1From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of James City and Certain Other Counties, [24 February 1781] (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to order to on receipt of this of the militia of your County to remain on duty only till releifs ordered from Counties less exposed shall arrive. I hope this call will be thought less heavy on your County as we would avoid calling on it to perform a full tour of duty, and only wish them to serve during those short intervals between the necessary discharge of the militia and arrival...
2From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, 18 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing where the very rapid march of Ld. Cornwallis may terminate, I think it necessary to desire that every man of your Militia who has a firelock or for whom one can be procured by impressing or otherwise be immediately embodied under proper Officers. I do not herein give orders for their march because you are so convenient that you can without it’s causing but little delay give me...
3From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Lunenberg, Amelia, Powhatan, Cumberland, and Brunswick, 18 February … (Jefferson Papers)
Not knowing where the very rapid march of Ld. Cornwallis may terminate I think it necessary to desire that you immediately assemble the whole of your Militia who have arms, or for whom they can be procured by impressing or otherwise and march them with proper officers without delay to join Genl. Greene who by the last intelligence had crossed the Dan at Boyd’s ferry and was retreating before...
4From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased immediately on receipt of this, to order one fourth of your Militia to be assembled and marched without delay to Wmsburg under proper field officers, Captains, and subalterns. Send as many riflemen among them with their rifles as can be had, and of the rest let every man bring a good musket and accoutrements who has one. Let them proceed first to Fredericksburg where we...
5From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Berkeley and Frederick, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have with exceeding distress of mind received information that the service to which the Militia of the Counties of Frederick and Berkely have been called Westwardly is so disagreeable as to render it probable that that call will be very imperfectly obeyed. A knowledge that an extensive combination of Indians had been formed to come on our frontier early in the spring induced us to prevent...
6From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Washington and Certain Other Counties, 15 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received intelligence from Genl. Greene that Lord Cornwallis, maddened by his losses at the Cowpens and George town, has burnt his own Waggons to enable himself to move with facility, and is pressing forward towards the Virginia line, Genl. Green being obliged to retire before him with an inferior force. The necessity of saving Genl. Green’s Army and in doing that the probability...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Dinwiddie and Essex, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received particular information that Richard Overby and Richard Wills two of Capt. Hardaway’s company of Militia of your county lately on duty below have deserted and carried off their arms; as they are triable by a Court-Martial of the Officers remaining in the field, I am to desire you to exert every effort to have them taken and when taken to send them under guard to Cabbin point or...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants, 19 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
THE invasion of our country by the enemy at the Close of the last Session of Assembly, their pushing immediately to this place, the dispersion of the publick papers, which for the purpose of saving them necessarily took place, and the injury done at the printing office, have been so many causes operating unfortunately to the delay of transmitting you those acts of Assembly which required...
9From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Henrico and Certain Other Counties, 4 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Enemy having last Night past far up James River and seeming to point immediately to this Place or Petersburg, I must desire you without a moments Delay to send every man of your County able to bear Arms to rendezvous at Westham. Let them come in small Detachments as they can be collected and not wait to be formed into Companies. I am Sir your mo obt. hble. Servt., FC ( Vi ). At head of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the County Lieutenants of Charlotte and Certain Other Counties, 2 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Arrival of a hostile force within our State being confirmed, and their movements indicating an intention to come immediately into the heart of the Country, renders it necessary, to call for one fourth of your Militia under proper Captains and Subaltern officers to rendezvous at Petersburg. That there may not be a moments delay, let them come in detached parcels as they can be collected,...