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will authorise him or some other, to procure a relief, in time, for those first impressed. We are upon the eve of a new arrangement as to our commissary s and quarter master s departments, as the want of money, introducing its substitute force, requires the es tablishment of a different kind of system.
Since my first information to you of the arrival of an enemy, they have landed about eight hundred men near Portsmouth, some on the bay side of Princess Anne, one thousand at Hamp ton, and still retained considerable part on board their ships. Those at Hampton, after committing horrid depredations, have again retired to their ships, which, on the evening of the 26th, were strung along the Road from New-ports-news, to the mouth of Nansemond, which seems to indicate an intention of coming up James river. Our information is, that they have from four to five thousand men, commanded by General Leslie, and that they have come under convoy of one forty gun ship, and some frigates (how many, has never been said,) commanded by Commodore Rodney. Would it not be worth while to send out a swift boat from some of the inlets of Carolina, to notify the French Admiral that his enemies are in a net, if he has leisure to close the mouth of it ? Generals Muhlenburg and Nelson, are assembling a force to be ready for them, and General Weeden has come to this place, where he is at present employed in some arrangements. We have ordered the removal of the Saratoga prisoners, that we may have our hands clear for these new guests.
I have the honor to be, with the most perfect esteem and respect, Sir,
your most obedient, and
most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
LETTER XXXII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Richmond, November 3, 1780.
SIR,
Since I had the honor of writing to your Excellency, on the 25th ultimo, the enemy have withdrawn their forces from the North side of James river, and have taken post at Portsmouth, which, we learn, they are fortifying. Their highest post is Suf folk, where there is a very narrow and defensible pass between
