V. S. A. TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS NELSON. SIR,-It happened unfortunately from the tenor of Mr. Wray's letter which gave us the first intelligence of the Appearance of an Enemy we had reason to expect more precise information within a few hours: none such having come within fifty hours, the first intelligence had become totally disbelieved. At 10 o'clock this morning I first received confirmation of it. Orders go out by the members of Assembly to call together half the Militia of the most convenient Counties for present Opposition and one fourth from more distant Counties. We mean to have four thousand six hundred Militia in the field. In this number is not included any below this County. Hanover, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Sussex and Southampton, all below these Counties we have left uncalled on to be drawn by you (or such of them as you think proper) into such parts of the lower Country as you shall think best. Mr. Brown the Commissary has Orders to send a Deputy to furnish you with provisions. I do myself the pleasure of sending you a Commission. I pray you to send as frequent intelligence as possible. Expresses being in readiness for this purpose at Williamsburg and New Kent Court House. Be pleased to give the same notice to the militia as formerly that no man will be ever discharged till he shall have returned whatever Public Arms or Accoutrements he shall have received: be also particular in noting what is delivered to every man. We mean to appoint the Field Officers on the same plan as in the former Invasion from the resigned and supernumery, preserving the Ranks of those Gentlemen accurately as among themselves. TO MAJOR-GENERAL BARON STEUBEN.1 January 2d. 1781. SIR, I have this moment received a confirmation of the arrival of a hostile Fleet consisting of 19 Ships, 2 Brigs, and 10 Sloops and Schooners. The advance of the Fleet were yesterday morning in Warrasqueak Bay, and just getting into motion up the river with a favorable wind and tide: their destination from the intelligence of deserters and some captured mariners, whom they put on shore, is some where up the river, supposed to be Petersburg. We shall be very glad of the aid of your counsel in determining on the force to be collected, and other circumstances necessary to be attended to, for the purpose of opposition, if it be convenient for you to call on the council immediately. CIRCULAR-LETTER TO THE COUNTY LIEUTENANTS OF HENRICO, HANOVER, GOOCHLAND, FLUVANNA, ALBEMARLE, AMHERST, CHESTERFIELD, POWHATAN, CUMBERLAND, DINWIDDIE, AMELIA, BUCKINGHAM, BEDFORD, HALIFAX, CHARLOTTE, PRINCE EDWARD, LUNENBURG, MECKLINBURG, SUSSEX, SOUTHAMPTON, BRUNSWICK. V. S. A. RICHMOND. January 2d, 1781. SIR,-The arrival of a hostile force within our State being confirmed and their movements indicating an intention to come 'From the Sparks MSS., Harvard College. immediately into the Heart of the Country renders it necessary to call for of your militia under proper captains and subaltern officers to rendezvous That there may not be an instants delay let them come in detached parties as they can be collected; every man who has arms bring them. The good of the service requires that the Field Officers at least be experienced in the service, for this reason these will be provided for at the Rendezvous. I beg that this may not be considered by the militia Field Officers from want of Respect to them. We know & confide in their zeal : but it cannot be disreputable to them to be less knowing in the art of war than those who have greater experience in it: and being less knowing, I am sure spirit of Patriotism with which they are animated will lead them to wish that measure to be adopted which will most promote the Public safety however it may tend to keep them from the Post in which they would wish to appear in defence of their Country. The Militia must be subsisted to their Rendezvous under the rules of the Invasion law. A list of all certificates given being kept and returned to the Auditors. CIRCULAR-LETTER TO THE COUNTY LIEUTENANTS OF SHENANDOAH, ROCKINGHAM, AUGUSTA, AND ROCKBRIDGE. V. S. A. IN COUNCIL. January 2d. 1781. SIR,-The Enemy having again thought proper to invade our Country and being now on their way up James River, I have thought proper with advice of the Council of State to require of your militia under proper officers to repair immediately to Richmond, armed with good Rifles and Accoutrements suitable as far as they have them; such of them as have not Rifles will be armed here with muskets and joined to Battalions of Musquetry. Those who bring Rifles will be formed into a seperate corps. Much will depend on the proper choice Officers. They are to be furnished with Provisions by impressing it as directed by the Invasion law, the Person procuring it for them keeping and returning to the Auditors a list of the certificates they grant, stating the Name, Article, Price and Purpose. As the Enemy show by their movements an intention to take Post in the Heart of our Country at once I beseech you to lose not a moment in sending of your men. CIRCULAR-LETTER TO THE COUNTY LIEUTENANTS OF HENRICO, HANOVER, GOOCHLAND, POWHATAN, AND CHESTERFIELD. V. S. A. RICHMOND. January 4, 1781. SIR,-The Enemy having last night passed up James River and seeming to point immediately to this place or Petersburg, I must desire you without a moments delay to send every man of your County able to bear Arms to rendezvous at Westham, let them come in small Detachments as they can be collected and not wait to be formed into Companies. TO COLONEL FRANCIS TAYLOR. V. S. A. IN COUNCIL. January 4, 1781. SIR,-The enemy now appear to be pushing to this place and we know not how much further they may attempt to penetrate. A suspicion that the Conventioners might be induced to attempt a Cooperation and by that means distract the efforts of our People renders it necessary that in the instant of your receiving this you put those Troops into Motion without waiting for their Baggage or anything else, within a very few hours we expect you may throw the whole across the blue ridge and it may be well for you to call on the Counties of Augusta, Amherst and Albemarle to collect a force at Rockfish gap to oppose any pursuit. I would not have those Counties on account of such a call withold the militia required to come here. They must furnish so many additional as you call for. A multiplicity of business puts it out of my Power to send you written Powers of impress. But you must exercise that Power for every purpose only requiring you to keep exact lists of their Certificates to be returned to the Auditors as directed on a former Occasion. TO COLONEL RICHARD MEADE. V. S. A. IN COUNCIL. January 4, 1781. SIR, The present invasion having rendered it necessary to call into the field a large Body of Militia the providing them with subsistence, and the means of transportation becomes an arduous task in the unorganized state of our military system. To effect this we are obliged to vest the Heads of the Commissary's and Quarter Master's Departments with such Powers as if abused will be most afflicting to the People. Major General Baron Steuben taught by experience on similar occasions has pressed on us the necessity of calling to the Superintendance of these Officers some Gentleman of distinguished Character and abilities, who, while he prescribes to them such Rules as will effectually produce the object of their appointment, will yet stand between them and the people as a Guard from Oppression. Such a Gentleman he would propose to consider as of his Family; under the exegency we have taken the Liberty of casting our eyes on yourself as most likely to fulfill our wishes and therefore solicit your undertaking this |