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auxiliary force. Not having yet had any particular information of the designs of the French Commander, I cannot pretend to say what measures this aid will lead to.
Our proposition to the Cherokee Chiefs, to visit Congress, for the purpose of preventing or delaying a rupture with that nation, was too late. Their distresses had too much ripened their aliena tion from us, and the storm had gathered to a head, when Major Martin got back. It was determined to carry the war into their country, rather than await it in ours, and thus disagreeably cir cumstanced, the issue has been successful.
The militia of this State and North Carolina penetrated into their country, burned almost every town they had, amounting to about one thousand houses in the whole, destroyed fifty thousand bushels of grain, killed twenty nine, and took seventeen prisoners. The latter are mostly women and children. I have the honor to be, &c. your Excellency s
most obedient humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
P. S. Since writing the above, I have received information which, though not authentic, deserves attention : that Lord Cornwallis had got to Boyd s ferry on the 14th. I am issuing orders, in con sequence, to other counties, to embody and march all the men they can arm. In this fatal situation, without arms, there will be no safety for the Convention troops but in their removal, which I shall accordingly order. The prisoners of the Cowpens were at New London (Bedford Court House) on the 14th. T. J.
LETTER XLIV. TO GENERAL GATES.
Richmond, February 17, 1781. DEAR GENERAL,
The situation of affairs here and in Carolina, is such as must shortly turn up important events, one way or the other. By letter from General Greene, dated Guilford Court House, February the 10th, I learn that Lord Cornwallis, rendered furious by the affair at the Cowpens and the surprise of Georgetown, had burned his own wagons, to enable himself to move with facility, had pressed on to the vicinity of the Moravian towns, and was still advancing. The prisoners taken at the Cowpens, were saved by a hair s breadth VOL. i. 27
