The traitorous Benedict Arnold led British soldiers into Richmond, on this day in 1781. He sailed up the James River with little resistance and burned Richmond before he left.
Richmond had only recently become Virginia’s capital. There wasn’t much there at that time. Virginia’s Governor Thomas Jefferson and the legislature weren’t sure if a fleet would be interested in climbing the James River to the sparsely populated capital. When the British fleet was first sighted in Chesapeake Bay, they couldn’t even properly identify the threat until it was too late.
Arnold’s orders were to fortify and hold Portsmouth, and while he was doing that, he was given the discretion to wreck whatever havoc he felt would complement British efforts in the area. Richmond would be a bonus for the British.
There was plenty of value to the British in plundering Richmond. In addition to re-supplying their own army, the British would also be cutting an important supply line to the American forces in the south. The main prize was nearby in Westham. Michael Cecere writes-
“Westham was the site where Governor Jefferson had sent much of Richmond’s military stores and government papers. More importantly, the foundry at Westham was one of the few places in Virginia capable of casting cannon and producing gunpowder. Hundreds of barrels of powder were stored there, as were nearly thirty cannon1.”
Jefferson had ill-prepared the city. Improved and additional fortifications were needed. Baron de Stueben was assigned to Virginia at that time. He insisted on a plan to fortify a turn in the James River at Hood’s Landing. He believed this would protect the capital from enemy fleets. Jefferson, at first ignored this, or was too lackadaisical in presenting it for legislative approval.2
The largest share of the blame for Arnold’s success falls to Jefferson. When the British fleet was seen, the first dispatch said the identity of the new fleet was unclear. Jefferson expected more information to come soon after that first message. But more info did not come. The gap in messages lingered for two days. That’s inexcusable. There were hopes of an ally French fleet and concerns about calling the militia for nothing, but that only further illustrates the need for the governor’s office to take the initiative needed to gather any necessary information. Historian Dumas Malone contends, “in this instance optimism did [Jefferson] disservice.” That’s too generous. Jefferson, as governor, had access to plenty of riders who could have tracked down move information during the delay. By the time the threat was properly identified, the local militia were called too late and were too underequipped to provide any kind of protection.3
Jefferson deserves a lot of blame for losing the city. He knew he needed more information to make a decision, but yet he didn’t do enough to ascertain want he needed. That’s poor leadership and Jefferson deserves the criticism he has received for this short chapter in his historic career.
As bad as the British burning Richmond is, it is made infinitely worse knowing that it was Benedict Arnold of all people who did it. Once close to George Washington, but at this point in the war, Arnold was already well-known as a traitor. Virginians were yelling insults at Arnold during this episode. The thought of defeating Arnold could only have created incentive for every Virginian. It is tremendously disappointing that Arnold had the success that he had.
On this day in 1781 we lost the battle in Richmond, but we won the war at Yorktown later in that same year with Washington and an army made up of Continentals, French, and Virginia militia. Jefferson is revered as the architect of liberty, while Arnold died poor and in disgrace, his name forever synonymous with traitor.
1Cecere, Michael, The Invasion of Virginia 1781
2Lockhart, Paul, The Drillmaster of Valley Forge
3Malone, Dumas, Jefferson the Virginian
