The Green Bag
680
it might be better to discharge them, and
that Col. Wilson’s opinion was that re
wait the coming of the Housemond militia,
moval of such families as were in league with the insurgents was absolutely
when I trusted something might be done: but of those men I can hear no tidings; and unless they or some other better men do come, it will be out of my power to effect any thing with the militia of this county; for such is their cowardly disposition, joined to
their disaffection,
that
scarce
a
necessary. The Executive, admitting his own in ability to cope successfully with the situa tion, continues: “But thinking the execu
man,
without being forced, can be raised to go after the outlaws. We have lost Capt. Wilson since his return. Having some private business
tive power not competent for such a purpose, he submitted the entire matter to the General Assembly, as he deemed
at a neighbor's, within a mile of his own
it his duty to do so.”
house, he was fired on by four men concealed
This letter was sent to the House on
in the house, and wounded in such a manner
the 27th day of May, 1778, and was immediately referred to a Committee of
that he died in a few hours; and this will surely be the fate of a few others, if their request of the removal of the relations and friends of those villains be not granted, which I am again pressed to solicit for, and in which case neither assistance, pay, nor plunder,
is
expected;
conceiving
that
to
distress their supporters is the only means by which we can rout those wretches from us, and thereby establish peace and security to ourselves and families, etc.
the Whole House on the State of the Commonwealth. This committee was at once formed; but not having the time to consider the subject, had leave to again sit. The next day, the House
resolved itself into a committee of the whole and, after some time, the Speaker resumed the chair, Mr. Carter reporting
Upon the receipt of this, seeing the
on the subject of Phillips, as follows:—
gravity of the situation, Governor Henry immediately enclosed Col. Wilson's letter
Information being received, that a certain Phillips, with divers others, his associates and
to the House of Delegates, with the fol lowing communication: that though he was unwilling to trouble the General
Assembly with matters which seemed of little consequence, yet, in view of the insurrection which prevailed in Princess
Annei‘and Norfolk counties and the seri ous nature of the then existing state of affairs in this section of the common
wealthixhe thought it should be brought to their attention. That, from time to time, he had given orders to the com manding officers to draw from the militia
a force suflicient to quell these disturb ances, but that such oflicers had com plained of the non-support and dis affection both of their own men and the
confederates, have levied war against this commonwealth within the counties of Norfolk and
Princess
Anne,
committing
murders,
burning houses, wasting farms, and doing other acts of enormity, in defiance of the officers of justice— Resolved, That in the opinion of this committee, if the said . . . Phillips, his associates and confederates, do not render themselves to some oflioer, civil or military, within this commonwealth, on or before . . . day of June, in this present year, such of them as fail so to do, ought to be anointed of high treason; and that, in the meantime, and before such render, it shall be lawful for any person, with or without orders, to pursue and slay, or otherwise to take and deliver to justice, the said . . . Phillips, his associates and confederates.
That
On the same day, pursuant to a reso
he had ordered one hundred men to be drawn from the Housemond militia, but their total want of discipline had ren dered all efforts unavailing; furthermore,
lution to that effect, Mr. Jefferson, Mr.
inhabitants of the neighborhood.
Smith and Mr. Tyler were appointed and did bring in a bill, which was read for the first time. On the two succeeding
