Incidents continued between Whigs on one side and Tories on the other until October, when Dunmore had acquired enough military support to begin operations, and the rebellious Whigs had accumulated a significant body of men at Williamsburg. General Thomas Gage, the British commander-in-chief for North America, had ordered small detachments of the 14th Regiment of Foot to Virginia in response to pleas by Dunmore for military help.
Incidents persisted between the opposing groups until October, when Dunmore had obtained sufficient military backing to start a campaign, and the disloyal Federalists had accumulated a considerable force at Williamsburg. General Thomas Gage, the British commander-in-chief for North America, dispatched small units of the 14th Regiment of Foot to Virginia in response to Dunmore's pleas for help.