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taken place in that quarter since the defeat of Colonel Tarlelon, by General Morgan. These events speak best for themselves, and no doubt will suggest what is necessary to be done to prevent the successive losses of State after State, to which the want of arms and of a regular soldiery, seem more especially to expose those in the South.
I have the honor to be, with every sentiment of respect, your Excellency s most obedient,
and most humble servant,
TH : JEFFERSON.
LETTER XLIII. TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Richmond, February 17, 1781.
SIR,
By a letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February 10th, we are informed that Lord Cornwallis had burned his own wagons, in order to enable himself to move with greater facility, and had pressed immediately on. The prisoners taken at the Cow-pens, were happily saved by the accidental rise of a water course, which gave so much time as to withdraw them from the reach of the enemy. Lord Cornwallis had advanced to the vicinities of the Moravian towns, and was still moving on rapidly. His object was supposed to be, to compel (jeneral Greene to an action, which, under the difference of force they had, would pro bably be ruinous to the latter. General Greene meant to retire by the way of Boyd s ferry, on the Roanoke. As yet he had lost little or no stores or baggage, but they were far from being safe. In the instant of receiving this intelligence, we ordered a reinforce ment of militia to him, from the most convenient counties in which there was a hope of finding any arms. Some great event must arise from the present situation of things, which, for a long time, will determine the condition of southern affairs.
Arnold lies close in his quarters. Two days ago, I received in formation of the arrival of a sixty-four gun ship and two frigates in our bay, being part of the fleet of our good ally at Rhode Island. Could they get at the British fleet here, they are sufficient to de stroy them ; but these being drawn up into Elizabeth river, into which the sixty-four cannot enter, I apprehend they could do no thing more than block up the river. This, indeed, would reduce the enemy, as we could cut off their supplies by land ; but the operation being tedious, would probably be too dangerous for the
