1Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 24 July 1781 (Madison Papers)
Copy (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones and enclosed in the delegates’ letter of 31 July to Nelson ( q.v. ). Probably the recipient’s copy, which was intercepted by the British, was also written by Jones. The information in the letter and also much of the wording are identical with Jones’s letter of the same day, probably to Edmund Pendleton ( Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett,...
2Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 31 July 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Haverford College Library). Written by Joseph Jones. The cover is missing, but the contents of the letter, especially the designation of the recipient as “your Excellency,” permit no doubt as to whom the dispatch was addressed. The Rider being robid of the Mail a few miles on this side of Wilmington prevented your Excellency from receiving our Letter of last week a copy of which we now...
3Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 7 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
Printed excerpts (Parke-Bernet Catalogue No. 54 [25–26 October 1938], item 167; Burnett, Letters Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress (8 vols.; Washington, 1921–36). , VI, 170). The letter was written by Joseph Jones and signed by Jones, JM, Theodorick Bland, and Edmund Randolph. The excerpts below amount to somewhat more than half the letter, since the...
4Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 14 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. The letter is obviously a communication from all the delegates, even though the signatures of JM, Edmund Randolph, and Meriwether Smith do not appear. We have your favor of the 27th. ulto. The Delegates moved in Congress for a resolution to furnish our State with some passports for Vessells to import Salt only from Bermuda and load with...
5Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 20 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (New York Public Library). Entirely in JM’s hand, except for the signatures of the other delegates. Addressed to “His Excellency Thomas Nelson Esqr. Governor of Virginia[,] By Mr Nicholson.” Probably it was delivered by George Nicolson, returning from Philadelphia, where he had been sent by the commercial agent of Virginia to purchase matériel for state troops. See Agreement with Cowell, 27...
6Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 21 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Meriwether Smith, except for the other signatures. Addressed to “His Excellency Thomas Nelson Esqr. Govr. of Viga. at Richmond.” We had the Honour, Yesterday, of writing to your Excellency by Mr. Nicolson; since which no Intelligence of Importance hath transpired. By some Accident or other the Mail from Virginia did not arrive yesterday; and we are not...
7Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 28 August 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). Written by Joseph Jones except for the other signatures. With this letter the Virginia delegates began numbering their dispatches to Nelson at the top. This was “No. 7.” We were yesterday favored with your Excellency’s two letters of the 10th. & 17th. instant. Our plan of writing weekly by the post has we assure you been in no instance departed from. As...
8Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 4 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Entirely in JM’s hand, except for Jones’s and Bland’s signatures. Docketed: “Delegates Sept. 4. recd 13th.” and “Genl Washington with a part of the American Army and the Count de Rochambeau with the whole of the French thus far on their way to Virginia.” “No. 8.” is written at the top of the letter. Yesterday’s post brought us no letter from your Excellency. We...
9Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 11 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). In JM’s hand, except for the signatures of Jones, Bland, and Randolph. “No. 9.” is written at the top. Another post has arrived without our being favored with a line from your Excellency. A letter has been received by the President of this State from Governor Livingston containing intelligence that General Clinton is preparing to embark a large body of troops at N....
10Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 18 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written and franked by Theodorick Bland. Addressed to “His Excelly. Thos. Nelson Esqr. Govr. of Virginia.” “No. 10” is written at the top of the letter. It was opened in Richmond by the Council of State during the absence of Nelson and then forwarded to him in “Camp before York.” The delegates would not number their future letters. We have been honord with Yr....
11Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 25 September 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Theodorick Bland, who also signed for JM. Received in Nelson’s absence but, although obviously opened, apparently not acknowledged by the addressee or the lieutenant governor. Yesterdays post arrived without any letter from your Excelly. to us. We cannot help observing to your Excelly. that the Operations of the fleet and army are of so important a...
12Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 9 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Edmund Randolph and signed by him and JM. Docketed: “From the Delegates. Octr. 9. ‘81[.] Letter from Mess. Madison & Randolph: asking Weekly information of the progress of our Army and detailing the effort in Congress to enquire into the title of Virginia New York & Connecticut to the lands respectively ceded by these States.” When your excellency...
13Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 16 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). In Edmund Randolph’s hand, except for the signatures of JM and Joseph Jones. Your excellency’s favor of the 5th. instant gives us great reason to flatter ourselves upon the present prospect in Virginia Intelligence from New-York announces a fixed purpose in Sir Henry Clinton to force his way into the Chesapeake, with a fleet of 26 certainly, and...
14Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 23 October 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). Written and franked by Edmund Randolph, signed by JM and Joseph Jones. Addressed, “Public service His excellency The governor of Virginia Richmond.” The committee, to whom was referred the cession of Virginia, have been industrious in the audience of counsel, and investigation of the claims of the several great land companies. We refused to attend their...
15Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 7 November 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Edmund Randolph. JM’s name was signed by Joseph Jones. For the present week, we have nothing particular to communicate; the State of the discussion of the cession of Virginia not yet being prepared. We shall therefore postpone any farther observations on this head, intending to accompany our next information with an account of the quota of money,...
16Virginia Delegates to Thomas Nelson, 20 November 1781 (Madison Papers)
RC (Virginia State Library). Written by Joseph Jones. Docketed, “Virga Delegates Letter Dated Nov 20th 1781 recd. Nov. 29th. 81.” Our Letter of the 17th. by Capt. Irish contains those communications, which would otherwise have been the subject of this weeks correspondence. We have now to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Andrews’s Letter of the 9th. conveying to us the disagreeable information of...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 16 May 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here last Tuesday after being detained hence six weeks longer than I intended by a malady of which Gilmer can inform you. I have nothing new to inform you of as the last post carried you an account of the naval engagement in Delaware. I inclose a vote of yesterday on the subject of government as the ensuing campaign is likely to require greater exertion than our unorganized powers...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 2 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It happened unfortunately that from the Tenor of Mr. Wrays Lett[er] which gave us the first Intelligence of the Appearance of an Enemy we had reason to expect more precise Information within a few Hours. None such having come within fifty Hours, the first Intelligence had become totally disbelieved. At 10 o’Clock this morning I first received Confirmation of it. Orders go out by the members of...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 12 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Eppes, Doct. Griffin, Doct. Foushee, Mr. Hylton, Mr. Selden and others wish to serve in the Cavalry during the Invasion. We give orders to furnish them with such accoutrements as we have, and will be oblig[ed] to you to form them and others into a proper troop or troops, settling the commands as shall be most agreeable to themselves. I am With great respect, Sir, your most obed. Servt., FC...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 12 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy left a number of Horses at Westover which they had taken during their late incursion. Colo. Nicholas very properly ordered a party to take charge of them and bring them to the Quarter Master where they might be kept for the Owners to come and claim them; but I am well informed that in the [mean] time several Men of Capt. Hockaday’s Command of Charles City have plundered and carried...
21From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I suppose by this time you may have more Men than Arms, and there are no more Arms fit for use remaining in the public Stock, œconomy will require that the surplus Militia be discharged. This measure is the more necessary, as the law for raising new levies remains unexecuted while the Militia are from their Counties. I shall therefore take the liberty of pointing out to you, as I have done...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have never heard a tittle of the Enemy since your information that they were at Sandy Point the day after they left Westover; nor is any thing known at this place as to their subsequent Movements. As this want of intelligence might eventually be fatal, I have ordered an Express to be stationed at Bottom’s Bridge, another at New Kent Court House, a third at Bird’s tavern, a fourth at...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 16 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer hereof Capt. Joel proposes to engage two others to undertake with himself an enterprize on the Enemy’s fleet wherever it shall be collected in Harbour. As he requires only an old Vessell of the most worthless kind, and proper preparations for her, I think the object will justify the risk. So many Orders and Measures may be necessary in the detail of executing this Business that I...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 20 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I will send to Mr. Brown the Commissary the Paragraph from your Letter relative to Provisions with orders for him to take measures for Relief. At the same time I wish the Principal expenditures could be in Indian meal that the Flour might be kept as much as possible for the Summer’s use. Majr. Hollier has no authority to make exchange [of] Prisoners with the enemy. The inclosed Proclamation...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 25 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I gave orders to Mr. Brown to send you a Sufficiency of Flour to fill up any Intervals which might happen between your Supplies of indian meal. We think the Stands of Arms you have directed to be purchased at Baltimore are a great Bargain if they be really good and will certainly find means of paying for them. The Corn at Cumberland was Continental Property having been delivered to Colo....
26From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 10 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Information having been given the Board that sundry Horses of British property, having been left by the Enemy, were taken by our Militia or un-armed Citizens, and a question made whether they belong to the Commonwealth or the Captor, we are of opinion that they should be yeilded to the Captor. It is thought however where any possible doubt can arise who was the Captor, that the Horse should be...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 13 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your suspension of Capt. Joel’s enterprise against the Enemy’s fleet seems to have been well grounded. It was become so universally known, as to leave little doubt of the Enemy’s being apprised of it and of course prepared against it. Capt. Maxwell had some time before informed me that the Dragon had been devoted to this purpose. He at the same time assured me he had found it impossible to...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am very anxious to prepare for cooperating with our Allies, and for providing for their support. For the former purpose measures are taking as agreed on this moment in a conference with Baron Steuben. For the latter we suppose York town the most effectual to prepare as an Assylum for their Vessels. Colo. Senf comes down with instructions to point out what may be done there in a short time;...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Nelson, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your letter of the 18th. the night before last and deferred answering it till I could confer with Baron Steuben which I had an opportunity of doing yesterday evening. He shewed me a letter from Monsr. Tilly from which and the information of his aid who went down, we suppose the French squadron sailed on a cruise yesterday morning. They will however be within our call, and therefore...
30Sans to Thomas Nelson, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I’ve the pleasure of informing you of the arrival of the eight prizes taken by the french Commodore Mr. Le Gardeur de tilly. They are all under the direction of Mr. Cottes which been appoint’d Commander of the prize Brig Cornwallis. Also the french Squadron [lyes] now at anckor at Linheaven Bay Between Horse Shoe and the Cap Henry. It Seems that they will enter Soon this River; the officer...