Thomas Lehré to Thomas Jefferson, 29 June 1813
From Thomas Lehré
Charleston June 29th 1813
Dear Sir
Yesterday was celebrated here with great enthusiasm and Joy, as the anniversary of the 28th June 1776, when the British Fleat under Sir Peter Parker, was beat off1 by Fort Moultrie.—
Enclosed is a paper which contains the Toasts that were drank upon the occasion, by which you will find that you2 have not been forgotten by your Republican friends.
I am truly sorry at the loss of the Chesapeake, and also have many fears concerning our army on the Lakes. From information lately recd from Washington, I am induced to think, the President will have a very arduous time of it. If ever there was a time for Americans to rally round & support the Chief Magistrate, & Government of their Country, now is that time. The President has received more applause in this State, for his appointment of Mr D. R. Williams as a Brigr General of the army of the United States, than3 any appointment he has made since he has been in office
I remain with the highest consideration
Thomas Lehré
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson late President of the U. States. Monticello”; endorsed by TJ as received 21 July 1813 and so recorded in SJL.
On 28 June 1776 British admiral sir peter parker launched an attack on Fort Sullivan in Charleston Harbor. The invasion was successfully repulsed by Colonel William moultrie, in whose honor the fort was renamed later that year ( ). Lehré enclosed a copy of the thirty-five toasts printed in the 5 July 1813 Charleston City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser, which were offered at the 28 June 1813 celebration of the Palmetto Society. The fifth toast honored “Thomas Jefferson—The Statesman and the Philosopher, the great champion of Republicanism, and the scourge of Aristocracy.” The first American frigate lost in the War of 1812 was the chesapeake, defeated by the British frigate Shannon on 1 June 1813 ( , 98–9). President James Madison had recently appointed former South Carolina congressman David Rogerson williams a brigadier general ( , 2:352, 354 [10, 14 June 1813]; ).
1. Manuscript: “of.”
2. Manuscript: “will find will you.”
3. Manuscript: “that.”
Index Entries
- Charleston, S.C.; celebrates Revolutionary War victory search
- Charleston, S.C.; Palmetto Society search
- Chesapeake, USS (frigate); capture of during War of1812 search
- City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser (Charleston, S.C., newspaper) search
- Fort Moultrie, S.C. search
- Lehré, Thomas; and celebration of Revolutionary War victory search
- Lehré, Thomas; letters from search
- Lehré, Thomas; on War of1812 search
- Madison, James; administration of supported search
- Madison, James; and appointments search
- Moultrie, William search
- newspapers; Charleston City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser search
- Palmetto Society (Charleston) search
- Parker, Sir Peter; British admiral search
- Shannon, HMS (frigate) search
- War of1812; capture of USS Chesapeake during search
- Williams, David Rogerson; military appointment of search