To Thomas Jefferson from George Weedon, 21 April 1781
From George Weedon
Fredericksburg Apl. 21st. 1781
Dear Sir
I got here last night from Potowmac. On my leaving Williamsburg I pushed across the Country into the Northern Neck, and geting Intelligence of the Ships coming down proceeded to Hollis’s marsh where a body of Militia ware drawn together under the command of Colo. Richard Henry Lee. Two Ships, Two Brigs, a Topsail Schooner and two Tenders, lay oposite, at Blackstones Island. The whole Fleet that had been up the River consisted off Three Ships, Three Brigs, and Seven others of different Sizes. They landed on their way up at Stradford near the Marsh, and ware beat off by the Militia, this was the only place they landed at on the Virginia side as they went up the River. They ware as high up as Genl. Washingtons seat, and some of their small Vessells went to Alexandria, cut out a Tobacco Vessell which however was by the Vigilence of the Inhabitants recovered and part of the pirats taken. As they came down they landed in Joetank took off several of Mr. Washingtons Negroes and did him other damage, again they landed at Mr. Hoos Ferry, distroy’d Mr. Hooes Furniture, broak his Windows, and set his House on fire which was happily Extinguished. They are now all gone down. I cannot learn there ware any land forces with them, and am Apt to think it was only a Manoeuvre to draw us from below, and to distract and divert us from succouring Genl. Green. They gave out that they should return, made some enquiries about Hunters workes, which ware words of course. In Maryland they have Committed Considerable Depredations. The Marquis with his Detachment will be here about the 25th. I shall immediately return to Williamsburg unless Baron Steuben directs otherwise.
I have the Honor to be with much Esteem & Regd. Your Excellencies Most Obt Most Hble Servt.,
G Weedon
RC (PHi); addressed and franked by Weedon; endorsed.
Joetank: “The name Chotank or Jotank was that of a Washington plantation, of a creek and of a long stretch of quiet country along the south shore of the Potomac East and West of the creek” (Freeman, Washington, i, 224). Lund Washington incurred George Washington’s wrath by his behavior on this occasion: “It would have been a less painful circumstance to me,” he wrote on 30 Apr. 1781 in response to Lund Washington’s report of 18 Apr., “to have heard, that in consequence of your non-compliance with their request, they had burnt my House, and laid the Plantation in ruins. You ought to have considered yourself as my representative, and should have reflected on the bad example of communicating with the enemy, and making a voluntary offer of refreshments to them with a view to prevent a conflagration. … I am thoroughly perswaded that you acted from your best judgment. … But to go on board their Vessels; carry them refreshments; commune with a parcel of plundering Scoundrels, and request a favor by asking the surrender of my Negroes, was exceedingly ill-judged, and ’tis to be feared, will be unhappy in its consequences, as it will be a precedent for others, and may become a subject of animadversion” (Washington, Writings, ed. Fitzpatrick, xxii, 14). Unless Baron Steuben directs otherwise: Weedon wrote Steuben an almost identical letter except for the following: “I shall return to my command as soon as I remove my Family which I am now about, unless you think proper to direct otherwise” (Weedon to Steuben, 21 Apr. 1781, NHi).