15th. Before that I on the information which your express brought me ordered out all the militia of Cumberland, Powhatan, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Amelia, Lunenburg & Mecklenburg who could be armed, and a fourth part of Washington, Montgomery, Botetout, Henry & Pittsylvania. I sent no order to Prince-Edward because I had your information that the business was already done: to Bedford we dispatched Colo Lynch who happened to be here to carry all who could be armed. Halifax & Charlotte were known to be so immediately under the approach of the enemy as that they must be out under the general directions of the invasion Law before orders could get to them. We determined not to embody on the North side of the James River till we should learn that Ld Cornwallis had crossed the Dan, because we still wished to interrupt as little as possible the execution of the Law for raising regulars. That our intelligence might be perfect we got the favor of Majr McGill to go to Greene's camp & apprise us of every interesting movement through the line of stationed expresses. He has been gone a week & we have not yet heard from [him] which makes me apprehend some foul play on the road. I am the more led to this fear by a letter from Genl Greene to Baron Steuben having been opened in the same course of conveyance and the state of Greene's force withdrawn from it. Genl Mulenburg has drawn close down on the Enemy's lines at Portsmouth-the French 64 gun ship lies in Lynhaven bay & the two frigates are on the cruise. We are strengthening in that quarter. TO THE OFFICER COMMANDING THE NAVAL FORCE OF HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY ON THE COAST OF VIRGINIA. (JEAN LE GARDEUR CHEVALIER DE TILLEY.) Feb. 25, 1781. SIR, I have the honor to forward to you the enclosed letter which accompanied others from Genl Washington & the Marques Fayette to the honourable Majr General Baron Steuben. & myself. That there may be no disappointment in procuring the pilots required, I got the favor of Capt. Maxwell, naval commander to this State to proceed to Hampton to provide them. His knowledge of the service and of the properest Persons to be employed will I hope ensure our getting them. You will be pleased to advise him as to the number necessary. The communication between yourself and the Commanding Officer on shore I suppose to be at present safe & easy. If you can point out anything which is in my power to have done to render it more so, I shall with great Pleasure have it done. General Washington mentions that you had been so kind as to take on board some arms and cloathing on account of this State. Captain Maxwell is instructed to take measures for receiving them. I shall be happy to have it in my power to contribute by any orders I can give towards supplying your troops with provisions or any other necessaries which may promote their Health or accommodation, and in every instance to testify our gratitude to your nation in general and yourself personally for the aid you have brought us on the present emergency. TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.1 J. MSS. RICHMOND, Febr. 26th, 1781. Sir,—I Sir, I gave you information in my last letter that Genl. Green had crossed the Dan at Boyd's ferry and that Ld Cornwallis had arrived at the opposite. 'A letter to Washington, of the same date and tenor, is in Washington's edition, 1, 296. Shore: Large reinforcements of militia having embodied both in front & rear of the enemy he is retreating with as much rapidity as he advanced; his route is towards Hillsborough. Genl. Green recrossed the Dan on the 21st in pursuit of him. I have the pleasure to inform you that the spirit of opposition was as universal as could have been wished for. There was no restraint on the numbers that embodied but the want of arms. The British at Portsmouth lie close in their lines. The French squadron keep them in by water, and since their arrival as they put it out of the power of the Enemy to cut off our retreat by sending up Nansemond river our force has been moved down close to their lines. TO MRS. WILLIAM BYRD. (NÉE MARY WILLING.) V. S. A. IN COUNCIL. March 1st. 1781. MADAM, I am sorry it is not in my power to send you the Law you desire having only one copy of it myself and that bound up in the laws of the Session of October 1776. at which it was passed. The description of the offence which is the subject of the Act, is in these words-' if a man do levy war against 'the Commonwealth within the same, or to be ad'herent to the enemies of the Commonwealth within 'the same giving to them aid or comfort in the Com'monwealth or elsewhere &c. &c. thereof be legally 'convicted &c &c.' The situation in which you were placed by the landing of the enemy at Westover was undoubtedly difficult. Whether you may have been able to steer with Precision between the will of those in whose Power you were & the Laws of your country is a question on which the laws have not made me the judge. The letter which you mention to have written while the Enemy's fleet lay at Westover, being thought to contain the acknowledgement of an offence against the Commonwealth was put into the hands of the Executive officially and by them remitted to the Attorney General with instructions to proceed as the laws require. I believe it is his idea that these proceedings must be as for a misdemeanor. They will probably take place immediately under the directions of a late act which ordains pleadings in certain cases from Day to Day till final decision and I hope will furnish you with ample occasion of Justification. The flag having come under a permission of Baron Steuben given before the determination to discontinue that kind of intercourse we referred the whole of that matter to him, save only that his promise having been to admit an identical Restitution of Slaves and the flag instead of that bringing a Compensation in Merchandize were of opinion and determined that this could not be admitted to be received, as, allowing the same indulgence equally to all, it would immediately become. regular commerce. This was the only order or resolution formed by the Executive on any Thing relative to this Flag or to yourself so far as connected with her. Mr. Hare was thought to have conducted himself with great Impropriety, yet a desire to afford no colour of precedent for violating the sacred Rights of a Flag has I believe induced Baron Steuben to remit Mr. Hare & his vessel again to his Commander. Tho' my office requires that I should be divested of private estimations yet I must be permitted to assure you that it will give me very real pleasure to know that the issue from this troublesome business is perfectly to your satisfaction. TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.1 (RICHARD HENRY LEE.) V. S. A. IN COUNCIL March 1. 1781. SIR,-It is with great reluctance that after so long & laborious a Session as the last I have been again to give you the trouble of convening in general assembly within so short a time and in so inclement a season but such was the situation of public affairs as to render it indespensable. The six millions of pounds ordered to be emitted at the last session of assembly, the four millions which the Executive were permitted to issue if necessary, and the money for the purchase of 1500 hhds of tobo. estimated to be one million, one hundred & twenty five thousand pounds have been all dispensed in paiment of public debts, in present defence, and preperation for the ensuing campaign, as fast as they could be emitted and the calls uncomplied with appear to be numerous & distressing. One army of our enemies lodged within our Country, another pointing towards it, and since in fact entered into it, without a shilling in the public coffers, was a situation in which it was impossible to rest the safety of the state. 1 No journal of this meeting of the assembly is known to exist. |