1To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 11 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honor’d to day with the reciept of your favor of the 8th. Inst. and the one of the present date. The farther instance which your Honorable board has been pleas’d to hold out to me, of their confidence still in my poor exertions to serve my Country excites my most gratefull acknowledgments; and Heaven knows how much it is my fix’d determination, to do all in my power to prevent our...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I yesterday was inform’d on my way home, that General Green had retreated to Dan River, being inferior to Cornwallis in his number of Men, who was pushing after him with great avidity, and that Gl. Green had call’d upon the most convenient Counties to turn out the Militia to his Aid. Among one of the Counties that are call’d upon is this. The Militia have met to day at the Court House (where I...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 16 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You were pleas’d in your favor of the 11th. Inst. from Colo. Skipwith’s, to inform me, that altho’ the Executive could not constitutionally repeat the instance of seperating from their authority, the right of appointing the Officers for the respective commands in the militia; that they would nevertheless do me the honor to attend to the recommendations I might make of such Gentlemen as I...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 15 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am this far on my return Home. I am concern’d that the bad state of my Health should make it necessary to obtain the Baron’s permission, to leave my command on the lines, until I could get it again establish’d. I left McKee’s Mills the 13th. Inst. in the Afternoon. When I came from thence, the Enemy were still in Portsmouth: their Post at the Great Bridge they retain. They have foraged but...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 28 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Hearing that the Enemy were again in our Country, and had penetrated as far as Richmond; I consider’d it as my duty to wait on Baron Steuben, who I was informed was at Petersburg, and recieve from him such command and orders as he was pleas’d to give. The Baron thought proper to give me the command of a Brigade of Militia; and has after several previous movements, fix’d me as the Officer...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 1 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives me great concern to find that the Militia from many Counties go forth to join General Greenes Army with the greatest reluctance. Indeed there are many Counties very deficient in sending the quota call’d for—some of them send none at all. Mr. Bush waits on your Excellency with Mr. Henrys Letter , from Henry County, representing the difficulty of sending the number of Men call’d for...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Lawson, 25 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to the Instructions received from General Green I have order’d out the Militia of P. Edward, Cumberland, Amelia, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Buckingham and Amherst. We must depend upon the best arms they can provide and which your Excellency must know is not the most certain dependence; however I have the pleasure to inform you that a number of the Guns are very...