April 9, 1776

Major General Charles Lee arrived in Williamsburg, Virginia on March 29, 1776. The British-born officer in the Continental Army had left Massachusetts in January. His orders from General George Washington were to “repair to the City of New York,” and “put that City in the best posture of Defence which the Season & Circumstances will admit of,” in case it became the next British target. Delayed by gout, Lee arrived in New York in early February and began making preparations for an attack. 

Then, the Continental Congress decided to send Lee to take command of the northern division of the army in Canada. However, they quickly changed course and instructed him to command the southern division. Instead of heading for Fort Ticonderoga, Lee headed to Williamsburg, another possible target for the British, especially with Lord Dunmore’s fleet of ships cruising Virginia’s waterways. On April 5, 1776, Lee wrote to Washington, “I cannot help perswading myself that their object will be to take possession of Williamsburg—not only from it’s tempting advantageous situation commanding in great measure two fine rivers and a Country abundant in all the necessaries for an army; but the possession of the Capital woud give an air of dignity and decided superiority to their arms.” However, a few weeks after this, Lee headed further south to protect another important port: Charleston, South Carolina.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post
Printed by Benjamin Towne

WILLIAMSBURG, March 29.

This day his Excellency CHARLES LEE, Esq; Major-General in the Continental army, arrived at head quarters in this city, to take the command of the Virginia troops, attended by Otway Byrd and Lewis Morris, Esqrs. his Excellency’s Aids-de-camp, his secretary, Mr. Nourse, Mons. Le Brun, engineer, and the rest of his sute.