61To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Read, 4 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday by express, your Orders to March one hundred and fifty Six of the Militia from this County Properly officered and Armed to join General Greene. I find it impossible to procure Arms for even a Sergeants Guard, the whole of the Arms of any worth in this County have been given up and impressed to put into the hands of the Militia who joined General Greene the 20th. of...
62To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 10 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just returnd from Malern [Malvern] Hills from whence we could discover the Enemys Boats lying off City point. From the smoak on that side of the River I conclude they have encamp’d at some small distance from the River. A party of their Horse were last night at Petersburg. None have landed on this side, some sailors excepted, who landed in the lower part of Charles City and took off a...
63To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 28 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The alarming State of the Trade of Virginia and Maryland in the Chesapeake and above all, the extreme Difficulty and Hazard of supplying the Northern Army with Provisions from Virginia and the Southern Parts of this State, occasioned by the continued and encreasing Depredations of the Enemy have rendered the immediate Expulsion of them from the Bay, an Object of Magnitude to this Board. The...
64To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 15 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Arrival of our Express with your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th. this Moment received gives us an Opportunity of informing you that all the Transports with the Troops from Elk got safe into Harbour on Tuesday Evening. The next Morning at day Light two Ships apparently British of the rate of eighteen and twenty eight Guns came to an Anchor opposite to the Mouth of our River Severn, at 12...
65To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, Jr., 15 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have this moment receiv’d a Letter from Colo. Dabney Commandant of the Posts below, a Copy of which I have the pleasure to send you. Nothing could have happened more fortunately for us. The utmost expedition is necessary to enable us to cooperate with this Fleet. Should they be disappointed in their expectation, it will dis[coura]ge them from affording us future assistance. I propose to go...
66To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Jones, 30 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer Captn. George Blackwell is one of the draughts for Northumberland County, which he thinks a great hardship upon him, and as he is a stranger to your Excellency, has prevailed upon me to represent his case to you, hoping thro’ your means to be redressed. He was brought up to the Sea, and since the present disturbances has been Master of several Vessells, and has made several...
67To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Read, enclosing a Resolution of the Charlotte County Militia Officers, 28 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Charlotte Court House, 28 Apr. 1781 . Encloses a resolution of the militia officers of this county and is “directed to mention to you Sir, that Arms are dificult to be procured in the County, not having been Recovr’d since Sent out with the Militia under General Green.” Ammunition is also wanting. Asks where the men, if ordered out, are to march, and would be glad to have the six weeks term...
68To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Turpin, [before 7 August 1782] (Jefferson Papers)
Not having had the Pleasure of Seeing or even of hearing from you for a long time I am at length oblig’d to apply to you for Payment of the rent of my Tenemen[t] at Richmd. I have forborn to apply to the Assembly for Pay as I think I had no right having had your Promise for the Payment of the rent tho’ you have Promised to Pay me 8000 wt. of Tobo. I think 10000 is no extravagant demand as...
69To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 16 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In my Letter of Yesterday I informed your Excellency that the Enemy’s Fleet had fallen down to Hardy’s Ferry. This afternoon I have Intelligence that it was on its Way again, and standing for Newport-news. Yesterday about twelve o’Clock, the Enemy were seen from this Shore to land a Number of Men on a Point below the Mouth of Pagan Creek, and soon afterwards a heavy firing commenced, the Issue...
70To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas McKean, 20 August 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
My Predecessor sent you the Copy of a vote of Congress of the 14th. of June last, appointing you a Minister for negociating a peace: As no answer has been yet received, a doubt has taken place, whether the information had reached you, and therefore I now inclose you a Duplicate. Permit me, Sir, to congratulate you on this evidence of the full confidence and esteem of your Country, and to hope...
71To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 27 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We have just received the Resolution of Congress of the 20th. Instant recommending it to the Executives of the States of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, to agree upon, and Settle an Arrangement for supplying the Southern Army with Provisions, from the States most contiguous, and for replacing the same with Provisions from those that are more remote, and to establish such Mode...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 17 June 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Before we were honored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th. Inst., we had, in Pursuance of the Resolution of Congress 5th. established a Line of expresses extending from Young’s Ferry on Patowmack to Philadelphia, and wrote immediately by Post, advising you of it, and that the Rider at Young’s Ferry would be in constant Readiness to receive your Excellency’s Commands. To keep up the Line...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 4 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
On my Way here this Evening I received Information that the Enemy had landed their whole Force at Westover, and were marching for Richmond. I have ordered the whole Strength of King Wm., King & Queen, and Gloucester, to rendezvous at Bacon’s Ordinary 6 Miles above New Kent Court House, whence I shall march them as will appear best for the Service. The whole Militia of New Kent are now turning...
74To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 14 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am favoured with your’s of the 10th. Inst. by Mr. Prentis. I have never been informed that any Horses were left by the Enemy, except those at Westover, which were taken by Captain Selden’s and Captain Hockaday’s Men. Those in the Possession of Captain Hockaday’s Men I ordered to be carried to Richmond for the Proprietors to claim. Farther Enquiry shall be made, and if there be any such as...
75To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 19 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Commodore Tilly having determined to sail with the first fair Wind, the Enemy will be left at Liberty to make use of all the Advantages which their Command of the Water gives them over us. They will probably be inclined, for some Losses they have sustained since the Arrival of the French Squadron, to wreak their Vengeance on the Parts of the State most exposed. Hampton and the adjacent Country...
76To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Read, 7 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Court Martial of this County have directed me to lay before your Excellency, a Copy of their Proceedings respecting the March of their Militia, Ordered to the Southard to join General Greene, and to await your farther Orders respecting the same. And at the same time to Acquaint your Excellency that on the Approach of Lord Cornwallis to this State, the whole of the Militia of this County...
77To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Gaskins, 13 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Northumberland, 13 Apr. 1781 . Encloses an account of the draft in Northumberland county. Only three men enlisted for the war: Thomas Giles, Michael Taylor, and Thomas Harding; sends certificates for these men and wishes them returned by the bearer, together with bounty money for them and for 40 men drafted. “We have great Destruction in and about our place By the Barberous and Cruel Pirating...
78To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Hamilton, 13 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellencies Orders I have Allow’d the Following Prisoners of War, the Liberty of the Town, Vizt. George Richardson, John Askin, Richard Aris, John Gibson, Robert Tackberry, Edward Conner, Jonathan Shaw, John Uree, and Richard Brady. Mr. Rose informs me that they were deliver’d to him as prisoners of War and from examineing them I belive them to be such. Inclos’d your...
79To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Blackburn, 4 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Prince William County, 4 May 1780 . Acknowledges a (now missing) letter from TJ by Henry Lee notifying Blackburn of his appointment to the executive council. Feels a due sense of the honor intended for him by the Assembly but must decline because of “a Deafness with which I have been long afflicted, and which I fear is too considerable to allow a proper Attention to the Duties of the Office.”...
80To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 17 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We beg Leave to refer your Excellency to our Letter of Yesterday , giving a short Account of the Transports and Troops from the Head of Elk, being safe in this Harbour. We shall adopt such Measures to guard and subsist the Convention Troops and British Prisoners captured in the Action of the Cowpens, on their March through this State, as may be necessary and consonant to a Resolution of...
81To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 15 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last, informing you that the Enemy’s Fleet had passed Burwell’s Ferry, it has only fallen down the River as low as Hardy’s Ferry. They land on the South Side wherever they have a Prospect of getting any valuable Plunder. I am concerned to hear of the bad Conduct of the Men commanded by Capt. Hockaday, and shall, as soon as they join me again, make the strictest Enquiry into it. I am,...
82To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 22 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am just favoured with yours of the 20th. Instant inclosing your Proclamation respecting those who have been paroled, which shall be strictly adhered to. We have hitherto made use of Meal for the Soldiers, and shall continue this Practice as long as we can be regularly supplied with it; but it would be proper to have some Flour on hand for fear of a Disappointment in the other Article. I...
83To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 8 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am pained to the very Soul that we have not been able to prevent the Return of the Enemy, but even the Elements have conspired to favour them. On Saturday Night I intended a Blow at their Rear, when the Gates of Heaven were opened, and such a Flood of Rain poured down as rendered my Plan abortive by almost drowning the Troops, who were in Bush Tents, and by injuring their Arms and Ammunition...
84To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have visited the Posts below this Place, and am happy in informing your Excellency that the paroled People require nothing but Assistance to make them very spirited Friends to their Country. They have in general destroyed their Paroles, and have formed a very fine Company to join the Troops sent down. The Troops at present under my Command are altogether from the Counties whose Militias are...
85To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 20 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed is a Copy of Intelligence, this Moment received by this Board, from his Excellency the Chevalier De la Luzerne. We have taken the speediest Method of conveying it to your Excellency, under an Impression of the Propriety of giving you the earliest Intimation of the Design of the Enemy. We have the Honor to be &ca. FC ( MdAA ). Enclosure missing; see, however, La Luzerne to Gov....
86To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Turpin, 30 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
As you mention’d in Your Letter, that the rent of the Tenament on which you live never exceeded £20 is owing to a wrong information for I do assure you the lest that it ever rented for Since I held it, was £30 to 35£: ⅌ Annm. and lest such a report may have Some weight with the Jury to my Prejudice tho’t Proper to mention it to Your Excellency. I’ve always tho’t that £30 was a very low rent. I...
87To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Mann Randolph, Sr., 10 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
There seems to be Fatality attending the promise I made you, of a Supply of beer. Two days after Jupiter went up last, my Brewer went up the County to see his Wife, and I have never set eyes on him since, and of Course have had none brewed! Colo. Cary who is now here, joins me in thanks for the Paccan trees. I dont know of a Rabbit nearer this, than Shirley and Mr. Carter is just now begining...
88To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, 13 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
This Day the Enemy’s Ships passed Burwell’s Ferry and have fallen so far down the River that I think they intend nothing further on the North Side of James River at present. They yesterday landed some Troops at Cobham, in Surrey, and it is said that Arnold himself was with them. If this be so, it is probable they intend marching by the Route of Smithfield and Suffolk to Portsmouth. I write to...
89To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Sim Lee, 23 February 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We had the Honor to receive your Excellency’s Letter of the 30th. Jany. The Necessity which constrained our Assembly to enact a Law, the extensive Operation of which has interfered with the Purchases made by your Agent, for the Subsistence of the Military of your State, we must deplore, and can assure you that an anxious Solicitude for the Welfare of the United States and an Opinion that...
90To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Nelson, Jr., 10 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Fontaine, procur’d from this Neighbourhood a number of Horses, upon a supposition, that on the arrival of the Marquis L’Fayette, an attack would be made on the Enemy. That prospect having vanish’d, I must intercede, in favor of the Planters, from whom the Horses were taken, to have them return’d. They were chiefly plough Horses and could be but illy spar’d from their labor, besides I am...