1Robert Forsyth to the Agent Superintending the State Supplies, 6 December 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 6 Dec. 1780. Announces that, by the new arrangement of the purchasing department, “there is only a Commissary General and one Deputy Commissary General continued in the service of the United States; the former for the Northern and the latter for the Sothern Army.” The duties hitherto performed by the purchasing commissaries employed by Forsyth in Virginia “are in future to be...
2From Thomas Jefferson to John Allen, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It having been concluded to build a defensive work at Hoods under the direction of Colo. Senf, I am to desire the favor of you to see to the execution of it according to his instructions. Thirteen Labourers will be with you on Monday next. Besides these I have written to Colo. Southall of this County, Colo. Banister of Dinwiddie, Colo. Call of Prince George and Colo. Munford of Charls. City to...
3From Thomas Jefferson to D’Anmours, 30 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your favor from Baltimore and shall carefully attend to the notifying you of the arrival of any fleet here from your nation or other circumstance which I may think interesting to you. The enemy have left us as you will before have heard. Tho’ I do not wish for new occasions of calling together my countrymen to try their valour, yet I really wish, as they were called together that...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William Armistead, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I desired you some time ago to provide cloathing for five hundred and odd Men according to a List from Baron Steuben which I put into your hands: be pleased now to deliver the Materials to the Person attending from Colo. Davies to receive them out of the Stock you purchased or what came from Winchester or from any other Stock you have. I am Sir your humble Servant, FC ( Vi ).
5From Thomas Jefferson to William Armistead, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
There is an account of very considerable amount between us and Mr. S. Nathan a merchant from the Havannah which we are to desire you to settle with Mr. Smith who acts for him. The debts against us may be arraigned under three heads. First, advances on a purchase of goods made at Baltimore and Philadelphia for us by Mr. Nathan; this is to be settled according to the price of tobacco at the...
6From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 29 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The Commonwealth of Virginia Dr. to A. Willy for Candells for the use of the Councill Chamber for Sealling Land pattens and Comisians &c. from Septem. the 1st 80 till December the 18. 80 £30–0–0 to Cash Paid for […] Coall 12–0–0 to do. January the 24 12–0–0 £54–0–0 These services were performed on requisition of the Executive N in Contingent Fund Vouchers ( Vi ); TJ’s confirmation of the...
7From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, with Account of Goods Furnished to the Indians by Major Linctot, 11 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue on the within certificate from Colo. Broadhead a warrant for the sum due on the within account in specie or it’s value in paper money at the current exchange, to be paid to Majr. Lintot or order and charged to the Continent. An Account of what goods Mr. Godfrey Linctot Major and Agent General of all the Indien Nations have Furnished to the Indiens for the Service of the...
8From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Colonel John Syme a Warrant for one thousand five hundred pounds on account for removing public Stores. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed.
9From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The bearer hereof Lewis Duval came express from Monongalia on necessary business. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); endorsed (in part): “£657.” On the face of TJ’s note are the following calculations in another hand: “350 miles coming 700 Do. returning 700 1 Days Attendce 60 1460 @ 14/. 3 £4380 219 657” A separate note accompanies TJ’s note and reads as follows: “Ms. Auditors I am well...
10From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 6 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Doctor Pope a Warrant for seven thousand pounds upon Account as Director of the public hospitals. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed. See the Council’s resolution of 1 Feb. 1781 respecting the state medical department and personnel ( Va. Council Jour . Journals of the Council of the State of Virginia , ed. H. R. McIlwaine , ii ,...
11From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 12 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Mr. John Walker a Warrant for three thousand pounds upon Account. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, with Walker’s name filled in and signed by TJ; endorsed.
12George Muter to the Auditors, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Richmond ] 18 Jan. 1781. Order to issue to Capt. Edmund Read a warrant for $35,000, to purchase “Three pair of officer’s boots and thirty two pair of boots for non commissioned officers and soldiers of his troop.” Countersigned: “Th: Jefferson. This is not to be paid till the warrants of this day in favor of Mr. Harrison and Colo. Clarke shall be paid.” RC in Contingent Fund Vouchers ( Vi );...
13From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 5 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Colo. George Matthews, a Warrant for three thousand pounds upon account of expences on his way from the northward to this State on business of our prisoners in New York. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed.
14From Thomas Jefferson to the Auditors, 20 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to issue to Mr. George Harmer a Warrant for ten thousand pounds on Account of his Subsistence agreeably to Act of Assembly in his case made. By Advice of Council. RC ( Vi : Contingent Fund Vouchers); in a clerk’s hand, signed by TJ; endorsed. See Harmer to TJ, 25 Jan. 1781 .
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 24 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The arms you mention being Continental, they are subject to the orders of Baron Steuben. I have therefore sent him a copy of your letter and begged him to send you by this conveyance such orders as he thinks proper. As he is anxious that the reinforcement should be respectable I make no doubt he will order the Arms. My letters mentioning that the detachments should go under proper officers...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 4 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
My former Order required only half of your Militia to be embodied. The rapid Approach of the enemy renders it necessary that for instant Opposition you embody the whole able to bear arms. Should they not be armed, there are Waggons loaded with Arms at Chesterfield Courthouse under orders to proceed to Powhatan Courthouse. By an Application to Colo. Carrington or other Commanding Officer, you...
17From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 30 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from Colo. Meade, one of Baron Steuben’s aids, by which you will perceive that a Mr. Hill of your county while commanding at Hood’s has seized a work ox from a person in that neighbourhood contrary to the express orders and regulations of the Baron; it is further said that this violence was accompanied with insult which rendered it more injurious. While the public...
18From Thomas Jefferson to Turner Southall, Robert Goode, John Banister, William Call, and William Greene Munford, 15 … (Jefferson Papers)
For the future protection of the Stores and Country on James River it has been thought necessary to erect a defensive work at Hood’s. Among other requisites forty labouring Slaves are wanting for two months. After trying the exertions of the ordinary Officers to procure them we have been able to procure 13 only, who are to be at the place on Monday next. I must therefore resort to the aid of...
19From Thomas Jefferson to John Banister, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter was put into my hands on the evening of the day before yesterday by a young Gentleman whom I informed that it could not be answered till the meeting of Council the next day, and desired he would attend with the receipt which he said he had, for it was not inclosed in the letter as you mentioned. He did not call again. I laid your letter before the council: As far as our money will...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Theodorick Bland, 9 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received yesterday your letter inclosing that of Colo. Dubuysson . It gives us great pain that we are not able to do what is desired by that gentleman. I shall not rest this merely on the determination of the Executive not to exchange Govr. Hamilton at all while matters on our frontier are situated as at present, a determination founded as well on the possibility of real injury he would be...
21Penet, D’Acosta Frères & Cie. to the Board of Trade, 25 November 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Before this time you have, we hope, been inform’d of the Capture of our schooner the Committee near Cape Henry and her rescue five days after by an American Privateer which carried her into Providence. The Cargo being your Property as Per Invoice and Bill of Lading (Copies of which are here annexed) you have no doubt put a claim on the half which was left unsold after ’tother had been adjudged...
22From Thomas Jefferson to Sampson Mathews and John Bowyer, 31 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Every tent and all the tentstuff owned by the State were delivered during the last Invasion, 230 in the whole. Of these 75 were sent to the Southward, the remaining 155 are still somewhere. I have given orders to find in whose possession they are, and as soon as it is known I will inform Baron Steuben and communicate to him your want, which I make no doubt he will order to be first supplied;...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Brodhead, 13 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly received your favor by Colo. Gibson . I am sorry to learn there is any scarcity of provisions in your settlement. Nevertheless I must suppose it too numerous to be at any time under a difficulty to support so moderate a Garrison as yours, if the means of drawing provisions from the people are furnished you. I apprehend your wants proceed rather from deficiences of mony than of...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Daniel Brodhead, 12 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I received some time ago a Letter from the board of war desiring that provisions might be furnished for the subsistence of the garrison at Fort Pitt, I immediately informed them that our Treasury was utterly without money and could not be replenished till the meeting of assembly, that the line which had been agreed to by the assembly as a boundary between us and Pennsylvania had thrown into...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 12 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As the time for receiving the specific tax is approaching, you will be pleased to instruct your deputies in the several Counties to receive all the articles except the tobacco and to apply them to the general purposes of the Commissary’s and Quarter Master’s departments. I inclose you orders on the Commissioners and Commissaries of the specific tax of the several counties to authorize your...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 22 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
New London, Staunton, Winchester, and Fredericksburg being appointed as places of rendezvous for the new Levies, if you have not Deputies already at those Posts, or in the Counties, you will be pleased to appoint them with instructions to furnish the Recruits with Provisions during their stay at the Rendezvous, and on their march from it. The Bearers hereof are going to Winchester to receive...
27From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have last night received such a representation of the condition the Southern Army, is like to be in, for want of provisions as to give serious apprehensions, that it may be obliged to retire into this State, and of course to draw the Southern enemy into it. It therefore becomes absolutely necessary that whatever pork can be procured, should be laid in on the Roanoke, and that the forces and...
28From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 1 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed Letter will inform you what measures have been taken for procuring a proper Stock of Flower for the ensuing Year. It contains a List of the Counties on which we called for Flower and the Quantity from each County. You will be pleased to take measures for raising it [for] use to fifteen thousand Barrels by calling on the Commissioners of such other Counties as you think proper or...
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 12 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
You will be pleased to provide in the neighbourhood of New Castle flour and stalled beef for 50,000 rations to be applied to no use but on my special order that these are meant to be applied. The beef must be kept ready for Slaughter at the Shortest warning. FC ( Vi ). The proceedings of Council this day explain this order; the rations were to be gathered “in case of any french forces coming...
30From Thomas Jefferson to John Browne, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter of this date directing the immediate appointment of your deputies in each County I omitted to desire you to instruct them to give notice without delay to the Court of their County of the place within their County at which they will receive the waggon team and other appendages provided by the Act for supplying the army with clothes, provisions and waggons: which waggon team and...
31From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Burke, 15 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 5th. covering a draught of Mr. Clay’s for 106,775 D. came safely to hand last night. I am sorry that Mr. Clay adopts this method of negotiating money claims on our treasury which is not and I fear will not again be in a condition to answer his draughts with any kind of punctuality which might justify his drawing and negotiating in the mercantile way. In my letter to you of...
32From Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Burke, 2 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that it is out of our power to have paiment made of Mr. Clay’s draught for 225,000 dollars. Our treasury is at present absolutely exhausted, and no prospect of it’s being replenished till the assembly shall have met and have had time to provide supplies. I hope this will reach you in time to prevent the additional disappointment which might arise from...
33From Thomas Jefferson to Arthur Campbell, 17 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your several favours by Mr. Lathim and am much pleased at the happy issue of the expedition against the Cherokees. I wish it to be used for the purpose of bringing about peace, which under our present circumstances is as necessary for us as it can possibly be to them. If you can effect this a right should be reserved of building a fort at the confluence of Holston and...
34To Thomas Jefferson from Edward Carrington, 1 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I flattered myself that by the information I had given your Excellency of the Diversions making of the Provisions destined for Magazines for the Southern Army, I had effectually put a stop to so ruinous Measures, especially as I had been honored with a Letter from you, that they should be discontinued. However I find now so little regard paid to your Excellencys Orders, that even a parcel of...
35From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have desired Colo. Muter to have delivered to Majr. Claiborne such of the Articles applied for in your Letter of the 10th. inst. as we have. We have no tents of any kind. Axes, Spades, Shov[els] and Padlocks can probably be furnished. We have sent to Fredericksburg for Camp-kettles, which shall be forwarded as soon as they come. I think a few days will probably determine the Enemy’s ultimate...
36From Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 4 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
The Provision Law pointed out no places for storing the provisions to be collected under it. It remained therefore for the Executive to do this. They accordingly, when they first appointed Commissioners, and sent them their Instructions pointed out the places at which they were to store their provisions. Halifax, Charlotte, Prince-Edward, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg Brunswick, Sussex and...
37From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 7 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
We were not able to proceed to the consideration of the prices proposed to be given in your department till we could get a late arrangement of our own which interfered with some articles of you[rs]. This we got to day, and have come to the determination inclosed. Your first article we omitted because we give but two thirds of the allowance there proposed; the 2d because we have no such...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 16 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Baron Steuben being very desirous to have as large [a] collection of Boats made as possible and joined to those he now has at Sandy Point, You are hereby authorized to impress all boats proper for the transportation of troops in James or Appamattox rivers (excepting only one horse Boat at every ferry, and such cases of extreme hardship as in your discretion you shall think should exempt the...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 18 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
It being necessary to collect at Hoods as large a number of boats as possible to transport men and horses across the river as occasion may require, you are hereby authorized to impress all the boats on this and Chickahominy river except only one to be left at each ferry and except also such boats as from particular circumstances of which you are to Judge in your discretion it woud be attended...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 3 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The establishment of a Harness Manufacture in Albermarle, seems advisable, but the Barracks will be much better than Charlottesville, because the German commanding Officer may and probably will prohibit the men from leaving the Barracks. The necessity of the most active exertions to procure provisions for our Army has obliged us to require Mr. Brown to appoint a Deputy in each County, instead...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Richard Claiborne, 17 February [1781] (Jefferson Papers)
I have submitted your Letter of yesterday to the consideration of the Gentlemen of the Council, who are present. It is thought that as the Letter of the Draft Law has left it to the Militia Officers to determine who are the proper Subjects of the Law, so the exemptions specifyed by the Law itself imply that no others shall be allowed. Whether the Staff Officers of the Continent or State are...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Clarke, 13 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
As I expect to see Majr. Forsythe here within a few Days I must beg leave to postpone a definitive answer to your Letter ‘till I am informed whether he has any and what objections to your demand, after which I will do myself the pleasure of writing you on the Subject. FC ( Vi ). your letter : Dated 6 Feb. 1781, q.v.
43From Thomas Jefferson to Jonathan Clarke, 7 February 17[81] (Jefferson Papers)
By a letter from Mr. Hawkins Commissary at the Barracks I find that the deficiences in the issues stated in your account are not agreed to by him. If you will be pleased to settle this matter with him, I shall be glad to receive such an account of these deficiences as is acknowledged on both sides. I take this occasion also to inform you that the account you were pleased to trans[mit] me...
44From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, enclosing Clark’s Commission, 22 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I do myself the pleasure of inclosing you a Brigadier General’s commission. The laws having given us power to appoint a General officer only for special purposes, and not a perpetual one, has obliged us to express the particular occasion of this appointment . Besides this I thought it necessary to give you an exemplification of your former commission which was perpetual. I wish you in every...
45From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 12 October 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We have this moment learnt that there is in possession of Colo. Gibson at Fort Pitt or his Pay-master a quantity of Clothing fit for Soldiers: As Majr. Slaughter’s Corps we know is in want, and yours may possibly be, I have given Majr. Moore an Order to receive it, and deliver it to your order. I am with great respect Sir Your most obedt. humble servt, RC ( WHi ); in a clerk’s hand, with...
46From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 13 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received last night from General Washington a letter on your subject in which he has complied with my request. As every movement will depend so much on yourself in the Western quarter I leave to yourself to determine whether you should not as soon as possible repair hither and take the ultimate measures which are necessary. I am Sir your most obedt. servt., RC ( WHi ); addressed, in TJ’s...
47From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 20 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Having cause to entertain doubts from several Letters transmitted me, whether Mr. Jno. Dodge who was appointed to conduct a commerce with the Indians on behalf of this state has not been guilty of gross misapplication or mismanagement of what has been confided to him and the distance between him and us rendering it impracticable to call the examination before ourselves, you are hereby...
48From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 19 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I received your Letter on the subject of the backwardness of the militia of Berkeley and Frederic to proceed Westwardly and had before received representations from the Counties. This circumstance was the more mortifying as we were informed from various quarters that should we persist in the order it would produce an open disobedience. Many Circumstances concurred to render it prudent to avoid...
49From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 20 January 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I think every paper is now ready for you. They shall be delivered to you tomorrow morning if you will be so good as to call on me. I expect Colo. Gibson here tomorrow. Would you think it worth your while to stay a day to see him? I am with great esteem Sir your most obedt. servt., RC ( WHi ); addressed and endorsed. Among the papers ready for delivery to Clark was a duplicate, dated 19 Jan.,...
50From Thomas Jefferson to George Rogers Clark, 13 February 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
Still having at heart the success of the expedition at the head of which you are placed, we have obtained leave from Baron Steuben for Colo. J. Gibson to attend you as next in command, and of course to succeed to your offices in the events of your death or captivity which however disagreeable in contemplation yet as being possible it is our duty to provide against. I have further added my most...