United Colonies
The spread of Thomas Paine’s pamphlet “Common Sense” continues to resonate within the colonies and reshaped public opinion in favor of revolution and self-government in ways that are hard to overestimate.
On Feb. 4, Major General Charles Lee arrived in New York City to begin the task of fortifying it against potential invasion by the British. On Feb. 16, General George Washington held a council of war to make plans to place the artillery which Henry Knox has brought from Fort Ticonderoga on Dorchester Heights and plan an attack on the British forces in Boston.
Also in February, the recruitment of free Blacks to serve in the Continental Army began.
Congress appointed a commission headed by Benjamin Franklin to approach Canada for support of the 13 colonies, after the invasion of Canada failed. Additional Congressional support for the troops was approved, as was authorization of rewards for Colonial ships to become privateers and capture British ships.
Several of the colonies begin debating writing new forms of government and constitutions for self-government. Notable among these are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
In the Carolinas, 1,600 men, many of Highlander Scot origin, answered the call of exiled British Governor Josiah Martin to take up arms and join with British troops to restore British rule to North Carolina. Approximately 1,000 Patriots under the command of Richard Caswell marched to the bridge over Moore’s Creek to meet the Loyalists. After a brief fight the Patriots prevailed, killing 70 of the Loyalists and capturing 850. This action successfully thwarted Governor Martin’s plans to retake North Carolina.
Virginia
Important events during February 1776 in Colonial Virginia included the arrival of Carter Braxton, a conservative with doubts about the wisdom of revolution, to the Continental Congress to replace the deceased Peyton Randolph.
Lord Dunmore’s fleet continued to occupy the Chesapeake Bay and Elizabeth River and was a constant threat against coastal Virginia. During February there was a severe outbreak of smallpox on Dunmore’s ships due to the crowded conditions and many died. There were several skirmishes between the British and Patriots along the coast.
Debate over how to form a new government with the collapse of British rule and defense of Virginia from Dunmore’s fleet occupied the attention of the Committee of Safety, who was acting as the executive branch.
On Feb. 28, Patrick Henry resigned as head of the Virginia forces. A brilliant orator, Henry had no prior military experience and his military judgement was doubted by many in the government, which led to friction.
Botetourt County
In Botetourt County during February 1776, there were active recruiting pushes to recruit troops to fill the recently formed expansion of the Virginia forces for service in the Continental Army, often referred to as the “Virginia Line,” as well as Virginia troops tasked with protecting the western frontier, and county militia. Botetourt would become an important source of manpower for all three forms of military service during the Revolution. It has been estimated that approximately 800 men from Botetourt out of an estimated total population of 10,000 served the Patriot cause during the Revolution.
During February we have minutes of two meetings of the county court. The first, held on Feb. 13 and presided over by Gentlemen Justices John Bowyer, George Skillern, William McKee, William McClenachan and William Madison, heard the case of John Gabriel Jones declaration that he had paid for his relocation from Britain to Botetourt and granted him a King’s grant of 50 acres.
The second meeting, held at the courthouse on Feb. 19 and presided over by Gentlemen Justices George Skillern, Andrew Woods, Richard May and Adam Smyth, heard a case of felony charges against Francis Armstrong, who pleaded not guilty, under the authority of the Lord and King. Unfortunately, the verdict in the case is missing from the minutes.
It is noteworthy that the minutes of the February 1776 proceedings were the last time that the Botetourt County Court refers to British Royal authority. The wind of change was reaching the backcountry of Virginia.
~ Submitted by Ed Holt, Historic Research Chair, Botetourt Preservation Partnership (BPP)
