1From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Powhatan and Certain Other Counties, 31 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It having become essentially necessary to raise immediately a large body of Cavalry and having no means of providing Accoutrements we are obliged to attempt the recovery of All the public Arms and Accoutrements for Cavalry dispersed in private hands through the state, which if they can be secured will arm and equip a very respectable force. I am therefore to press you instantly and diligently...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of York and Certain Other Counties, 29 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Information having been given me that a considerable number of Men have deserted from the French Army and Navy in America which the Commanding Officers are very urgent to have apprehended, I must desire you to give orders at the several Ferries in your County, that all Foreigners offering to cross at them and having the Appearance of Soldiers or Seamen be examined with great Strictness and if...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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.
6From 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 ).
7From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants and Others, [8 May 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Colo. Senf being sent by Majr. Genl. Marquis Fayette to have the bridges and boats and other vessels destroyed which might otherwise facilitate the passage of the enemy across the rivers Blackwater, Nottoway, Meherrin and Roanoke and to collect vessels for transportation of our own troops, all County Lieutenants and other militia officers and their militia are hereby required...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Lunenburg and Certain Other Counties, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The British Army under Major Genl. Phillips having landed at Brandon, and meaning to press Southwardly; and Lord Cornwallis being now advancing Northwardly with a Design probably of uniting their force, it behoves us immediately to turn out from every County as many men as there are Arms to be found in the County, in order to oppose these forces in their separate State if possible, and if not,...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Louisa and Certain Other Counties, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The British Army [&c. to the words ‘with these arms in their hands’] to Richmond or Prince Edward Courthouse as shall be most convenient [&c.]1 And whenever it is over they shall be discharged except the number called for by my letter of the 5th inst who will be retained to perform a full Tour. Cavalry in a due proportion [&c. to the end.] I am &c., FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “County...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of King William and Hanover, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The British [&c. to the words ‘with these Arms in their hands’]1 to Richmond where they will receive orders to join Major General Marquis Fayette. When you shall be possessed [&c.] Whenever it is over they shall be discharged except the number called for by my Letter of yesterday who will be retained to perform a full tour. It is probable [&c. to the end.] I am &c., FC ( Vi ); at head of text:...
11From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Henry and Certain Other Counties, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The British Army [&c. to the words ‘keep clear of Danger from the former.’] Should the Militia before ordered to join General Greene be not actually marched we should approve of these Arms being put into their hands, and that they proceed to one of the Rendezvouses beforementioned instead of taking a direct Route to General Greene as formerly ordered. The person who receives [&c. to the end.] I...
12From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
There are a very considerable number (about 164) of your Militia who have been on Duty near two Months; Be pleased to fix on so many of the rest of your County whether now in the field or at Home, whose regular Tour it is, to go and relieve the 164 first mentioned. We shall call on other Counties immediately to relieve the whole of yours as soon as they can get in. I am &c., FC ( Vi ). The...
13From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Charles City and Certain Other Counties, 7 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to desire you to send immediately of your Militia to join the Army under the Marquis Fayette and to continue in Service two Months from the Time of their joining him. Lest the full quota [&c. as in the Letter of May 5th.] I am &c., FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “County Lieutenants of Charles City, King & Queen, Essex, Hanover, King William.” The number of militia to be called from each...
14From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Henrico and Certain Other Counties, 5 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Executive, having determined that future Tours of Militia Duty should be of two months length after joining the Army, had called in a proper Complement to serve from the 1st. Day of May to the last Day of June; proposing by that Time to relieve the whole by calling in others: The military officers have however represented that it will be more eligible to change one half monthly, than the...
15From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Elizabeth City and Certain Other Counties, 2 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You are desired immediately to embody so many of your Militia as you can arm from your County and have them marched under proper officers to join Colo. Innes at such place as he shall direct. I am &c., FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “County Lieutenants of Elizabeth City, Warwick, York, James City, King & Queen and of Williamsburg.”
16From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Henrico and Certain Other Counties, 19 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Having received Intelligence that the Enemy are in Motion up James River and that their vessels were in sight of Burwells ferry yesterday afternoon and their destination as yet being unknown we think it necessary to require you to assemble every man of your County able to bear Arms immediately to repair with proper officers and the best Arms he has to and that they do not wait to come...
17From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Fauquier and Certain Other Counties, 14 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to desire you to send of your Militia under proper officers with such good Arms as they have, and especially Rifles, to rendezvous at Williamsburg on the 1st. Day of May and to continue in Service two Months from the time of their getting to the Rendezvous. As Circumstances may render it necessary to change the Rendezvous, you will be pleased to order them by the way of where they will...
18From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
HAVING received an application from the Commanding Officer to strengthen our army below, and being very unwilling to harrass the Militia more than shall be absolutely unavoidable, we are in hopes an immediate and sufficient accession of force may be obtained by application to the several Counties for their delinquents in Militia duty whom the Law sentences to six months service. Every County,...
19From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of King William and Certain Other Counties, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As your Militia is now returned or on their return home we have thought it necessary to take off the Suspension of the Act of October 1781 for recruiting this States Quota of Troops to serve in the Continental Army and to desire you to proceed to the raising the New Levies required from your County by that Law, and sending them to the Rendezvous as directed in my Letter of January 19th. 1781....
20From 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...
21From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Montgomery and Certain Other Counties, 29 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Militia from this State with General Greene being entitled very shortly to a Discharge and it being absolutely necessary to support him to prevent the Danger of Lord Cornwallis’s turning on him again until the New Levies can be got into the field, you will be pleased to send immediately of the Militia of your County under proper Officers to join General Greene, arming as many as possible...
22From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Berkeley, Frederick, and Hampshire Counties, 27 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being our Duty to see that such Proportion of Militia be called from your County either to the Westward or Eastward as is called from the other Counties, and being uninformed how many of them marched to the Westward, I am now to desire you will send men (deducting therefrom the number actually marched to the Westward) together with proper officers to perform a Tour of Duty in relief of...
23From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Orange and Certain Other Counties, 27 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased to send of your militia under proper Officers to perform a Tour of Duty &c. (as in the preceding Letter to the County Lieutenants of Berkeley &c.). FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “To the County Lieutenants of Orange, Stafford, Louisa, King George & Essex.” Blank in FC ; the following numbers appear at the foot of the text to be inserted at this point: “Orange 140, Stafford...
24From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants, 26 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I INCLOSE you by express, three acts of the last session of Assembly for ascertaining the number of militia in the state; exempting artificers employed at iron works from militia duty, and remedying the inconveniencies arising from the interruption of the draught and the procuring clothes, provisions, and waggons for the army. WE expect to send a vessel shortly with a flag, from this place to...
25From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Buckingham and Amherst, 22 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Board approve of your having complied with the Call for militia on the Invasion of our Country, tho’ that Call did not proceed immediately from the Executive. Necessity obliged us on the first of Arnold’s (&c. as in the Letter to the County Lieutenant of Culpeper). FC ( Vi ). The remainder of the letter to the two counties was the same as that indicated in the note to the letter to the...
26From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Accomac and Northampton Counties, 13 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On further Consideration of the paragraph in my Letter of January 19th requiring the public Arms in the Hands of the People to be sought for and collected together we are of Opinion it will be better to dispense with it in the two Counties on the Eastern Shore. You will therefore be pleased to consider it as dispensed with. I am, &c., FC ( Vi ). This suspension of part of the orders of 19 Jan....
27From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Hanover and Certain Other Counties, 12 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased to send effective men of your militia immediately to Williamsburg under proper officers. I would advise that they carry what good firelocks they have. Deficiencies I expect may be supplied. I must beseech you to lose no Time in executing this order as the aid of these men is immediately wanting. Should the Call of such a Proportion of your militia render the prosecution of...
28From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, 9 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being absolutely necessary to send an immediate Reinforcement of Militia to General Muhlenburg’s Camp, I am to desire you without Delay to send effective men from your County to him. I will assure you that they shall be detained but a few Days, which considering the Shortness of Time they were out on the last Call will not more than make their Times of Service equal to those of the other...
29From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Prince George and Other Counties, 1 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being necessary that a reinforcement be sent immediately to General Muhlenburg you will be pleased to order of your Militia to be at his head quarters on the 5th or at furthest the 6th. instant. They will there receive arms. This number must be sent fully. I am Sir, &c., &c., FC ( Vi ); at head of text: “Letter to the County Lieutenants of Prince George, Sussex, Southampton, Isle of Wight,...
30From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of James City and Certain Other Counties, [24 February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to order to on receipt of this of the militia of your County to remain on duty only till releifs ordered from Counties less exposed shall arrive. I hope this call will be thought less heavy on your County as we would avoid calling on it to perform a full tour of duty, and only wish them to serve during those short intervals between the necessary discharge of the militia and arrival...