The Invasion of Virginia, 1781 (Journal of the American Revolution Books)

Britain's Attempt to Subdue Virginia and End the Revolution The American War for Independence was fought in nearly every colony, but some colonies witnessed far more conflict than others. In the first half of the war, the bulk of military operations were concentrated in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. A shift in British strategy southward after the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 triggered numerous military engagements in 1779 and 1780 in Georgia and the Carolinas.Surprisingly, Virginia, the largest of the original thirteen colonies, saw relatively little fighting for the first six years of the Revolutionary War. This changed in 1781 when British and American forces converged on Virginia. The war's arrival did not result from one particular decision or event, but rather, a series of incidents and battles beginning in the fall of 1780 at Kings Mountain, South Carolina. Benedict Arnold's sudden appearance in Virginia in early 1781 with 1,600 seasoned British troops and his successful raid up the James River to Richmond and subsequent occupation of Portsmouth, demonstrated Virginia's vulnerability to attack and the possibility that the colonies could be divided and subdued piecemeal, a strategy Britain had attempted to deploy several times earlier in the war. British General Henry Clinton's decision to reinforce Arnold in Virginia expanded Britain's hold on the colony while events in North Carolina, including the battle of Guilford Court House, led British General Charles Cornwallis to conclude that defeating the Patriots in Virginia was the key to ending the war. As a result, Cornwallis marched his army north in May 1781 to assume command of what was now a very powerful British force of over 7,000 troops. The war had returned to Virginia with a vengeance, and how it did so and what happened as a result is the focus of The Invasion of Virginia 1781 . By The Sixth Year Of The American Revolution, Britain Determined That Virginia Would Be The Key To Subduing The Entire Rebellion. The American War For Independence Was Fought In Nearly Every Colony, But Some Colonies Witnessed Far More Conflict Than Others. In The First Half Of The War, The Bulk Of Military Operations Were Concentrated In Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, And Pennsylvania. Following The Battle At Monmouth Courthouse, New Jersey, In 1778, British Strategy Moved To The South, Where Their Armies Clashed With Continental Troops In Georgia And South Carolina. Surprisingly, Virginia Saw Little Fighting Up To This Point In The War. This Changed Suddenly In 1781, When The Turncoat Benedict Arnold Led 1,600 Seasoned British Troops On A Successful Raid Up The James River To Richmond, Destroying Patriot Property Along The Way. Arnold's Bold Stroke Demonstrated Virginia's Vulnerability To Attack And The Possibility That The Colonies Could Be Divided And Subdued Piecemeal. British General Henry Clinton Decided To Reinforce Arnold In Virginia, While Events In North Carolina, Including The Battle Of Guilford Courthouse, Convinced British General Charles Cornwallis That Defeating The Patriots In Virginia Was The Key To Ending The War. As Historian Michael Cecere Relates In The Invasion Of Virginia 1781, The War's Arrival In The Largest Colony Had Unintended Consequences For Cornwallis And His Powerful British Force. -- Inside Jacket Flap. To Make A Solid Move Into North Carolina -- Benedict Arnold Invades Virginia -- A Difficult Winter For Both Sides -- Cornwallis Catches Greene -- British Offensive Operations Resume In Virginia -- Cornwallis Comes To Virginia -- Spencer's Ordinary And Green Spring -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. Michael Cecere. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 147-170) And Index. A new volume in the Journal of the American Revolution Books series: By the sixth year of the American Revolution, Britain determined that Virginia would be the key to subduing the South and ultimately the entire rebellion