1From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 2 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I was two days ago honoured with your Letter and that of General Washington on the same Subject. I immediately transmitted by Express the one accompanying it to the Commanding Officer of the Naval Force of his Most Christian Majesty in our Bay, and took measures for providing pilots. Baron Steuben will communicate to you the Arrangements he proposes, which I shall have the pleasure of...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving last night your Letter of the 3d instant and of learning your arrival at the Head of Elk three Days sooner than General Washington had given us reason to expect. In the mean Time I hope you will have received my answer to your first Letter which I forwarded by Express to the Head of Elk and which is of greater Importance a Letter from Baron Steuben, who commands...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 10 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Intending that this shall await your arrival in this State, I with great joy welcome you on that Event. I am induced to it from the very great Esteem I bear your Personal Character, and the Hopes I entertain of your relieving us from our Enemy within this State. Could any Circumstance have rendered your Presence more desireable or more necessary, it is the unfortunate one which obliges me to...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed is a Copy of a Letter which was intended to have awaited you in Virginia. But as there seems to be a probability that you will be detained at the Head of Elk longer than you could have expected, I have thought it best to send a Copy there also. An Idea having unfortunately got abroad that the militia now called on are intended to storm the Enemy’s works at Portsmouth, the numbers...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 March [1781] (Jefferson Papers)
Since writing the preceeding I have been honoured with your Letter of the 6th. The first notification of this Enterprize came to me in the night of the last Day of February. We were informed there were few or no armed vessels in the three Northern rivers and supposed if there were any they could not be impressed, manned, and brought into place by the Time at which it was then thought they...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 14 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We just receive the pleasing Information of your safe arrival at York yesterday. My Letters of the 12th, which were sent to the Head of Elk (Duplicates of which accompany this) will inform you that we were endeavouring to accomplish your several Requisitions. I now inclose you a List of Articles actually procured which will go from this place this evening, most of them in waggons to General...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 19 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters of the 16th. and 17th. inst. came to Hand at Noon of this Day. I beg leave to inform you that for the Purpose of speedy Communications between the Executive and the Commanding Officers expresses are established from this place through Williamsburg to Hampton every fifteen miles Distance, and that a Quartermaster is now employed in establishing a similar Line from hence to the Army...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the pleasure of receiving in your letter of the 20th. Genl. Washington’s of Dec. 8th. What you left beyond and what come to on this side the Atlantic, the services you have rendered there, and those you render here, your personal worth and Genl. Washington’s esteem for you, leave no room for addition to the measure of respect and gratitude we owe you. I beg leave also through you to...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 24 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of the 20th. inst. and am sorry that a want of Ammunition should have abridged your intentions at Portsmouth. I have made enquiry what have been the Issues of ammunition from the State Stores and am informed by returns that there has issued (naming principal Articles only) To Thomas Smith acting for Major Pryor 1,000lb Cannon po[wder] for York. To Captn. Bohannon...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 28 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Senf handed me a list of entrenching tools and other necessaries for the operations against Portsmouth. Notwithstanding present appearances, I shall have them procured. I apprehend we shall be obliged to have many of them made at Fredericksburg. Mr. Walker delivered me your wish to have seamen procured for manning the armed vessels. I know of no method of effecting this but by draughting...