1From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 15 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letter which came by a flag of truce from New-York, will, I imagine, inform you that prisoners from your state are sent here for the purpose of exchange. A copy of a letter from the master of the flag I also take the liberty of inclosing, as it will give you further information of their arrival here and escape from the flag. The master is to await the return of the prisoners whom...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 26 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your friendly communication of the intelligence from the Chevalier de la Luzerne. It was delivered to me on the 22d. Instant, two days after the date of your letter, and three days sooner than I received it by Express in the ordinary way, a Time very precious if the Enemy should really visit us. I was sorry that the Master of the Vessel returned before I could send to him,...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 14 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I lately received a resolution of Congress of the 5th instant requesting the establishment of a line of expresses from Cape Henry to Philadelphia. I had before on application from General Washington formed such a Line from Cape Henry to this place in order to communicate such intelligence as I should receive to the gentleman entrusted by the General with the duty of keeping a Look out at that...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 28 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Having just received from Carolina an authentic state of things as they exist there at present, I have thought it worthy of being communicated to Congress by putting into motion our line of express riders . The sum of it is that Clinton has sailed with about 5000 men from Charlestown; but whither, is not known: that that place is garrisoned by 800 men: that they have 2500 men at Cambden; their...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 15 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
On receipt of your Letter yesterday on the subject of Stephen Mister, I enquired of the Jailer and had from him information that such a person was Sent here from Accomack in June last, charged with high treason: that the Judges at the last court admitted him to bail, (the testimony probably appearing slight) binding him in a penalty of £100,000 himself and two sureties in £50,000 each for his...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, enclosing Signals of Recognition for Maryland and Virginia Vessels, 3 September … (Jefferson Papers)
I received your Excellency’s favor of the 28th. of August on the 30th of the same month, and should have answered it immediately but that a previous enquiry was necessary what force we could certainly contribute to the enterprize proposed. I have it now in my power to inform you that a brig carrying 14. Guns, 4. pounders and two swift sailing armed boats shall be ready to join the force from...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 13 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We have received Information that a certain James Anderson, a Subject of this State, was captured in one of the Barges or Gallies which have, for some Time past, infested our Bay and interrupted our Trade, by Capts. Yellatt and Folger and carried into the State of Virginia, and is now confined at Richmond. Anderson, before and since our Government was formed, lived on Fell’s Point in Baltimore...
8[From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 14 September 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 14 Sep. 1780 . Anderson Galleries, sale catalogue, 19–20 Jan. 1926 (James H. Manning Sale), lot 861, lists a 1-page A.L.S. from TJ to Gov. Lee of this date announcing recapture of 150 Maryland troops from the British and expressing doubt that the enemy will “risque any naval force at Portsmouth while the superiority of the combined naval power in the American seas is so decided.”...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 26 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Executive of this State, think it expedient and necessary that under our present circumstances the prisoners of war under the Convention of Saratoga, be removed from their present situation. Many circumstances have led to this necessity. It will be utterly impracticable as long as they remain with us to prevent the hostile army now in this State from being reinforced by numerous desertions...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 2 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
In the course of examination of a British deserter this morning some information was given interesting to the state over which your Excellency presides and which therefore I think it my duty to communicate. He calls himself Peter Christian; says he is a native of New York, was taken in Fort Montgomery; that after being kept two years in prison he was induced to enlist into the British service...
11[From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 3 November 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond, 3 Nov. 1780. A letter from the Maryland Council to Col. Moses Rawlings dated 10 Nov. states: “we have received one from Governor Jefferson, of the 3d informing us that he had given Directions for the March of the Convention Troops, in two Divisions, the first to consist of the British, amounting to about 804 Rank and File, the second consists wholly of Germans, in Number, the...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 19 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 19 Nov. 1780. The first paragraph of this letter is identical with the first paragraph in TJ’s letter to Gates of this date, except that after “coming up James river” TJ here adds: “or I suppose any other of the waters of the Chesapeake.” The second paragraph of the letter to Lee is identical with the second paragraph of TJ’s letter to Huntington of this date, except that it lacks...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 15 Jan. 1781. This letter is virtually identical in substance with the preceding letter to Samuel Huntington, q.v. FC ( Vi ); 2 p.; at head of text: “Governor Lee and President of the Board of War”; the letter sent to Lee is printed in Md. Archives , xlvii , 17–19. A copy was enclosed in TJ’s letter to Benjamin Harrison, 29 Jan. 1781 , q.v.
14From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 1 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am much obliged by your Excellency’s favour of Janury. 5th. Joseph Shoemaker is a citizen of this State and has been an active mischeivous traitor. The dangers of escape on the road from Baltimore to this place, and from this place, where since our removal from Wmsburg no public jail has been yet erected, are so great as to induce me to suggest to your Excellency the trial and punishment of...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 6 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the Honor of receiving yesterday your Excellency’s Favour of February 27th. and had just before received the resolutions of Congress of February 20th which were the Subject of the Letter. I think that we ought not to expect any Cooperation in this Business from North Carolina and that we should be disappointed were we to expect it. A State in the midst of which are several different...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 12 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The prisoners of Convention and those taken at the Cowpens having been ordered on the late Approach of Lord Cornwallis to move on to our Northern Boundary, while Congress could be consulted as to what should be done with them, I have received a Letter from the President from which the inclosed is extracted. They have I believe reached as far as Winchester from which place they are now ordered...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 12 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency’s Favor of the 7th. came to Hand last night. We have been endeavouring to procure what armed vessels we could, but they are in James river and of Course cannot possibly get out of that River, but under Countenance of a Naval power superior to that of the Enemy; and indeed they are so trifling that they could not venture up the Bay were they out of James River. From the best...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Sim Lee, 21 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 21 Mch. 1781 . This letter is virtually identical with TJ’s letter to Samuel Huntington, same date , q.v., but with the omission noted there. Tr ( MdAA ). FC ( Vi ). Enclosure ( MdAA ): Copy of James Barron to TJ, 20 Mch. 1781 , q.v.