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liorses were not public property, as they were only impressed and not sold. Perhaps your certificate of what is lost, may be neces sary for me. The wagon master told me, that the public money was in my wagon, a circumstance, which, perhaps, may aid your enquiries. After apologising for the trouble, I beg leave to assure you, that I am, with great sincerity,
your friend and servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
LETTER XXIII. TO MAJOR GENERAL GATES.
Richmond, September 23, 1780.
SIR,
I have empowered Colonel Carrington to have twelve boats, scows or batteaux, built at Taylor s Ferry, and to draw on me for the cost. I recommended the constructing them so as to answer the transportation of provisions along that river, as a change of po sition of the two armies, may render them unnecessary at Taylor s ferry, and I am thoroughly persuaded, that, unless we can find out some channel of transportation by water, no supplies of bread, of any consequence, can be sent you from this State for a long time to come. The want of wagons is a bar insuperable, at least in any reasonable time. I have given orders to have Fry and Jefferson s map, and Henry s map of Virginia, sought for and purchased. As soon as they can be got, I will forward them. I have also written to General Washington on the subject of winter ing the French fleet in the Chesapeake. Our new levies rendez vous in large numbers. As General Washington had constituted them into eight battalions, and allotted none to Colonel Harrison, we think to deliver him about four hundred drafts of another kind, who are to serve eighteen months also. Unless Congress furnish small arms, we cannot arm more than half the men who will go from this State. The prize you mention of tents and blankets is very fortunate. It is absolutely out of our power to get these ar ticles, to any amount, in this country, nor have we clothing for our new levies. They must, therefore, go to you clothed as militia, till we can procure and send on supplies. They will be as warm in their present clothing at Hillsborough, as at Chesterfield Court House.
We have an agent, collecting all the beeves which can be got from the counties round about Portsmouth, to send off to you.
