From Thomas Jefferson to John Milledge, 30 April 1802
To John Milledge
April 30. 1802
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to mr Milledge and incloses him an itinerary from hence to mr Randolph’s, with a strong recommendation to him to let no man’s persuasion induce him to vary the route in any part, Th:J. after near 30. years travelling and trying every road, having by little and little learned this particular route, which he believes no other person is acquainted with, and having found it from his own experience to be the shortest that exists, and far the best.
RC (ViU). Not recorded in SJL.
John Milledge (1757–1818) was a distinguished Revolutionary War veteran and political leader from Georgia, who served as attorney general and a state legislator before his election to Congress in 1792. Resigning his seat in the House of Representatives in May 1802, he was elected governor of Georgia the following November. He returned to Congress in 1806, filling the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the death of James Jackson. While in Congress, Milledge was a reliable Republican who provided TJ with advice on appointments and Indian affairs in Georgia. He retired from public life in 1809 and dedicated himself to his highly successful planting endeavors. TJ held Milledge’s planting abilities in high esteem and the two men corresponded on agricultural subjects both during and after TJ’s administration (
, ; , 1:596–7, 666–7; 3:636–7; 4:39–40).