MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM PHILLIPS. 105 
The last promotion of Major-General Phillips was that of Lieut.- 
Colonel in the Regiment, bearing date 6th July, 1780. 
In 1781, Major-General Phillips was attached to the Army, under 
Lieut.-General Sir Henry Clinton at New York, and proceeded with 
2000 men, the elité of the Army under his command, on the 20th 
March at Rhode Island, to prevent the French troops sailing for the 
Chesapeake. The troops were frequently engaged both with the enemy 
on land and the shipping, but in May following the General was seized 
with a fever, which deprived the Army of his abilities, although he 
continued to travel with it. Unfortunately for his army, General 
Phillips’ disorder proved too strong for the power of art to remove, 
and he breathed his last at Petersburg the 13th May, 1781. 
In him the King and his nation lost a most excellent officer. 
