battle ordinary battle ordinary inconclusive skirmish took place june late american revolutionary war british forces lieutenant colonel american forces colonel light detachments armies general lord respectively clashed near tavern ordinary road intersection far virginia moved army central virginia aware separated sent butler attempt cut sides concerned reinforced main army eventually broke battle background lord arrived virginia lengthy campaign addition troops assumed command troops command soon reinforced troops sent new_york forces opposed smaller continental_army force led located richmond following orders originally given arnold predecessor command died week arrival worked eliminate virginia ability support revolutionary cause gave chase army numbered barely included large number inexperienced militia successfully engaging month numerical advantage forces raids economic military political targets central virginia turned east marching force grew number arrival continental_army reinforcements general additional experienced followed increase troop strength aggressive tactics sending detachments force counteract sent forage raiding expeditions detachments composed select units taken variety regiments commonly army advance guard combined cavalry infantry unit pennsylvania captain companies virginia majors richard joined wayne campbell wanted engage elements army necessarily facing strength approached wayne received word lieutenant colonel loyalist regiment returning raid destroy boats forage supplies force included addition rangers companies led night june wayne sent advance guard colonel including intercept force forward party light infantry caught advance companies force near ordinary tavern road intersection miles north battle troops moving road cattle infantry lead major cavalry hour ordinary ordinary meaning tavern time troops rejoined rest ordered fences area torn admirable place action rested loyalists went round cattle found area cavalry went nearby farm feed horses men encountered raised alarm main body cavalry charged formation breaking number men melee taken prisoner leading edge butler main force began arrive ordered infantry support cavalry sent light infantry woods right flank arriving enemy column questioning prisoners learned far sent word dispatched cattle convoy ordered trees road point defense troops way calculated americans believing troops formation rise butler force arrived ordered infantry charge scattered wave butler men nearby woods pushed butler men continued advance ordered cavalry charge fired field cannon impression larger force arriving charge forced butler men point forces concerned approaching butler men aftermath left wounded men tavern truce flag withdrew road joining forces sent miles road americans retreated camp tyre plantation able return tavern recover wounded reported losses killed wounded american loss killed wounded captured claimed americans killed wounded claimed british killed wounded number agrees provided casualties excluded location battle grounds published park materials indicate exact location marked way butler identity sources disagree butler commanded american force early histories claims command served earlier campaigns identifies commander hero modern histories identify richard apparently
Battle of Spencer's Ordinary