1To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 19 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Our Waggons and Men being Chiefly Out With the Militia, I Have met with Great Difficulty in procuring them both with that Dispatch with Which I would be Glad to Execute any thing Committed to my Care by Your Excellency; However, the Business is now in Some forwardness. You Have Half a Dozen Waggons Loaded with Spirits, with Directions to Wait on You, as You Desir’d, and Riders Out to get more....
2To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 27 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Having Several Matters to lay before your Excellency, I fully intended to Have Waited on You Yesterday; My indisposition prevents me, and I Know not Certainly when I can go Out. Reflecting on the Business of Moving the Stores and from a thorough Conviction of being Right, as to Not Water bearing them, I wrote the Inclos’d Letter to Mr. Claiborne; He being on a Jorney, I immediatly Communicated...
3To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 1 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 1 Feb. 1781. Acknowledges TJ’s letter of 31 Jan. Has heard that “Mr. Watkins (who is Very Anxious to Remove evry thing from Cumberland) has loaded 3 Vessells, now on their way with Shells, Shott &c. Shall they be Landed Here or Return’d?” In obedience to Gen. Nelson’s orders, Syme has ordered out his lower battalion of militia, but doubts the propriety of the order, which...
4To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 20 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 20 Feb. 1781. The £1,500 ordered by the Council to be paid to Syme “for Waggonage of Stores” is quite inadequate for his “Cash ingagements”; needs £1,000 more. “Col. [John] Nicholas Writes Me He Has Your Directions, for releiving my Militia , from the Lower Battallion, Now On Duty, without Asertaining the Numbers”; Syme desires more exact information. Congratulates TJ “on the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 26 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 26 Feb. 1781 . Is informed that there are 50 state muskets at John Newell’s in Hanover co. which might be repaired; shall Syme order them to be repaired? Further instructions from TJ clarifying the method of drafting men are needed. “A few People Among us (One of which is a Field Officer) that Declares He Will not Pay a Shilling, and intends to Plead the Laws not being in Time.”...
6To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 11 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Rocky Mills, 11 Mch. 1781 . Has been informed that the Assembly contemplates prolonging the “time of Draft for those Countys whose Militia are in Service”; requests information thereon in order that he may give notice at his general musters “Tomorrow and Wednesday.” RC ( Vi ); 2 p.; addressed, in part: “By N. Syme”; endorsed.
7To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 22 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Daniel Trueheart thinks the Court Martial of Our County Have Done Wrong, in placing Him on the present Tour of Duty. For Certain Reasons, it May be impolitick for me to intermeddle with His Case, therefore, Hope to be Excus’d by Your Excellency for Referring Him to Yourself, Being wth Great Esteem, Sir Your Mo: Obedt. Servt., RC ( Vi ); addressed and endorsed. Syme was county lieutenant of...
8To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 20 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New Castle, 20 Apr. 1781 . Has received TJ’s orders “Directing A Court Martial, on the Delinquents, for My County. I understand by it, those that Have fail’d in any Tour of Duty, whatever, Say for 12 Months Back, Or thereabouts.” No returns were made by Syme’s officers while he was “at the Springs,” but has “now c[all]’d for them, as thinking it, both just and suitable from your Orders, and...
9To Thomas Jefferson from John Syme, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to Ask Your pardon for Omitting the Return I mention’d; I now inclose it. You Will Observe, it falls greatly short of two Battalions. Your Excellency does not Direct me, How I am to Act in that Case; I did take notice of it Yesterday; We think Here, the Court ought to Make the Arrangements, Accordingly, but I Wait Your Determination. Yesterday Noon I Received Yours, Ordering out my...