1To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, [19 July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
When I had the honor of seeing your Excellency at Richmond I was taught to look forward to much difficulty and a perplexed department, yet I cannot but profess that, in the course of a long and often critical service, it has hitherto never fallen to my lot to witness a scene of such multiplied and increasing wants, as my present command exhibits. Of the Militia voted by your State only 1438...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 21 July 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor of addressing your Excellency yesterday upon a variety of important subjects. One has since arose which may properly fall within your Excellency’s notice. The mark’d lines of the enclosed letter from Baron De Kalb have induced me to order the remains of Buford’s, Gibson’s, and Brent’s Regiments, to join the army under my command, as early as possible. No objection can arise in...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 22 July 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I sent your Excellency a large Packet Yesterday by Captain Pendleton of The Caroline County Militia. He was directed to deliver it to the Stationed Express on Roanoak near Taylors Ferry who had a Written Order from me to set out with it immediately for the next Stage. The Letter for The Congress, Board of War &c., I conclude Your Excellency will forward with the like dispatch. This morning Mr....
4Supplies Required for Gates’ Army, August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
State of North Carolina August 1780. 500 Tents Compleat Intrenching Tools 2000 Barrels Flour *500 Spades 4000 do. Corn *200 Grubbing Hoes 250 do. Rice *100 Common Hoes 50 Hogsheads Rum *200
5To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 3 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not received any Answer to the Letters I had the Honour to write Your Excellency from Hillsborough. Since I Joined the Army upon Deep River my Distress has been inconceivable of which, The inclosed Copy of a Letter of this days Date to Governour Nash will convince Your Excellency. I wish I could say the Supplies from Virginia, had been a reprovall to North Carolina. I am ashamed to say,...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 4 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your several favors of July 19. 21. and 22. are now before me. I have enquired into the state of the Cartouch boxes which were sent from our magazine. The Quarter master assures me they were in very good order. I must therefore conclude that the 300 complained of by Genl. Stevens were some sent from Petersburg by the Continental Quarter master or that they were pillaged of the leather on the...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 15 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Aug. 3. is just now put into my hands. Those formerly received have been duly answered and will no doubt have reached you before this date. My last letter to you was by Colo. Drayton. I spoke fully with you on the difficulty of procuring waggons here when I had the pleasure of seeing you, and for that reason pressed the sending back as many as possible. One brigade of twelve has...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 30 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Pacquets for Congress and General Washington I send with flying Seals that you may peruse them; but I must request they may not be delayed; but sent forward with the utmost Dispatch to Philadelphia. Your Excellency will please to be careful to put the proper papers to each; in the right Cover, and Seal only the Cover you send them in to Congress. The Requisition addressed to Your...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 3 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am extremely mortifyed at the Misfortune incurred in the South and the more so as the Militia of our State concurred so eminently in producing it. We have sent from Chesterfield a week ago 350 regulars, 50 more march tomorrow, and there will be 100, or 150 still to go thence as fast as they come out of the Hospital. Our new recruits begin to rendezvous about the 10th: inst. and may all be...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 5 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been under the Necessity of drawing on your State Payable to Col: Thomas Polk for the Purpose of purchasing Provisions for the Army in the District of Mecklenberg and Roan [Rowan] Counties, for One Hundred Thousand Pounds Lawful Money of your State in one Bill Dated the 14th Ultimo, and also on the 11th. of same Month I drew on you for 150,000 in two Bills, one for 54,712. Pounds the...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 9 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Intelligence of a very particular sort is Just arrived from Camden, by a person in whom we can confide; and no doubt remains, but that he may have been imposed upon by a Finesse of the Enemy. Since then, Two Deserters from the Enemys 23 Regiment, came in, in a manner confirm the Intelligence. It is as Follows. That Lord Cornwallis is going immediately to Embarque his Main Force at George Town...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 11 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your bill for £54,712 in favor of Mallett has been duly honoured. That for £95,288 we shall also discharge. Another bill (which being delivered back to be presented at the end of the ten days, I cannot recollect either the name of the holder or the sum) has been accepted. We are now without one shilling in the treasury or a possibility of having it recruited till the meeting of the Assembly...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 14 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am Honored with the receipt of Your Excellencys Letter Dated the 3d: Inst: and pleased to find from thence that Virginia is so Zealous, and Spirited, in Her Exertions against the Common Enemy. In my Letter to Congress of the 20th: Ult: I acquainted them with the necessity of sending a very Considerable Supply of Arms to this Department, as all the Militia had been Furnished with were thrown...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 20 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Examination of one of Your Militia , who was wounded, and Taken, in the Action of the 16th. Ulto.; and the Copy of a Letter from Colonel Marian, of So. Carolina, also under Cover of this Letter, will partly certainly acquaint Your Excellency, with the Circumstances of the Enemys Force in and about Camden. Had I now Fifteen Hundred Continental Troops, with Shoes, Blankets, and...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 23 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have empowered Colo. Carrington to have twelve Boats, Scows or Batteaux built at Taylors Ferry and to draw on me for the cost. I recommended the constructing them so as to answer the transportation of Provisions along that river, as a change of position of the two Armies may render them unnecessary at Taylors Ferry, and I am thoroughly persuaded that unless we can find out some Channel of...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 24 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The receipt of my Four last Letters to Your Excellency remains unacknowledged. I believe the Station’d Expresses purposely avoid each other. The Accounts I receive from the Westward and Southward, Vary in Nothing from that which I last sent Your Excellency, in the Examination of William Allmond : but the moment Lord Cornwallis has his Instructions from Sir Harry Clinton, I expect the Campaign...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 27 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed is a Copy of a Letter I received Yesterday Afternoon by Colonel Senf, it deserves immediate Notice, and Attention, for unless the Troops, when they are assembled and Equip’d are enabled to march forward, it will cause a most injurious Delay to the Public Service. If Bills at Sixty Days sight, upon the Treasuries of Virga. and Maryland will supply the necessary and unavoidable Expences...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 3 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inclose to Your Excellency Three Letters from Generals Sumner and Davidson, Commanding the No. Carolina Militia to the Westward. Contrary to my Express Orders Colo. Polk Commissary at Charlotte, collected 1500 or 2000 Bushels of Grain to his Mill there—a Bait I knew the Enemy would catch at, and repeatedly cautioned him against it, directing him never to have more than two...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 4 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
My Letter of Sept. 23d. answered your favours received before that date, and the present serves to acknowledge the receipt of those of Sept. 24th and 27th. I retain in mind and recur almost daily to your Requisitions of August; We have as yet no prospect of more than one hundred Tents. Flour is ordered to be manufactured as soon as the Season will render it safe, out of which I trust we can...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 5 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing my last Letter to your Excellency I have received the inclosed from Genl. Sumner , whose Camp is at Macgoens Creek one Mile from the ford of the Yadkin. I send my Letter to the President of Congress under a flying Seal that you may peruse it. I beg that with all the Letters and papers, I now send your Excellency may be as soon as possible dispatched to Congress. I am Sir your...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 6 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Forty of your 18 Months Men from Bottetourt County Arrived in this Camp Yesterday, they are intirely unequiped, and unprovided, with every thing that is necessary for the Service they are intended to perform, and for the Term they are engaged to serve. I must beg Sir this may be Seriously consider’d by the Executive, whom I must request, will not send any Men into the Field, or even to this...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 9 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
As we are much Distress’d for Carriages to Transport Provisions and Stores for this Army; I must beg Leave to request, Your Excellency, will prevail upon the Executive of Virginia to Order a Brigade of Ten Waggons from each of the Neighbouring Counties of this State from Mecklinbourg < Hallifax, Pittsylvania, & Henry > North Westward to Transport Stores, and provisions < from Taylors Ferry to...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 12 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
This Instant I received The Great and Glorious News, contained in the inclosed Letter from Brig: Gen: Davidson to Gen: Sumner, who directly dispatched it me by Express. We are now more than even with the Enemy. The moment the Shoes &c. for the Troops here, arrives from Taylors Ferry, I shall proceed with the Whole to the Yadkin. General Smallwood, and Col. Morgan, are on their way to that...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 14 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have read and attentively considered Your Excellencys Letters of the 23d Ult:, and 4th. Instant and Lest Congress, or the Board of War, should conceive Greater Supplies for the Southern Army, can be furnished by your State than it is in their Power, or Abillity, to give, I have sent The President by this conveyance, Exact Copies of Your Excellencys Two letters to me, that no Plea of not...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 15 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am rendered not a little anxious by the Paragraph of yours of the 7th. Inst: wherein you say ‘it is near a Month since I received any Letter from your Excellency; indeed the receipt of most that I have wrote to you remain unacknowledged.’ You ought within that time to have received my Letter of September 3d. written immediately on my return to this place after a fortnights Absence; That of...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 18 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed I send Your Excellency my dispatch of this [Date?] to the President of Congress under a flying Seal for your Persual. I must entreat you to forward it with all its contents, directly by Express to Philadelphia. If the News from General Fleming is Confirmed I think A Speedy recovery of South Carolina and Georgia must be the Consequence, but we are so often disappointed in Reports that...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 20 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote Your Excellency the 18th. which was sent from hence By Express, on the Evening of that Day, and would proceed to Taylor’s Ferry, as Mr. Cooper the Stationed Express at Harrisbourg, was, at the Same Time on his Way to this place; the Latter arrived here Yesterday about One oClock A.M. and brought me Your Excellency’s Letter of the 15th. Inst. This Letter, came in Time, which was not the...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Horatio Gates, 21 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Hillsborough, 21 Oct. 1780. The bearer, Mr. Thompson, has a bill from Col. Polk on TJ for £100,000 in lieu of the bill Mr. Ochiltree had with him when he stayed in Charlotte with the enemy. Ochiltree’s bill will be canceled. Thompson is anxious for payment. Dft ( NHi ); 1 p. Tr ( DLC ) of Dft .
29From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 22 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Letters which accompany this will inform you of the Arrival of a large fleet of the Enemy within our Capes, and that they have begun their Debarkation. We are taking Measures to collect a Body to oppose them; for which purpose it seems necessary to retain such Regulars Volunteers and Militia as have not yet gone on to you. We have left the Counties of Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Halifax, and...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Horatio Gates, 28 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters of the 14th, 20th, and 21st are come to hand, and your dispatches to Congress have been regularly forwarded. I shall attend to the caveat against Mr. Ochiltree’s bill. Your Letter to Colo. Senf remains still in my hand as it did not come till the enemy had taken possession of the ground on which I know him to have been, and I have since no certain information where a Letter might...