Ed Holt’s Monthly Historical Essays about 1775 and 1776

January 1776 – The Month That Changed Everything

United Colonies

It is hard to underestimate the degree to which the events of January 1776 made the Revolution in Britain’s 13 North American Colonies legitimate and popular among the residents of the United Colonies.

Most of the enlistments in Washington’s Continental Army outside of Boston ended 12/31/1775.  On January 1, Washington raised the Grand Union Flag, the first national flag and a fore runner to the Stars and Stripes, on Prospect Hill outside of Boston for the first time.  Throughout January Washington worked frantically to recruit and organize the “Continental Army of 1776” while keeping the British pinned down in Boston with a shrinking, under-equipped force.

Norfolk was the largest city in Virginia at this time and the 6^th largest city in the colonies.  It was a Loyalist leaning city.  After the defeat of Lord Dunmore in December at Great Bridge, Dunmore, the British troops and loyalist militia, including the Ethiopian Regiment of former slaves and many of the residents of the city and escaped slaves, fled to ships and boats off the shore of Norfolk.  It has been estimated that up to 3,000 individuals on up to 100 ships and boats sought such refuge in what was termed a “Floating Town” at the time.  Not unsurprisingly, the Patriots who occupied Norfolk refused to supply the flotilla of loyalist in the surrounding water. By January conditions were dire due to rampant disease and a lack of food and drinking water.

New Year’s Day also brought about an artillery attack by 10 cannon on the British warships in the flotilla and landing of troops foraging for supplies.  These troops set fire to warehouses and supplies in the city which the British could not carry back to the ships in order to deny them to the Patriots.  These fires, later added to by the Patriot troops, completely destroyed Norfolk over the next several days.  The burning of Norfolk became an important symbol to the Patriot cause and swayed many to join the Cause.

On the next day, January 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress passed the Tory Acts, resolutions of how colonies should treat Loyalists.  It prescribed treating the uninformed Tories with kindness while also providing for the disarming and if necessary imprisoning of those actively supporting the Crown.

On January 10, the publication of the pamphlet “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine in Philadelphia provided the philosophical underpinnings of the Revolution.  This pamphlet forcefully advocated for complete independence from Britain.  It is estimated that one in five of those in the colonies had read it within a few months of its publication.  It was crucial in shifting public opinion from seeking reconciliation from the king to demanding a new republican form of government.

By January 25, Henry Knox completed perhaps the most daunting logistical effort of the war by delivering 59 heavy cannons and supplies from Fort Ticonderoga to Framingham, MA.  Knox led the transporting of more than 60 tons of artillery and supplies, across more than 300 miles of frozen rivers, through the Berkshire Mountains and across a cold and snowy landscape on ox drawn sleds.  The placement of this artillery would eventually force the British to abandon Boston.

Virginia

In addition to the burning of Norfolk, the Fourth Virginia Convention, which ran from December 1, 1775 to January 20, 1776, continued its work in organizing a new form of government in strengthening the Committee of Safety, which acted as the executive branch in the absence of the colonial governor.  The Convention also authorized the printing of paper money to finance the war effort and facilitate commerce.

The Virginia Gazette and other newspapers published numerous articles on the “cruelty of Dunmore” in the destruction of Norfolk.  This event, coupled with December’s proclamation of freedom for slaves of Patriot supporters and circulation of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, did much to radicalize large portions of Virginia’s population in the cause of a complete break with Britain.

Botetourt

The local committee of safety had begun the process of transitioning away from the royal county government to be in line with the ordinances of the Fourth Virginia Convention meeting in Williamsburg.  Many men from Botetourt joined the newly formed Virginia regiments, particularly the 8^th, known as the “German” regiment, comprised for the most part from soldiers west of the Blue Ridge.  Others joined the local militia under the command of William Christian and George Skillern.

In what is now the vicinity of Lewisburg, WV, then still a part of Botetourt, the Point Pleasant Company under the command of Captain Arbuckle continued to drill and prepare to defend western Botetourt from potential attack by Indigenous Peoples.  Rumors of British emissaries approaching the Cherokee and Shawnee nations to attack the colonists from the west were commonly circulating in Botetourt at that time.

Farmers in Botetourt were being encouraged to plant more hemp in the upcoming growing season for military use as rope and sails.  Local militia kept watch on the mountain passes to protect vital supply lines from the salt and lead mines in southwest Virginia.  Fincastle became a supply hub due to the converging of roads here in the narrowest portion of the Valley of Virginia.

If you were in Botetourt in January 1776, you weren’t watching ships burn; you were attending militia drills in the snow, watching the price of salt and gunpowder skyrocket, and debating Thomas Paine’s Common Sense as it slowly filtered into the Blue Ridge mountains.

Submitted by Ed Holt, Historic Research Chair, Botetourt Preservation Partnership

December 1775 – The Point of No Return

The United Colonies

In response to King George’s earlier declaration that the Colonies were in a state of open rebellion, on December 6, Colonial Congress passed language declaring the Colonies right to resist the usurping of their rights as English subjects. In turn on December 22, Parliament passed the Prohibitory Act, banning all trade with the colonies as well as declaring an embargo of the colonies as enemies.  This was effectively a declaration of war against the Colonies by Great Britain.

In Canada, the forces of General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold united and began a siege of Quebec.  They launched an attack in a blizzard on December 30-31 which ended in defeat with approximately 100 Colonial casualties including the death of General Montgomery and the serious wounding of Colonel Arnold and 400 Colonists being captured.

On December 6, 1775, Henry Knox, a book seller who was recently appointed Washington’s head of artillery, began an arduous winter journey. His mission was to transport 60 tons of artillery and supplies through winter weather conditions and difficult terrain from captured Fort Ticonderoga on sleds pulled by oxen for the fortifying of Dorchester Heights outside of Boston.

In South Carolina a series of battles were fought from December 22-30 the first known as the Battle of Great Cane Break and the rest known as the Snow Campaign.

Virginia

The first major battle of the Revolution in Virginia was fought December 9 at the Great Bridge over the Elizabeth River, a critical point through the Dismal Swamp for land access to Norfolk.  The British forces, composed of Regular British Army troops, Loyalist Militia and the recently formed Ethiopian Brigade of slaves, attacked the entrenched Patriot force of 900 commanded by Colonel William Woodford on the south side of the bridge.  The British suffered an estimated 80 casualties before withdrawing. Only one Patriot casualty was recorded.  William “Billy” Flora, a free black man, was the advanced Colonial sentry and was cited for his bravery in standing his ground and repeatedly loading and firing, which alerted the Virginian to the assault.

Colonel Woodford occupied Norfolk on December 14, driving the British into ships in the harbor.

The Fourth Virginia Convention met in Richmond on December 1, adjourning to Williamsburg on December 5. Edmund Pendleton, President of the Committee of Safety was elected President of the convention, thus becoming the de facto equivalent of both Governor and Speaker of the House today.  The Fourth Convention focused on the defense of the colony, forming seven additional regiments and began formation of a Virginia Navy.  The Fourth Convention also passed a resolution making English common law prior to 1607 the basis of Virginia law.

Botetourt

As mentioned in an earlier article, there are a dearth of court records in December 1775, as the court met three times in November.

One item of note from the county court’s meeting of November 27, with George Skillern, Richard May and Andrew Woods presiding was referral of the case of David Halley, Jr. to the General Court in Williamsburg for trial on charges of breaking and entering the home of William Mason and theft of property therefrom. 

The trial was to take place the second Tuesday of December, 1775 in Williamsburg. John Neely, David Chadwell, Robert Perryman and William Mann were called to appear and testify at that trial and were ordered to post 200 pounds bail to the King which would be returned after they appeared in Williamsburg to testify in this case. Unfortunately, I could not find records from the meeting of the General Court in Williamsburg on this case. 

Submitted by Ed Holt, for the Botetourt Preservation Partnership

November, 1775 – The schism widens

United Colonies –

The American Invasion of Canada continued as British forces under Major Charles Preston surrendered Fort St. Jean on November 3 to American forces commanded by General Richard Montgomery.  Ten days later the Americans entered Montreal virtually unopposed.

Dr. Sir James Jay, the brother of Founding Father John Jay, invented invisible ink.  Dr. Jay, was a Colonist who had been knighted in 1763 by King George III for his efforts in raising funds for schools which today we know as Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.  Dr. Jay’s invention was used by the Patriots in sending messages, most notably by Washington’s Culper spy ring in New York and in sending messages to/from emissaries in Europe.

The Marine Corps was founded by the Second Continental Congress Nov. 10, 1775, initially as the Continental Marines. Samuel Nicholas was commissioned Captain of Marines. He established the first recruiting station for the Marines at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

Following a vote of Washington’s Generals, Congress formalized the banning of from Blacks service in the Continental Army.  This ban did not apply to service in state Militia units.

Leader of the Mohawk Nation, Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant, his English name, travelled to London to persuade the British to address Mohawk land grievances in return for Mohawk support of the British cause. 

Colonial Virginia –

Peyton Randolph, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, President of the First & Second Virginia Conventions and President of the First & Second Continental Congress, died in Philadelphia at the age of 54. Randolph played an important role in mediating between firebrands such as Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams and moderates such as Edmund Pendleton, Carter Braxton & John Dickinson, who initially opposed independence from Britain.  His skillful diplomacy between various factions enabled the revolution to coalesce and eventually succeed.

On November 15, 1775, British Troops under the command of Lord Dunmore defeated Virginia Militia in the Battle of Kemp’s Landing in present day Virginia Beach. Dunmore followed his victory by reading a Proclamation freeing slaves and indentured servants of Patriots in Virginia, if they would “take up arms” for the British. He also declared martial law in the colony.

The immediate reaction to Dunmore’s proclamation was to swell the ranks of the British in the colony as slaves left their masters to join the British cause.  This led to the creation of the “Ethiopian Regiment” whose uniforms were emblazoned with the words “Freedom to Slaves”.

However, the longer-term effect was to harden the position of the moderate Virginia planters; originally opposed to the use of force in securing the rights they enjoyed in England into committed Patriots.  Dunmore’s secondary objective of interrupting the economy of Virginia was only slightly successful.

Botetourt County –

Numerous deeds were recorded in Botetourt County in November 1775 for transfer of land.  Those included undisclosed acreage from Henry Paulin to Priscilla Davis on the Roanoke River; 100 acres north of the James River from James Buchanan to John Gilmore; 124 acres south of the James from Thomas & Mary Ratcliff  to Moses Bennet; 120 acres south of the James opposite Cedar Creek from John & Jane Berry to George Dougherty; 95 acres on a branch of the James and west of Camp Mountain from James & Elizabeth Robinson to William Lawrence; 163 acres on both sides of Catawba from James McAfee to Andrew Stephenson & Joseph Ward; and 310 acres on the James from Thomas & Nancy Ramsey to Thomas McPherrin. 

The court met 3 times during November, and not again until Feb. 1776. Reporting on those meetings will be undertaken later.

Submitted on the behalf of the Botetourt Preservation Partnership by Ed Holt.

October 1775 – The Conflict Broadens and Escalates

United Colonies – The first Surgeon General of the Army, Dr. Benjamin Church, was caught sending coded messages to the British and was court martialed outside of Boston. Dr. Church was the first American to be convicted of treason.  He was replaced by Dr. John Morgan, who advocated inoculation of the Army against smallpox.

Toward the end of the month, King George addressed Parliament, where he declared the Colonies to be in open Rebellion and urged a swift end to the revolt. Parliament committed to sending tens of thousands of British and Hessian troops to the colonies to defeat the Americans.

British General William Howe replaced Lt. Thomas Gage as Commander of the British forces.

Congress formed the Navy by appropriating money to purchase and arm two ships for a cruise against the British after the British burned Falmouth (now Portland, ME).

The American invasion of Canada continued with the Americans under General Richard Montgomery, who captured Fort Chambly and the town of the same name, thereby obtaining much-needed gunpowder and cutting British supply lines to Fort St. John.  Royal Governor William Tryon fled to a British ship in the New York harbor to escape arrest by the Colonials.

For the first time, fighting moved south with battles being fought in South Carolina and Virginia. British Governor William Campbell fled to a ship in Charleston after it was discovered that he had recruited and equipped natives in the upstate area to attack settlers.

Virginia – The Committee of Safety governed the colony between the Second and Third Virginia Conventions, administering the ordinances passed in the Second Convention in the absence of a Governor.

Peyton Randolph, Speaker of the House of Burgesses, as well as President of the First and Second Continental Congresses, passed away in October.  Randolph’s transition from being a moderate loyal to the King, but one who was opposed to British actions in North America in limiting freedom and imposing taxes, to a Patriot committed to the cause of Independence, was an important turning point.

Lord Dunmore continued to hold a toehold in Southeastern Virginia, but spent most of his time on a British warship in the Chesapeake Bay. 

In search of supplies, Royal troops made an amphibious landing in Hampton on Oct 26. They were repulsed by local militia, with reinforcements from Williamsburg, including the newly organized Culpeper Riflemen, the following morning.  This was the first battle between Royal troops and Colonial troops in Virginia.

Botetourt – Captain Arbuckle continued to train, supply, and prepare the “Point Pleasant Company” in Western Botetourt for defense of the western frontier.  As the harvest began to conclude at the end of October, more recruits reported, and the company prepared to spend the winter near present-day Lewisburg, WV, at the time a part of Botetourt County.

No minutes for the County Court for October 1775 were unturned by the author in the preparation of this article.  It might be useful to explain the difference between the County Court in Colonial Virginia to our current system of governance.  “Gentlemen Justices” were appointed by the Governor, based upon the recommendations of politically connected individuals of the area, not elected.  Replacements were appointed by the Governor based upon recommendations of the sitting Justices.

The County Court performed duties that today are divided among the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, Board of Supervisors, County Administrator, and County Staff.  The County Court heard civil and minor criminal cases, passed local ordinances, granted permits for businesses, oversaw roads and administered the County through its Clerk.  This form of local government, with minor alterations, persisted in Botetourt and Virginia until the Constitution of 1870.

Submitted by Ed Holt, Historical Research Chair

Organizing the Resistance: September 1775

During September 1775, the growing conflict between the United Colonies (they were not yet the United States) and Great Britain continued to escalate slowly.  Skirmishes between loyalist and patriot factions in NC, SC & VA became more frequent and began to escalate in intensity.  The South Carolina militia seized Fort Johnson which gave them control of Charleston Harbor. British Governor William Campbell fled to a British warship and the South Carolina Provincial Congress took control.

The siege of Boston by Colonial troops continued, mainly as a stalemate.  A discrepancy was found in the Colonial gunpowder inventory which rendered Washington’s Army around Boston virtually indefensible, had the British attacked.  At that time there were no active gunpowder mills in the Colonies and the supply of Saltpeter, needed to make gunpowder, was severely limited. 

Congress reconvened on September 13, with Georgia joining as the 13^th colony.  Among their actions was appointment of the “Secret Committee” to obtain supplies from offshore sources of scarce wartime necessities, including gunpowder.  Three shipments of powder were received from the West Indies, lessening the crisis.

The government of Great Britain, dissatisfied with how the war was proceeding, replaced General Gage with General Howe.  Luckily, neither General chose to attack the American position around Boston.

Colonel Benedict Arnold left Massachusetts with a force of 1,100 men to join General Richard Montgomery, who left Fort Ticonderoga in August for the invasion of Quebec.  Arnold sailed north to Maine and then marched cross country to meet up with Montgomery’s 2,000 man force in Quebec. On September 17, Montgomery began a siege of Fort St. John, prior to Arnold’s arrival. Among Arnold’s troops were Morgan’s Rifles from Frederick County, Virginia, who would go on to distinguish themselves. 

The hope was that the former French inhabitants of Canada would join with the colonists in fighting the British, perhaps as a 14^th colony.

Virginia: Continued Measures for Self-rule

In Virginia, the first four companies of the 2^nd Virginia Regiment for the Continental Army mustered for the first time.  The Committee of Safety, an 11-member group which functioned as the Executive branch of the Colonial Virginia Government from August 1775 until July 1776, authorized the first flag for the Virginia Continental troops.  It was a light blue background with the words “Virginia For Constitutional Liberty”.

Despite a severe hurricane that hit Southeastern Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina during September, Governor Dunmore escalated his raids on Patriot supply points and strongholds from British ships in the Chesapeake Bay.  On September 30, he attacked Colonial communication means for the first time by sending a detachment to raid Holt’s Print Shop in Norfolk, confiscating the type, ink and other supplies along with two workmen.

Back in Botetourt:

In Botetourt, the local Committee of Safety organized one of the five provincial companies authorized by the Virginia Convention in August.  This company was tasked with defending the frontier.  It was under the command of Captain Matthew Arbuckle, who is thought to be the first European to navigate the length of the Kanawha River and had been a guide for Andrew Lewis in 1774 during Dunmore’s War.  Lieutenants for the company were Andrew Wallace, Samuel Woods, John Galloway and James Thompson.  This company, named the Point Pleasant Company was comprised of 100 Botetourt riflemen.

The county court met briefly with Justices John Bowyer, James Trimble, William McKee, William McClenachan, Andrew Woods, Richard May and George Skillern presiding to hear the complaint of George Heldrick, an apprentice to William Fleming (a fellow Justice of the court), for not having instructed him in a trade as agreed.  The complaint was dismissed.

Submitted by Ed Holt, Historic Research Chair BPP

Looking Back 250 Years: August 1775

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Botetourt Preservation Partnership, INC —composed of representatives from various historic, civic, and governmental organizations and designated by the Board of Supervisors as the Botetourt VA250 Committee—will present a monthly look at the events unfolding 250 years ago, leading up to American independence.

A Point of No Return: August 1775

By August 1775, the moderates in the American colonies, who were seeking a middle ground of remaining loyal to King George and remaining a part of the Empire while assuring the Colonists the same rights as British subjects in the mother country,  were dealt a crushing blow when both King George and Parliament rejected the “Olive Branch Petition” passed by the Continental Congress in July and proclaimed the 13 British Colonies on the North American Coast to be in a state of open and avowed rebellion.  Essentially, the King’s Proclamation transformed the relationship between the King and the colonists, turning a dispute about rights and governance into a full-blown rebellion where reconciliation seemed increasingly improbable. 

George Washington, who reached the Continental Army and took command in July, was endeavoring to strengthen the discipline and training of the troops, as well as strengthening the American lines around the British Army, whose headquarters were in Boston. 

Prior to Washington’s arrival, the Continental Army was conducting a siege of the main body of the British Army in the colonies which was in Boston.  Due to the British naval strength, this siege was largely ineffective and supplies and additional troops were arriving in Boston nearly daily by sea. 

To make this siege effective, Washington began converting merchant vessels to armed ships to harass and slow the flow of men and material into Boston.  Since there was no appetite for creating a Navy in Congress, Washington did not inform them and was careful to make the crews “soldiers” rather than “sailors”.  Not until October will Congress authorize the first Navy.

On August 27, American privateers from Machias, Massachusetts, raided Saint John, New Brunswick, to disrupt the supply of goods to the Loyalists in Boston. This raid, the first hostile act against Nova Scotia, prompted the colony to mobilize its militia.

Benedict Arnold approached Washington about a potential two-pronged invasion of Quebec in hope that the formerly French province would join the American cause as the 14^th colony.  After Washington’s approval of the plan, General Montgomery departed Fort Ticonderoga with the first prong of the attack.

Virginia: Continued Measures for Self-rule

The third Virginia Convention, which had been convened in July, continued meeting.  The Conventions had become the de facto government in Virginia at this point. 

In August measures were passed to create paper currency.  Also taken up by the Convention were measures to pay the soldiers from Dunmore’s War, the main engagement of which was the Battle of Point Pleasant, which occurred in then Botetourt County in October, 1774.  Many soldiers were paid with land grants on the frontier.

The main burden of securing the western frontier of the colonies fell to Virginia.  At that time Virginians had settled from Chartiers Valley in the environments of present-day Pittsburgh all the way to Long Island and Carter’s Valley southwest of present-day Kingsport, TN, over 425 miles.  The Convention formed the first of what was to grow to five independent provincial companies of 100 men each to defend this frontier in August.  Command of this first company was given to John Neville, former sheriff of Frederick County (Winchester) who had settled in Chartiers Valley.  Neville was given orders to occupy nearby Fort Pitt.

The Convention also resolved to conduct a census, form a county militia, and set up courts in Staunton and Pittsburgh for peacekeeping and criminal cases.

Back in Botetourt:

On August 8, the Botetourt County Court met with Justices James Trimble, William Fleming, Benjamin Estill, Richard May, William McClenachan and Andrew Donnely presiding.  Among the items to come before the court were the appointment of Dawson Wade as Surveyor for a road from Stephen May’s lodging to the county line.  Other items included appointing Samuel Brown, Joseph Anderson, Patrick Lewis and Hugh Miller to “view the way from Sweet Springs Road to Camp Union” (current Lewisburg, WV) and report back to the court. William Preston proved a certificate for 5,500 lbs. of hemp (presumably grown on Greenfield Plantation). A recommendation was made to His Excellency the Royal Governor for persons fit to serve as County Sheriff in favor of James Trimble, William Fleming and George Skillern.

Several deeds of land transactions were recorded in August 1775.  Among them were purchases by Bryan McDonald, William Preston, John McAlister, Robert Moor, John Gray, John Madison, Priscilla Davis, William Anderson and Israel Christian.

Respectfully Submitted by Ed Holt, Historical Research Chair

JULY 1775

As we approach the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Botetourt Preservation Partnership, composed of representatives from various historic, civic and governmental organizations and functioning as the Botetourt VA250 committee by resolution of the Board of Supervisors would like to present an account of what was going on each month 250 years ago leading up to the Declaration of Independence.

July 1775 was a time of transition and uncertainty in Britain’s North American Colonies.  The first shots of what was to become the American Revolution had been fired in Massachusetts in April 1775, but sentiments as whether to seek independence from Britain or not were closely divided and pitted neighbor vs neighbor.

In Philadelphia, the Second Continental Congress, with delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies, convened in May.  They set about to form a consensus and working framework to govern the colonies amid disagreement and intense debate. 

In June they had agreed to form the Continental Army from the militia units fighting the British in New England and appointed George Washington the army’s commander.  Washington reached the Army and took command July 3, 1775 in Cambridge, MA, during the siege of Boston.

Shortly after this, Congress passed the “Olive Branch” Resolution on July 5, pledging their loyalty to King George and asking him to personally intervene in order to reach a peaceful resolution.

The next day, Congress passed the “Declaration of Causes & Necessity for Taking up Arms”, demonstrating their readiness to fight for their liberty, should the King not intervene and it would become necessary to do so in order achieve their goal of having the same rights as Englishmen in the home country enjoyed.

July 1775 also saw Congress establish a Postal Service and Georgia joined Congress as the 13^th and final member.

In Virginia, delegates to Conventions set about to govern the colony in the absence of the Royal Governor who had fled the capital of Williamsburg in June and to the ship Fawley, off of Yorktown.  From there, Lord Dunmore set up a base in the vicinity of Norfolk to combat the growing spirit of rebellion in Virginia.

The Third Virginia Convention convened July 17, 1775 at St. John’s Church in Richmond and established a Committee of Safety to take over the administrative functions of the Royal Governor and providing for the defense of the colony.  To this end, they established two regiments of regular troops and divided the colony into 16 military districts, each charged with providing a battalion of militia or minutemen.

Meanwhile, back in Botetourt, life proceeded much as it had.  On July 11, 1775, the court was convened with Justices Andrew Woods, George Skillern, Benjamin Estill and Richard May presiding.  They heard and adjudicated cases involving disturbance of the peace, debts of back taxes to the King, insulting magistrates in the execution of their duties, and an escaped indentured servant.

Respectfully Submitted by Ed Holt, Historical Research Chair.