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one hundred and fifty militiamen were surprised and routed; after which
Arnold re-embarked his army, and began to descend James's River. He
returned to Portsmouth, where he was joined by more men, who raised his
force to nearly 2000 men, and where he established a permanent station,
in order to co-operate with Lord Cornwallis. While at Portsmouth, it was
suggested by the American leaders, that a few individuals should make a
sudden incursion into his camp, and carry him off, in order to bring him
to the gallows. The capture of Arnold was, indeed, a cherished object
with the Americans, ever since his defection from their cause; but he
was aware that he was in danger, and was therefore vigilant, so that
if any attempt had been made, it would doubtless have failed. It would
appear, in fact, that though 5000 guineas were offered in the event of
success, none could be found hardy enough to make such a daring attempt.
Washington, however, was resolved to capture the arch-traitor if
possible; and with this view he sent Lafayette to blockade him on the
land side, while a French squadron blockaded him by sea. Washington
wished Destouches to employ nearly the whole of his fleet in this
service; but the French admiral was apprehensive that Admiral Arbuthnot
might have collected and repaired his scattered ships; and he therefore
refused to risk more than one sixty-four-gun ship and two frigates.
These were put under the command of Commodore de Tilley; and they sailed
for the Chesapeak on the 9th of February. De Tilley, however, found
Arnold so well posted as to defy attack, and he returned to Rhode
Island. As he was returning, near the Capes of Virginia he fell in
with and captured the Romulus, a fifty-gun ship, which was sailing
from Charlestown to the Chesapeak. Washington now held a conference at
Newport, Rhode Island, with Rochambeau, Destouches, and other officers,
in which it was resolved to embark part of the French army, under the
command of Count de Viominil, and to risk the whole of the French
fleet to escort it, in order to capture Arnold. Destouches, the French
admiral, set sail on the 8th of March; but he was followed by Admiral
Arbuthnot, and brought to action off Cape Henry. After fighting for
about an hour, the French bore up and ran to leeward; and Destouches
then resolved to return to Rhode Island. In a few days General Phillips
arrived at Portsmouth to take the command over Arnold; and the defence
of Virginia wa