 The first was sent from New York City in December 1780 under the command of the turncoat Brigadier General Benedict Arnold.The second was sent from New York in March 1781 under the command of Major General William Phillips to reinforce Arnold after a Franco-American threat.The third detachment to arrive was that of General Cornwallis, who had been active in the Carolinas and, following the Battle of Guilford Court House on March 15, decided to join forces with Arnold and Phillips.