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freshments, money, &LC. for their prisoners under the Convention of Saratoga. The gentlemen conducting them, have, on suppo sition that the prisoners, or a part of them, still remained in this State, applied to me by letters, copies of which I transmit your Excellency, for leave to allow water transportation as far as possi ble, and then, for themselves to attend them to the post where they are to be issued. These indulgences were usually granted them here, but the prisoners being removed, it becomes necessary to transmit the application to Congress for their direction. In the mean time the flag will wait in James river.
Our intelligence from General Greene s camp as late as the 24th, is, that Lord Cornwallis s march of the day before, had de cided his route to Cross creek.
The amount of the reinforcements to the enemy, arrived at Portsmouth, is not yet known with certainty. Accounts differ from fifteen hundred to much larger numbers. We are informed they have a considerable number of horse. The affliction of the people for want of arms is great ; that of ammunition is not yet known to them. An apprehension is added, that the enterprise on Portsmouth being laid aside, the troops under the Marquis Fayette will not come on. An enemy three thousand strong, not a regular in the State, nor arms to put in the hands of the militia, are, indeed, discouraging circumstances.
I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, your Excellency s
most obedient and
most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
. LETTER HI. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Richmond, April 7, 1781. SIR,
Hearing that our arms from Rhode Island have arrived at Phila delphia, I have begged the favor of our Delegates to send them on in wagons immediately, and for the conveyance of my letter, have taken the liberty of setting the Continental line of expresses in motion, which I hope our distress for arms will justify, though the errand be not purely Continental.
I have nothing from General Greene later than the 27th of March ; our accounts from Portsmouth vary the reinforcements
