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ally nothing to oppose the progress of the enemy, northward, but the cautious principles of the military art. North Carolina is with out arms. We do not abound. Those we have, are freely im parted to them, but such is the state of their resources, that they have not been able to move a single musket from this State to theirs. All the wagons we can collect, have been furnished to the Marquis de Kalb, and are assembled for the march of twenty-five hundred men, under General Stevens, of Culpeper, who will move on the 19th instant. I have written to Congress to hasten supplies of arms and military stores for the southern States, and particularly to aid us with cartridge paper and boxes, the want of which arti cles, small as they are, renders our stores useless. The want of money cramps every effort. This will be supplied by the most unpalatable of all substitutes, force. Your Excellency will readily conceive, that, after the loss of one army, our eyes are turned to wards the other, and that we comfort ourselves, if any aids can be furnished by you, without defeating the operations more beneficial to the general union, they will be furnished. At the same time, I am happy to find that the wishes of the people go no further, as far as I have an opportunity of learning their sentiments. Could arms be furnished, I think this State and North Carolina would embody from ten to fifteen thousand militia, immediately, and more if necessary.
I hope, ere long, to be able to give you a more certain statement of the enemy s as well as our situation, which I shall not fail to do. I enclose you a letter from Major Galvan, being the second I have forwarded to you.
With sentiments of the most perfect esteem and respect, I have the honor to be your Excellency s
most obedient humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
LETTER XVII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Richmond, July 2, 1780.
SIR,
I have received from the Committee of Congress, at head quarters, three letters calling for aids of men and provisions. I beg leave to refer you to my letter to them, of this date, on those subjects. I thought it necessary, however, to suggest to you the preparing an arrangement of officers for the men ; for, though they
