Patrick Henry: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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At Leatherwood, Henry devoted himself to local affairs in the thinly-populated county, and was given seats on the county court (as prominent landowners were) and the parish vestry. He refused to be elected a delegate to Congress, stating that his personal business and past illness made that impossible. When Governor Jefferson sent a note to him in early 1780, Henry replied with gratitude, complaining of his isolation, and wrote of his many concerns about the state of affairs, as the war continued. The freeholders of Henry County soon thereafter sent its [[eponym]] to the House of Delegates. But within weeks, health problems recurred, causing his return to Leatherwood.{{sfn|Mayer|pp=341–342}} While in Richmond (where the capital had been moved) Henry opposed a congressional plan to revalue [[Continental currency]] and impose certain taxes, feeling it would mostly benefit the North. He was successful in defeating it, but once he left Richmond, supporters got the legislature to pass it.{{sfn|Kidd|pp=153–155}} Once he returned home, he was heavily involved in efforts to recruit local volunteers to suppress bands of [[Loyalist (American Revolution)|Loyalists]] who were conducting raids in the frontier area. Henry rode with the troops, though he did not lead them, and they were generally successful in suppressing the resistance. The volunteers were disbanded in September 1780.{{sfn|Kukla|pp=245–247}}

Richmond had been made the capital since it was believed to be less exposed to attack than Williamsburg, but in January 1781, British forces under [[Benedict Arnold]] sailed up the [[James River]] and captured Richmond with little opposition as Henry joined the other legislators and Governor Jefferson in fleeing to [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]]. Although Arnold soon withdrew to Portsmouth, in February, troops under [[Lord Cornwallis]] entered the state from North Carolina as the war, which had for the most part been fought out of state, would have many of its final moves played in Virginia. With Washington's army near New York, Henry sought to recruit soldiers to defend the state, and in March helped draft an angry remonstrance from the House of Delegates to Congress, demanding help. HoweverNevertheless, in May, British forces under Colonel [[Banastre Tarleton]] raided Charlottesville, nearly capturing the Virginia government, which fled to [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]].{{sfn|Kidd|pp=155–158}} There is a story that Henry fled with other prominent leaders, and sought refuge at the home of a woman who initially spurned them as cowards for fleeing Charlottesville. But on learning Henry was with the group, she decided it must be all right, and offered them the best she had.{{sfn|Campbell|p=288}}

Jefferson did not go to Staunton: his term as governor had just expired, but the legislature had not met to hold an election. After the raid, he took refuge at his farm in [[Bedford County, Virginia|Bedford County]], and Virginia had no governor for ten days. A number of legislators complained of Jefferson's actions and called for an inquiry into the conduct of the executive (Jefferson and his council), and Henry was among those who took the lead. The resolution passed, but the inquiry was set for the next session, and the legislature thought better of it.{{sfn|Campbell|pp=289–291}} Jefferson was angered at Henry's actions, and held a grudge that did not abate until well after Henry's death in 1799.{{sfn|Kidd|pp=159–160}}