Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Henry Young to William Davies, 30 April 1781

Henry Young to William Davies

Richmond 30th. Apl 81

Dr Sir

The plan propos’d by Mr. Ross for the building of Mr. Andersons shop I think a good one. Wou’d not 20 insted of 28 feet [be] wide enough? I dont know whether it wou’d not be best to have a store house at one end of the Shop. There is but one reason can operate against it, that is fire. Mr. Ford informs me that you will be at the point of fork this evening. Will you be so good as to take this matter under your consideration and give direction accordingly? I wish I may not be troublesome to you. I wou’d have been up my self was not my intintions ingrossed here. The Ware houses up the other side are on fire this moment. The Enemy dont appear to be in fource at Manchester, ’tis impossible to determine.

The Boats being so intirely ingaged I fear Mr. Anderson will want Coales. Four of the best Boats by night, will be removed from this place to West-ham. Eight Prisoners were brought in just now. They were taken on the other side by a party of Militia. I think we only want Arms to make the defence of this place sure. I am my dear sir respectfully your servant,

H Young

The Enemy have not landed on this side.

RC (Vi); addressed: “Colo. William Davies Point of fork”; endorsed: “Henry Young April 1781.”

The British occupied Manchester on the morning of 30 Apr., “from whence they had a view of M. Fayette’s army encamped on the heights of Richmond” (Simcoe, Military Journal description begins John Graves Simcoe, Military Journal, New York, 1844 description ends , 201). Davies at this time was on his way to Point of Fork; he stopped at Powhatan Courthouse and wrote Steuben that he found “notwithstanding your intentions and mine the whole of the stores from Petersburg and Chesterfield collected here.” He thereupon directed them to proceed to Cumberland Old Courthouse (Davies to Steuben, 29 Apr. 1781, NHi). From Cumberland Old Courthouse on 2 May Robert Gamble reported that “all the stores and baggage as well as that belonging to the militia are at this place 40 miles distant from Manchester. We are just loading to set out for Carter’s ferry 12 miles from this and 12 or 13 below the point of Fork. This last is the place where I understand Colo. Davies intends for the reception of all the artificers both state and continental, and possibly for the general Rendezvous” (Gamble to Steuben, 2 May 1781, NHi).

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