thirty-three miles, done the whole injury, and retired.
Their numbers, from the best intelligence I have had,
are about fifteen hundred infantry, and as to their
cavalry, accounts vary from fifty to one hundred and
twenty; and the whole commanded by the parricide Arnold.
Our militia, dispersed over a large tract of country,
can be called in but slowly. On the day the enemy
advanced to this place, two hundred only were embodied.
They were of this town and its neighborhood, and were
too few to do any thing. At this time, they are
assembled in pretty considerable numbers on the south
side of James river, but are not yet brought to a point.
On the north side are two or three small bodies, amounting
in the whole to about nine hundred men. The enemy
were, at four o’clock yesterday evening, still
remaining in their encampment at Westover and Berkeley
Neck. In the mean while, Baron Steuben, a zealous
friend, has descended from the dignity of his proper
command, to direct our smallest movements. His
vigilance has in a great measure supplied the want
of force in preventing the enemy from crossing the
river, which might have been very fatal. He has
been assiduously employed in preparing equipments
for the militia, as they should assemble, in pointing
them to a proper object, and in other offices of a
good commander. Should they loiter a little longer,
and he be able to have a sufficient force, I still
flatter myself they will not escape with total impunity.
To what place they will point their next exertions,
we cannot even conjecture. The whole country
on the tide waters and some distance from them, is
equally open to similar insult.
I have the honor to be, with every sentiment of respect,
your Excellency’s most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXXVII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Richmond, January 15,1781.
Sir,
As the dangers which threaten our western frontiers,
the ensuing spring, render it necessary that we should
send thither Colonel Crocket’s battalion, at
present on guard at Fredericktown, but raised for the
western service, I thought it necessary to give your
Excellency previous information thereof, that other
forces may be provided in time to succeed to their
duties. Captain Read’s troop of horse, if
necessary, may be continued a while longer on guard.
I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect,
your Excellency’s most obedient
and most humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER XXXVIII.—TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, Jan. 15, 1781
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Sir,
Richmond, January 15, 1781.
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