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TO GENERAL LAFAYETTE SHORTLY BEFORE BATTLE OF BLANDFORD
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JEFFERSON, THOMAS. Letter Signed, “Th:Jefferson,” as Governor of Virgina,
to the Marquis de Lafayette (“Sir”), discussing preparations for the siege or attack of
Portsmouth, reporting the status of recruitment for militia, noting the arrival and condition
of a cavalry unit, and sending a letter from General Greene [not present]. 2 pages, folio,
with integral address leaf; minor loss to text at lower edge, minor bleed-through, faint scat-
tered staining. (AKF)
“In Council” [Richmond], 28 March 1781
[15,000/25,000]
“
Colonel Senf handed me a list of entrenching tools . . . for the operations against Portsmouth.
Notwithstanding present appearances, I shall have them procured. . . .
“
Mr. Walker delivered me your wish to have seamen procured for manning the armed vessels. .
. . [P]erhaps the arrival of the fleet and transports of the enemy may have rendered our plans
against Portsmouth desperate; in which case economy would require the immediate discharge of
the private vessels now retained at the public expense and risk. . . . Captain Maxwell is at pre-
sent . . . at the shipyard on Chickahominy . . . . He will there receive any others you may wish
to have executed within the naval department. . . .
“
We are now calling for militia . . . . They will probably . . . be all in within four weeks. . . .
“
Captain Reid’s troop of horse is just arrived here from guarding the Saratoga prisoners . . . .
Captain Reid reports them to me as totally unfit for service . . . .”
Less than a year after Benedict Arnold began to openly serve the British, he led an attack
against Richmond, Virginia, in January 1781, establishing a base of operations in Portsmouth.
In this letter, Governor Jefferson apprises General Lafayette of the situation in advance of his
arrival in April, when he prevented Richmond from being captured after the Battle of
Blandford.
Published in the
Papers of Thomas Jefferson
, vol. 5, 1952.