The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and PrivateJefferson, Thomas
History
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 1 (of 9): Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private
Jefferson, Thomas
United States -- Politics and government -- 1775-1783; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865
Such as pass by this place, take muskets in their hands. Those
from the southern counties beyond the Blue Ridge, were advised to
carry their rifles. For those who carry neither rifles nor muskets, as
well as for our eighteen months' men, we shall send on arms as soon as
wagons can be procured. In the meantime, I had hoped that there were
arms for those who should first arrive at Hillsborough, as by General
Stevens's return, dated at his departure thence, there were somewhere
between five and eight hundred muskets (I speak from memory, not having
present access to the return) belonging to this State, either in the
hands of the few militia who were there, or stored. Captain Fauntleroy,
of the cavalry, gives me hopes he shall immediately forward a very
considerable supply of accoutrements, for White's and Washington's
cavalry. He told me yesterday, he had received one hundred and thirteen
horses for that service, from us. Besides those, he had rejected
sixty odd, after we had purchased them, at £30 apiece. Nelson's two
troops were returned to me, deficient only twelve horses, since which,
ten have been sent to him by Lieutenant Armstead. I am not a little
disappointed, therefore, in the number of cavalry fit for duty, as
mentioned in the letter you enclosed me. Your request (as stated in
your letter of the 7th) that we will send no men into the field, or
even to your camp, that are not well furnished with shoes, blankets,
and every necessary for immediate service, would amount to a stoppage
of every man; as we have it not in our power to furnish them with real
necessaries completely. I hope they will be all shod. What proportion
will have blankets, I cannot say: we purchase every one which can be
found out; and now I begin to have a prospect of furnishing about half
of them with tents, as soon as they can be made and forwarded. As to
provisions, our agent, Eaton, of whom I before wrote, informs me in a
letter of the 5th instant, he shall immediately get supplies of beef
into motion, and shall send some corn by a circuitous navigation. But
till we receive our wagons from the western country, I cannot hope to
aid you in bread. I expect daily to see wagons coming in to us. The
militia were ordered to rendezvous at Hillsborough, expecting they
would thence be ordered by you into service. I send you herewith, a
copy of Henry's map of Virginia. It is a mere _cento_ of blunders. It
may serve to give you a general idea of the courses of rivers, and
positions of counties. We are endeavoring to get you a copy of Fry
and Jefferson's; but they are now very scarce. I also enclose you some
newspapers, in which you will find a detail of Arnold's apostasy and
villany.
I am, with all sentiments of sincere respect and esteem, Sir, your most
obedient and most humble servant.
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