Fluvanna County Virginia USGenWeb Archives History - Books .....Fluvanna County History From Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe 1845
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Alice Warner http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00015.html#0003503 April 2, 2008, 2:18 am

Book Title: Historical Collections Of Virginia By Henry Howe, 1845

Fluvanna, p. 270-271

Fluvanna was formed in 1777, from Albemarle. It is 26 m. long, and 16 wide. The
Rivanna enters it from Albemarle, and flowing SE through the co., divides it
nearly equally. The surface is generally broken, excepting between the James and
the Rivanna, where there is a large tract of barren level land. The soil on the
rivers is good, and that on the James extremely fertile. Gold has been found and
worked near Palmyra. Much tobacco is raised in the county, and of a superior
quality. Pop., whites 4,445, slaves 4,146, free colored 221; total, 8,812.

Palmyra, the county-seat, lies on the Rivanna, 62 miles westerly from Richmond.
It contains about 20 dwellings. Columbia, on the Rivanna, at its junction with
the James, is a village somewhat larger. At the Union Mills, on the Rivanna, in
the NW part of the county, is an extensive cotton factory, situated in the midst
of beautiful mountain and river scenery. 

At the confluence of the two brances of the James, in this county, is a point of
land called the Point of Fork, where, in the latter part of the recolution, a
state arsenal was established, and a large quantity of military stores
collected. When the state was invaded by Cornwallis, Baron Steuben had charge of
this post. When Tarleton was detached to Charlottesville, Lieut.-Col. Simcoe was
sent to destroy the magazines at the Point of Fork, and he was ultimately to be
joined by Tarleton, to assist his intended operations. The following details of
this excursion are from Girardin:

With their accustomed eagerness and activity, the two indefatigable and dreaded
partisans entered upon the execution of their respective tasks. This double
movement rendered Steuben's situation unusually perilous. The extreme difficulty
of obtaining prompt and correct information respecting the British and their
schemes -- the severe precautions which Simcoe took for securing every person
met or seen on his route, effectually concealed his march from the baron. The
latter, however, became apprized of Tarleton's rapid advance. Imagining himself
the immediate object of it, he lost no time in  transporting his stores to the
south side of the Fluvanna, intending himself speedily to follow, with the whole
division under his command. When Simcoe reached the Point of Fork, the American
stores had been removed, and Steuben's detachment had crossed the river, except
about 30 men, then awaiting the return of the boats to embark and join their
friends. These men unavoidably fell into the hands of the British cavalry. The
river was deep and unfordable, and all the boats had been secured on the south
side of it: Simcoe's main object was, therefore, frustrated. Under the
mortification arising from this disappointment, a singular stratagem occurred to
his wily mind. It was to impress the baron with the belief that the troops now
at the Point of Fork were the advance of the British army, ready to overwhelm
him; and thus to work upon his fears so far as to induce him to sacrifice most
of the store which had been transported over the Fluvanna. For this purpose he
encamped on the heights opposite to Steuben's new station, advantageously
displaying his force, and by the number of his fires suggesting a propability of
the main body, headed by Cornwallis, having actually reached the neighborhood.
The baron, who had been informed that the corps under Tarleton threatened his
left now fancied himself in imminent danger. Retreating precipitately during the
night, he marched near 30 miles from the Point of Fork, abandoning to the enemy
such stores as could not be removed. In the morning, Simcoe observing the
success of his stratagem, and wishing to give it still further effect, procured
some small canoes, and sent across the river Capt. Stephenson, with a detachment
of light infantry, and Cornet Wolsey with four hussars. The former was directed
to destroy the stores and arms which the baron had left behind in the hurry and
confusion of his premature retreat; and the latter, to mount his hussars, who
had carried their saddles over with them, on such straggling horses as he was
likely to find, to patrol some miles on the route taken by Steuben -- in short,
to exhibit every appearance of eager and formidable pursuit. Both these orders
were successfully executed. Stephenson performed, without delay or annoyance,
the task of destruction assigned to him; and Wolsey so confirmed the belief of
Steuben that the whole British army was close in his rear, that he accelerated
his march, retiring still further from the river. His object was to resume his
original destination, and join Gen. Greene; but he received fresh orders not to
leave the state, so long as Cornwallis should continue there. On the militia
under Lawson, a similar injunction was laid. British historians have greatly
exaggerated the loss sustained by the Americans at the Point of Fork. Of their
thrasonic accounts, undoubted evidence is in the hands of the author of this
narrative. 

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