Defense of Virginia by Fayette

Fayette had received, the February 20th 1781, of George Washington, the order to take the command of a joined together detachment with Peakskill to act jointly with the militia and the buildings of Mr. Destouches against Arnold, which was with Portsmouth; Fayette left indeed with its twelve hundred men light infantry. The February 23rd, it was with Pompton and simulated an attack against Staten Island; then it went quickly on Philadelphia, there arrived the March 2nd, went the 3 to Head-of-Elk, where it embarked on small boats and arrived fortunately at Annapolis. It started from there in a boat with some officers, and, in spite of the English frigates which were in bay, it arrived to Williamsbourg to gather the militia there. It had already blocked Portsmouth and pushed back the enemy stakes, when the exit of the Bataille of Cape Henry left the main English of bay.

It did not remain any more with Fayette but to turn over to Annapolis, from where, by a bold walk, it brought back its detachment to Head-of-Elk while passing through the small English war buildings. There it accepted a mail of the Washington general who entrusted the difficult mission to him of defending the Virginia.

The March 6th, the Washington general came to Newport to visit the French Army. It was accepted with all the honors due to a Marshal of France. It passed the army in review, attended the beginning of the squadron of Mr. Destouches and set out again the 13 for its general headquarter.