Benedict_Arnold

Benedict Arnold The purpose and intent of Arnold’s raid was to capture Portsmouth. Controlling Portsmouth would bring him closer to the ruling position in Virginia. The Revolutionary War Raids affected many cities. Norfolk was the first place he raided. It was raided on January 1, 1776. The cities of Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Norfolk were targeted on May 11, 1779. Hampton, Richmond, Westover, Charles City, and Petersburg were hit on later dates. Four ships were used in Arnold’s possession. Three of the ships were transport vessels. The other ship was used as an armed vessel. The armed vessel was a weapon carrier for his militia. The wind damaged some of his vessels and caused some of his horses to get lost. He sent different groups off to different places. Lieut.-Colonel Simcoe, the flank companies of the 80th regiment, the jagers and York Volunteers, were the people ordered to proceed to Westham, which was seven miles north of Richmond. They burned and destroyed one of the finest foundries for cannon in America, twenty-six pieces of cannon, 310 barrels of gunpowder, a large magazine of oats and stores of various kinds, and returned to Richmond on the same evening. The darkness of the night, badness of the roads, and a heavy shower of rain prevented the pursue of the enemy any further. The entire army returned with great joy of the many inhabitants and marched into Portsmouth with good health and high spirits. The troops behaved with firmness, perserverance, and a spirit that gave great honor to the veterans.They were very deficient in pilots for the rivers and owe their success in getting up with so much expedition in great measure to the industry, attention and knowledge of Captain William Goodriche. Cap. Goodriche was the only pilot they could depend upon and took unwearied pains by day and night. Bibliography: