1From John Adams to James Wood, 10 June 1798 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for this Address presented to me by Mr. Clopton your Representative in Congress. A free and equal Constitution of Government has rarely existed among Men. As almost all Mankind from the earliest accounts which remain, have deviated from the track, it is not surprizing that Foreigners in this age have not succeeded in the pursuit, especially as we knew they have all set out started...
2From the Continental Board of War, enclosing a Letter to James Wood, 24–26 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Since the Resolution of Congress relative to the removal of the Convention Troops they have been pleased to refer the Matter to this Board to take Order and we have given the enclosed Instructions to Col. Wood who has the Superintendance of those Troops and he is gone forward to put those Orders in Execution which are expressive of the sense of Congress on the Subject. The Instructions will...
3From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 1 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
No movement of the enemy since my last has contributed in the least to declare their object. They have left the north side of James river, and taken possession of the Country on the south side as far up as Suffolk. Still we are told they keep a considerable part of their troops on board their Ships. They are making great collections of horses to mount their men on, and taking possession of all...
4From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 17 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your favor of the 8th. instant and have laid the same before the President of the US. The case of the refugees from St. Domingo is really deplorable, and calls with a loud voice for charitable succours: but it is a case wherein the general government has not been authorised to furnish them. It is therefore hoped that the particular states will come in with liberality to the...
5From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, [25 July 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
The multiplicity of business which happened to be on us when your express came has occasioned his being delayed‥‥ I enclose you letters to the commissioners of the circumjacent counties extending their powers to live cattle. It has been always necessary for the State and continent to lend interchangeably such articles as the one has and the other wants‥‥ You can readily conceive that in this...
6From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 12 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy having returned from this place and fallen down James River, and the German Prisoners being represented by you to be in a distressed situation for want of covering and food, you will be pleased to march them back again to the barracks in Albemarle. I am Sir Your very humbl. Servt., FC ( Vi ).
7From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed letters will sufficiently explain to you their object: I shall be much obliged to you to endeavour to negociate the purchase of bills therein proposed with all the expedition you can. It is natural to expect that the demand for such a sum will raise the exchange to a certain degree. We have no right to expect to force the ordinary course of things and must therefore submit to it....
8From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 24 January 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
In obedience to an instruction from the Senate of the US. I am to perform the melancholy office of informing you that the honourable Henry Tazewell late a Senator of the US. from Virginia departed this life on this day. this is not a place in which I am permitted to indulge those reflections which the loss of so able and virtuous a publick servant naturally suggests. it rests with you, Sir, to...
9From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 23 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Certain information being received of the arrival of an enemy’s fleet in the bay, it is thought expedient to decline for a time at least the sending Colo. Crocketts battalion to the Westward, as it is possible their services may be wanting elsewhere. Be pleas’d therefore to forward the inclosed to Mr. Madison requiring him to bring the beaves he had collected for that battalion to the...
10From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 12 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Baker was to give notice to Colo. Crockett when he should have ready subsistence and pack horses for him. Colo. Matthew’s Suggestions as to the Militia shall be submitted to the Council, and the result communicated to Colo Crockett. I am sorry to hear that your Supplies of Provision are still precarious. Mr Divers has made a Proposition to victual the troops on contract, which we think to...
11From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 15 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received information from Genl. Greene that Ld. Cornwallis, maddened by his losses at the Cowpens and George town has burnt his own waggons to enable himself to move with facility and has pressed forward as far as the Moravian towns, Genl. Greene being obliged to retire before him with an inferior force. We are endeavouring to gather a force around him from which I hope he will not...
12From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, [14 September 1780] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Tate informs me you are now in condition to pay up the arrearages of animal food due the convention troops, but that he supposed they would not receive them. If you be really in such condition I should be glad to have the arrearages tendered, and if refused a proper certificate of the fact, that I may transmit it to General Washington and prevent any disagreable consequences from the...
13From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 3 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your representation on the want of barracks at Fort Frederick has been again the subject of consideration with the board, together with a Letter from Govr. Lee informing me it is not in their power to make more than a partial provision for the Subsistence of the Convention troops. Our apprehensions as to desertion to the enemy and corresponding with the disaffected arise from the British...
14From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 29 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a duplicate of a Letter to Evan Baker to furnish supplies to your post, which perhaps you have an opportunity of forwarding, also Letters extending the powers of the commissioners of the provision law for the counties of Albemarle, Orange, Culpepper, Louisa, Fluvanna, Buckingham, and Amherst to wheat and flour of the present crop, and of those for the counties of Bedford,...
15From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 3 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
A Doctr. John August Leonhard Kohly , chaplain to Brigadr. Specht’s regiment complains that a considerable sum of money is due to him from a German Doctor Smith who he says is a tavern keeper on the road to Richmond. As he cannot maintain an action for it I have recommended to him to call on Smith personally as the most likely way to sustain his right, and have referred him to you for leave....
16From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 18 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of the 11th. and 14th. inst. are now before me. I inclose you four blank powers to be directed to any person or persons you shall think proper for Green briar or any other county. I am informed beef may be had in Frederic and Hampshire. I am only to desire that when you fill up any of these powers you immediately communicate to me the name of the county and persons inserted...
17From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 21 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We consent to the dividing the Germans between Winchester, Martinsburg and the Berkely springs till further orders as proposed by you. I must get the favor of you to know from Colo. Mingen what sum of money by the fortnight they will have occasion for, and it shall be sent either to the Barracks in Albermarle to any Agent whom they shall leave there to settle their affairs or to their new...
18From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 26 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy invading us appearing now to be in force the Executive have determined that the Convention Troops be removed without delay. You will therefore take immediate measures for their removal to fort Frederick as directed by the Board of War. Previous to the publication of this measure another is expedient: The Regiment of Guards you know is enlisted to serve only till the departure of...
19From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 7 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We think with you that the Germans you have furloughed to Augusta Rockingham &c. may be permitted to remain. My opinion of Pastor Kohlé is the same with yours, that is that he is more American than British. He never wrote a letter to me which could be exceptionable to me. I beleive that with a proper opportunity for explanations he might be rendered useful. I am with great [estee]m Dr Sir Your...
20From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 28 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
My letter by Cap. Read which could not be come to hand when yours of the 26th came away will have answered beforehand the several matters stated in that except as to the division of the Convention troops into three parts. This I apprehend is contrary to the Convention, and I should expect would render their government and safe custody more difficult. My last intelligence is that the troops who...
21From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 5 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I received a Letter from General Gates on the 14th. Sept. communicating Intelligence which he had received of a design meditated by the Enemy to make a lodgement at Portsmouth in this State. Tho’ I thought it very improbable under the then existing Circumstances it was yet my duty to communicate it to Congress and apprise them of our general Situation. In my Letter was this paragraph. ‘another...
22From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 23 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry the supplies of provision to the troops have been less plentiful than Mr. Tate represented them, and am only to ask the tender I mentioned when the condition of your stores will admit of it. There is no probability of a supply of money to your purchasing commissary till the meeting of assembly. I have forwarded your letters to Genl. Washington and inattentively sent also the packet...
23From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 31 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to transmit to you the inclosed information of George Twyman of Albemarle against Mr. Haw[kins] as a matter proper for you to subject to due enquiry. I am with much esteem Sir Your most obedt. servt, RC (Lloyd W. Smith, Madison, N.J., 1946); without indication of name of addressee, but it can be confidently ascribed to Wood both on the ground of provenance (the letter was sold...
24From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 23 August 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am satisfied that in the midst of a campaign and while N. York may perhaps be the object, Genl. Washington would not permit a convention officer to pass from his camp to N. York; nor can I suppose it proper such a one should see his camp as he might find means of communicating with the enemy: but in this you will do as you please. I see no objection to General Hamilton’s sending an express,...
25From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 11 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
It will be inconvenient for you to go to Annapolis, yet if not very much so, we think it much more probable that you will get every thing properly settled by personal representations to the fountain of power, than on conferences with persons who might be substituted by them. The former could adapt their orders to actual circumstances, the latter would be bound by orders entered into without...
26From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 20 March 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
This express brings some packets of letters for Generals Specht, Hamilton and Gall, which came by the Patsy, flag of truce, just arrived from New York with money and stores for the Convention Troops. You will please send on the Express to the first two named gentlemen. The flag is to go up the James River as far as she can. When her arrival there shall be notified to you, you will be pleased...
27From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 28 November 1799 (Jefferson Papers)
Three Chickasaw Indians have called on me, without any guide with them, any interpreter, or any document authorising their entrance or passage through the state except a pass from an officer at Staunton . had the County Lieutenant or any other field officer of militia been within reach I should have applied to them to take charge of them & have them conducted to Richmond, from whence I...
28From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 25 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Dragoon did not get here till last night. I this day submitted the matter as to the horses of the exchanged officers to the House of Delegates informing them that I had no doubt but Genl. Washington would take the proper measures as to those purchased since the Convention, but as an express was this day setting out with dispatches to him, I would mention the matter to him specially unless...
29From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 31 March 1797 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 3d. inst. did not get to Philadelphia till I had left it, and therefore came to hand here only this day week. I have bestowed on it’s subject the earliest attention I could. When on a former occasion the Executive were pleased to apply to me (being then in France) for a plan of a Capitol, they at the same time desired one of a prison. An architect of Lyons had in 1761...
30From Thomas Jefferson to James Wood, 17 May 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I take up your letters of Apr. 12. and 23. to answer at this very late day, having never been able to get a council since the 7th. of April till four or five days ago, so that I was unable to give you an effective answer. The council think it better to leave to yourself altogether the enforcing the order you inclosed me and which I now return. They rather advise that it should not be printed,...