Raid on Richmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Richmond
Part of the American Revolutionary War
British map of the attack on Richmond, January 5th 1781
Date 1–19 January 1781 Location present-day Richmond, Virginia, and the surrounding area Result British victory Severe damage done to Richmond
Belligerents
United States	Great Britain
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Jefferson Sampson Mathews	Sir Henry Clinton Benedict Arnold John Graves Simcoe
Strength
Around 200 Virginia Militiamen	1,600 troops of the Loyalist American Legion
Casualties and losses
Unknown, presumably heavy	Unknown, possibly medium

The Raid on Richmond was a series of attacks by the British during the American Revolutionary War. These attacks targeted Richmond, which was the capital of Virginia. The raids also hit the areas around Richmond. A famous American general named Benedict Arnold led these attacks. He had switched sides to join the British. This raid was one of his most well-known actions for the British.

Why the Raid Happened

The British wanted to gain an advantage in the southern part of the war. Sir Henry Clinton, a British general, hoped that sending an American-born leader like Benedict Arnold would encourage more Loyalists to join the British side. Loyalists were American colonists who stayed loyal to Great Britain.

Before the raid, Thomas Jefferson was the Governor of Virginia. He had moved Virginia's capital from Williamsburg to Richmond. Richmond was chosen because it was in a central location and easy to defend. Jefferson also moved the city's military supplies to a foundry, which was a place where metal was melted and shaped, about five miles outside Richmond. He did not know how big the coming attack would be.

Arnold's Attack on Richmond

From January 1st to 3rd, 1781, Arnold's ships sailed up the James River. They destroyed farms and small towns along the way. On January 4th, the British reached Westover Plantation. Here, they got ready for the attack on Richmond. Arnold and his soldiers then marched on foot towards the city.

The next day, January 5th, Arnold's force arrived at Richmond. His soldiers were Loyalists, meaning they supported the British. They wore green coats and included infantry, dragoons (soldiers on horseback), and artillery. Richmond was defended by only about 200 militiamen. Many Virginia militiamen had not shown up to defend their capital. They felt their duty was over after serving their time.

The Militia's Retreat

When the British saw the small group of militiamen, Colonel John Graves Simcoe ordered some soldiers to face them. The militiamen fired a weak volley of shots. Then, they quickly ran into the woods. The Loyalist soldiers chased after them.

Governor Jefferson saw his militiamen scatter. He realized there was no way to defend Richmond. He quickly ordered most military supplies to be moved out of the city. Then, he and his family, along with other government officials, quickly left in his carriage.

British Takeover of Richmond

Around noon, Arnold's forces marched into the city without any resistance. An eyewitness said they were "undisturbed by even a single shot." Arnold set up his headquarters at the City Tavern on Main Street. He stayed in Richmond for only one day.

From there, Arnold wrote a letter to Jefferson. He offered to leave Richmond unharmed if Jefferson would move the city's tobacco and military weapons to his ships. Jefferson was very angry. He refused to let a "turncoat" like Arnold touch Richmond's supplies.

Richmond is Burned

Arnold received Jefferson's angry letter the next day, January 6th. He became furious. Arnold then ordered his troops to set Richmond on fire. British soldiers began to destroy the city. They burned government buildings and private homes. They also stole valuables and supplies. A strong wind helped the flames spread, causing even more damage.

After much of Richmond was burned and looted, Arnold led his forces outside the city. They went to the Westham cannon foundry, which held many weapons. They burned it down too. After destroying the foundry, the British moved to the port town of Warwick. This town was across the James River. There, they continued their destruction, burning homes and looting buildings.

The Chase and Retreat

When Jefferson heard about Richmond's destruction, he was shocked. Arnold's British force had entered Virginia's capital without opposition. They had ruined it. The Governor called his friend, Sampson Mathews. Mathews was a Colonel in the Virginia militia. Jefferson ordered him to attack Arnold's forces. Mathews gathered about 200 militiamen. They quickly set out to catch Arnold's slow-moving army near Richmond.

Mathews' forces faced bad weather and sickness. Some soldiers also refused to follow orders. Despite these problems, they eventually caught up with Arnold's army. They attacked by surprise. The militiamen used clever tactics, similar to those used by American commander Nathanael Greene. They managed to cause many injuries to Arnold's army. Over the next few days, the British numbers were reduced by several small fights around Richmond and the James River.

Arnold eventually decided that these fights were too serious. He ordered his army to retreat to Portsmouth. There, they would build defenses and wait for more soldiers.

Burning Plantations on the Retreat

The British army quickly moved down the James River. They burned more farms and homes as they went. Mathews' militiamen continued to chase them. One of the farms Arnold's men burned was Berkeley Plantation. This was the home of Benjamin Harrison V, a Founding Father. Harrison was doing his daily tasks when he saw the British approaching his home. He quickly told his wife and children, and they escaped in a carriage.

Arnold knew that Berkeley belonged to Harrison. He saw Harrison as a traitor to Great Britain. Arnold wanted to punish him. All of the Harrison family's portraits and artwork were taken outside. Forty of Harrison's enslaved people were also taken. However, Arnold spared Harrison's main house and other buildings. He believed the British would soon win the war. He wanted a grand plantation to live in after the war. The only original portrait of Harrison that survived was a small one around his wife's neck. She wore it as she fled from the British.

End of the Raid

On January 19th, the Richmond Campaign ended. Benedict Arnold's tired troops reached Portsmouth. They had been through a difficult journey. Local Loyalists and Arnold's commanders praised him as a hero. On the same day, General William Phillips arrived. He brought 2,000 fresh troops to help Arnold. Phillips also took command of Portsmouth's defenses. The days of fighting had ended, but they would be remembered as some of Benedict Arnold's most successful moments.

What Happened Next

The destruction of Richmond made many Americans very angry. Richmond was an important city in the new United States. George Washington was so upset by the damage that he offered a large reward of 5,000 guineas for Arnold's capture. He also told his aide, the Marquis de Lafayette, to hang Arnold if he met him in battle. American sharpshooters even practiced shooting at targets painted to look like Benedict Arnold.

The British, however, saw Arnold's victory at Richmond as a turning point. It gave them hope that Loyalists would rise up and help them defeat the Americans in the South. Many enslaved people were freed from the raided farms and from Richmond itself. Many of them then joined the British Army in exchange for their freedom. After Arnold's first raid, more smaller raids followed. British commanders like William Phillips and Banastre Tarleton copied Arnold's methods. They raided and burned more towns and attacked American soldiers. Benedict Arnold, who was once a brilliant general for the American army, had now proven his worth to the British with the Richmond Campaign.