From Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 8 March 1781
To George Washington
Richmond March 8. 1781.
Sir
I had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from General Greene dated High Rock ford February 29. (probably March 1) who informs me that on the night of the 24th Colo. McCall surprized a subaltern’s guard at Hart’s mill, killed 8 and wounded and took 9 prisoners, and that on the 25th Genl. Pickens and Lieutenant Colo. Lee routed a body of near 300 tories on the Haw river, who were in arms to join the British army, killed upwards of 100 and wounded most of the rest, which had had a very happy effect on the disaffected in that country.
By a Letter from Major Magill an officer of this state whom I had sent to Genl. Greene’s head quarters for the purpose of giving us regular intelligence dated Gilford county March 2d. I am informed that Ld. Cornwallis on his retreat erected the british standard at Hillsborough, that a number of disaffected under the command of a Colo. Piles were resorting to it when they were intercepted by Genl. Pickens and Lt. Colo. Lee as mentioned by General Greene, and that their commanding officer was among the slain, that Lord Cornwallis after destroying every thing he could at Hillsborough moved down the Haw river, that Genl. Greene was within six miles of him, that our superiority in the goodness tho not the number of cavalry prevented the enemy from moving with rapidity or foraging. Having desired Major Magill to be particular in informing me what corps of militia from this state joined General Greene he accordingly mentions that 700 under General Stevens and 400 from Botetourt had actually joined General Greene, that Colo. Campbell was to join him that day with 600 and Colo. Lynch with 300 from Bedford were shortly expected; the last three numbers being riflemen. Besides these mentioned by Major McGill Genl. Lawson must before that time have crossed Roanoke with a body of militia the number of which has not been stated to me. Report makes them 1000 but I suppose the number to be exaggerated. 400 of our new levies left Chesterfield court house on the 25th of February and probably woud cross the Roanoke about the first or second of March.1
I was honoured with your Excellency’s letter of Feb. 21. within seven days after it’s date. We have accordingly been making every preparation on our part which we were able to make. The militia proposed to operate will be upwards of 4000 from this state and 1000 or 1200 from Carolina said to be under Genl. Gregory. The enemy are at this time in great measure blockaded by land, there being a force on the east side of Elizabeth river. Tho they have a free exit from Elizabeth river, They suffer for provisions, as they are afraid to venture far enough to marode in any great degree, lest the french Squadron shoud be in their neighbourhood and come on them. Were it possible to block up the river, a little time woud suffice to reduce them, by want and desertions and woud be more sure in its event than an attempt by storm. I shall be very happy to have it in my power to hand you a favorable account of these two armies in the south.
I have the honour to be with the greatest esteem & respect Your Excellency’s most obedient & most hble servant,
Th: Jefferson
RC (DLC: Washington Papers); endorsed: “Richmond 8h. March 1781 from Govr. Jefferson Ansd. 21st.” FC (Vi); at head of text: “General Washington, President of Congress, Baron Steuben, Spkr of the house of Delegates”; at foot of text: “NB the Letter to the three last extends only to the end of the sixth Line in this Page” Tr (DLC) (see note 1, below).
TJ sent almost identical letters to Huntington, R. H. Lee, and Steuben; it is probable that he also sent a copy of the same letter to Thomas Sim Lee (see the latter’s letter to TJ of 15 Mch. 1781, acknowledging one from TJ of 8 Mch.).
1. The letters to Huntington, Lee, and Steuben ended at this point. A summary of the first two paragraphs of this letter appeared in (d & n), 10 Mch., in which the language so closely parallels that of the present letter as to rule out the possibility that the editor of the Gazette relied upon the letters of Greene and Magill; this summary must therefore have been supplied by TJ or by someone in the General Assembly who had access to one of the various letters TJ dispatched on 8 Mch. Since a letter identical with the present (except as noted) was sent to R. H. Lee, it is possible that John Beckley, clerk of the House of Delegates, furnished the editors with an extract from TJ’s summary of the letters of Greene and Magill. If so, it is probably the earliest example of the sort of self-assumed liaison activity between TJ and the press that Beckley was to engage in for the next quarter of a century.