1From George Washington to the Virginia Delegates, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of yours of the 16th instant. I know of no more eligible mode of remitting the 30,080 dollars for payment of the additional Bounty to the reinlisted Men of the Virginia Regiments, than by giving a special order to the paymaster General to pay that Sum to me or my order. I only beg, that the Gentlemen of the treasury Board may be reminded that as pay is due the greatest part of...
2From George Washington to the Virginia Delegates, 13 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honoured with Your favor of the 6th Instant, inclosing a Letter of the 29th Ulto—and a Copy of a Memorial from Colonel Spotswood to Congress, and requesting my advice upon the subject of introducing him into the Army again & appointing him a Brigadier. As you have been pleased to ask my Opinion upon the occasion, I shall give it with freedom and candor. I cannot advise the measure....
3From George Washington to the Virginia Delegates, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honoured with your favor of the 21st Instant. From the present condition and arrangement of the Cavalry, I can not think that Major Lee’s Corps can be sent to Virginia, consistently with the general service; nor would I willingly indulge the idea, that their aid can be materially wanted, from any number of Horse the Enemy carried with them. It is but small, and I should hope...
4Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 8 March 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. The inclosed papers so fully explain themselves, that I need say nothing more to apprize you of the Subject. Should the Governor of Maryland and President of Maryland not close with my third proposition you are hereby authorized to treat with the Delegates of those two States or any other Person appointed by the States and to settle the best...
5Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 15 March 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. A Difference of opinion having taken place between the Executive of this State and Mr Simon Nathan as to the rate at which certain Bills of exchange should be discharged in paper money—we have agreed with him to refer it to such Gentlemen of Knowledge in the Laws, of established Character & of any other State as yourselves shall mutually agree...
6Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 26 March 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. I beg leave to ask your Sollicitations with Congress for Permission to Colo. William Davies of the Virginia line to accept an Appointment to the War Office of this State without prejudice to his rank and right to half-pay for life, Lands, and Depreciation of pay. I am in Hopes it will be the more easily obtained as by the Discontinuance of...
7George Mason to Virginia Delegates, 3 and 20 April 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Madison Papers). Although “Duplicate” was written by Mason at the top of the first sheet of his three-page letter, this copy is obviously the one received by the delegates. On the cover is written, “Colchester Way—The Honble the Virginia Delegates in Congress. Per Post. Philadelphia.” Colchester, fronting Occoquan Creek, was the post-road village (no longer extant) near Mason’s...
8Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 6 April 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. A copy of the second paragraph in JM’s hand is in NA : PCC , No. 71, II, 95. It is docketed, “Extract of a letter from Gov of Virginia April 6, 1781 Read 23 Referred to the board of treasy Letter filed April 24 & Reported.” I have received your letter informing us of the Arrival of our Arms &c from Rhode Island at Philadelphia, and must pray you...
9Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 9 April 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. Since my letter of the 6th. I receive Information that two Parcels of Medicines marked CV (which we construed Commonwealth of Virginia) were consigned on private Account to Monsieur Coulaux la Vigne, and with other Parts of the Cargo of Le Comité were considered as ours; Be so good as to cause Delivery of them to be made to Monsr Coulaux la...
10Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 13 April 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk. Your letter of the 3d inst. came to hand yesterday. You will by this Time have received letters from me desiring you to do what you have done as to the Arms and in some measure as to the refugees. It would be more agreable to us that they should be sent to France than delivered up to us. I beg leave to add to the Names of those I before...
11Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 10 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 71, II, 109–10). Written by a clerk and signed by Jefferson. Directed to “The Honble The Virga. Delegates in Congress.” Docketed, “Letter from Govr Jefferson May 10 1781 Read 29 Referred to the board of War.” The file copy is in the Virginia State Library and a transcript in LC : Jefferson Papers. A small Affair has taken Place between the British commanding Officer in this...
12Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates and George Washington, 10 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Written by a clerk and directed to “His Excellency General Washington & the Honble Virginia Delegates in Congress.” The papers of the Executive having been almost wholly lost in the visit which was made by General Arnold to this place, we are endeavouring to procure Copies of as many of them as we can. As the Correspondence with Congress is among the most important...
13Thomas Jefferson to Virginia Delegates, 14 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In clerk’s hand. Directed to “The Honble Virginia Delegates in Congress.” I have received your Favor of the 5th. Inst and am obliged to you for the notification of the State of the Continental Money of which we shall endeavour to arm ourselves to prevent Loss to the State. We are much obliged to his Excellency the Chevalier de la Luzerne for his Readiness to secure...
14David Ross to Virginia Delegates, 18 May 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 78, XIX, 371–76). Addressed to “The Honorable the Delegates for Virginia in Congress Philadelphia.” Docketed: “A letter from D Ross May 18. 1781 Read 29. Part referred to the board of treasury Part to board of war[,] to take order.” The vicinity of the Enemy to this place having determined the Assembly to adjourn to Charlottesvile where they are soon to meet The removal of...
15George Nicolson to Virginia Delegates, [ca. 25 May] 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 78, XVII, 139). Addressed to “The Honble the Delagates in Congress for the State of Virginia.” Docketed by Charles Thomson, “Letter from Geo Nicolson Read May 26. 1781 Referred to the board of War.” Articles in the Public Magazine, wanted for the State of Virginia Gentlemen Above is a List of such necessarys now in the Continental Store which are much wanted in our State...
16George Nicolson to Virginia Delegates, [ca. 28 May] 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 78, XIX, 377–80). Addressed to “The Honble the Delegates for the State of Virginia in Congress.” The docket reads: “Estimate of Monies wanted for the purpose of repairing arms &c for the State of Virginia. May 29h. 1781. Referred to the Board of Treasury. Treasury Board 30th May 1781 A Warrant Reported on Mr Smith.” repairing 2000 Stand of Arms and fitting on Bayonets @ 9/–...
17Richard Henry Lee to Virginia Delegates, 12 June 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( LC : Rives Collection of Madison Papers). Endorsed by Joseph Jones, “June 12. 1781 R H. Lee.” The postscript, except for its signature, is not in Lee’s hand. I am not informed who of our Delegates remain at Congress and therefore this letter is addressed to you whom I have good reason to suppose are yet there. The unhappy crisis of our countrys fate demands the closest attention of all...
18Lewis Nicola to Virginia Delegates, 22 June 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 163, fols. 223–25). The letter is addressed “To the Honle. Delegates for the State of Virginia” and is docketed, “Nicola respecting Capt Cooper to the Delegates of Virginia June 22d 1781.” The liberty I take will, I am persuaded, be pardoned when you find the opportunity it gives you of exercising your humanity in favour of a very worthy & deserving officer reduced to...
19Leonard Cooper to Virginia Delegates, [22 June] 1781 (Madison Papers)
MS ( NA : PCC , No. 163, fol. 227). To The Honble. the deligates for the State of Virginia in Congress The memorial of Leonard Cooper Captain in the Invalid Regiment formerly of the 4th Virginia Regiment Sheweth, That your memorialist having Receiv’d a wound in the month of October 1779 which has renderd him uncapable of doing duty with his Regiment ever since—and being much Embarrass’d by not...
20Joseph Reed to Virginia Delegates, [10 July] 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Division of Public Records of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission). Addressed to “the Hon. the Delegates of Virginia.” I have the Honour to acknowledge the Receipt of your Memorial on the Detention of the Property of the State of Virginia. And beg Leave to assure you of our entire Disapprobation of the Measure & Concern at so disagreeable an Incidint. As the Case is of the...
21Joseph Reed to Virginia Delegates, [12 July] 1781 (Madison Papers)
Printed text ( Pennsylvania Archives Samuel Hazard et al ., eds., Pennsylvania Archives (9 ser., 138 vols.; Philadelphia and Harrisburg, 1852–1949). , 1st ser., IX, 271). Endorsed, “1781, July 12th. To Hon’ble Delegates of Virginia in Congress.” I take the earliest oppy to inform you that the Council fully concur with you in your Sentiments respecting the Seizure of Property of the...
22Thomas Nelson to Virginia Delegates, 26 July 1781 (Madison Papers)
Draft (Virginia State Library). Docketed, “The Delegates July 26th. 1781.” In 1929, when H. R. McIlwaine published this letter in his edition of the Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia , Volume III, he stated on page 12 that the original manuscript was among the “Continental Congress Papers, Library of Congress.” The present editors have been unable to find the...
23Thomas Nelson to Virginia Delegates, 3 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). In the hand of a clerk. In the last Letter I wrote to you I mentioned that a Fleet of the Enemy’s Transports with Troops on Board had fallen down from Portsmouth into Hampton Road. They have since moved round into York River and have landed both on the York and Gloucester Shores. The uncertainty we were in with respect to their Intentions had induced the Marquis to...
24Alexander Spotswood to Virginia Delegates, 19 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC ( NA : PCC , No. 78, XXI, 109–11). Addressed “To The Hb. The Virga. Delegates” and docketed: “Letter from Alexr Spotswood Augt. 19h. 1781. read 21st. referred to Mr Varnum Mr Duane Mr Bland Report of Committee. Aug 27. 1781 Entered. Read.” My business here is to procure accoutriments For the two Legions now raiseing for the defence of our state, and which I have the honr. to Command and it...
25Thomas Nelson to Virginia Delegates, 5 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
Draft (Virginia State Library). Endorsed, “To the Delegates in Congress Octr. 5. 1781.” Since I last wrote, I have received your Favours of Sepr. 11th & 18th. A variety of Causes conspired to prevent a regular Acknowledgment of them, but as we are now Stationary, & have reduced Matters into some order, I shall venture to promise you, that you shall weekly at least receive the Occurences of...
26Thomas Nelson to Virginia Delegates, 20 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Docketed: “To the Delegates Octr. 20. 1781 From Gov Nelson Congratulates Delegates on the Capture of York Town & Gloucester & the whole British army at these points yesterday (19th) the whole Garrison marched out and grounded their Arms.” It is with infinite Pleasure I congratulate you on the Reduction of York & Gloucester, & the Capture of the whole British Army...
27Richard Peters to Virginia Delegates, 16 November 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). The cover, addressed to “The honl The Delegates of Virginia,” is also marked “No. 6,” probably signifying that the delegates enclosed the letter with their missing dispatch of 17 November 1781 to Governor Nelson. We have been honoured with your Note on the Subject of the Provision making for cloathing the Troops. This Business being now executing by collecting the...
28Benjamin Harrison to Virginia Delegates, 1 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
FC (Virginia State Library). Inclosed you have two Resolutions of the General Assembly of this St[ate] respecting the feeding of the British Prisoners now with us. The Resolutions ind[eed] only prohibit the Impress of Provisions, but I would recommend it to you to [ask?] Congress immediately, to send a Commissary forward, or the Troops will suffer, perhaps starve, the State having no Means of...
29Benjamin Lincoln[?] to Virginia Delegates, 14 December[?] 1781 (Madison Papers)
Extract (American Art Association Catalogue [21–22 January 1926], Charles A. Munn Collection, item 186). The description in the catalogue reads: “An interesting letter written while Secretary of War and addressed to the delegates in Congress from Virginia [a.l.s.]. The letter is written in the form of twelve questions, asked to ascertain the resources of Virginia, undoubtedly for the files of...
30Daniel Murray to Virginia Delegates, 29 December 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). This memorial was enclosed in the delegates’ letter of 8 January 1782 to Governor Harrison . The Honble. the Delegates in Congress from the State of Virginia The Memorial of Daniel Murray Respectfully Sheweth That your Memorialist was left in the Illinois Country in the Year 1776 Charged with the Commercial affairs of his Brother Willm. Murray with directions in...