1775.
Dunmore's Proclamation--Removal of Powder--Disturbances at
Williamsburg--Military Movements--Volunteers at Fredericksburg--
Governor and Council--Hanover Volunteers and Henry--He extorts
compensation for Powder--Dunmore's Proclamation--Henry's
popularity.
ON the twenty-eighth of March Dunmore issued a proclamation, by command,
as he said, of the king, for the prevention of the appointment of
deputies from Virginia to the congress which was to assemble in May. And
in compliance with instructions received from England, the governor
ordered Captain Collins, with a party of marines and sailors from the
Magdalen, lying at Burwell's Ferry, to remove the powder from the
magazine at Williamsburg, and it was carried on board of that vessel
secretly, between three and four o'clock A.M., of Thursday, April the
twentieth, the day following the collision at Lexington and Concord. It
had been rumored some days before in Williamsburg that Lord Dunmore had
taken the locks off from most of the guns in the magazine, and that he
intended to remove the powder. The people of the town were alarmed, and
the volunteers for several nights kept guard over the magazine; at
length growing negligent, and disbelieving the report, on Thursday night
the guard was discharged at an early hour. Thus Collins with his party,
who had been secreted in the palace, seized the powder without
opposition. Dunmore, anticipating the resentment of the people, armed
his servants and some Shawnee hostages, and muskets were laid on the
floor, loaded and primed, and the captains of the ships of war lying at
York were ordered to have in readiness an armed force for the defence of
the palace. As soon as these proceedings became known, the Williamsburg
volunteers flew to arms, and were with difficulty restrained by Peyton
Randolph and Robert C. Nicholas from assaulting the palace and seizing
the governor. The authorities of the town, in accordance with a
resolution of a meeting of the people, solicited the governor to restore
the powder immediately, urging among other reasons which demanded it,
the apprehension of a servile war, instigated by "wicked and designing
men." Dunmore, in his reply, pretended that he had removed the powder
from the magazine as being an insecure place in case of such an
insurrection;[608:A] declared that it should be returned as soon as it
should appear that the precaution was unnecessary; that in case of an
insurrection he would, upon his honor, return it in half an hour; but he
expressed his surprise that the people were under arms, and said that he
should not deem it prudent to put powder into their hands under such
circumstances. The reply was considered evasive and false. When he had
first heard that the people were in arms, he swore, "by the living God,"
that if any violence should be offered to him, or to the officers who
had acted under his directions, he would proclaim freedom to the slaves,
and lay the town in ashes. Some of the citizens, in consequence of this
threat, sent their wives and children into the country.
The citizens of Williamsburg resolved unanimously to continue their
contributions for the relief of the inhabitants of Boston. Intelligence
of these occurrences at the capital soon spread through the country.
More than six hundred volunteers met at Fredericksburg by the
twenty-seventh of April, and were ready to march to Williamsburg.
Gloucester and Henrico demanded the restitution of the powder, the
Gloucester men threatening, in case of refusal, to seize the governor.
Bedford offered a premium for the manufacture of gunpowder; the
independent company of Dumfries and the Albemarle volunteers were ready
for action. Dunmore renewed his threats, and was confident, as he wrote
to Lord Dartmouth, the English minister, that "with a small
re-enforcement of troops and arms he could raise such a body of Indians,
negroes, and others as would reduce the refractory people of this colony
to obedience."[608:B]
Three citizens, deputed by the troops assembled at Fredericksburg,
repaired to Williamsburg for the purpose of ascertaining the real state
of affairs, and to offer military assistance if desired. Peyton
Randolph, in behalf of the corporation, in replying to the committee,
stated that: "Besides what has been said in his public answer, the
governor has given private assurances to several gentlemen that the
powder shall be returned to the magazine, though he has not condescended
to fix the day for its return. So far as we can judge, from a comparison
of all circumstances, the governor considers his honor at stake; he
thinks that he acted for the best, and will not be compelled to what, we
have abundant reason to believe, he would cheerfully do, if left to
himself." "If we then may be permitted to advise, it is our opinion and
most earnest request, that matters may be quieted for the present at
least; we are firmly persuaded that perfect tranquillity will be
speedily restored. By pursuing this course we foresee no hazard, or even
inconvenience that can ensue. Whereas we are apprehensive, and this we
think upon good grounds, that violent measures may produce effects which
God only knows the consequence of."[609:A]
Upon this reply being reported to the volunteers at Fredericksburg,
styled "The friends of constitutional liberty in America," they declared
that it was dictated by fear, and resolved to march at all events to
Williamsburg, under command of Captain Hugh Mercer, who was eager to
redress the indignity which Virginia had suffered at the hands of the
governor.
At this juncture Peyton Randolph happened to reach the house of Edmund
Pendleton, one of his colleagues, on his route to Philadelphia, where
the congress was about to meet. These two eminent men sent to
Fredericksburg, on Saturday, the twenty-ninth, a letter advising that
further action should be deferred until the congress should adopt a plan
of resistance. Mercer, who had written to Washington for advice,
received a reply to the same effect. One hundred and two deputies were
appointed a council to consider this advice, and after a long and
animated discussion it was assented to by a majority of one vote
only.[609:B]
The military, consisting of fourteen companies of light-horse, for
several days were encamped in the fields near the town, armed and
equipped, and they acquiesced reluctantly in the determination not to
march at once to the capital. The Virginians were at the same time
arming in other parts of the country to re-enforce, whenever necessary,
those who had first taken up arms; troops were collected at the Bowling
Green, and others on their march from Frederick, Berkley, Dunmore, and
other counties, were arrested, by information that the affair of the
gunpowder was about to be accommodated. The council of one hundred and
two, before adjourning, adopted an address pledging themselves to
re-assemble whenever necessary, and by force of arms to defend the laws,
liberties, and rights of Virginia, or any sister colony, from unjust and
wicked invasion. This address was read at the head of each company, and
it concluded with the significant words, "God save the liberties of
America!"
The council at this time consisted of President Nelson, Commissary Camm,
Ralph Wormley, Colonel G. Corbin, G. Corbin, Jr., William Byrd, and John
Page. Being summoned to hold a meeting, they assembled as usual in the
council chamber, but Dunmore requested their attendance at the palace.
He excused his removal of the powder as owing to his fear that the
volunteers might have been tempted to seize upon the magazine; he
complained that his life had been exposed to danger in the recent
disturbances, and he recommended the issuing of a proclamation. John
Page, the youngest member, boldly advised the governor to give up the
powder and arms, as the measure necessary to restore public
tranquillity. Dunmore, enraged, struck the table with his fist,
exclaiming, "Mr. Page, I am astonished at you." The other councillors
remained silent. Page, although he had been made a member of the council
by Dunmore, had, nevertheless, opposed his nomination of John Randolph
as one of the board of visiters of the college, declaring "that as he
had been rejected on a former occasion as not possessing the disposition
and character, moral and religious, which the charter and statutes of
the college required, he ought not again to be nominated, till it could
be proved that he had abandoned his former principles and practices,
which no one could venture to say he had." Mr. Page had then proposed
Nathaniel Burwell in the place of the governor's nominee, and he was
elected, the governor alone dissenting. This proceeding gave great
offence to Dunmore and his secretary, Foy. Foy showed his resentment so
offensively, that, says Page, "I was obliged to call him to account for
it, and he, like a brave and candid man, made full reparation to me and
my my friend, James Innes."
In Hanover the committee of safety for the county, and the members of
the Independent Company, at the call of Patrick Henry, met at New Castle
on the second day of May, and were addressed by him with such effect
that they resolved either to recover the powder or make a reprisal for
it.[611:A]
Burk[611:B] says: "The affair of the powder was decided before the
battle of Lexington was ever talked of in Virginia." But as it appears
that the express from Massachusetts reached Petersburg on Sunday, the
first of May,[611:C] it is probable that Henry had already heard the
news. Captain Meredith resigned in Henry's favor, and he was invested
with the command, Meredith accepting the place of lieutenant. Having
received orders from the committee consonant with his own suggestions,
Captain Henry marched at once toward Williamsburg. Ensign Parke Goodall,
with sixteen men, was detached into King and Queen County to Laneville,
(on the Matapony,) the seat of Richard Corbin, the king's deputy
receiver-general, to demand the estimated value of the powder, and in
case of his refusal to make him a prisoner. The detachment reached
Laneville about midnight, and a guard was stationed around the house. At
daybreak Mrs. Corbin assured Goodall that the king's money was never
kept there, but at Williamsburg, and that Colonel Corbin was then in
that town. Henry had started from Hanovertown with only his own company,
but the news of his march being speedily spread abroad, companies
started up on all sides, and were in motion to join his standard, to the
number, it was believed, of several, some say five thousand men. The
colony was governed by county committees. Lady Dunmore, with her
children, retired in dismay to the Fowey, lying at Yorktown. Even the
patriots at Williamsburg were alarmed at the approach of this tornado;
message after message was despatched, and Captain Henry was implored to
desist from entering Williamsburg. The messengers were detained, and he
marched on. The scene resembled that presented by Bacon marching against
Berkley a hundred years before. Dunmore, in the mean time, issued a
proclamation calling upon the people to resist Henry, and planted cannon
at his palace, and ordered up a detachment of marines from the Fowey.
Before daybreak on the fourth of May, Captain Montague, of that ship,
landed the detachment, and addressed a note to President Nelson, saying
that he had received certain information that Lord Dunmore was
threatened with an attack to be made at daybreak on that morning at the
palace, and requesting him to endeavor to prevent any assault upon the
marines, as in case of it he should be compelled to fire upon the town
of York.
Henry, with one hundred and fifty men, halted at Doncastle's Ordinary,
(sixteen miles from Williamsburg,) where Goodall had been ordered to
rejoin him. In the meanwhile the authorities of the town were concerting
measures to prevent the threatened collision. Dunmore denounced Henry as
a rebel and the author of all the disturbances, and poured out a tirade
of profane threats and abuse. Nevertheless, at his instance, Carter
Braxton, son-in-law to Colonel Corbin, repaired to Henry's headquarters
on the third, and interposed his efforts to prevent matters from coming
to extremities. Finding that Henry would not disband without receiving
the powder or its equivalent, he returned to Williamsburg, and procured
from Colonel Corbin, the deputy receiver-general, a bill of exchange for
the amount demanded, and delivering it to Henry at sunrise of Wednesday
the fourth, succeeded in warding off the impending blow.[612:A] In this
pacific course Mr. Braxton coincided with the moderate councils of the
leading men at Williamsburg.
Yorktown and Williamsburg being in commotion at the landing of the
marines, and an attack upon the public treasury being apprehended, Henry
wrote to Nicholas, the treasurer, offering the services of his force to
remove the public treasury to any place in the colony which might be
deemed a safer place of deposite than Williamsburg. The treasurer
replied that he did not apprehend any necessity for such a guard, and
that the people of Williamsburg "were perfectly quiet;" which, however,
could hardly have been the case, because at that time more than a
hundred citizens patroled the streets and guarded the treasury.[613:A]
Henry, having attained the object of his march, returned with his
volunteers to Hanover. The committee presented their thanks to the party
for their good conduct, and also to the numerous volunteers who were
marching to lend their co-operation.
Parke Goodall was a member of the convention of 1788, and afterwards
kept a tavern called the "Indian Queen," in the City of Richmond.[613:B]
The contest between Henry and Dunmore concerning the powder, is like
that between Colonel Hutchinson and Lord Newark on a similar occasion in
1642, at Nottingham, as related by Mrs. Hutchinson in her charming
memoirs of her husband--[613:C]the most beautiful monument ever erected
by female affection.
Two days after Henry had received compensation for the powder, Dunmore
issued a proclamation denouncing "a certain Patrick Henry, Jr., of
Hanover," and a number of deluded followers, charging them with having
unlawfully taken up arms, and by letters excited the people in divers
parts of the country to join them in these outrageous and rebellious
practices, extorting L330 from the king's receiver-general, and
forbidding all persons to aid or abet "the said Patrick Henry, Jr.," or
his confederates. The members of the council, with the exception of John
Page, sided with the governor, and advised the issuing of the
proclamation, and afterwards published an address, in which they
expressed their "detestation and abhorrence for that licentious and
ungovernable spirit that had gone forth and misled the once happy people
of this country." The council now shared the public odium with Dunmore.
There was a rumor that he intended to have Henry arrested on his way to
the congress at Philadelphia; and it is also said that the governor
denounced Henry as a coward for not having accompanied Randolph and
Pendleton. Dunmore, writing to the ministry, described Henry as "a man
of desperate circumstances, one who had been very active in encouraging
disobedience and exciting a spirit of revolt among the people for many
years past."[614:A] So in Massachusetts Samuel Adams, the model patriot
of New England, was denounced by the British governor there. Henry set
out for the congress May the eleventh, and was escorted in triumph by
his admiring countrymen as far as Hooe's Ferry, on the Potomac, and was
repeatedly stopped on the way to receive addresses full of thanks and
applause.
FOOTNOTES:
[608:A] There had been an alarm of one from Surrey County.
[608:B] Bancroft, vii. 277.
[609:A] Letter dated at Williamsburg April 27th, 1775, to Mann Page,
Jr., Lewis Willis, and Benjamin Grymes, in S. Lit. Mess., 1858, 26.
[609:B] Burk's Hist. of Va., iii. 406.
[611:A] Wirt's Henry, 137; Burk's Hist. of Va., iv. 13. This volume is a
continuation of Burk by Skelton Jones and Louis Hue Girardin, mainly by
the latter, who enjoyed the advantage of Mr. Jefferson's assistance.
[611:B] Vol. iii. 416.
[611:C] Lossing's Field-Book of the Revolution, ii. 584. Wirt says that
the news reached Virginia before the assembling of the volunteers at
Fredericksburg.
[612:A] The following is a copy of the receipt:--
"DONCASTLE'S ORDINARY, New Kent, May 4th, 1775.
"Received from the Hon. Richard Corbin, Esq., his majesty's
receiver-general, L330, as a compensation for the gunpowder
lately taken out of the public magazine by the governor's
order, which money I promise to convey to the Virginia
delegates at the general congress, to be, under their
direction, laid out in gunpowder for the colony's use, and to
be stored as they shall direct, until the next colony
convention or general assembly, unless it shall be necessary
in the mean time to use the same in the defence of the colony.
It is agreed that in case the next convention shall determine
that any part of the said money ought to be returned to his
majesty's said receiver-general, that the same shall be done
accordingly.
"PATRICK HENRY, JR.
"_Test_: SAMUEL MEREDITH,
PARKE GOODALL."
[613:A] Burk, iv. 15.
[613:B] Richmond in By-gone Days, by Samuel Mordecai, 173.
[613:C] Page 102.
[614:A] Bancroft, vii. 335.