1To Thomas Jefferson from James Callaway, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am Extreemly Sorry to inform you that in place of the three Hundred and eighty four Militia, Requested by your Excellency to be sent from this County to the Assistance of General Green, I have only been able to send out One Hundred and thirty some Odd men, Exclusive Officers, Notwithstanding the Utmost exertion has been Used. The Extreem Busy Season of the Year, among the Common People,...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Powhatan, Chesterfield, Prince George, and Dinwiddie, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased to order all Cattle and Horses which may at any Time be within twenty Miles of the Enemys Camp to be removed beyond that Distance excepting only such Horses as are unfit either for Cavalry or Artillery. Should the Owners not perform this Order within such short and reasonable Time as you shall prescribe, you will be pleased to order out proper Officers and men of your...
3From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Goochland and Henrico, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Should the Marquis Fayette give you Notice at any Time that there is Reason to apprehend the Enemy will cross James River, you will be pleased to order all Cattle and Horses which may be within twenty Miles wherever they shall at any Time be to be removed [&c. as in the Letter to Powhatan.] I am &c., FC ( Vi ). Brackets supplied; for remainder of text see preceding letter.
4From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Hanover and New Kent, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Whenever the Honble. Major Genl. Marquis La Fayette shall think it necessary and shall so inform you, you will be pleased to have collected all the Boats and other smaller vessels, whether Public or Private, on Pamunkey either on or opposite to the Shore of your County and to have them carried to such Places as he shall direct. I am &c., FC ( Vi ).
5From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Harrison, Jr., 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Council some Time ago came to a Resolution that they would advance Money for the Pay of the Virginia Continental Troops but for no others. It is therefore not in my power to say that any Money shall be advanced you out of the Treasury for the Payment of any other Troops. I suppose them in this Instance not liable to Imputation till a precedent can be produced where the Troops of one State...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Lawson, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your favor by Mr. Archer and will lay the recommendations before Council as soon as they shall assemble. When that will be I cannot precisely say, there being at present five members only and they much dispersed. In the mean time from what passed on the former occasion (as I mentioned to you in my Letter from Colo. Skipwith’s ) I think you may safely call the gentlemen...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Matthew Pope, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I got the favor of Colo. Senf to be the Bearer of a note to Colo. Davies or in his absence to any person having the Packages in his hand to have them opened and the Articles you desire taken out and sent to you in a Cart or Waggon. Necessity is Law, in times of war most especially. You will therefore take possession of any church, barn or other vacant house or houses convenient and necessary...
8From Thomas Jefferson to David Ross, 21 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As there will be wanting a very considerable number of Saddles, Bridles, Boots and other Accoutrements immediately, I shall be obliged to you if you will be so good as to employ as many Shops as you can in preparing them. There will be no Danger of having too many made before I shall receive such Returns as will enable me to fix the numbers. I am &c., FC ( Vi ).
9William Lewis to James Maxwell, 22 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of 20th I got yesterday after the boat past, and shoud have Answered it by the boat. The vessels are all in want of Powder Match Rope and Carterage paper and Grape shot (Except my own Vessel). There is a Waggon here with those Articles but I have not a line concerning them nither do I know what is to be done with them after to day we shall have no provisions. I wish the Governor would...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the Rev. James Madison and Robert Andrews, 22 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received a Letter from President Reid acknowledging the Receipt of mine on the subject of running our joint Boundary, deferring answering the particulars respecting the mode of running the line till he can confer with their Commissioners on the subject and in the mean time proposing as the season is fast advancing that your meeting shall be on the 12th. of June. I have informed him...
11From Thomas Jefferson to Joseph Reed, 22 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 6th Inst. came to Hand Yesterday. The Movements of the Enemy since I did myself the Honor of writing to your Excellency on the Subject of our joint Boundary having rendered it necessary in the Opinion of the General Assembly for them to adjourn to this Place, the Executive have of Course come hither for a Time. This has placed us at a great Distance from Mr....
12To Thomas Jefferson from the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 22 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Nicholson we presume will communicate to your Excellency or his principal the State of the business committed to his care. He has we believe been greatly embarrass’d for want of money, and it has not been in our power to afford him assistance, although our endeavours have been exerted for the purpose. The Chevr. Luzerne has received within a few days past Dispatches from his Court. The...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 23 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 18th and 19th inst. came to hand yesterday. Experience has for some time past convinced the Council that as the mode of acquiring waggons, horses &c. by Impress is the most irritating, so it is the most expensive which can be adopted. They therefore have generally meant to discontinue Impresses and to have purchases made wherever a delay can be admitted. And indeed it is...
14To Thomas Jefferson from George Rogers Clark, 23 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
A few days past I Receivd despatches from the Illinois-Kantuck &c. of a late date. I am sorry to Inform your Excellency that near 100000 ℔ of Beef at the Kantucky is Spoilt by the persons who Engag’d to procure it. About the same Quantity on hand Excellent good and 250 Head of Cattle promis’d by the inhabitants. The Indians have done considerable damage there. The Enclosd copies are all that...
15To Thomas Jefferson from David Ross, 23 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just now favoured with your Letter of the 21st . I expected the waggons would have come to this place in consequence of what your Excellency mentioned to me, and the instructions which I had lodged at Fredericksburg for the Waggoners. Orders had been given by the Baron to deliver the Arms at the barracks, other orders to deliver them at the Town, and lastly to deliver them at the old...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Huntington, 24 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 24 May 1781 . Encloses the following resolves of Congress of 22 May, and expects “the Necessity as well as the Importance of those Measures will have a suitable Impression upon the States universally, and excite them to a vigorous and punctual Compliance”: (1) “That the whole Debts already due by the united States be liquidated as soon as may be to their Specie Value, and funded,...
17[To Thomas Jefferson from the Continental Board of War, 25 May 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Philadelphia, 25 May 1781 . Extract of a letter from Col. William Fleming to Benjamin Harrison, Staunton, 7 June 1781 ( Official Letters , iii , 1): “I … take the liberty through you Sir of communicating a letter from the board of war of the 25th of May with a resolve of Congress of the 23d directing the removal of the Convention prisoners out of this State and requesting the necessary...
18From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 25 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received a letter from Baron Steuben informing me that at the date of it (the 23d) he was on his way to the old Court house to fit the new recruits for the feild, and supposing it might be in your power to aid them with some articles necessary for them. If any thing can be done by the state in this way I think it will be of essential good, as, wherever these recruits are to be...
19To Thomas Jefferson from William Grayson, 25 May 1781 [document added in digital edition] (Jefferson Papers)
The Board have the Honor of acknowledging the Receipt of your Letter of the 23d of April; This, with Colo. Woods Letter on the same subject was referred to the Consideration of Congress, who came to the Resolution of which the enclosed is a Copy; The Board have since determined to remove the non Commissioned Officers & Soldiers of the Convention Troops, as soon as possible, to Rutland in...
20To Thomas Jefferson from John Nelson, 25 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The reduced Situation of my Corps has inducd the Marquis to order me to this Place, for the Purpose of recruiting the Horses, and geting equiped as fast as possible; to expedite which, Capt. Read will wait upon your Excellency with a State of our Wants to obtain Orders for what is necessary. When I had the Honor to see your Excellency at Wilton, you told me I should be furnished with what we...
21From Thomas Jefferson to David Ross, 25 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Clothing which came here from Philadelphia is ordered to the Point of Fork in the Waggons which brought it. The other Waggons also proceed there. The Baron Steuben has written to me on the Subject of having the New Levies immediately equipped which I think with him to be very important. You will please to provide for them such articles as he shall inform you are wanting. According to the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 26 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The returns of the Men serving from the different Counties I have not yett been able to obtain, as soon as they are made out, I shall have the honor of inclosing them. By Genl. Lawson’s letter herewith sent your Excellency will learn the small progress He has made; request to have the letter returned. Baron de Steuben informs me that only two men had been imployed in repairing the damaged...
23To Thomas Jefferson from David Ross, Enclosing a Letter from James Maury, 26 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just now received the inclosed letter from Mr. James Maury which I send for your perusal. Any thing that you think in my power to do for him I will Chearfully perform it. Agreable to your desire I furnished him with every thing I thought necessary for his embarking and instructed him to take a passage from the E. Shore if he found any inconvenience in going from Hampton. The Money he...
24From Thomas Jefferson to David Ross, 26 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am exceedingly at a Loss to judge whether it be better to try the Method of Application to the new Commanding Officer for a Passport and run the Risk of losing another Month or two, or to pursue the former plan of applying immediately to Charlestown. With Respect to myself however I can more easily determine that the sending to Charlestown having had the Approbation of Council and having a...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Francis Taylor, 26 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you the 16 Instant, that a Board of Officers, who were ordered by Colo. Wood to enquire into the titles of the Soldiers to discharges, had sat, and were of opinion that nearly all of the men were entitled to discharges from their removal from Albemarle Barracks. They have since been discharged, and a small Militia Guard is now on duty at the Barracks near this place. The small number...
26Samuel Patteson to William Davies, 27 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to your Instructions I have sent on four hundred stand of arms. The Waggon that brought your Marque to Colo. Lewis’s went off before I received your Letter which was this morning. Carver lost two of his horses last night, however, Mr. Southall procured Waggons for the purpose. Your Marque I have paid particular attention to. I have reserved six shirts, one I believe Colo. St[arke]...
27From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Washington and Certain Other Counties, 28 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Lord Cornwallis from Carolina and a Reinforcement of 2000 Men from New York having joined the hostile Army which was before here and crossed James River renders it necessary for us to bring a very great Force into the Field. As I have reason to believe you have not sent the whole Number ordered to the Southward by my Letter of You will now be pleased to send under proper Officers whatever...
28From Thomas Jefferson to James Hunter, 28 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I formerly desired Mr. Ross to write to you for five hundred horsemen’s Swords made on the Model of the one lodged with you (I believe) by order of Colo. Washington. I must now desire you will add five hundred more to that Number and urge you in the strongest Terms to employ every hand you possibly can in making them; also to let me know what number are ready and how many we may expect by the...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Huntington, 28 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Charlottesville, 28 May 1781 . This letter is virtually identical with the first part of TJ’s letter to George Washington, same date, q.v. for variations in the two texts. RC ( DLC : PCC , No. 71, ii ); 2 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed and addressed by TJ; endorsed in part: “Read June 4. Referred to the board of War.” FC ( Vi ). Tr ( DLC : TJ Papers).
30To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 28 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy’s intention has been to distroy this army and I conjecture would have been afterwards to distroy the Stores which it covers. They have now undertaken another movement and it appears they are going through the country to Fredericksburg. Their Dragoons were this morning near Hannover Court House and (unless this is a feint) I expect the Army will be there this evening. Our small corps...