was only intended to destroy that part of the town
next the water. But the provincials, strongly prejudiced against the
place as a harbor for tories, made no attempts to arrest the flames.
After four-fifths of the town were destroyed, Colonel Howe, who had
waited on the convention to urge the necessity of completing the
destruction, returned with orders to that effect, which were immediately
carried into execution. Thus fell the most populous and flourishing town
in Virginia. Its rental amounted to $44,000, and the total loss was
estimated at $1,300,000. It is said that alone of all the civil and
military leaders of the colony, General Andrew Lewis opposed the order
for burning Norfolk.

In February, the North Carolina provincials defeated the royalists at
Moore's Creek Bridge. This well-timed and vigorous blow intimidated the
tories, and animated the patriots with new ardor.

Dunmore continued to carry on a predatory warfare on the rivers, burning
houses and plundering plantations, and had now rendered himself the
object of general execration.

During February John Page wrote to Richard Henry Lee: "I have been
always of your opinion with respect to our present commander-in-chief.
All orders do pass through him, and we really wish to be in perfect
harmony with him." The convention of Virginia having raised six
additional regiments, solicited congress to take the Virginia troops on
continental establishment. That body, doubtless misled by the intrigues
of the same cabal which had already virtually deprived Colonel Henry of
his command, resolved to take the six _new_ regiments, passing by the
first two, so as to exclude Colonel Henry from the chief command, to
which he was best entitled. The convention of Virginia, however,
interposing at this point, remonstrated against the degradation of the
officers of their first choice, and earnestly requested congress, should
it adhere to the determination of taking only six regiments into
continental pay, to allow the two first raised to stand first in the new
arrangement. This request was nominally agreed to, but at the same time
when a commission of colonel was forwarded to him, commissions of
brigadier-general were forwarded to Colonel Howe and Colonel Andrew
Lewis. A commission, dated at Philadelphia, February the 13th, 1776,
appointing Colonel Henry to the command of the first Virginia regiment
taken upon the continental establishment, was forwarded by congress to
the commi