Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/186

 170

LETTER XIII.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Williamsburg, November 28, 1779. SIR,

Your Excellency’s letter on the discriminations which have been heretofore made, between the troops raised within this State, and considered as part of our quota, and those not so considered, was delivered me four days ago. I immediately laid it before the Assembly, who thereupon came to the resolution I now do myself the honor of enclosing you. ‘The resolution of Congress, of March 15th, 1779, which you were so kind as to enclose, was never known in this State till a few weeks ago, when we received print- ed copies of the Journals of Congress. It would be a great satis- faction to us, to receive an exact return of all the men we have in Continental service, who come within the description of the resolu- tion, together with our State troops in Continental service. Colonel Cabell was so kind as to send me a return of the Continental regiments, commanded by Lord Sterling, of the first and second Virginia State regiments, and of Colonel Gist’s regiment. Be- sides these are the following ; viz. Colonel Harrison’s regiment of artillery, Colonel Bayler’s horse, Colonel Bland’s horse, General Scott’s new levies, part’of which are gone to Carolina, and part are here, Colonel Gibson’s regiment stationed on the Ohio, Heath and Ohara’s independent companies at the same stations, Colonel Taylor’s regiment of guards to the Convention troops: of these, we have a return. There may, possibly, be others not occurring tome. A return of all these would enable us to see what pro- portion of the Continental army, is contributed by us. We have, at present, very pressing calls to send additional numbers of men to the southward. No inclination is wanting in either the Legis- lature or Executive, to aid them or strengthen you : but we find it very difficult to procure men. I herewith transmit to your Ex- cellency some recruiting commissions, to be put into such hands as you may think proper, for re-enlisting such of our soldiery as are not already engaged for the war. ‘The Act of Assembly au- thorising these instructions, requires that the men enlisted, should be reviewed and received by an officer to be appointed for that purpose; a caution, less necessary in the case of men now actually in service, and, therefore, doubtless, able bodied, than in the raising new recruits. ‘The direction, however, goes to all cases, and,