[uannay] history of THE QUEEN'S RANGERS 163 



from New York. The Rangers continued on patrol duty for several 

 days, capturing several parties of the enemy, and then were ordered to 

 march against Baron Steuben, who was at the head of James River at 

 the Point of Fork. As the Rangers — owing to the severity of this service, 

 having been constantly in the held for six months — had scarcely more 

 than 200 infantiy and 100 cavalry fit for duty, 200 of the 71st Regiment 

 were ordered to join them. The incessant marches of the Rangers and 

 their distance from stores had so worn out their shoes that nearly fifty 

 of the men were absolutely barefooted. Simcoe assembled them, told 

 them they were wanted for active employment and said that those who 

 chose to stay in the army might do so; but there was not a man who 

 would remain behind the corps. The Rangers then marched against 

 Steuben, Lt. Spencer with 20 Hussars forming the advance guard. They 

 advanced with such celerity that they captured many prisoners and the 

 enemy had no intimation of their approach. They learned that Baron 

 Steuben's force amounted to 900 effective men, exclusive of militia. At 

 Napier's ford on the third day's march, Lt. Spencer, accompanied by the 

 Hussars, approached the house of a Col. Thompson and leaving his two 

 men behind the wall, entered the garden, where the colonel and four 

 militia were, and asked in a very familiar manner the road to the Baron's 

 camp. The party did not like Spencer's looks, innocent as he seemed, 

 and immediately bolted, leaving five good horses behind them. The 

 Hussars next captured a patrol of Dragoons within two miles of the 

 Baron's encampment, which was at the further side of Fluvanna. The 

 Rangers captured 30 of Steuben's people, who had got over, and then 

 encamped for the night, the men having marched nearly 40 miles and 

 being greatly fatigued. Elaborate preparations were made to resist a 

 night attack, which was expected, Steuben being the more than double 

 in his strength, but the Baron apparently did not relish being in the 

 vicinity of the Rangers, and at midnight marched off, leaving a vast 

 quantity of anns and ammunition behind him, which fell into Simcoe's 

 hands. The booty included a 13-inch mortar and 9 brass cannon, 2,500 

 stand of anns, a large quantity of gunpowder and shot, several casks of 

 saltpetre, sulphur and brimstone, 60 hogsheads of rum and brandy, 

 several chests of carpenter's tools, 400 entrenching tools, casks of flints, 

 sail-cloth and wagons, and a great variety of small stores for the equip- 

 ment of cavalry and infantry, besides a large quantity of provisions. 



Simcoe, on the 9th June, was again detached with his cavalry and 

 destroyed 150 barrels of gunpowder and a large quantity of tobacco at 

 Seven Islands, captming, also, a partv of militia. The army, on the 

 13th removed to Richmond, the Rangers forming its rear guard. On 

 the 24th, the army being at New Kent Court House, Simcoe marched 



