Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
In a letter dated December 6, 1780, General Smallwood reports to General Green on detaching General Morgan and Lt. Col. Washington to protect wagons and intercept Tories near Cane and Lynche's Creek. Washington tricked Col. Rugley and 112 Tories into surrendering at Rugley's plantation without a shot using a stratagem with a pine log mimicking artillery.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
Receiving intelligence on the first of this instant, that parties of the tories were advancing from the out posts of the British up to Cane and Lynche's creek, with a view to intercept our waggons, and avail themselves of the supplies in those settlements, from whence the principal support of the advanced troops under my command had been drawn for some time past, I detached General Morgan with 500 infantry, and Lieutenant Colonel Washington with 100 cavalry to cover number of waggons which were ordered down after corn and pork, and if possible to intercept the tories. The enemy gaining intelligence of the advance of our troops, retreated, and whilst a covering party remained on that duty, Lieutenant Colonel Washington, with the continental and one militia horse, reduced Col. Rugley, Major Cook, and 112 tory officers and soldiers (in a logged barn on Rugley's plantation, strongly secured by abbatis) to surrender at discretion, without firing a shot.
The Colonel's address and stratagem on this occasion deserves applause, having no artillery, he mounted a pine log, and holding out the appearance of an attack with field pieces, carried his point by sending in a flag and demanding an immediate surrender.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Rugley's Plantation
Event Date
December 1, 1780
Key Persons
Outcome
col. rugley, major cook, and 112 tory officers and soldiers surrendered at discretion without firing a shot.
Event Details
Upon intelligence of Tories advancing to intercept wagons near Cane and Lynche's creek, General Smallwood detached General Morgan with 500 infantry and Lieutenant Colonel Washington with 100 cavalry. The enemy retreated, but Washington used a stratagem with a pine log to feign artillery and forced the surrender of the Tories in a logged barn on Rugley's plantation.