Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/219

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LETTER XXXVII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Richmond, January 15, 1781. SIR,

As the dangers which threaten our western frontiers, the ensuing spring, render it necessary that we should send thither Colonel Crocket s battalion, at present on guard at Fredericktown, but raised for the western service, T thought it necessary to give your Excel lency previous information thereof, that other forr.es may be pro vided in time to succeed to their duties. Captain Read s troop of horse, if necessary, may be continued a while longer on guard. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency s most obedient,

and most humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER XXXVIII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Richmond, January 15, 1781. SIR,

I received some time ago from Major Forsyth, and afterwards from you, a requisition to furnish one half the supplies of provision for the Convention troops, removed into Maryland. I should sooner have done myself the honor of writing to you on this sub ject, but that I hoped to have laid it before you more fuWy than could be done in writing, by a gentleman who was to pass on other public business to Philadelphia. The late events i this State having retarded his setting out, I think it my dut/ no longer to postpone explanation on this head.

You cannot be unapprised of the powerful armies of our ene my, at this time in this and |he southern States, and that their future plan is to push their successes in thtf same quarter, by still larger reinforcements. The forces to be opposed to these, must be proportionably great, and these forces must be fed. By whom are they to be fed? Georgia and South Carolina are annihilated, at least, as to us. By the requisition to us to send provisions into Maryland, it is to be supposed that none are to come to the southern army, from any State north of this ; for it would seem inconsis-