, and served 10y expert
enced seamen, unless under the most eX-
traOrdinary circumstances. And then
too. all this success. according 10 his ac-
count. Mas accomplished without the loss
OF man, killed or wounded although
they were sustaining heavy fire OF
muskclry from the militia on the OPP
pcsite shore How then, it will be asked,
did Arnold manage 10 capture and de
sirOy so many large vessels well manned
and mounting at least fifty guns with so
small a force as he reports.
The facts, as they were given to the
writer by one whose ancestral abode vas
not far from the sCere OF this disaster,
and who bad heard them narrated by
eve WITNESSES, are as follows The armed
vessels referred TO were mOOred indeep
water close under the land, which at tina,
pace rose high above the river, and was
crowned by a thick growth Of under
wood and bushes. They lay strung along
the bank, one astern of the other and Sc
cured by lines and anchors. Arnold, who
himself had been q sailor, saw at q glance
that from the position Of the vessels he
could, by placing a few guns out OF reach
OF those mounted on their decks, COM
mand the entire foiilla. And this be did
without opposition. The four little
pieces so well served by Capt. Faye and
Lieut.. Rogers were really carried up TO
the top of the cliff overhanging the feet,
aud from that elevated position delivered
their fire upon the exposed decks of their
unfortunate victims. The latter not be-
ing able to elevate their pieces sufficiently
20 return the fire of the enemy were en-
tjrely at his mercy. The consequences
was the seamcn were driven 20 seek safety
in their boats rather than stand and be
killed without even a chance of success
full resistance. 1t is easily understood,
too, why none Of the enemy were killed
or wounded. The distance to the OppO-
site shore across q marsh, was TOO great,
and ArnOld's men were so safely secured
by The underground along the crest of
the cliff that the fire OF a few militia
proved entirely harmless to them
Had the invader given "a candid state
ment OF his exploits he might be allowed
TO remain in quiet possession of all ihe
merit due TO his services on this occasion.
He displayed tact and energy in his
operations and it was only necessary 10
tell the truth to secure the appreciation
of his superior in command. II even the
explanation just given were found 10 be
"a mistake, the careful reader OF Arnolds
report TO Sir Henry Clinton would have
cause 10 uOuDl lue accuracy Ol
his statements. IL is next to impossible
that four small pieces Of artillery could
successfully contend against even dozen
guns ,olerably managed at ,he distance
of only one hundred yards 1t is clear
then, that the British invaders must have
had :he Nirginiau AZ a great
disadvantage in some respect,
and we cannot DOUBT the ex-
plauation made above was the true one
1t will be noticed that from The number
of vessels here destroyed ne navy was
well nigh blotted out of existence
The Tempest, Renown, and Jefferson are
specially named The enemy. after des'
troying at Warwick. Colonel Cary's fine
mill and Warehouses and "a large ship
and brigantine FLOAT, three vessels in the
-tock-. public rope-wa,ks, etc, retired
down the river, and on the 21ih Of May
formed iuuCiion oil the mouth OF the
Che CAiekahominy river with Lieutenant
Co.oac. ADcrCr0mb.e The latter mad
been detached on a pIela ory expedition
up that liver he had surprised the
small garrison a. tLc States shipyard
twelve miles up the river, and destroyed
Do. Fr. adj fUa bnflliuma apI ,....al,