31From George Washington to William Davies, 24 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favr of the 20th ulto inclosing a representation signed by you and a number of the Feild Officers of the Virginia line against the readmission of Brigadier Weedon to command in the line of that State—Being a stranger to the transactions which took place at the time General Weedon was thought to have retired from service, I can give no decided opinion upon the propriety of...
32From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The want of a board of Council prevented our taking up the final arrangement of the Clothier’s duties till yesterday, the paper I sent you having contained only what was proposed to be agreed on. Unfortunately no copy of it was retained, so that I am obliged to ask the favor of you to return it if you still have it. We have here a large number of undressed deer-skins, and no person who can...
33Steuben to William Davies, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I am unacquainted with officers commanding the Militia at Richmond, and it being my desire that of those that are Armed one half shall march immediately to Turkey Island and the other to the Long bridge on Chickahominy, I have inclosed the order, which I request you to communicate. I only wait the arival of Colo. Senf, to visit hoods and Blands Ordinary, where I intend making the...
34From George Washington to William Davies, 16 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon viewing the troops of the Virginia Line this morning I find that they are almost totally destitute of Cloathing that is even necessary for the present season in consequence of which upwards of one third of them are renderd at present unfit for service. The importance of present exertions need not be pen’d as I flatter myself you must already be convinced of the necessity of them. You will...
35To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 10–11 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
War Office [ Richmond ], 10 Apr. 1781 . Many men already discharged from the army have arrears in pay due them. “It is hard upon these men to lose their pay, and it is exceedingly troublesome to this office, to the Auditors and to your Excellency, for the adjustment of each man’s claim to be thrown individually upon us. I would therefore submit it to your Excellency, whether it will not be...
36Henry Young to William Davies, 13 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Richmond, 13 May 1781 . Disapproves of continuing the work at Point of Fork; suggests Staunton as a more secure location. “I wish you cou’d be every where, the Governor does not stay here , your presence is much wanted. … The Governor is the best man in the world and, if I mistake not, open to conviction. Were you to use your influence with him I think he might be prevailed on to give up this...
37From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben having desired that all Issues and Furnitures from us to the Continent might be on his Order while here, I immediately on Receipt of your Letter sent it down to the Baron; he was just set out to Hoods. I therefore have given an Order to Mr. Armistead to deliver the Materials to the Person attending for you that they may be making up and paying due Attention to the Barons Request....
38To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 31 March–2 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Captain Young, the Quartermaster general of the state, who has just arrived, informs me that he saw at Edentown about 30 exceeding fine cannon of 18s and 24s. He asked the Naval officer, whose they were, who informed him they were the property of the State of Virginia, thrown out of a French vessel, who carried the remainder of them to South quay. As I have no return of any thing of the kind,...
39Henry Young to William Davies, 30 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The plan propos’d by Mr. Ross for the building of Mr. Andersons shop I think a good one. Wou’d not 20 insted of 28 feet [be] wide enough? I dont know whether it wou’d not be best to have a store house at one end of the Shop. There is but one reason can operate against it, that is fire. Mr. Ford informs me that you will be at the point of fork this evening. Will you be so good as to take this...
40From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 13 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of March 8th and 11th. have remained so long unanswered from a constant Hurry of Business, but orders were immediately given for executing your requisitions as far as could be. Mr. Armistead tells me he has procured you one set of Shoemaker Tools, being the whole to be found here which now go to you; He sends also the Deer skins which on receipt of your Letter on that Subject I had...
41George Twyman to Nicholas Lewis and Isaac Davis, with Jefferson’s Instructions to William Davies, 20–28 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Sixth of October last I Delivered to Mr. Joseph Hawkins Comasery at the Barracks 139 ℔ of mutten at 4. Dollars pr. pound, which I agree’d with him for a few Days before, for which I took a receit of Mr. John Tomas his assistant, Mr. Hawkins being some-where about The Store. I wated with patience as no money was to be had, and between the 5th. and 10th. March notis was given For Every body...
42From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 25 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received a letter from Baron Steuben informing me that at the date of it (the 23d) he was on his way to the old Court house to fit the new recruits for the feild, and supposing it might be in your power to aid them with some articles necessary for them. If any thing can be done by the state in this way I think it will be of essential good, as, wherever these recruits are to be...
43From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies?, 27 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Not having that kind of knolege of the transactions of the artificers which is acquired by personal inspection, we think it will be better that a determination on the above point should be suspended until Colo. Davies shall become so far acquainted with them as will enable him to form a judgment on the subject. RC (Paul C. Richards Autographs, Brookline, Massachusetts, 1969); unaddressed, but...
44From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 3 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearers of your Letters have unfortunately called on me generally in the afternoon when it is impossible to consult the Council, and of course to answer you, which occasions a delay of answer. This was the case with Dr. Munro. I now inclose you an order for the medicine. We can furnish you with about 400 yds. of a coarse woolen which may be made to answer the purpose of blankets in the...
45From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 9 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Robertson receives a warrant for £2500, and an order for a tierce of rice from our stock. We have none of the other articles desired, but am in hopes he may be able to purchase them. As to the soap from the Barracks I imagine the requisition to the commissary general of issues would go more properly from yourself, as it is continental property. Shoud any difficulty occur in this, Genl....
46From John Christian Senf, with Jefferson’s Instructions to William Davies, 26 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
By our present Situation Your Excellency will find it highly Necessary, that all kind of Intrenching Tools, as well for the defensive as offensive Operations, should be got immediatly ready. I take therefore the Liberty to propose what Kind and Quantity of Tools [there] may be Occasion for, 800 Spades 400 Common Axes 200 Broad and Grubbing Hoes 100 Pick Axes 300 Fashine Knifes and smal...
47Samuel Patteson to William Davies, 27 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to your Instructions I have sent on four hundred stand of arms. The Waggon that brought your Marque to Colo. Lewis’s went off before I received your Letter which was this morning. Carver lost two of his horses last night, however, Mr. Southall procured Waggons for the purpose. Your Marque I have paid particular attention to. I have reserved six shirts, one I believe Colo. St[arke]...
48To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 12 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I was desired by the Baron before his leaving town to lay before your Excellency, an extract of a letter from General Greene, which unintentionally he omitted to present to you yesterday, altho’ I think he said he had conversed with you on this subject. His great anxiety for an immediate supply of ammunition to be forwarded on to General Greene has induced him to press this matter with so much...
49From Thomas Jefferson to William Davies, 31 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Patterson and Mr. Southall communicated to me your orders for removing the stores to Henderson’s on the North river, and thence upwards. The superior expediency of removing them to the main river appeared to the council so evident that they had fixed on that river as the proper line of deposit: I have consulted with many gentlemen of judgment now at Charlottesville, and the same measure...
50Henry Young to William Davies, 9 June 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Iron Chest that was put in your Waggon contains a number of Papers of consequence, you will be pleas’d to take it with you to this place. We have reason to apprehend that the Enemy are within twelve miles of Charlottesville. I apprehended two days ago a Desserter on suspicion of his being a spie. Circumstances are strong against him but no positive proof. He says that the Enemy will be...
51To Thomas Jefferson from William Davies, with Reply, 29 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I find the number of waggons in the QMG’s department so utterly inadequate to the wants of the State, that the most common purposes of that department cannot be executed, nor any assistance afforded to the others. At present, indeed, Mr. Brown the commissary general has the greater part of them employed by him. Nothing can be done, therefore, in the collection of military stores without an...
52From George Washington to Colonel William Davies, 20 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of the 20th of last month —and Mr Harrison has communicated to me the contents of one he had received from You of the same date. The arrangement of Officers for the Regiments gone to the Southward, was made at philadelphia—after the Virginia line marched from hence—and I do not know the reasons which operated, for appointing Colo. Gist to the command of one of them...