Thomas Jefferson to the President of Congress

Richmond, March 21, 1781. Sir, The enclosed letter will inform you of the arrival of a British fleet in Chesapeake bay. The extreme negligence of our stationed expresses is no doubt the cause why, as yet, no authentic account has reached us of a general action, which happened on the 15th instant, about a mile…

Jefferson to His Excellency Gen Washington

Richmond, February 17, 1781. Sir, By a letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February 10th, we are informed that Lord Cornwallis had burned his own wagons in order to enable himself to move with greater facility, and had pressed immediately on. The prisoners taken at the Cowpens, were happily saved by the accidental…

Thomas Jefferson to General Horatio Gates

Richmond, February 17, 1781. Dear General, The situation of affairs here and in Carolina is such as must shortly turn up important events, one way or the other. By letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February the 10th, I learn that Lord Cornwallis, rendered furious by the affair of the Cowpens and the…

Jefferson to the Virginia Delegates in Congress

Richmond, January 18, 1781. Gentlemen, I enclose you a Resolution of Assembly, directing your conduct as to the navigation of the Mississippi. The loss of powder lately sustained by us (about five tons), together with the quantities sent on to the southward, have reduced our stock very low indeed. We lent to Congress, in the…

Jefferson to His Excellency Gen Washington

Richmond, January 10, 1781. Sir, It may seem odd, considering the important events which have taken place in this State within the course of ten days, that I should not have transmitted an account of them to your Excellency; but such has been their extraordinary rapidity, and such the unremitted attention they have required from…