Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-01-07

try than In tnlS per'Ou Vi TcCl ullhS
an army. His great popularity among
the Germans he used to the utmost de
gree, and then he used tue fine exam
pie set by the Germans to influence
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
appreciated when "A letter he sent to
Washington in response to one the
Commander-in Chief had written to
him begging him to hurry forward re-
cruits to General 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 fit them for the field.
There are neither teams, tents, nor
blankets, and it is but a few days
since We were abe to procure arms fit
for service"
! BENEDICT ARNOLD.
While still engaged in filling the
gaps in Gates's army, Muhlenberg
had something new to worry him. A
British fleet of sixty sail entered the
James river and began disembarking
three thousand men. Hurriedly col
lecting his recruits. Muhlenburg
marched with eight hundred men to
meet the invaders, leaving General
Weldon behind in Richmond TO col
lect troops to reinforce him Before
he left Richmond, however, he rushed
a dispatch bearer TO General Wash
ington with message explaining the
position OF the British, recommending
that the French feet be sent to block
ade the enemy's feet and promising to
keep the land forces busy and get it
into a net if the French checked es-
cape by sea.
Muhlenberg got reinforcements so
RAPIDLY that he advanced on Ports
mouth, drove in the enemys pickets
:. and kept General Leslie confined to
his intrenchments. There was no
overrupuing 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
20 board ship and sail away, his ex-
pedition fasco, but the Americans
more disguised than he possibly
could be.
In January, 1871, there was a new
invasion of Virginia. Benedict Ar
mold landing at Portsmouth to dc
! what Leslie had failed to do. or the
Il five thousand volunteers that Mullen
: berg managed to get together around
o Portsmouth when Leslie was coope6
o up there, four thousand had disbandet
o and the remainder were lily provided
for. Baron Steuben had been sent tt
Virginia, and. being Muhlenberg'i
. superior, superseededh him in command
/ Muiihnberg was absent on furlougf
> when Arnold landed, and the traito
was ravaging the country before tn
= | pastor was in the field again.
el Before the month closed Steuben an
u Muhlenberg had gathered enough fore
Il to drive Arnold into PortsmcutF
J. Muhlenberg tried vanity TO pu
1T thr )ugh plan conceived by Thona
" Jefferson to capture the traitor, al
,e was much distressed over its failure
or He tried, too, to draw Arnold on
from the fortifcations and risk
" battle, but Arnold would not accel
1ei his challenge. Then there came d.
Of velopment that changed the Who'll
be situation. A detachment OF the Frenc
i. feet appeared, and Baron Steuber
or supposing, as he bad good reason tC
m that it would Gu. Arnold of, left Mul
n lenberg TO look after the Investment
he Portsmouth, while he, with about l On
,te men, rushed to the aid OF Gener
Greene, who had supDlanted Cat
A. and who wa. threatened by Cor
rg wallis.
in. The French feet, after capturing
as frigate and some smaller vessels, sa
ed ed away, Admiral Tilly saying the
nd was not enough water for his ships.
of The Importance Of capturing Arno
10 so appealed to Washington thas
Az madea vigorous protest againstTilly
.on conduct and Admiral Destoucf
as promised to repair the situation
of going with his whole feet and in a
lief dition landing 1,10O infantry on
ck, Chesapeake shore. Washington d
patched Lafayette with ], 200 regula
irom the main arm tc cooperate VI
en- the French and 10 assume command
,isb the forces in Virginia.
viz. 1t looked as IL Arnold was Gag
.en. sure enough and there was great
ant i,icing when big fleet arrived. l
a. the rejoicing did not last long. ]
at let was that of Admiral Arbuthn
ar. II had met Destouches of the Ca
lem a d smashed the Frenchmen. w
OF t,e fleet came 5000 men under G
eai- Phillips. These n,en were 10 VI
,pe. with Arnold's tie whole force TO }
and that of CORVALLIS.
,outl ! YORKTOWN.
rton The clouds hanging over Virgi
own were growing darker. The Britt
la-e tired OF inaction, and now hayinl
Ipon great preponderance OF force, took
ID of a ygressive, ascending the James ri
On March Is they attacked Petersbs
,yer, Muhleuburg, with 1000 mili'ian
vir- conducting ,he defense. The Bri
lrmy force OF 2, 300 we're resisted stubbol
o the for two hours, and then the Americ
sent retreated. The conduct OF the mi
kept won the highest praise, and the re-
- .ofr;tod thai tho Rri