Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-11

others to enlist And when voluntary
enlistment had about reached its limit
he was not averse to reSorting to con-
scription. He was in Virginia to raise
an army and he raised one. What he
had to contend with may be appreci-
ated when n letter he sent to Washing
ton In response to one the commander
in-chief had written to him begging
him to hurry forward recruits to Cen
eral Gates, who had taken command
In Georgia, is read:
"They would have gone on before this
time" Muhlenberg wrote. but there is
a total want of everything necessary
to f1t them for the field. There are
neither teams. tents, nor blankets, and
II is but few days since we were able
to procure arms ut for service"
BENEDICT ARNOLD
While still engaged In filling the
gaps In Gates's army. Muhlenberg had
something new to worry him. A Brit
ish fleet of 60 sail entered the James
river and began dlscmbarking 5000
men. Hurrledly collecting his recruits,
Muhlenberg marched with 500 men to
meet the invaders, leaving General
Weldon behind In Richmond to collect
troops to reinforce him. Before he
left Richmond. however, he rushed a
dispatch bearer to General Washing
ton with message explaining the po-
sltion of the British. recommending that
the French fleet be sent to blockade
the enemy's fleet, and promising to
keep the land force busy and get it into
q net IL the French checked escape by
sea-
Muhlenberg got reinforcements so
rapidly that he advanced on Ports
mouth. drove in the enemy's pickets
and kept General Leslie confined to
his inteenchments. There was no
overrunning the country, and there
was no escape for Leslie IL the French
fleet appeared. But the French did
not arrive. Washington either had
other ideas or the French had other
ideas. At any rate, Leslie was able
to board ship and sail away. his ex-
pedition a fiasco. but the Americans
more disgusted than he possibly could
be.
In January. 1871, there was n now
invasion of Virginia, Benedict Arnold
landing at Portsmouth to do what
Leslie had failed to do. or the 5000
volunteers that Muhlenberg managed
to get together around Portsmouth
when Leslie was cooped up there, 1000
had disbanded and the remainder were
lily provided for. Baron Steuben
iltLu DetI SSll " lTSlIlld, ana, DtlnS
Muhlenberg's superior, superseded him
In command. Muhlenberg was absent
on furlough when Arnold landed, and
the traitor was ravaging the country
before the pastor was in the field again.
Before the month closed Steuben and
Muhlenberg had gathered enough force
to drive Arnold into Portsmouth. Muh-
lenberg tried vainly to put through
a plan conceived by Thomas Jefferson
to capture the traitor. and was much
distressed over its failure. He tried,
too. to draw Arnold out from the fortl-
fcations and risk q battle, but Arnold
would not accept his challenge. Then
there came development that changed
the whole situation. A detachment of
the French fleet appeared. and Baron
Steuben. supposing. as he had good
reason to. that it would cut Arnold off,
left Muhlenberg to look after the In
vestment of Portsmouth. while he.
with about 1000 men. rushed to the aid
Of General Greene, who had supplanted
Gates and who was threatened by
CORVALLIS.
The French fleet. after capturing a
frigato and some smaller vessels, sailed
away, Admiral Tilly saying there was
not enough water for his ships
The Importance of capturing Arnold
so appealed to Washington that he
made a vigorous protest against TIlly's
conduct and Admiral Destouches prom
ised to repair the situation by going