The scene beggars description and has no parallel in history.
The people flocked around him, eager to be ranked among his followers.
The drummers struck up for volunteers and over 300 enlisted that day.
Throughout the war for independence General Washington depended on him to recruit the army in Virginia, which he never failed to dounder the most trying circumstances; men seemed to spring up like mushrooms when he needed them to replenish his oft depleted ranks.
Lord Dunmore was ravishing the country; Colonel Muhlenberg followed closely on his heels. Dunmore built Great Bridge and took up quarters in Norfolk; finding himself closely hemmed in, he burned the town, then one of the finest cities in the South, for which act he was severely criticized by the British. After his defeat he took refuge in Portsmouth, still holding command of the sea, harrowing the people, destroying property, until, finding his quarters too hot, he hurriedly set sail for Grogans Island in the bay. Gen. Andrew Lewis drove him from there, and he sailed for New York, and soon after returned to England.
The North now claimed the attention and eager eyes were watching there, the South resting comparatively quiet.
At this time General Clinton marched South, Ben. Lee following closely in his tracks, arriving at Williamsburg March 29, 1776, just twelve days after the surrender of Boston.
Colonel Muhlenberg had been in command at Suffolk. He now joined General Lee, with him following up Clinton to South Carolina. This led on to the battle of Sullivan’s Island, and Charleston, which was so disastrous to the enemy they returned at once to New York.
General Lee, in his official report, says:
“I know not which corps I have the greatest reason to be pleased with, Colonel Muhlenberg’s Virginians or the North Carolina troops; both are equally alert, zealous and spirited.”