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CHAPTER TEN

THE RISING RIVERS

“The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands,” Deuteronomy 28:12.

In January, 1781, the American army was trying to outrun the large British army. The American army crossed the Catawba River just two hours before the British reached its banks. The British were so confident they would soon capture the Americans that they decided to spend the night before crossing. That night, God providentially sent a heavy rain to fill the river channel and to prevent the British troops from capturing the Americans. Twice more in the next ten days, the British nearly overtook the American Army.

On February 3, the British reached the Yadkin River in North Carolina just as the Americans were landing on the eastern slopes. Before Cornwallis could cross, a sudden flood cut off the British troops again! On February 13, the Americans reached the Daniel River that would lead them into friendly Virginia territory. They crossed, and a few hours later when Cornwallis arrived, rising waters once again stopped him from defeating the American Army. Clinton, the commander-in-chief of Cornwallis’ army wrote: “...here the royal army was again stopped by a sudden rise of the water, which had only just fallen, to let the enemy over, who could not else have eluded Lord Cornwallis’ grip, so close was he upon their rear...”⁶⁰ (⁶⁰Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.166.)

In October, 1781, George Washington marched his troops from New York to Yorktown, Virginia. This was where Lord Cornwallis had his troops stationed while he waited for reinforcements. Before the British fleet could give Cornwallis his reinforcements, a French fleet arrived and defeated the British. If the French had come just a little later, the reinforcements would have already been delivered. Since the British now had no reinforcements, Cornwallis decided to cross the York River. On October 17, at about 10 P.M., 16 large barges were loaded with troops and headed across. Later Cornwallis wrote, “...at this critical moment, the weather from being moderate and calm, changed to a violent storm of wind and rain, and drove all the boats, some of which had troops onboard, down the river.”

Later that day, he surrendered his forces to General Washington. This essentially marked the end of the war. The next day, Washington gave this order to his troops. “...The commander-in-chief recommends that the troops... reflect on the astonishing providential care that was given to us yesterday, by going to church and being filled with gratitude.”⁶¹ (⁶¹Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, pp.166,167.)

Study Guide

Chapter Ten

1. How did God providentially prevent Cornwallis from cutting off the retreat of the small American army at the Catawba River?

2. How did God providentially prevent Cornwallis from cutting off the retreat of the small American army at the Yadkin River?

3. How did God providentially prevent Cornwallis from cutting off the retreat of the small American army at the Daniel River?

4. How did God providentially prevent Cornwallis from retreating at the York River? Be careful with this answer.

5. According to Deuteronomy 28:13, who controls the weather?