The regiment remained some time in custody, and, being afterwards exchanged, the men fit for duty were formed into a small battalion, and, being united with a number of detachments of provincial troops, they were placed under the orders of Colonel Watson, of the foot-guards. They sailed from New York in October, 1780, with a detachment under Major-General the Honorable Alexander Leslie, and landed in Virginia. They were employed in various services there, and early in 1781 they were directed to join the army under Earl Cornwallis. This army attacked the Americans at _Guildford Court House_ on the 15th of March, and gained a victory. After performing much harassing service the troops under Earl Cornwallis took possession of _York Town_ and Gloucester, where they were invested by the combined French and American forces in September. They defended York Town until the works were destroyed by the enemy's batteries, and, when no possibility remained of being able to resist successfully, they surrendered, and the SEVENTEENTH again became prisoners of war, but did not remain long in custody before they were exchanged. [Sidenote: 1782] In 1782 the regiment was stationed in Virginia. On the death of Lieut.-General the Honorable Robert Monckton, King George III. conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Major-General George Morrison, from the seventy-fifth regiment (afterwards disbanded), by commission dated the 29th of May, 1782. In August of this year orders were issued for the regiment to assume the title of the SEVENTEENTH, OR THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT, and to cultivate a connection with that county, which might, at all times, be useful towards recruiting. [Sidenote: 1783] In the early part of 1783 the regiment was stationed at New York. Peace having been concluded with the Americans, the regiment was removed to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, where it was stationed during the years 1784 and 1785. [Sidenote: 1786] Having been relieved from duty in North America, the regiment embarked for England, where it arrived in August, 1786. [Sidenote: 1789] In the year in which the regiment returned to England, a company of merchants, residing in the East Indies, formed a settlement at Nootka Sound,--a bay of the North Pacific Ocean, on the west coast of North America,--with the view of obtaining furs. This settlement was seized by the Spaniards in 1789, and two ships were detained. To chastise this violation of British enterprise and liberty, a fleet was fitted out, and the SEVENTEENTH were embarked to serve as marines, but the subject was settled without hostilities taking place. [Sidenote: 1792] Lieut.-General Morrison was removed to the fourth foot in 1792, and was succeeded in the colonelcy of the SEVENTEENTH regiment by Major-General George Garth, from lieut.-colonel in the first foot-guards. [Sidenote: 1793] [Sidenote: 1796] [Sidenote: 1798]