good a retreat; and escaped the net Cornwallis had prepared for him, with
such confident hopes of success. He directed his course northward; and soon
effected a junction with General Wayne, who had been ordered to reinforce
him with eight hundred men of the Pennsylvania line.

The Light Infantry under Lafayette were chiefly eastern troops, who had
great objections to a southern climate, and many deserted. In this critical
situation, the Marquis adopted the following expedient. He gave out that an
expedition of great difficulty and danger was to be soon undertaken; and
appealing to the generous feelings of his soldiers, he expressed a hope
that they would not forsake him. If, however, any were desirous of
returning to their regiments, he said, they should have permission. The
effect was as he had hoped. The troops had too much honor and pride to
desert their brave commander in such an exigency.

About this time, the main army of the British under Cornwallis, had taken
the precaution to cut off the direct communication between the American
troops and their stores, lately removed from Richmond to Albemarle. The
Marquis Lafayette, however, recrossing the Rappahannock, by forced marches,
arrived within a few miles of the British, when they were yet two days
march from Albemarle Courthouse; and opening in the night a nearer road,
which had been long disused, appeared the following, lay, greatly to the
surprise of Cornwallis, between the British army and the continental
stores. Thus disappointed in his plan of possessing the American stores,
the British commander retired to Williamsburg. The Marquis followed the
enemy at a prudent distance; and was soon so fortunate as to form a
junction with the Baron Steuben, who had been detached into that quarter,
to protect the public stores and assist in the general defence of the
country. The British forces, many of which consisted of cavalry, were than
very formidable in Virginia.