From Thomas Jefferson to George Weedon, 5 March 1781
To George Weedon
Richmond March 5th. 1781
Sir
Your Letters of February 28th and March 3d were received yesterday and this Day. It is utterly out of our1 Power to send the Arms and Cartouch Boxes to Hanover Courthouse which you desire. Every one fit for Service has been delivered out. You will certainly get such of your men armed below as shall be without arms, as there are spare arms under the orders of Baron Steuben drawn down to the place to which your militia will proceed. The Ammunition will in like manner be issued there. For God’s sake lose not a moment, (indeed I am sure you will not) in getting on. Every instant is critical and may have great effect on operations which perhaps are not yet communicated to you. I sincerely rejoice at the great event you were so kind as to communicate to me and am with much Respect Sir, Your &c., &c.,
T. J.
FC (Vi). RC?, L. S., 2 p., sold at Anderson Galleries (Howard K. Sanderson Sale, 1 May 1916), lot 470.
1. On this same date TJ had written to Steuben: “I have … been obliged further to let him know it is not in your power to furnish him [Weedon] arms or Cartouch boxes.” This is clearly contradictory to what TJ told Weedon above. One possible explanation of this contradiction is that given above in the note to TJ to Steuben, 5 Mch.—that is, that TJ intended to say to Steuben: “I have … been obliged further to let him know it is not in our power to furnish him,” &c. See Steuben to TJ, 9 Mch., in which Steuben indignantly refused to arm a handful of militia from New Kent, and Weedon to TJ, same date, by which it appears that Weedon was able to obtain arms en route.