1To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Montgomery County [ Va. ], Mch. 1780 . Has received circumstantial information that “a Number of Men dissafected to the present Government had combined to disturb the Peace of this unhappy Frontier as soon as the Season would Permit and the british Troops could gain any Footing in So. Carolina.” There are now fifteen British commissions in this county and that of Washington. Nor is this the...
2To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 8 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
A most horrid Conspiracy amongst the Tories in this Country being providentialy discovered about ten Days ago obliged me Not only to raise the militia of the County but to ca[ll] for so large a Number from the Counties of Washington and Botetourt that there are upwards of four hundred men now on Duty exclusive of a Party which I hear Col. Lynch marched from Bedford towards the Mines yesterday....
3To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 10 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Carter Just now delivered me your Excellency’s Letter with the other Papers for this County committed to his Care. I shall do all in my Power to comply with the Instructions I have received, as well as the Acts of Assembly; but I am doubtful it will be sometime before I can attempt it. Lord Cornwallis with his Army having proceeded so far into the State of North Carolina that the Militia...
4To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 10 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Yesterday I received your Excellency’s Letter with other Papers by Wheeling the Messenger. I was then on my Way from Montgomery Court House where I had called a meeting of the Officers and Magistrates in order to lay off the County into Districts agreeable to the act of Assembly for raising Troops for the Continental Army; And as I had but Just parted with several of the Officers and Justices...
5To Thomas Jefferson from William Preston, 13 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Enclosed I have sent your Excellency a return of the militia of this county, according to the lists delivered by the captains a few days past. I expect the number will encrease fast, as many people have removed and are removing from the troubles of the Southern states, to take shelter here for a time, until the storm blows over. This induces me to hope that your Excellency will order this...