Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/413

] consequence, where the people were more loyal towards England than in most other places. A considerable force, however, was collected against him; and the natural impetuosity of his temper prompting him to act against them with more courage than caution, he was entirely defeated, and obliged, early in December, to retire to his shipping, which was now crowded by the number of his adherents. On the first of January, 1776, having been reinforced by the arrival of the Liverpool man-of-war, Dunmore bombarded Norfolk, the largest and richest town in Virginia; and property to the value of £300,000 sterling, was destroyed. Dunmore continued, during the summer, his dis- graceful incursions along the rivers, burning and plundering in every direction: he was finally compelled to seek refuge with his followers and plunder, in Florida and the Bermudas.

In the mean time a scheme of some importance was formed by Conolly, formerly an agent of Dunmore's in Northern Virginia, and a man of an intrepid and aspiring disposition, and attached to the royal cause. The first step of this plan, it is said, was to enter into a league with the Ohio Indians. This he communicated to Lord Dunmore, and it received his approbation: upon which Conolly set out in furtherance of his design. On his return, he was dispatched to General Gage, at Boston; after which he undertook to accomplish the remainder of his scheme. The plan probably was, that he should return to the Ohio, engage the assistance of the Indians, and thence push through the back settlements and join Lord Dunmore at Alexandria. But the whole affair was suddenly brought to an end by Conolly's arrest at Frederictou, in Maryland, whence, in November, he and his companions were sent prisoners to Philadelphia.

Governor Martin and the loyalists in North Carolina, were zealous in behalf of the cause they had espoused; but with no success. The activity and enterprise of their opponents prevented the governor and General Clinton, who had gone to Carolina, from effecting any thing. In Georgia, Governor Wright was equally unsuccessful, and took refuge on board a ship in the river.

For various reasons, arising out of her position and relations, New York was more inclined to sustain the authority of the mother country, than join heart and hand with the other colonies in defence of their rights and liberties. Governor Tryon, who had thought it best to take up his quarters on board the Asia, in the harbor, kept up a constant communication with the loyalists on shore, and was very active in endeavoring to defeat the plans of the patriotic few who longed for independence. Rivington's Gazette, the government paper, annoyed the opponents of the crown not a little, and by its smartness and point, became positively offensive to the patriots. This was not to be borne, and so Captain Sears, in November, when the Committee of Safety declined to interfere, took the matter in hand. He got together a party of light horse from Connecticut, drew up in front of Rivington's office, and amid the cheers of