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accident, and Greene was retreating. His force, two thousand regulars, and no militia; Cornwall s, three thousand. General Davidson was killed in a skirmish. Arnold lies still at Portsmouth with fifteen hundred men. A French sixty-four gun ship, and two frigates of thirty-six each, arrived in our bay three days ago. They would suffice to destroy the British shipping here (a forty, four frigates, and a twenty,) could they get at them. But these are withdrawn up Elizabeth river, which the sixty-four cannot en ter. We have ordered about seven hundred riflemen from Wash ington, Montgomery and Bedford, and five hundred common militia from Pittsylvania and Henry, to reinforce General Greene ; and five hundred new levies will march from Chesterfield Court House, in a few days. I have no doubt, however, that the south western counties will have turned out in greater numbers before our orders reach them.
I have been knocking at the door of Congress for aids of all kinds, but especially of arms, ever since the middle of summer. The speaker, Harrison, is gone to be heard on that subject. Jus tice, indeed, requires that we should be aided powerfully. Yet if they would repay us the arms we have lent them, we should give the enemy trouble, though abandoned to ourselves.
After repeated applications, I have obtained a warrant for your advance money, 18,000, which I have put into the hands of Mr. McAlister, to receive the money from the Treasurer, and carry it to you.
I am, with very sincere esteem,
Dear Sir, your friend and servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
LETTER XLV.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY GENERAL WASHINGTON.
Richmond, February 26, 1781. SIR,
I gave you information in my last letter, that General Greene had crossed the Dan, at Boyd s ferry, and that Lord Cornwallis had arrived at the opposite shore. Large reinforcements of mili tia having embodied both in front and rear of the enemy, he is retreating with as much rapidity as he advanced; his route is to wards Hillsborough. General Greene re-crossed the Dan on the 21st, in pursuit of him. I have the pleasure to inform you, that the
