1William Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, 24 November 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
At a time when our enemy has avowed his intention to prosecute the war with the utmost rigor against our towns, villages, and citizens , it becomes the duty of every American to aid his Government in repelling them. I shall not be deterred by one disaster from respectfully submitting a plan, which I shall, I trust, demonstrate would completely banish them from our waters. Indeed, I am about...
2Enclosure: William Cooper’s Drawing of a Floating Battery, [ca. 24 November 1813] (Jefferson Papers)
MS ( DLC : TJ Papers , 200:35536); entirely in Cooper’s hand; undated.
3To James Madison from William Cooper, 3 November 1814 (Madison Papers)
If I were not entirely convinced that the highest interests of my country were connected, in some measure, with the subject of this letter, and that a due consideration of it would secure those interests, I should never have taken the liberty of directly troubling your Excellency with any of my projects, far less of repeating the application. Our Enemy has a great superiority of force on Lake...