This Day in History: March 21

Virginia seems to have taken full advantage of the special opportunity open to her. Ships entered the states rivers at will. For example, on March 21, 1777, the Virginia Gazette reported that a shop from Nantes carrying 30,000 pounds of gunpowder, a brig from St. Eustatia, and a schooner from Curacoa had sailed up the James River. Another brig from Guadaloupe had entered the York River, and yet two more sloops from St. Eustatia and Curacoa were plying the Rappahannock.

Although these arrivals carried varied cargoes, large amounts of ammunition continued to arrive in 1777. [More]