From James Madison to Edward Coles, 8 June 1814
To Edward Coles
Washington June 8 1814
Dear Sir
I might have forwarded the inclosed by the last mail, but I thought it as wise to take the chance of having the pleasure of seeing or hearing of you, before it went off.
We ended our journey hitherto on the 30th. Ulto. We found the worst part of the road worse on our return than on our outward Journey. It was with much difficulty we got through it.
I hope you are suffering less on your Albemarle farms, from wet weather than is the case in this quarter. I understand the meadows here are ruined by the floods passing over them; and their wheat is threated with great injury from the continuance of the present N.E. spells, succeeding an excess of rainey weather throughout the month of May.
I send you the Intellr. of this morning, as the daily paper may not otherwise go by the mail. It contains a handsome little affair near Sacketts Harbour.1 We have no late accts. from abroad, which are in the least to be relied on for truth or accuracy.
Present me respectfully & affectionately to your mother & the family, and particularly to the member of it, who belongs so much to our own,2 and accept for yourself my best regards & wishes
James Madison
RC (NjP: Edward Coles Papers). Enclosures not found, but see n. 1.
1. The 8 June 1814 issue of the Daily National Intelligencer contained accounts of the 30 May 1814 Battle of Sandy Creek, in which U.S. troops under Maj. Daniel Appling ambushed and captured a British naval force that had entered the creek in pursuit of guns and other equipment destined for the U.S. ships at Sackets Harbor. American casualties in the short battle were limited to “one Indian killed and 3 wounded,” while the British lost at least thirteen killed and twenty-eight wounded, and more than one hundred and thirty prisoners, including several high-ranking officers.
2. JM probably referred to Coles’s sister Betsy (Ketcham, James Madison, 553).