BRITISH INCURSIONS INTO VIRGINIA.
During the operations in Georgia, the British fleet under Sir George Collier, who had succeeded Admiral Gambier, had been attacking Virginia, in which attack he was aided by a detachment of soldiers under General Matthews. Their first attempt was an expedition to the Chesapeak, where they demolished Fort Nelson, the grand defence of the American dock-yard at Gos-port; and a similar scene of destruction was exhibited at the town of Suffolk, Kempe’s Landing, Tanner’s Creek, and other places in the lower part of the district. At the same time, the “Otter” sloop, and the privateers sailing far up the bay, took a great number of prizes, and burned, or caused the Americans themselves to burn, a great number of vessels. In the end, indeed, scarcely any American craft were left floating on these waters. The last exploit of this expedition was to demolish the fort and destroy the navy-yard of Portsmouth; when Collier and Matthews returned to New York, after an absence of only twenty-four days.
CAPTURE OF STONEY-POINT AND VERPLANKS.
A few days after the arrival of Collier and Matthews at New York, another detachment, under General Vaughan, and accompanied by Sir Henry Clinton himself, proceeded up the Hudson against Verplanks-neck, and Stoney-point, where Washington’s people were erecting fortifications. A division of the army landed on the eastern side of the river on Verplank’s-neck, while the commander-in-chief proceeded to the western side against Stoney-point. Both these posts, which commanded the Hudson, and by means of which Washington had kept up his communication between the middle and northern colonies, were captured, with the loss of only one man wounded. At Fort Lafayette, which was the main defence of Verplanks-point, all the garrison surrendered as prisoners of war; but, at Stoney-point, the garrison fled at the approach of the British troops. Sir Henry Clinton left considerable garrisons at these places, and then returned to New York.
GEORGE III. 1779-1780
BRITISH EXPEDITION AGAINST CONNECTICUT.
General Clinton, soon after his return to New York, proposed inflicting a severe chastisement on the Connecticut people, and tempting Washington down from the highlands to defend the sea-coast. For this purpose a detachment of land-troops under Major-general Tryon, supported by Admiral Collier, advanced on Connecticut. They first attacked Newhaven, where they destroyed the artillery, ammunition, and stores, with all the vessels in the harbour. Fairfield was next attacked, and having encountered a severe opposition by the inhabitants, when the place was captured it was reduced to ashes. The same fate awaited Norwalk and Greenfield; and Tryon then intended to make a descent at New London, the great rendezvous for the Connecticut privateers. As the militia of this state, however, were by this time joined by some regular troops detached from Washington’s army, he deemed it expedient to return towards New York to obtain reinforcements. The fleet fell back, therefore, on Long Island, to wait for an additional supply of troops and ammunition. In this expedition much spoils were captured.