![]() He called upon Colonel of the Virginia militia Sampson Mathews to dispose of Arnold and his soldiers. Arnold’s men set fire to homes, businesses, government buildings, and robbed the city of all it owned. Jefferson got word of the destruction of Richmond and was outraged. After Arnold received Jefferson’s refusal, he ordered Richmond to be burned. Jefferson refused to let the man that betrayed the Revolution take Richmond’s supplies. Arnold established a headquarters in Richmond and wrote to Jefferson asking for the city’s entire supply of tobacco and military supplies, and Jefferson was furious. When Arnold marched into Richmond, he was met with no resistance. Jefferson saw the militiamen flee, and called for a mass evacuation of military supplies, as well as government officials from the city. Arnold sent out a small detachment of men, and when Arnold’s forces confronted the 200 militiamen, the militiamen fired an abysmal musket volley and fled into the woods. For three consecutive days, Arnold and his new fleet laid waste to colonial plantations and settlements along the James River. On January 4th, Arnold and his mostly loyalist soldiers arrived at Richmond, defended by a thin force of 200 militiamen. The British were primarily focused on hunting down General George Washington’s Continental Army in the New England colonies. However, beginning in 1781, Richmond and her surrounding neighbors along the Virginia Peninsula were witnesses to the conclusion of the war. On January 1st, 1781, during the second British invasion of Virginia, the recent traitor to the patriots, General Benedict Arnold, sailed along the James River towards Richmond. Richmond did not witness much combat at the beginning of the war. Sketch of the Skirmish at Richmond on January 5th, 1781 on page 306 in the book Historical Collections of Virginia by Henry Howe. It was an attempt by Jefferson to eliminate political resistance in Virginia’s new revolutionary government. Richmond housed fewer loyalists compared to Williamsburg. Williamsburg had been the capital of Virginia since 1699, and over time British governors of Virginia, such as Lord Dunmore, had created a long-lasting loyalist base. Jefferson took many drastic approaches to loyalists residing in Virginia by signing a proclamation banishing them the colony. Jefferson’s main priority in making Richmond the capital was to separate Virginia from its British roots. Richmond became the state capital in 1780, in the midst of the Revolutionary War, with the election of Thomas Jefferson as governor of Virginia. Jefferson publicly declared that the capital of Virginia would move to the small town of Richmond due to its centralized and defendable location. However, a major deciding factor in moving the capital to Richmond for Jefferson was support for the Revolution. John’s Episcopal Church where the spirit of the Revolution was heard by delegates of the Second Virginia Congress. Henry’s speech persuaded the delegates to assist in the war effort, as well as leave a lasting impression both on the delegates present, and on patriots throughout the 13 colonies. Henry delivered his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech at St. One of the lesser known cities that took part in the Revolutionary War, Richmond, Virginia, was home to many revolutionary figures that influenced the creation of the United States. One influential figure that was from Richmond was Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry before the Virginia House of Burgesses on May 30, 1765.
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