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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS NELSON. - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 3 (Notes on Virginia I, Correspondence 1780-1782) [1905]

Edition used:

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 3.

Part of: The Works of Thomas Jefferson, 12 vols.

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TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL THOMAS NELSON.

v. s. a.

Richmond. January 15—1781.

Dear General,

—As I suppose by this time you may have more men than Arms, and there are no more arms fit for use remaining in the public Stock, economy will require that the surplus militia be discharged. This measure is the more necessary as the law for raising new levies remains unexecuted while the militia are from the counties. I shall therefore take the liberty of pointing out to you, as I have done to Baron Steuben, what particular militia should be first discharged. On confirmation of the intelligence that a hostile fleet had arrived we asked the advice of Baron Steuben as to the numbers which should be brought into the field: He advised 4000: we therefore called on the following Counties for one fourth of their militia, which we expected would produce the numbers as annexed to them, viz

Halifax247.
Buckingham162.
Goochland145.
Lunenburg169.
Chesterfield164.
Rockbridge146.
Charlotte156.
Amherst224.
Cumberland102.
Mecklinburg212.
Henrico155.
Augusta344.
Prince Edward142.
Albemarle218.
Powhatan71.
Brunswick325.
Sussex175
Rockingham219
Bedford325
Fluvanna65
Amelia275
Dinwiddie175
Southampton218
Shenandoah216

The amount (4650) was greater than the Baron’s requisition because we of course expected deficiencies. The above were intended to be kept in the field for some time; but some of these Counties were distant, we called on those in the neighborhood of this place at first for one half and afterwards for all their fighting men for present defence, meaning that as soon as those before enumerated should be in the field, those called for present defence should be discharged. In like manner you are authorized for the purpose of hasty opposition to call out certain counties, which it was likewise our idea to discharge on receiving the force which was to remain. Whenever, therefore, all your arms shall be taken up, should more militia come in we would chuse that you discharge so many of those Counties not originally called on, or of those which tho’ originally called on have yet more than one fourth in the field. By these means we shall in time have in the field the militia of those particular Counties only which were first called on, and the other Counties being all at home we may proceed to send to them the law for raising levies in order to its execution.