From Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell, 1 March 1781
To Nathaniel Burwell
In Council March 1st 1781
Sir
I shall be obliged to you if you will put the six months Men of your County under the Care of some officer coming with discharged Militia by this place. Baron Steuben has furnished Officers to go to each of the places of Rendezvous mentioned in my circular Letter to receive the Draughts. None but these can receive them, which renders it necessary that yours should be sent to the Rendezvous. Chesterfield Courthouse, I suppose is the one you will send to where an Officer is ready to receive them. I am, &c. &c.,
T. J.
FC (Vi); at head of text: “Colo. Nathaniel Burwell.”
My circular letter: A note to this letter in (ii, 380) states, incorrectly, that the letter referred to was possibly an undated draft of a letter to the county lieutenants (printed in this edition under 1 Aug. 1780; see note there for reasons for dating). It is not clear whether TJ refers to his circular letter to the county lieutenants of 19 Jan. 1781, or whether, possibly, he referred to a (missing) letter to the county lieutenants of James City (of which Burwell was county lieutenant), Williamsburg, York, Warwick and Elizabeth City dated 28 Feb. or 1 Mch. 1781 (see Notes concerning Preparations for the Expedition against Portsmouth, printed under 3 Mch. 1781).