11From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 1 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose there is no hope of our getting hats for the soldiers. We will aid you anywise in our power towards getting caps made. Mr. Armistead receives 1800£ to be transmitted you for your tailors and sempstresses. He has received an order to deliver you all the leather he has (enough for about 300 or 350 pair three qr. soals) and receives one now to make up the deficiency of 1500 pair as soon...
12To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
From Mr. Browne’s account it is impossible, I should think, that Col. Innes should be in want of provision. If he has crossed at Ruffin’s, as Mr. Browne says he has, it would be proper to send to New Castle what stores you may under the present circumstances think necessary to order to him. At present we are in great distress for want of waggons. Every one of the public offices almost, as the...
13To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 30–31 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The General expressed to me yesterday in such strong terms the great importance of the post at Chesterfield, and urged so strenuously his idea of the necessity of my continuing my superintendance at that place till the march of the new raised troops shall be over, that it was in vain I represented my opinion of the impracticability of discharging my duty towards it, or the fatigue and trouble...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It was our intention that the tools should go with the workmen and hope they have accordingly gone. I have enquired of Mr. Armistead as to the giving a yard of linen for making shirts at Petersburg. He says it was never done by him; but that Colo. Elliot the Continental Q.M. had given the price of a yard of linen. Mr. Armistead’s allowance for the white linen shirts is 30 dollars. There is no...
15From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 22 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Muter having resigned his appointment as Commissioner of the war office, the board have appointed you to succeed him which I have now the pleasure to notify to you. I shall be exceedingly happy should it be agreable to you to undertake the Office, and if applications to the Commanding Officer or other Person shall be necessary to reconcile your acting in this Office to the reservation of...
16From George Washington to Colonel William Davies, 16 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The whole of the Virginia line being ordered to the Southward it becomes indispensibly necessary, that a sub Inspector should accompany them, to perform the duties incidental to that Office —Should you have so far compleated the arrangement of your private Affairs, for which you obtained leave of Absence, as to be able to proceed with the troops from Virginia, you can join them upon their...
17From Daniel L. Hylton, with Jefferson’s Instructions to William Davies, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Without place ] 30 Mch. 1781 . Mr. Eppes desires him to inform TJ that “a Gun Smith up the Country will undertake the Cleaning and repairing Arms. He will also get 3 or 4 Men to Assist him provided they are exempt from Military duty.” The arms must be sent up to him. TJ’s instructions follow: “Referred to Colo. Davies; Colo. Muter had the name of this man in a note from me. He lives in...
18From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am anxious to have secured for the detachment which is next to proceed Southwardly as many tents as will suffice for them, and to collect all the residue belonging to the State and send them down for the use of the Militia. Of 230 tents issued during the last invasion, I understand that 75 were sent on with Colo. Green’s detachment, I find that about 28 were returned to this place, the rest...
19Charles Fleming to William Davies, 10 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Manchester, 10 Jan. 1781. Arrived at this place the previous evening; the men “had a very disagreeable night, seven of them taken sick”; will proceed as soon “as they get comfortably dried and get their breakfast”; requests supplies. “The Governor lodged on this side last [night], whom I have seen. He informs me the enemy were yesterday morning lying still at and about Colo. Harrissons mills:...
20To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I need not represent to your Excellency the insecurity of this place. We never can proceed with any degree of certainty in any of our public works while the enemy command the rivers. The state of our arms requires security to the workmen from alarms, and I am confident we shall never be able to get them repaired, unless some buildings are prepared for them in a safe place above the falls. I...
21Nathan Reid to William Davies, 13 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New London, 13 May 1781. “Since my arivel at this place I have had a very easy time of it, not more than seven soldiers has been delivered to me, and two of them has deserted. It is uncertain what time the draughts will take place, in the Counties that are to Randezvous at this place and I dont know what Counties the[y] are, as the Governor did not give me a list of them. I would be much...
22From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 28 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The board are of opinion that the proposal of the Commissioner of the War office to appoint Capt. Hamilton, an officer of the state regiment to do the duty of Town-major with such rations and forage as shall make those he is already entitled to equivalent to those of a Major, referring him to the General assembly to obtain a similar augmentation of pay, be approved. They approve of his...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 2 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very sorry the shoes and cloathing fall so far short of what we had reason to expect. Such of the former as are unfit for use had better be returned. We shall omit no opportunity of making up the whole deficiency. The Shoemakers and Taylors at Warwick receive orders to day to go to your post under a Mr. Thornbury’s care, who is himself one of them. We shall be glad to have the services of...
24To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 6 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed I lay before our Excellency the estimates you were pleased to mention some time ago. Mr. Ross’s indisposition prevented its being presented sooner. Some Gentlemen think them rather too small. Mr. Clark’s proposals respecting the brick work at the point of fork, I have also enclosed, and beg the direction of the Executive. Col. White applies for cloathing. I presume from the inclosed...
25From John Christian Senf, with a Note from Jefferson to William Davies, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In the Order, Your Excellency pleases to send to the County Lieutnant of Prince George County , may’d be mentioned to send the Hands as soon as possible, and if they send them by Six and ten [the 16th], I shall be at Hoods and receive them myself, write down the Date they arrive, and whenever the time, agread on, is ended, discharge them again. By those Means, the Worck will be advanc’d,...
26To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 31 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The equipment of the cavalry is a matter of real consequence to our military operations. The enclosed account appears to have arisen from an application to Mr. Simpson by the officers of the cavalry for a number of articles the troops were in want of. He has applied to Col. Finnie for payment, who tells him he can only give him a certificate for what is due him. Mr. Simpson is very willing to...
27From James Madison to William Davies, 5 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 April 1804, Department of State. “I return the deposition received from you some time ago, charging one Spinks as a Citizen of the United States with engaging himself as an Officer on board a British Lettre of Marque. It would be adviseable that you should transmit it to the District Attorney, and on Spinks return advise him of it, in order that if the facts will warrant it a prosecution may...
28From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 9 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Sentence of the court martial however inadequate the punishment is to the offence, seems to be such as the law has authorized, except as to the musket lost. For this indemnification we shall take more effectual measures by stopping the full worth out of the pay of the deserter. The Act of assembly named six places of rendezvous for the new recruits and authorized us to name two more and to...
29From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 26 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As for the outer Clothing for the Soldiers there is no early Prospect but from the 1495 yards of Cloth sent you some Time ago. We purchased 100 or 150 Blankets and 400 Pair of Stockings of Mr. Ross whom I desired in Presence of an Aid of Baron Steuben’s to deliver them to the Order of the Baron. And the aid ( Major Walker ) promised to notify the Baron of this. There are some Blankets (perhaps...
30George Muter to William Davies, 2 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The enemy’s approach rendering the removal of the arms and stores belonging to the state at Petersburgh, immedeatly necessary; Capt. Spiller (State Commissary of Military stores) goes directly from hence towards Petersburgh for that purpose, and will call on you. I must request the favour of you to render Capt. Spiller what assistance you can in the execution of the duty he goes on. The powder...
31To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 8 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
One of the Assistants of the Quartermaster general is going over to the Eastern Shore. It appears to me an opportunity, which ought not to be neglected, of disposing and securing the public stores of every kind that are there. A great deal has been lost, a great deal more is in danger, and I submit it to the decision of your Excellency whether it will not be proper to sell what cannot be...
32From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 21 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you an Information given in to me by Colo. Buford against Epaphroditus Rudder a Cornet in Baylors Horse. His being now in your neighbourhood induces me to address it to you particularly and to desire you will institute proper proceedings to call him to Account. I also beg the favor of you to inform me if you know what became of the men described in the...
33From George Washington to William Davies, 24 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favr of the 20th ulto inclosing a representation signed by you and a number of the Feild Officers of the Virginia line against the readmission of Brigadier Weedon to command in the line of that State—Being a stranger to the transactions which took place at the time General Weedon was thought to have retired from service, I can give no decided opinion upon the propriety of...
34From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The want of a board of Council prevented our taking up the final arrangement of the Clothier’s duties till yesterday, the paper I sent you having contained only what was proposed to be agreed on. Unfortunately no copy of it was retained, so that I am obliged to ask the favor of you to return it if you still have it. We have here a large number of undressed deer-skins, and no person who can...
35Steuben to William Davies, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I am unacquainted with officers commanding the Militia at Richmond, and it being my desire that of those that are Armed one half shall march immediately to Turkey Island and the other to the Long bridge on Chickahominy, I have inclosed the order, which I request you to communicate. I only wait the arival of Colo. Senf, to visit hoods and Blands Ordinary, where I intend making the...
36From George Washington to William Davies, 16 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon viewing the troops of the Virginia Line this morning I find that they are almost totally destitute of Cloathing that is even necessary for the present season in consequence of which upwards of one third of them are renderd at present unfit for service. The importance of present exertions need not be pen’d as I flatter myself you must already be convinced of the necessity of them. You will...
37To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 10–11 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
War Office [ Richmond ], 10 Apr. 1781 . Many men already discharged from the army have arrears in pay due them. “It is hard upon these men to lose their pay, and it is exceedingly troublesome to this office, to the Auditors and to your Excellency, for the adjustment of each man’s claim to be thrown individually upon us. I would therefore submit it to your Excellency, whether it will not be...
38Henry Young to William Davies, 13 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 13 May 1781 . Disapproves of continuing the work at Point of Fork; suggests Staunton as a more secure location. “I wish you cou’d be every where, the Governor does not stay here , your presence is much wanted. … The Governor is the best man in the world and, if I mistake not, open to conviction. Were you to use your influence with him I think he might be prevailed on to give up this...
39From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben having desired that all Issues and Furnitures from us to the Continent might be on his Order while here, I immediately on Receipt of your Letter sent it down to the Baron; he was just set out to Hoods. I therefore have given an Order to Mr. Armistead to deliver the Materials to the Person attending for you that they may be making up and paying due Attention to the Barons Request....
40To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 31 March–2 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Captain Young, the Quartermaster general of the state, who has just arrived, informs me that he saw at Edentown about 30 exceeding fine cannon of 18s and 24s. He asked the Naval officer, whose they were, who informed him they were the property of the State of Virginia, thrown out of a French vessel, who carried the remainder of them to South quay. As I have no return of any thing of the kind,...