On March 26, Arnold was joined by 2,300 troops under command of Major General William Phillips, who took command of the combined forces. Phillips resumed raiding, defeating the militia at Blandford, then burning the tobacco warehouses at Petersburg on April 25. Richmond was about to suffer the same fate, but Lafayette arrived. The British, not wanting to engage in a major battle, withdrew to Petersburg on May 10. thumb|upright=1.15|National Park Service map of the W3R Route On May 20, Charles Cornwallis arrived at Petersburg with 1,500 men after suffering heavy casualties at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. He immediately assumed command, as Phillips had recently died of a fever.Ferling, p. 510 Cornwallis had not received permission to abandon the Carolinas from his superior, Henry Clinton, but he believed that Virginia would be easier to capture, feeling that it would approve of an invading British army.
on march 26 arnold was joined by 2300 troops under command of major general william phillips who took command of the combined forces phillips resumed raiding defeating the militia at blandford then burning the tobacco warehouses at petersburg on april 25 richmond was about to suffer the same fate but lafayette arrived the british not wanting to engage in a major battle withdrew to petersburg on may 10 thumb|upright=115|national park service map of the w3r route on may 20 charles cornwallis arrived at petersburg with 1500 men after suffering heavy casualties at the battle of guilford courthouse he immediately assumed command as phillips had recently died of a feverferling p 510 cornwallis had not received permission to abandon the carolinas from his superior henry clinton but he believed that virginia would be easier to capture feeling that it would approve of an invading british army