1Steuben’s Plan for Preventing Desertion, [December] 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Without place or date ] In a long war the difficulty and expense of raising men increases, and “every possible means should be employed for the preservation of the Men after they are raised.” The incomplete state of the regiments obliges one regiment to be shifted into another, destroying the attachment between officers and men “which is necessary for their preservation.” The officers,...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 27 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot help expressing to Your Excellency the anxiety I am under occasioned by the delay of Genls. Muhlenberg and Lawson, nor, when I consider the unhappy Consequences that this Delay may Occasion, can I avoid justifying myself from having any part in it. Instead of forwarding Genl. Green the reinforcements he Expected, we are Keeping a Number of Corps dispersed about the State, where no...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 1 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency was acquainted with My Intention of sending on Genl. Lawson’s Corps, and I can now inform you that I expect they will march from hence to morrow, tho’ not in such Numbers as I Expected, only 340 Rank and file appearing under Arms at the review Yesterday, including Infantry and Cavalry. The next Object is sending on as speedily as possible 400 Continental Troops and as many...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 2 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote Your Excellency the 30th ult. that Gen. Lawson’s Corps would march Yesterday. This would Certainly have been the Case had not a report arrived that the Legislature had determined on their being discharged immediately. I should not however have suspended the march from a mere report, but Genl. Lawson himself shewed me a Copy of the Resolution of the house of Delegates on the subject. I...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 8 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this moment favord with your Excellencys Letter of this morning inclosing a Copy of the requisition made by Lt. Colo. Lee for the Corps under his command. I am perfectly of Opinion with your Excellency that the call on this State for the several Articles he demands is improper on any other principle than that of the general good. In the new Establishment of the Army this Corps is...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, Enclosing Instructions for Drawing the Recruiting Bill, 9 December [1780] (Jefferson Papers)
The Frequent abuses that have happened in the Recruiting Service, and an absolute Necessity that those Men who are raised for the War in Future should be fit for the Service and the Continent and State no longer deceived, by having Old Men, Deserters, &c &c, Imposed upon them; I have made the Within Instructions and beg Your Excellency to lay them before the Legislature that when they Pass the...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 10 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I came here Yesterday in full Expectation of sending off Colo. Greens Detachment of 400 Men this Day and it is with great pain I have to inform Your Excellency that so far from being ready to March I am even fearfull they will not be able to March at all. Amongst the 400 Men selected for this Detachment about 60 only had Blankets. The Militia I discharged left about 20 and of 200 which I...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 15 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to write some time ago to Your Excellency, enclosing a Memorial of Colo. Senf, relative to the necessary fortifications on York and James River. I have kept this Officer in this state for the sole purpose of surveying all the defensible places, and he has lately by my Order taken an Exact draught of the situation of Hood. I could wish the Assembly might come to some...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 15 December [1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond ] 15 Dec. [ 1780 ] . Col. Green’s detachment marched from Petersburg on the 13th. Steuben on his return from Petersburg reviewed the troops at Chesterfield Courthouse, where there were 316 rank and file present and fit for duty, and about 200 sick; 20 of those fit for duty have been ordered to supply the places of deserters from Green ’s detachment; and 25 others have been assigned...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Steuben, 16 December [1780] (Jefferson Papers)
General Green among other requisitions having mentioned the equipment of the Troops raised by the State, I have no doubt but the Legislature will be glad to know what is generally understood by the equipment of a soldier, and therefore take the Liberty of laying before your Excellency the inclosed Estimate with some remarks thereon. I need not mention to your Excellency the necessity of...