1To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 30 March[–1 April 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am this moment informed that an express to Mr. Cabarus whom I took the Liberty of introducing to your Notice leaves this for Paris in less than an hour. I seize the Opportunity to give you an Acct. of our present critical Situation. You will recollect that I have mentioned more than once the promise of the Court to furnish as far as three Millions of Reals for the...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 30–31 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The General expressed to me yesterday in such strong terms the great importance of the post at Chesterfield, and urged so strenuously his idea of the necessity of my continuing my superintendance at that place till the march of the new raised troops shall be over, that it was in vain I represented my opinion of the impracticability of discharging my duty towards it, or the fatigue and trouble...
3To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 30 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
J’ai bien reçu l’honneur de votre Lettre du 27e. et vous suis trèsredevable de l’obligeante intention qui vous a engagé à me l’écrire. Je n’ai pu voir encore personne pour savoir ce qui se passe, n’ayant pas trouvé les gens chez eux, et aussi parce que j’ai été indisposé depuis deux jours. Je sortirai ce soir pour tâcher de m’instruire. Si vous allez à Amsterdam, ayez la bonté, Monsieur, de...
4C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 30 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have received the honor of your letter of the 27th and am indebted to you for your obliging intentions which prompted you to write me. I have not been able to see anyone to find out what is going on because no one has been in and also because I have been indisposed for the past two days. I will go out this evening to try to learn something. If you go to Amsterdam, have the kindness, sir, to...
5To John Adams from C. W. F. Dumas, 30 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Copie de Ma Lettre a notre Ami “Selon vos desirs, Monsieur, je vous rends compte de ce qui s’est passé il y a un moment. On m’a reçu très poliment, et tout s’est passé de-même. On m’a prié affectueusement de faire la notification, comme un service que je rendrois. J’ai témoigné le grand regret que j’avois, de ne pouvoir, faute de qualification requise pour le cas, exécuter une commission si...
6C. W. F. Dumas to John Adams: A Translation, 30 March 1781 (Adams Papers)
Copy of my letter to our friend “According to your wishes, sir, I will give you an account of what just passed. I was received very politely and everything proceeded in the same manner. They kindly asked me to provide the service of making the notification. I expressed my great regret of not being qualified in this case to execute such a commission, a commission that would hardly be any...
7General Orders, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Sub, Serjeant, and twenty watermen to be sent immediately to Newburgh to assist Captain Nevins in floating the rafts to and stretching the chain at WestPoint. Also a subaltern officer to be immediately sent to the same place to relieve the Subaltern now on command there. A return to be made of all the oarsmen in the several regiments digested into Brigade returns and sent into the Adjutant...
8From George Washington to Board of War, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 22d instant inclosing the heads of two plans for the incorporation of the departments of Qr Mr General and Commissaries General of purchases and Issues and that of the Commissary of prisoners in some degree, the whole to be under the direction of the Quarter Master General—If there is an absolute necessity for such a reform, I do not hesitate in...
9To George Washington from George Clinton, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
We do ourselves the honor to inclose your Excellency Copy of a Message from his Excellency the Governor with a Copy of the Letter referred to therein. Could the Legislature have afforded immediate Relief, or was there the least prospect of procuring any Provisions of the meat kind in time to prevent the Evils, we should not have troubled you on the occasion: But altho’ we have impowered our...
10To George Washington from Elias Dayton, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By a person from New york 28th inst. it appears the british fleet were then laying at the hook with the troops on board, The enemy have again vissited Elizabeth Town but have gained little by the excurtion as appears by Capt. Scuders letter inclosed—I have also inclosed the New york account of an action between the french & english fleets by which I think it does not appear the english have...
11From George Washington to William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letters of the 29th. The situation of the New York Troops, I am sensible, is indeed distressing—but I am in hopes their distresses will be in some measure alleviated, by an Order which the Dep. Pay Master has just received on the Treasury of the State for money to pay the Troops of its Line—Should this not be productive of releif, I will make representations to Congress,...
12To George Washington from William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of this date—shall communicate to the officers of the New York regiment the case your Excellency has been pleased to take for the relief of the regiment; which I hope will be effectual. I thank your Excellency for your opinion respecting my expences on my journey to this place the last fall. Am sorry that a remedy in the case of expences here does not rest with you: and...
13To George Washington from William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed from Captain Selden, who commands at Stoney-point, came to hand the last evening. Just before the receipt of it, Mr Pine, one of our guides came to my quarters with a Mr Swain of Morrisania. Swain left that place on monday last, about ten o’clock A.M.—he informs me that all intercourse between New York and Morrisania is stopped—no refugee allowed to go in or come out—or any flag...
14From George Washington to Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester Counties Magistrates of Orange, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon the representation of the acting Quarter Master with the Army, that public Teams cannot be furnished to bring forward the provisions necessary for the immediate subsistence of the Troops, that private Ones cannot be procured upon hire, and that application hath been made in vain to the neighbouring Justices for their impress Warrants—I have thought proper to state the circumstances, and...
15To George Washington from Joseph Walker, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to inform you that Major General Parsons is so reduced by his late Moress and at time so far deprived of his reason as makes it impossible for him to transact the Business which your Excellency expected. In the first of his illness he referd the whole business to me in hopes at that time of being able to attend himself in a few days, but I fear he will not this several weeks. A...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Nathaniel Burwell, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Carter’s Grove, James City County, 30 Mch. 1781 . Encloses names of six militia ordered by court martial to serve as regular soldiers for six months and adds: “I expected there would have been more.” Three have already gone off, and if there is no objection, “as there are some circumstances that make in Favor of the other three,” they will be delivered at the prison, “that by being near their...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Call, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Laws of this State rendering it necessary that all purchases of necessaries for the Army should pass through the Hands of the Commercial Agent by whom they may be properly carried into Account, it is impossible for us to take notice of any purchases made by the Continental Staff or other Officers. We furnish the Staff at such Times and in such Proportions as we are able with money, which...
18To Thomas Jefferson from William Churchill, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 26th Instant there was in Middlesex Court a recommendation of Militia Officers to your Excellency in which Majr. Maurice Smith was not recommended as Lt. Colonel according to Seniority but that Capt. Beverley Daniel was nominated in his place which he thinks is not the treatment he deserved as an Officer who has always done his Duty. I can say with truth that when I had the Honour to...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The operations against Portsmouth being now discontinued, œconomy and respect to the rights of our Citizens require that the Horses impressed for that Purpose be returned to their owners. This I know will be a troublesome and expensive undertaking, but it may be effectually done I hope if every Person who impressed is instructed to look out and return all the Horses impressed by himself....
20To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your Excellencys directions about returning the horses and boats which have been impressed for the expedition against Portsmouth. It gives me concern to say that the thing is very impracticable. In the first place there is nothing obligatory upon the impressors to return the horses or Boats and money will not induce them to undertake the business. In the next place, the...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The great demands which are made upon me of late for the purchasing department under my direction, obliges me to beg your Excellency for a Warrant on the Treasury for the sum which is to be appropriated for the purpose of the said department, of the late emission of the Assembly. I have lately received an appointment of Quarter Master for the Troops in Continental service in this state. This...
22From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
THE act of October 1780, For recruiting this state’s quota of troops to serve in the continental army , allowed persons to exempt themselves from certain military duties, by enlisting a soldier after the first day of the ensuing month of April , to serve during the war, and delivering him to a person authorized by the Governour to receive him. Sensible that the burthens of your office are...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William R. Davie, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Besides intrusting Mr. Brown our purchasing Commissary, as I had some Time before done to forward to you Droves of Beeves for the use of the Southern Army, 1 desired him to write you himself precisely what were his prospects and in future to correspond with you on the Subject of furnishing provision, that you might know with Certainty what to expect from this State. He has written the inclosed...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Nathanael Greene, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknowlege the Receipt of your favors of the 16th and 23d instant and to congratulate you on the Effects of the Action of the 15th in which though the field could not be retained yet you have crippled your adversary in such a manner as to oblige him ultimately to retire, which best shows which party was worsted. We have ordered Militia from the Counties stated in the Margin, to releive...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Griffin, James Southall, and Robert Anderson, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to be obliged to give you so much Trouble with the Horses lately impressed for operating against Portsmouth. That plan being now discontinued we have thought that (Economy and Respect to the rights of our Citizens required a restitution of all the Horses to their Owners. But as they may have fallen off or been injured we wish that the whole should be valued by you as they were when...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Huntington, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 30 Mch. 1781 . Encloses ordinance of Congress “relative to the Capture and Condemnation of Prizes, and repealing all former Acts and resolutions” contrary thereto. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 15); 1 p.; at head of text: “Circular.” Enclosure (missing): Ordinance of Congress of 27 Mch. 1781, printed in JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others,...
27From Daniel L. Hylton, with Jefferson’s Instructions to William Davies, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Without place ] 30 Mch. 1781 . Mr. Eppes desires him to inform TJ that “a Gun Smith up the Country will undertake the Cleaning and repairing Arms. He will also get 3 or 4 Men to Assist him provided they are exempt from Military duty.” The arms must be sent up to him. TJ’s instructions follow: “Referred to Colo. Davies; Colo. Muter had the name of this man in a note from me. He lives in...
28To Thomas Jefferson from James Innes, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In the action of the 8th Inst: between a party of the Elizabeth City Militia and a Detachment of the british army under the command of Colo. Dundass, Colo. Curle was made a prisoner. He was taken gallantly leading on a handful of resolute troops to oppose six times their number, notwithstanding such Disparity the Enemy were obliged to abandon the cattle and horses they had collected, and...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Jones, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Captn. George Blackwell is one of the draughts for Northumberland County, which he thinks a great hardship upon him, and as he is a stranger to your Excellency, has prevailed upon me to represent his case to you, hoping thro’ your means to be redressed. He was brought up to the Sea, and since the present disturbances has been Master of several Vessells, and has made several...
30[From Thomas Jefferson to J. P. G. Muhlenberg, 30 March 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 30 Mch. 1781 . On 7 Apr. William Constable, Muhlenberg’s aide-de-camp, writing for Muhlenberg, who was ill, advised Steuben as follows: “The militia begin to be much dissatisfied. Many of their times are out within two days, and ’twill be impossible to detain them longer. The Govrs. letter of the 30th ulto. has been communicated to them promising a speedy relief, but desertion...
31To Thomas Jefferson from Catherine Park, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have now finished the Leather at the Barricks, that was on hand when Mr: Park Died, and has deliver’d near a Thousand Hides to Mr: Marks for the Use of the State. There was two Thousand more Cure’d and Dry’d by Mr: Park, which cou’d not be Tanned for want of Bark. Now is the season to get it, but it is out of my Power, as I have not yet Receiv’d any amolument from the yard at the Barricks....
32From Thomas Jefferson to David Ross, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Being called on for Swords for General Spotswood’s two Legions, and for our Cavalry on Continental establishment, to be procured immediately, You will be so good as to order five hundred to be made at Mr. Hunters. General Spotswood I suppose will chuse to direct the form of those to be made for his Legions. The Residue we would be glad to have made on a model which will be lodged with Mr....
33From Thomas Jefferson to Granville Smith, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 30 Mch. 1781 . This letter is identical in substance with TJ’s letter to Richard Claiborne, same date , q.v., except that it lacks the final paragraph of the letter to Claiborne. Tr ( Vi ); 1 p. FC ( Vi ); printed in Official Letters Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia , ed. H. R. McIlwaine , ii , 443.
34To Thomas Jefferson from George Weedon, 30 March 17[81] (Jefferson Papers)
I mentioned a Mr. Clansmate in my letter of yesterday who I supposed was with the other prisoners. Upon inquiry found he had been sent to Gloster on an alarm that happened four days ago. I have got him back and Now send him up under guard. His Crime has never been reported to me officially. No Doubt your Excellency has had some Accounts of his Conduct. I am with high Esteem yr Excellencies...