James Madison Papers
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To James Madison from Joseph Jones, 17 October 1780

From Joseph Jones

RC (LC: Madison Papers).

Virga. 17th. Octr 1780

Dear Sr.

We must place the taking Col. Andre among the fortunate occurrances during the present war[.] a more wicked and ruinous combination could hardly have been formed if the accounts published in the papers are generally true[;] and the three honest militiamen who rendered us the service should be rewarded1

An attack early the last week of the Ague and fever will prevent my being in Richmond untill next sunday at which time I determine to be there if my Families and own health will permit. We have suffered more sickness this Fall in Virginia than was perhaps ever known[.] there is scarce a Family at this late season, but are part of them sick, and one remarkable Symptom of which all complain is a constant sickness of the stomach and loathing of almost every thing offered them This is found to be obstinate and difficult to remove.2 I hope you continue well and that the Family are so.3

Yr. aff Friend & Servt.

Jos: Jones.

N.B. I forgot to mention and recommend to your attention Drs. Cochran and Craig in the Medical Department as I expect from the systems being formed the appointments will take place. these are recommended to me by a good Judge of their services & qualifications.4

1See Virginia Delegates to Jefferson, ca. 5 October 1780. Jones had probably read Philadelphia newspapers forwarded to him by JM and had heard the news which would appear in the Virginia Gazette (Richmond, Dixon and Nicolson) of 18 October 1780. On Washington’s recommendation, John Paulding (1758–1818), David Williams (1754–1831), and Isaac Van Wart (ca. 1758–1828), the New York militiamen who had captured Major André, were each rewarded by Congress on 3 November 1780 with a silver medal, to be presented to them by Washington, and $200 in specie, or its equivalent, annually for life (Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Sources, 1745–1799 (39 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1931–44). description ends , XX, 133; Journals of the Continental Congress, XVIII, 1009–10; Frederic Shonnard and W. W. Spooner, History of Westchester County, New York … [New York, 1900], pp. 484–86).

4See Jones to JM, 2 October 1780, n. 7. In his letter of 9 September 1780 to Jones, Washington had made complimentary reference to these two physicians (Fitzpatrick, Writings of Washington description begins John C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington, from the Original Sources, 1745–1799 (39 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1931–44). description ends , XX, 18–19).

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