To the roster of "Virginia" units fighting in the South might be added Col.
William Washington's dragoons and Harry Lee's Legion which were filled out by
regulars from other states as well as Virgininians - Lee in particular with
Delaware Continentals. Neither were at Charleston.

The fall of Charleston was arguably the greatest military disaster suffered
by the Americans during the war. Not only were both the Virginia and North
Carolina Continental Lines eliminated as organizations, growing anti-war
sentiment in England was blunted by the news of this major British victory.
It is interesting that it was the much maligned militia the filled much of
the gap and consumed so much of Cornwallis' valuable effort, men, supplies,
and time. (Along with a collection of "regular" Continental troops including
the under appreciated Maryland Continentals.)

Bill Russell

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