1From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being necessary to collect at Hoods as large a number of boats as possible to transport men and horses across the river as occasion may require, you are hereby authorized to impress all the boats on this and Chickahominy river except only one to be left at each ferry and except also such boats as from particular circumstances of which you are to Judge in your discretion it woud be attended...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The establishment of a Harness Manufacture in Albermarle, seems advisable, but the Barracks will be much better than Charlottesville, because the German commanding Officer may and probably will prohibit the men from leaving the Barracks. The necessity of the most active exertions to procure provisions for our Army has obliged us to require Mr. Brown to appoint a Deputy in each County, instead...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We were not able to proceed to the consideration of the prices proposed to be given in your department till we could get a late arrangement of our own which interfered with some articles of you[rs]. This we got to day, and have come to the determination inclosed. Your first article we omitted because we give but two thirds of the allowance there proposed; the 2d because we have no such...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben being very desirous to have as large [a] collection of Boats made as possible and joined to those he now has at Sandy Point, You are hereby authorized to impress all boats proper for the transportation of troops in James or Appamattox rivers (excepting only one horse Boat at every ferry, and such cases of extreme hardship as in your discretion you shall think should exempt the...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 17 February [1781] (Jefferson Papers)
I have submitted your Letter of yesterday to the consideration of the Gentlemen of the Council, who are present. It is thought that as the Letter of the Draft Law has left it to the Militia Officers to determine who are the proper Subjects of the Law, so the exemptions specifyed by the Law itself imply that no others shall be allowed. Whether the Staff Officers of the Continent or State are...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, [26? February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
The matter referred to us in your letter of the 25th. Inst. we conceive to be improper for us to meddle in, I mean as to the necessity, and duties of a Field Quarter Master. The expences of defence in cases of actual invasion being altogether Continental, I mentioned early in the present invasion to Baron Steuben the propriety of directing every expenditure to be through the hands of...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, [before 5 March 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
[William] Boswell one of the Southern riders stationed at Abram Mitchell’s within 15 Miles of Taylors ferry. He had letters for Genl. Greene which had gone from hence to his station in 48 Hours. He had then had them 6 hours when Mr. [John] Jones saw him, and ensisted on Mr. Jones’s taking the letters (tho’ an utter stranger to him) and tho’ he was not going to Taylor’s ferry. Mr. Jones took...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne and Granville Smith, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In Compliance with a resolution of the General Assembly of March 16th, I must beg the favor of you as soon as the Impress warrants to which the resolution refers shall have been fully executed to procure from the several persons who have been employed in the Execution of them a report of their Proceedings therein which may be done by way of Calendar under these Heads, to wit: 1st. The Species...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The operations against Portsmouth being now discontinued, œconomy and respect to the rights of our Citizens require that the Horses impressed for that Purpose be returned to their owners. This I know will be a troublesome and expensive undertaking, but it may be effectually done I hope if every Person who impressed is instructed to look out and return all the Horses impressed by himself....
10From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 9 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In Council, 9 Apr. 1781 . This communication consists of an extract from Lafayette’s letter Annapolis, 4 Apr., notifying TJ that field pieces and ammunition were being sent from Lafayette’s army to Gen. Greene. To this TJ added the following note: “Majr. Claiborne will be pleased to take measures for the transportation of the above.” Tr ( Vi ); 1 p.; at foot of text: “A Copy.”
11From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 4 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You shall receive the money necessary for the purchase of the horses as fast as it can be prepared and as shall be practicable in concurrence with other pressing claimants. You know how difficult it is to fix on precise days for the treasury. Therefore all I can say with precision is that it shall be paid out of the present emission. Dft ( Vi ); written by TJ on address leaf of Claiborne’s...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 23 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 18th and 19th inst. came to hand yesterday. Experience has for some time past convinced the Council that as the mode of acquiring waggons, horses &c. by Impress is the most irritating, so it is the most expensive which can be adopted. They therefore have generally meant to discontinue Impresses and to have purchases made wherever a delay can be admitted. And indeed it is...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 1 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Just returned from a journey of 3. or 4. months I have been immersed in such a mass of writing that it has been impossible for me sooner to acknolege your favors of June 9. 13. and 21. With respect to the quality of lands in general in the counties of Monongalia and Harrison, it is impossible for me to give any opinion, because I never was in that part of the country at all, nor nearer it than...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 8 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I am of opinion that American tenants for Western lands could not be procured, and if they could, they would be very unsure. The best as far as I have been able to judge are foreigners who do not speak the language. Unable to communicate with the people of the country they confine themselves to their farms and their families, compare their present state to what it was in Europe, and find great...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 21 February 1795 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved with great pleasure your favor of Jan. 8 . informing me of your return to America, and of the measures you have taken for adding useful arts and inhabitants to our country. The machines which perform the labours of man are peculiarly valuable in a country where there is more to do than men to do it. Perhaps we may not be entirely mature for all the articles of your catalogue,...
16Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 10 May 1818 (Jefferson Papers)
Were I twenty years younger your fav or n ot recieved till Oct. 16. should not h ave long unacknoleged. but the torpor of age is on me, writing is particularly slow and irksome. this oblig es me to brevity. I remember well your duck foot paddle and am pleased to learn that you expect to make it a means of defence; altho I hope there will be no occasion for it in your time or mine. one war is...