nsiderately abstained from any serious military disturbance
until the middle of the following summer. Thus the chief duty of the
governor of Virginia, during the winter and spring of 1777, as it had
been in the previous autumn, was that of trying to keep in the field
Virginia's quota of troops, and of trying to furnish Virginia's share
of military supplies,--no easy task, it should seem, in those times of
poverty, confusion, and patriotic languor. The official correspondence
of the governor indicates the unslumbering anxiety, the energy, the
fertility of device with which, in spite of defective health, he
devoted himself to these hard tasks.[280]

In his great desire for exact information as to the real situation at
headquarters, Governor Henry had sent to Washington a secret messenger
by the name of Walker, who was to make his observations at Morristown
and to report the results to himself. Washington at once perceived the
embarrassments to which such a plan might lead; and accordingly, on
the 24th of February, 1777, he wrote to the governor, gently
explaining why he could not receive Mr. Walker as a mere visiting
observer:--

"To avoid the precedent, therefore, and from your character
of Mr. Walker, and the high opinion I myself entertain of
his abilities, honor, and prudence, I have taken him into my
family as an extra aide-de-camp, and shall be happy if, in
this character, he can answer your expectations. I sincerely
thank you, sir, for your kind congratulations on the late
success of the Continental arms (would to God it may
continue), and for your polite mention of me. Let me
earnestly entreat that the troops raised in Virginia for
this army be forwarded on by companies, or otherwise,
without delay, and as well equipped as possible for the
field, or we shall be in no condition to open the
campaign."[281]

On the 29th of the following month, the governor wrote to Washington
of the overwhelming difficulty attending all his efforts to comply
with the request mentioned in the letter just cited:--

"I am very sorry to inform you that the recruiting business
of late goes on so badly, that there remains but little
prospect of filling the six new battalions from this State,
voted by the Assembly. The Board of Council see this with
great concern, and, after much reflection on the subject,
are of opinion that the deficiency