make them soldiers for eight months.  If you will be so good as to inform me, from time to time, how many you have, we may, perhaps, get the supernumerary officers in the State, to take command of them.  By the same opportunities, I desired notice to be given to the friends of the few remaining with you, that they had lost their clothes and blankets, and recommended, that they should avail themselves of any good opportunity to send them supplies.

We approve of your accommodating the hospital with medicines, and the Maryland troops with spirits.  They really deserve the whole, and I wish we had means of transportation for much greater quantities, which we have on hand and cannot convey.  This article we could furnish plentifully to you and them.  What is to be done for wagons, I do not know.  We have not now one shilling in the treasury to purchase them.  We have ordered an active quarter-master to go to the westward, and endeavor to purchase on credit, or impress a hundred wagons and teams.  But I really see no prospect of sending you additional supplies, till the same wagons return from you, which we sent on with the last.  I informed you in my last letter, we had ordered two thousand militia more, to rendezvous at Hillsborough on the 25th of October.  You will judge yourself, whether in the mean time you can be more useful by remaining where you are, with the few militia left and coming in, or by returning home, where, besides again accommodating yourself after your losses, you may also aid us in getting those men into motion, and in pointing out such things as are within our power, and may be useful to the service.  And you will act accordingly.  I am with great friendship and esteem, dear Sir,

your most obedient, humble servant,

Th:  Jefferson.

LETTER XXII.—­TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS, September 15, 1780

TO GENERAL EDWARD STEVENS.

Richmond, September 15, 1780.

Sir,

I beg leave to trouble you with a private letter, on a little matter of my own, having no acquaintance at camp, with whom I can take that, liberty.  Among the wagons impressed, for the use of your militia, were two of mine.  One of these, I know is safe, having been on its way from hence to Hillsborough, at the time of the late engagement.  The other, I have reason to believe, was on the field.  A wagon-master, who says he was near it, informs me the brigade quarter-master cut out one of my best horses, and made his escape on him, and that he saw my wagoner loosening his own horse to come off, but the enemy’s horse were then coming up, and he knows nothing further.  He was a negro man, named Phill, lame in one arm and leg.  If you will do me the favor to inquire what is become of him, what horses are saved, and to send them to me, I shall be much obliged to you.  The horses were not public property, as they were only impressed and not sold.  Perhaps your certificate of what is lost, may be necessary for me.  The wagon-master told me, that the public money was in my wagon, a circumstance, which, perhaps, may aid your inquiries.  After apologizing for the trouble, I beg leave to assure you, that I am, with great sincerity,