e road toward the Great Bridge, were
attacked, their wagons captured and their officer wounded. Simcoe, with
a handful of yagers and Queen's Rangers, was detached for the purpose of
recovering the wagons. Ferrying across to Herbert's Point they advanced
about a mile, when "an artillery-man, who had escaped and lay in the
bushes, came out and informed him that Lieutenant Rynd lay not far off.
Simcoe found him shockingly mangled and mortally wounded; he sent to a
neighboring farm for an ox-cart, on which the unfortunate young
gentleman was placed. The rain continued in a violent manner, which
precluded all pursuit of the enemy; it now grew more tempestuous, and
ended in a perfect hurricane, accompanied with incessant lightning. This
small party slowly moved back toward Herbert's Ferry; it was with
difficulty that the drivers and attendants on the cart could find their
way; the soldiers marched on with bayonets fixed, linked in ranks
together, covering the road. The creaking of the wagon and the groans of
the youth added to the horror of the night; the road was no longer to be
traced when it quitted the woods, and it was a great satisfaction that a
flash of lightning, which glared among the ruins of Norfolk, disclosed
Herbert's house. Here a boat was procured, in which the unhappy youth
was conveyed to the hospital-ship, where he died the next day."[714:A]

FOOTNOTES:

[710:A] In a series of replies made by Mr. Jefferson to strictures
thrown out upon his conduct of affairs at this juncture, the following
occurs: "Query--Why publish Arnold's letter without General Nelson's
answer? Answer--Ask the printer. He got neither from the executive."

[710:B] January 4th, 1781.

[712:A] MS. letter of Arthur Lee in my possession.

[712:B] MS. of Colonel Theodorick Bland, Jr. Arnold's visits to Westover
are referred to in Edgehill, a novel, by James E. Heath. Esq.

[712:C] January tenth.

[714:A] Simcoe, 171.

CHAPTER XCVIII.

1781.

Greene, Commander of Southern Army--Morgan's Victory at
Cowpens--Arnold at Portsmouth--Battle of Guilford--Re-enforced
by Phillips--The Enemy at Petersburg--Devastations--Phillips
proceeds down James River--Returns to Petersburg--His Death--
Succeeded by Arnold--Simcoe--Virginia Navy--John Tyler--John
Banister.

IN accordance with a resolution of congress, passed in November, 1780,
General Gates was superseded, and Washington, who was required to
appoi