battle called took place near virginia april late american war independence roughly british regulars command brigadier general defeated militia major general baron introduction british troop presence led general virginia early prompted increase militia activity counter british force militia poorly trained equipped unable prevent arnold moving freely arnold reinforced march additional troops led general phillips targeted raiding expedition militia forces led decided stand separate community battle joined outnumbered militia provided remarkably stiff resistance british advance executed disciplined retreat avoiding flanking attempt led eventually retreated richmond joined forces continental_army troops led british continued raiding eventually joined forces army north_carolina background december american revolutionary war north american main theaters reached critical point continental_army suffered major defeats earlier year southern armies captured dispersed loss charleston south armies george_washington british commander chief north_america sir watched new_york_city north national currency virtually worthless public support war enter sixth year army troops pay conditions americans favor loyalist recruiting checked severe blow kings mountain october counter british threat south washington sent major general best rebuild american army north_carolina defeat leading british troops south wanted deal gain control state arnold sent virginia request diversion virginia draw attention resources general clinton december brigadier general changed sides previous september men virginia arnold instructions destroy continental_army supplies storage depots state largely avoided military conflict establish base future operations portsmouth afternoon january arnold sailed landed force virginia moving rapidly overnight forced march raided richmond state capital day day raiding returned boats sailed portsmouth proceeded land approaches base guarded virginia militia command brigadier general inexperienced relatively small number prevent movement british troops ship readily rivers area arnold arrival prompted general washington land naval forces challenge washington sent continental_army detachment virginia february asked french admiral newport rhode_island send naval force addition troops support storm late january caused damage royal_navy fleet watching newport slipped ship line frigates newport marched south arrived near portsmouth arnold withdrew ships lighter vessels shallow drafts french fleet deeper drafts unable follow french returned newport effort urging washington prompted newport march entire fleet seven ships line recently captured frigate french troops aboard clinton admiral learned days later immediately mobilized supporting resources sailed ships line day naval action march successfully prevented entering chesapeake_bay fleet followed transports carrying british_army troops command general phillips troops landed portsmouth march phillips arnold took command forces raiding phillips phillips advanced largely countryside militia force major general baron tried check progress protect richmond british attack richmond definitely considered prime objective served military depot state continental forces april british force sailed landed drive militia reports claimed force number april afternoon progressed general virginia militia marched militia units gathering force days away continental_army force general avoiding conflict british weak numbers inexperienced troops decided time sort stand militia sort victory british arrived virginia morale low council war decided establish line separate town east neighborhood city time came colonists retreat bridge evening general ordered corps north peninsula known elevated ground overlooking river night moved forces south river battle shortly sunset april phillips landed force british soldiers city point miles east morning day regiments virginia militia infantry formed lines defense awaited british force line composed regiments left line river dick right extending hills south second line form main line defense fell consisted regiment left right line extended today madison street causeway bridge lieutenant run creek separating line positioned maximize exposure british troops gunfire approached placed regiment north shore guarding possibility british landed river positioned small reserve force southern end bridge sent company slaughter men north bank provide advance warning british approached british set morning marching phillips command consisted regiments foot corps arnold force battalions light infantry phillips originally planned route order military stores prince george county courthouse reconnaissance reported removed americans phillips marched directly lightly armed accompanied force carrying men supplies battle preceded exchange fire british american advance reconnaissance phillips halted column mile american lines organized forces battle right colonel lead battalion light infantry company river drive american left bridge lieutenant colonel lead foot attempt flanking maneuver american right phillips held second light infantry battalion loyalist units arnold reserve held reserve small guns expedition brought british forces advanced american line phillips noticed company virginia militia established position hill provided excellent opportunity british line sent flush lines closed action general line militia resistance british anticipated british artillery strength numbers threatened flank position convinced militia line retreat second half hour resistance phillips detached rangers lengthy roundabout flanking maneuver intended prevent americans retreating bridge moved phillips assaults second militia line repulsed british artillery position american line hour later finally ordered retreat americans eventually able orderly retreat bridge covered men placed high ground far bridge companies took bridge went order delay pursuit act later earned praise contemporaries general heights near present day colonial heights americans engaged artillery duel british forces opposite bank losses sides supply weary militia continued northward retreat reaching following day british force crossing destroying bridges aftermath phillips arnold pursuit retreating american militia continued manchester river richmond reached april unable enter richmond marched rapidly occupied city destroying tobacco warehouses british sailed james advanced far phillips received orders return await lord moving north wilmington north_carolina reaching phillips greeted bombardment artillery positioned north river general phillips contracted fever died leaving arnold temporarily command british force reached bringing british force men shortly additional british reinforcements arrived new_york raising force men ordered arnold new_york chased time central virginia making way eventually ordered joined early september french force west_indies blockaded land routes french fleet prevented arrival british relief fleets arrival george_washington franco american army north besieged surrendered army october center military activity american civil war besieged months role later conflict dominates military history city sponsored annual battle
Battle of Blandford