Tarlton, after destroying the stores at Charlottesville, proceeded down the Rivanna to the Point of Fork.
[Footnote 76: Seven fell into the hands of Tarlton.] The detachment commanded by Simcoe, being composed chiefly of infantry, could not move with equal celerity.

That officer, however, conducted his march with so much secrecy and address, that Steuben seems to have been either unapprized of his approach, or to have had no accurate information of his numbers.

Intelligence of the expedition to Charlottesville had reached him, and he had prudently employed himself in removing his stores from the Point of Fork to the south side of the Fluvanna.
The river was at the time unfordable; and the boats were all secured on the southern bank.

Yet Steuben, suspecting the detachment of Simcoe to be the van of the British army, or apprehending that Tarlton might get into his rear, withdrew precipitately in the night, and marched near thirty miles, leaving behind him such stores as could not be removed.

These were destroyed next morning by a small detachment of men who crossed the river in a few canoes.
[Sidenote: Presses Lafayette over the Rapidan.] To secure his junction with Wayne, and to keep open his communication towards the north, Lafayette had crossed the Rapidan.
[Sidenote: Lafayette forms a junction with Wayne.] These movements of the two armies had thrown Lord Cornwallis between Lafayette and the military stores which had been transported from Richmond up James' River, and deposited at different places, but principally at Albemarle old court house, high up that river.