"IT is so true, as to have become proverbial, that a drowning man will catch at a straw. On this principle it is that a despotick, but almost despairing Ministry, having been compelled, by the wisdom, virtue, and firmness of North America, to show disposition to retract from their tyrannical system, are yet suspended in their determination, and find their hopes kept alive by the corruption of some, by the folly and perverseness of others, on this side the Atlantick. The most contemptible tales are magnified into importance when the mind wishes them to be true, and thus the lies of a [James] Rivington [a New York loyalist printer], or the vanity of some heavy-headed Virginian, will swell trifles into proofs of disunion, and serve to persuade perseverance in measures, hurtful indeed to America, but certainly ruinous to Great Britain.

"Among this tribe of mischief-working things may be classed a senseless paper lately published in the Norfolk Intelligencer, said to be 'instructions drawn up for the delegates to the Convention at Richmond, the 20th of March, from a certain county in Virginia.' Was this curious production, Mr. Purdie, rejected by the sensible printers in Williamsburg, which occasioned it to pass through that common sewer of political falsehood and filth the Notfolk Intelligencer? Though the framer of these instructions certainly wants sense, he may be allowed to possess some cunning, because he has so contrived, that willingness of mind, or ignorance of fact, may both conclude a whole county in Virginia to have perfidiously opposed the general union; a union formed, both as to time and matter, on the unanimous concurrence of this country in August last, and finally confirmed by the same unaninlous approbation on the 20th of March succeeding.

"But let us consider, Mr. Purdie, what are the motives and principles that probably govern this drawer up of instructions (for we do not learn that they were ever signed) thus to induce a belief so injurious to the fame of any county. It could not be the little vanity of showing how smoothly nonsense may be written; because the writer's name being concealed, his share of this merit must be small indeed. It could not conduce to procure an adoption of his crude ideas at the Convention,- because the publication appears posteriour to the rising of the Convention.

"lt would seem, therefore, that this fiction was designed for the bad purpose before mentioned, of keeping up the delusion in Great Britain, and comforting, with hopes, an almost expiring, venal despotick Administration. It is not proper to insult the publick with a minute refutation of these instructions: suffice it to observe, that the writer confesses 'the grand principal (we will suppose him here to mean principles [as either Peter Force or one of his emending clerks also supposed] ) for which we contend, are the rights of legislation and taxation, of legislation respecting our intenal police, and of taxation independent of every power on earth; which, inestimable privileges, he farther declares, we will maintain at the risk of our lives and fortunes.

Bravo! our man grows bold here; but presently, alas! he sinks again! for, if his instructions mean any thing, they mean to condemn the proceedings of the Congress, because the Quebeck bill is beyond his 'ideas,' because suspending commerce will be fatal to those who are endeavoring to rob us of what himself calls 'inestimable privileges' and for a few other reasons equally cogent and sensible. Such is the inconsistency,and folly, of the enemies of America; for they are still enemies, whether influencd by vanity or wickedness, or misled by a want of understanding"

Enforcement of the provisions of the Continental association by certification of imported goods entering a country by Prince William County Committee on 20 Mar 1775 [Rev Va. II 282,350]

Rev Va VI p.480

Dr: account for Gen Expenses of the Minute Service. Paid Capt. Wm. Washington Prince William Batt; for wagon hire &c. 㾸.14 . . . Dr : account for bedding. 47 rugs for 3d;Regt. 㿔.3.4 Dr : account for provisions for the army. Paid Pickett & others for prov. to Ashby & Chiltons Compys 3d; Regt £ 23.9.

Monday 27 March 1775

Second Virginia Convention

Proceedings of the Seventh Day

The Delegates met according to Adjournment.l

THE committee appointed to prepare a plan for the encouragement of arts and manufactures,[2] reported the following resolutions; which, being severally read, were unanimously agreed to.[3]

Whereas it hath been judg'd necessary for the Preservation of the just Rights & Liberties of America firmly to associate against Importations, and as the Freedom, Happiness & Prosperity of a State greatly depend on providing within itself a Supply of Articles necessary for Subsistence, clothing & Defence; And whereas it is judged essential at this critical Juncture to form a proper Plan for employing the different Inhabitants of this Colony, providing for the Poor & restraining Vagrants and other disorderly Persons, who are Nu[i]sances to every Society, a Regard for our Country as well as common Prudence call upon us to encourage Agriculture, manufactures, [e]conomy & the utmost Industry, therefore this Convention doth resolve as follows.

Resolved unanimously that it be earnestly recommended to the different Magistrates, Vestries & Churchwardens throughout this Colony that they pay a proper Attention & strict Regard, to the several Acts of Assembly made for the Resuaint of Vagrants & the better employing & maintaining the Poor.

Resolved unanimously that from & after the first Day of May next no Person or Persons whatever ought to use, in his[, her,] or their families, unless in Case of Necessity, & on no Account sell to Butchers or kill for Market any Sheep under four years old; and where there is a necessity for using any Mutton in his, her or their families, it is recommended to kill such only as are least profitable to be kept.

Resolved unanimously that the setting up & promoting woollen[,] cotton & linen manufactures ought to be encouraged in as many different Branches as possible; especially coating, Flannel, Blankets[,] Rugs or Cover lids, Hosiery, & coarse aoths, both broad and [nar]row.

Resolved unanimously that all Persons having proper Lands for the Purpose ought to cultivate & raise a Quantity of Flax, Hemp & Cotton sufficient not only for the use of his or her own Family, but also to spare to others on moderate Terms.

Resolved unanimouslv, as Salt is a daily & indispensable Necessity of Life, & the making of it amongst ourselves must be deemed a valuable Acquisition, it is therefore recommended that the utmost Endeavours be used to establish Salt Works; and that proper Encouragement be given to Mr. James Tait, who hath made proposals and offered a Scheme to the publick for so desirable a Purpose.[5]

Resolved unanimously that Salt Petre & Sulphur being articles of great & necessary use the making, collecting & refining them to the utmost extent be recommended, the Convention being of Opinion that it may be done to great Advantage.

Resolved unanimously that the making of Gun Powder be recommended.

Resolved unanimously that the manufacturing of Iron into Nails and Wire & other necessary Articles be recommended.

Resolved unanimously that the making of Steel ought to be largely encouraged as there will be great Demand for this Article.

Resolved unanimously that the making different kinds of Paper ought to be encouraged; and as the Success of this Branch depends on a Supply of old linen & woollen Rags, the Inhabitants of this Colony are desired, in their respective Families, to preserve these Articles.

[Resolved unanimously that, as the Consumption of Glass is very considerable, the setting up of Glass Houses be recommended, which the Convention are of Opinion would be of great Emolument to the Proprietors.

Resolved unanimously that whereas wool combs, Cotton and wool cards, Hemp and Flax Heckles[1] have been for some Time made to Advantage in some of the neighbouring Colonies, & are necessary for carrying on Linen and Woollen manufactures, the establishing such Manufactures be recommended.

Resolved unanimously that the erecting fulling Mills and Mills for breaking, swingling, & softening Hemp and Flax & also that the making Grindstones be recommended.

Resolved unanimously that the brewing malt Liquors in this Colony would tend to render the Consumption of foreign Liquors less necessary; it is therefore recommended that proper Attention be given to the Cultivation of Hops & Barley.

Resolved unanimously that it be recommended to all the Inhabitants of this Colony that they use, as the Convention engageth to do, our own Manufactures & those of other Colonies in preference to all others.

Resolved unanimously that for the more speedily & effectually carrying these Resolutions into Execution it be earnestly recommended that Societies be formed in different Parts of this Colony, & it is the Opinion of this Convention that proper Premiums ought to be offered in the several Counties & Corporations to such persons as shall excel in the several Branches of Manufactories, & it is recommended to the several Committees of the different Counties & Corporations to promote & encourage the same to the utmost of their Power.

[Resolved unanimously that if any Manufacturer or Vender of Goods & Merchandizes in this Colony shall take Advantage of the Distresses of the times by selling his Goods or merchandize at an unusual & extravagant Profit, such Person out to be considered as an Enemy to this Country & be advertized as such by the Committee of the Place where such offender resides.[l7]

This document in hand of Robert Carter Nicholas in convention loose papers in Virginia State Library

31 March 1775. Set out from thence. (Fredericksburg). Dined at Dumfries and reached home about sun set. By Expenses at Dumfries 13s.3d.

Wednesday, 5 April 1775
Prince William County Committee

Public Apology by Mr. Travers Nash

At a meeting of the committee for the county of Prince William, held at the house of Thomas Young, in the town of Dumfries, on Monday th[e] 3d of April, 1775 .

FOUSHEE TEBBS, esquire, in the chair.

Mr. Travers Nash having been called before the committee for a breach of the third article of the continental association, and having expressed great sorrow and contrition for his conduct, and, signed the association, together with an apology to be published in the gazette, it is the opinion of the committee that he be reprimanded by the chairman, and discharged without further censure. "I do acknowledge, that once since the beginning of last March I made use of tea, contrary to the continental association, for which I am sincerely sorry, and ask pardon of the public."

Travers Nash."

A true copy. Evan Williams, clerk.
Virginia Gazette (Pinkney), l June 1775

1. In the source of the name is printed "Drumfries."

2. The 3d article of the Continental Association adopted by the first Continental Congress on 20 Oct. 1774 read:

"As a non-consumption agreement, strictly adhered to, will be an effectual security for the observation of the non-importation, we, as above, solemnly agree and associate, that, from this day, we will not purchase or use any tea imported on account of the East-lndia company, or any on which a duty hath been or shall be paid; and from and after the first day of March next, we will not purchase or use any East-India tea whatever; nor will we, nor shall any person for or under us, purchase or use any of those goods, wares, or merchandise, we have agreed not to import, which we shall know or cause to suspect, were imported after the first day of December, except such as come under the rules and directions of the . . . . . .

Jenifer & Hooe cast a wide net in their search for profits; in addition to their import-export business they also loaned money at an interest rate of 4.9% [28].....They carried an assortment of specialty goods at their Alexandria store. An inventory taken in April 1775 listed two silver watch keys, seven gold brooches, fourty-six gross of brass and seventeen gross of silver buttons, and an impressive array of ship chandlery supplies. [30]

On the same occasion a proposal was sent to Capt. Grayson by the Independent Company of Spottsylvania County, for the several Companies to unite and march to Williamsburg in order to share in the determination of the people to prevent the repetition of such an outrage. Capt. Grayson uniting with Mr. Lee, an officer and member of the Company, immediately submitted the question to the Common field officer of the several lndependent Companies, as follows:

Dumfries, Va., April 22, 1775.

Sir:

We have just received a letter from the officers of the Independent Company of Spottsylvania, which is herewith enclosed. We immediately called together this Company, and the vote put whether they would march to Williamsburg for the purpose mentioned in that letter, which was carried unanimously.

We have nothing more to add but that we are well assured you may depend on them for that or any other service which respects the liberties of America. We expect your answer and determination by Mr. Davess.

We have the honor to be

Your obt Sevts.
By order of the Company Commander
William Grayson,
to Col. Geo. Washington. Mt. Vernon.

To ditto cash received from Mr. Andrew Leitch towards paying for the arms engaged for the Prince William Company 㿀.12.6 Pensa Money 㾼.10.0

Besides this exciting news from Fredericksburg, Washington had an express from Dumfries. Volunteer officers reported that they had received and voted to answer a summons from Mercer to join him at the Rappahannock, but they awaited Washington's further instructions.

. . . . it was on the 27th, at the very peak of the glory of spring, that a hurrying express brought a startling letter from Fredericksburg, signed by Hugh Mercer and three other men interested in organizing troops for the defence of the Colony. They had heard from Williamsburg that on the night of the 20th-21st, the Captain of a British armed schooner had landed with fifteen marines, had gone to the magazine in Williamsburg and had taken from it the powder stored there. Mercer and the committee in Fredericksburg reported:
"The gentlemen of the Independent Company of this town think this first public insult is not to be tamely submitted to and determine with your approbation to join any other bodies of armed men who are willing to appear in support of the honor of Virginia as well as to secure the military stores yet remaining in the magazine. It is proposed to March on Saturday next [the 29th] for Williamsburg properly accoutred as light horsemen. Expresses are sent off to inform the commanding officers of Companies in the adjacent Counties of this our resolution.

Revolutionary Virginia

Virginia Committee

Maryland Committee to Virginia Committee via Fairfax County Committee

A true copy, received in Annapolis, Friday, April 28, 1775 half after nine o'clock, A.M. and forwarded at ten, per express.

Mat. Tilghman,
Ch. Carroll, of Carrollton,
Charles Carroll,
J. Hall,
Thos. Johnson, Jun.
Samuel Chase

Committee of Correspondence for Maryland

Force, American Archives, 4th ser., 11, col. 366

Fairfax County Comlllittee to Prince William County Committee

Friday, Alexandria, Eight o'clock, P.M.

We received the cnclosed from Annapolis at six o'clock; please forward it to Fredericksburgh. I am, for self and the Committee of Correspondence in this place, gentlemen, your humble servant, Wm. Ramsay. C

Ibid., Il, col. 366

lt was probably about the time the attenuated committee was reaching its decision that another rider, bearing later and more detailed accounts of the sanguinary events in Massachusetts, galloped into Dumfries.

Prince William County Committee to Virginia Committee via Stafford County and Spotsylvania County Committees -1

Dumfries April 30, Sunday.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosed came to hand this morning, about ten o'clock. In one hour I hired the bearer to convey it to your place to the different Committees. For self and the Committee of Correspondence in this place, I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

William Carr.[2]

Spotsylvania County Committee to Virginia Committee via Caroline County and King William County Committees

Fredericksburg, Va. , Sunday evening, half past Four.

GENTLEMEN- The enclosed arrived here about an hour ago, and is forwarded to your Committee by your very humble servants,

Jas. Mercer,
Geo. Thornton,
Mann Page, Jun Hugh Mercer. J
Va. Committee

Ibid., 4th ser., II, col. 366

n - Although the covering note is addressed only "To the Committee of Correspondence at Fredericksburg . . By express.," the relative slowness with which the "enclosed" (for which see 28 Apr. 1775, Va. Committee, 1st entry) reached Williamsburg bespeaks at least a showing of the documents to members of intervening county committees.

p. 86
1775 when no plantation escaped the ravages of the freak freeze that followed a May snowstorm throughout Virginia. After days of entries that recorded plantings of vegetables, on 4 May, Jefferson wrote in his Garden Book: "The blue ridge of mountains covered with snow," and on the fifth: " a frost which destroyed almost every thing. it killed the wheat, rye, corn, many tobacco plants, and even large saplings.[2l] Garden Book of Thomas Jefferson

Prince William County Committee Vol V p.159-160 A Proper and Spirited Conduct

AT a meeting of a special committee for the county of Prince William, held at the house of Thomas Young, in the town of Dumfries, on Monday the 22d of May, 1775.
present, FOUSHEE TEBBS, Esquire, in the chair:

William Grayson, Thomas Blackburn, Henry Lee, Andrew Leitch, Richard Graham, William Brent, John Brett, John McMillan, Henry Peyton, John Peyton, Hugh Brent, James Triplet(t), Lynaugh Helm, William Tebbs, Thomas Atwell, William Carr, Jesse Ewell, and Cuthbert Harrison, gentlemen of the committee.

A PROCLAMATION by his excellency lord Dunmore, with the advice of his majesty's council, having appeared in the public papers, charging a certain Patriclc Henry, and his followers, with rebellious practices, for extorting from the receiver general the sum of three hundred and thirty pounds, in satisfaction for the powder his lordship thought proper to remove from the public magazine in Williamsburg: This committee, having taken the said transaction into their serious consideration, and it appearing to them, from the address of the corporation of the city of Williamsburg, on the removal of the powder, wherein a claim is made, as restitution is required, and no right in government by his excellency at that time alledged, which we conceive he would naturally and necessarily have done if any such had existed, and having also been informed, from respectable authority, that assurances had been given to several gentlemen in Williamsburg by his lordship, that, if no disturbances were raised, the powder should he returned; for these, and other reasons which might be given, they are of opinion, that the powder removed from thc public magazine in Williamsburg did of right belong to this colony.

This committee being further of opinion, that the late violent and hostile proceedings of his majesty's troops in the Massachusetts Bay, in attempting to seize the military stores of that colony, would have justified reprisals of a much greater MAGNITUDE,

Resolved, therefore, unanimously, that the thanks of this committee are justly due to captain PATRICK HENRY, and the GENTLEMEN VOLUNTEERS who attended him, for their proper and spirited conduct on that alarming occasion.

Signed by order, Evan Williams, clerk.

Virginia, Gazette (Pinkney), I June 1775

By cash paid Palmer for 40 muskets for P. William Company @ ١.15 each. 𧵎.0.0

June 6, 1775. Dumfries

Resolved, And it is the opinion of this meeting, that until the said Acts are repealed, all importation to, and exportation from, this Colony ought to be stopped, except with such Colonies or Islands in North America as shall adopt this measure.

Resolved, And it is the opinion of this meeting, that the courts of justice in this Colony ought to decline trying any civil causes until said Acts are repealed.4

From Unknown
Fredericksburg June 9th 1775

The great Character he hath heard of you, induces a private Man to offer to your Consideration the following Hints, with an Assurance, that your Regard for your Country, will improve upon them for the general Good of all America.

When one Colony is declared to be in actual Rebellion, when all the others are anounced to be accessary to, and Favourers of that Rebellion, when the Sword is drawn, and a civil War actually commenced.

Every palliative Measure will be found ineffectual, and nothing will be more likely to restore Peace and a happy Union between Great Britain and America, or so effectually preserve the Liberty of the latter; as bold, daring, and strenuous Exertions of Force in the Beginning of the Contest.

In such a Situation of Affairs; Is it not impolitic to suffer the different Governors to exercise their several Functions, to drain from the People by their large Salaries, part of the Means of Defence, to restrain the Colonists from defending themselves, and to furnish Government with Intelligence, how they may most effectively divide weaken and subdue them?

Is it not still more so, to act the same pusillanimous Part with Regard to the Custom House and other Officers of the Revenue? Doth not common Sense dictate to Americans, the Necessity of strengthening their Hands, by reassuming all the Powers of Government, by seizing upon all the Revenues of the Crown, and by securing the Persons of all the Governors, and other Officers attached to Great Britain thro' out of America. It will be needless to say any thing of necessity of striking a very large sum of money, of making a current all over America, and of pledging the faith of the whole Continent for its redemption. Is not Holland our natural Ally upon the present Occasion, to supply us with Arms, Ammunition, Manufactures and perhaps Money? Ought not an advantageous Treaty of Commerce to be immediately offered her, upon her repaying that Assistance against the Oppressions of Britain, which our Ancestors in the Reign of our glorious Queen Elizabeth afforded them against the Tyranny of Spain?

To proclaim instant Freedom to all the Servants that will join in the Defence of America, is a Measure to be handled with great Delicacy, as so great, so immediate a Sacrafice of Property, may possibly draw off many of the Americans themselves from the common Cause.

But is not such a Measure absolutely necessary? And might not a proper Equivalent be made to the Masters, out of the Large Sums of Money which at all Events must be struck, in the present Emergency?

If America should negect to do this, will not Great Britain engage these Servants to espouse her Interest, by proclaiming Freedom to them, without giving any Equivalent to the Masters? To give Freedom to the Slaves is a more dangerous, but equally necessary Measure.

Is it not incompatible with the glorious Struggle America is making for her own Liberty, to hold in absolute Slavery a Number of Wretches, who will be urged by Despair on one side, and the most flattering Promises on the other, to become the most inveterate Enemies to their present Masters? 1

If the Inhabitants of Quebec should assist Great Britain, would not true Wisdom dictate to the other Colonies, to lead their Slaves to the Conquest of that Country, and to bestow that and Liberty upon them as a Reward for their Bravery and Fidelity?

Might not a considerable Quit Rent reserved upon their Lands, and a moderate Tax upon their Labours, stipulated beforehand, in a Course of Years, sink the Money struck, and refund to the Colonies the Price of the Slaves now paid to their Masters for their Freedom?

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: "To John Adams Esq. of the Masachusets Bay now in Philadelphia"; in red ink: "I/4," probably the postage, and beside this in black ink: "N 8", on the opposite side from the address and in the same hand as "N 8," docketed: "Dumfrus June 14 1775"; docketed in a different hand: "anonymous X Fredericksburgh June 9th"; docketed in yet a different hand, possibly that of Rev. William Gordon: "Dumfrus June 9. I775." On Gordon, see Adams Family Correspondence, I:229-23 0, note.

A check with the Virginia Historical Society, the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, and the Kenmore Association of Fredericksburg brought the suggestion that "Dumfrus" was Dumfries, a town north of Fredericksburg, where the letter might have been posted. No one has yet any clue to the authorship of this interesting letter. It was probably written to JA because he had already gained a reputation as a vigorous proponent of strong measures in dealing with Great Britain.

[1]The issue of slavery was and continued to be a problem as the colonies moved closer to independence. The author's belief that liberty for slaveholders and denial of liberty to slaves were in conflict was not uncommon, as is indicated by even a cursory examination of the writings of whig leaders, both northern and southern. The writer of this letter was unusual, however, because he not only states the problem, but offers a solution.

His plan did not arise wholly from perception of an abstract, if obvious, injustice, but also from events in Virginia in I774 and 1775. By 9 June I775, Virginia and the other southern colonies labored under a growing fear that the British, in the event of revolution, would free the slaves and use them against their former masters. These apprehensions were well grounded, for loyalists and their sympathizers had contemplated this possibility for some time (Benjamin Quarles, The Negro in the American Revolution, Chapel Hill, 1961, p. 21). In letters exchanged between James Madison and William Bradford in Nov. 1774 and Jan. 1775, reference is made to attempts to incite the slaves and to a ministerial plan to foment a slave rebellion (Madison, Papers, m 129-1 30, 132). In April a group of slaves seeking to volunteer approached Gov. Dunmore, but he refused their services because he was not yet ready for action (Quarles, p. 22). Soon afterward, however, Lord Dunmore, according to a deposition taken from a Virginian, stated that in the event of rebellion, he would be able to count on the slaves for support ("Virginia Legislative Papers," VMHB, 13:49 [July 1905]). According to Lord Dartmouth, Dunmore in a letter to him of l May stated essentially the same thing (Force, Archives, 4th ser., 3:6). By }5 May news of Dunmore's plans had spread outside Virginia, for Gen. Gage noted the anxiety raised among the imsurgents by Dunmore's design to free the slaves (Gage, Corr., m 399-400). From the warship on which he took refuge, Dunmore continued his efforts to raise forces among Negroes until in Nov. 1775 he issued his proclamation freeing the slaves (Force, Archives, 4th ser., 3:373, 1385 ) . The author was, therefore, not so much anticipating Dunmore's final action as he was reacting to an existing situation and proposing a plan to avoid its consequcnces.

His solution to the problem was unique; no other reference to this or a similar plan has been found. In proposing to use Canada as a home for freed slaves and as a source of funds to pay the slaveholders, he obviously was responding to the American desire to take Canada. Beyond being of strategic importance, Canada could become the means to end a conflict between the ideals and realities of the American struggle and forestall the horrors of a slave insurrection.

The day after Genl. Washington received from Congress his commission appointing him Commander in Chief of all the forces raised or to be raised in the American Colonies, he took leave of these Independent Companies in the following letter to Capt. Grayson and others:

Phila. Pa. June 20. l775.

Gentlemen:

I am now about to bid adieu to the Companies under your respective commands. I have launched into a wide and extensive field, too boundless for my abilities and far, very far beyond my experience. I am called by the unanimous voice of the Colonies to the Command of the Continental Army, an honor I did not aspire to, an honor I was solicitous to avoid upon a full conviction of my inadequacy to the importance of the service. The partiality of Congress, however, assisted by a political motive, rendered my reasons unavailing and I shall tomorrow set out for the camp near Boston.

I have only to beg of you therefore, before I go, especially as you did me the honor to put your Company under my director and know not how soon you may be called on in Virginia for an exertion of your military skill, by no means to relax the discipline of your respective Companies.

I have the honor to be etc Geo. Washington.

p. 200 Vol.1
" Resolved, That no flour, wheat, or other grain, or provisions of any kind, be exported from this colony, to any part of the world, from and after the fifth day of August next, until the Convention or Assembly, or the honorable the Continental Congress, shall order otherwise; that no quantities of the said articles, more than are necessary for the use of the inhabitants, be brought to, collected, or stored in the towns or other places upon or near the navigable waters; that the respective County Committees be directed to take care that this resolve be effectually carried into execution, and that all contracts made for the sale and delivery of any such articles for exportation, between this time and the tenth day of September next, be considered as null and void. "

Vol. VI, p.319
Vol. IV, p.53
4. By passage on 21 Aug. 1775 of "An Ordinance for Raising and Embodying a Sufficient Force for the Defence and Protection of This Colony," the third Virginia Convention divided the colony into 16 military districts: (12) the District of Culpeper (Culpeper, Fauquier, and Orange counties), (13) the District of Caroline (Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties), (14) the District of Prince William (Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties), In each district a specified number of regular troops was to be raised, and a committee composed of 3 (or in some instances, 4) deputies from each county committee and 2 from each corporate committee was to be selected and charged with the appointment of company grade officers. Moreover, "the committees of each particular county, city, or borough, at the time of nominating such deputies, shall appoint three others of their members to supply the place of such of their deputies as may be prevented from attending the general committee of delegates, by sickness, or any other accident" (Rev. Va., III, 471; Statutes at Large, IX, 16,17-18, 21). The power of the Committee of Safety was limited to issuing "Commissions, under their hands, to the officers of the several companies, according to their several appointments, fixing their rank of seniority and precedence according to the priority of the completion of their companies" (ibid., IX, 11).

Vol 4, p.326.
3. Despite the yielding of the convention to inflationary pressure in the matter of salt shortages (for which see 8 Dec. 1775, Procs. and n. 7), the delegates in this instance adhered strictly to the provision laid in the 4th paragraph of the "Ordinance for Providing Arms and Ammunition for the use of This Colony," enacted by the third convention on 26 Aug. I775. which offered 'three Shillings" as the price for each pound of good saltpeter manufactured and refined of materials the natural produce of this colony" (Rev Va. III, 503, 503- 4; Statutes at Large, IX, 72).

The Virginia Convention had authorized formation in each county of a militia company, independent of the regular organization commanded by the governor. On 21 September, at a county gathering with Mason replacing Washington in the chair, the Fairfax Independent Company of Volunteers was organized, a one-hundred-man body whose members were to choose their own officers and meet for regular drill

"In this Time of extreme Danger, with the Indian Enemy in our Country, and threat'ned with the Destruction of our Civil-rights, & Liberty, and all that is dear to British Subjects & Freemen." Its uniform was to be "Blue, turn'd up with Buff; with plain yellow metal Buttons, Buff Waist Coat & Breeches, & white Stockings"; its equipment, "a good Fire-lock & Bayonet, Sling Cartouch-Box, and Tomahawk." The men should "constantly keep by us a Stock of six pounds of Gunpowder, twenty pounds of lead, and fifty gun-flints, at the least " [20] The articles of association were in Mason's handwriting: Washington is thought to have specified the military details.

Journals of Congress

Conventions, and Councils of Safety will appoint proper persons in their respective colonies, whose business it shall be to employ and set to work such and so many of their countrymen, as they shall judge fit, to collect earth from which nitrous salt may be extracted, and to manufacture it into salt petre.

The Congress taking into consideration the said report,

Resolved, That ................ Charles Carter, of Stafford, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Henry Lee, Thomas Blackburn, Charles Broadwater, and George Mason, Esquires, or any three or more of them, with such proprietors in the county of Stafford, Prince William, and Fairfax, in the colony of Virginia, to purchase for the use of the United Colonies, all the salt petre which may within twelve calendar months be produced from the floors and yards of the warehouses and other places, under the management of such persons as the Congress shall appoint for that purpose, and to pay to the owners of the soil, if they will manufacture it at their own expence, after the rate of two fifth parts of a dollar for every pound weight, avoirdupois, of clean, pure, and neat salt petre, delivered to the gentlemen above named, for the use of the United Colonies, and to hire labourers, and provide the necessary apparatus, to be employed under the direction of the said Managers, in the soil of such per sons as shall not chuse to adventure in the business them selves, paying to the owners, if they require satisfaction, what they shall be willing to take, so that it do not exceed one forty-fifth part of a dollar for every pound weight, avoirdupois, of salt petre of the like quality, in both which cases the Congress will make good the contracts, and will pay all such expenses as shall be incurred by the gentle men desired to superintend the operation; on whose zeal, influence, and abilities, to procure, with all convenient expedition, a large quantity of this article, so necessary for the defence of their country, and thereby render it a very important service, and by their example and activity to forward and encourage this useful work, the Congress rely with confidence.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Assemblies, Conventions, and committees of Safety, of the thirteen United Colonies, to appoint certain persons within each of the said colonies, whose business it shall be to employ and set to work so many persons as they may think proper, both to work up such earth as is now fit for making salt petre, and to collect together and place in beds or walls under sheds, all such earth and composition of materials as are suitable to produce salt petre, after being duly exposed to the air, in order to encrease the produce of it,................

MS Committee Account Book John Pendleton, Jr. Fol 38,

396 Continental Congress

Revolutionary Virginia

Prince William County Committee of Correspondence to the Honorable the Members of the General Congress, Philadelphia. By favr. of Thos. Montgomerie Esqr.

Gentlemen Virginia Dumfries Novr. 14, 1775

At a full meeting of our new Committe[e] who have been regulary elected by the Freeholders of this County agreable to an Ordinance of the Honorable the Convention, several applications were made from the inhabitants of this & the back Counties, to procure them Salt, an article now not to be had in this part of the Country: The Committee induced thereby together with a knowledge of the complaints & clamours of the people took the matter into consideration & are of Oppinion that Salt being a real necessary of life ought to be procured at any event. To quiet the minds of the people & keep peace in the Country, they have desired us [to] fall on any possible method to procure a Temporary supply, and to correspond with you in order that some means may be taken for preventing more effectually a future scarcity; we have accordingly given directions to Mr. Montgomerie to procure a quantity from Norfolk, which we are informed may be had tho' probably imported since the nonimportation agreements took [effect.] We therefore hope that the inconveniences may for a time by a judic[ious dispo]sition be suspended; but earnestly request you will provide more effec[tively] hereafter, by such means as shall appear to you most proper. On application to the bearer Thomas Montgomerie Esqr. he informs us, that he could furnish any Quantity; we therefor take the liberty to recommend him to you for that purpose, being a person in whom we are satisfied you may fully confide to make any importation you shall judge necessary for this part of the Country, if you have not already fallen on some other method.

To him we beg leave to refer you for further particulars. We have the honor to be Gentlemen Your most obedient Servants.

FOUSHEE TEBBS
HENRY LEE Committee of
T. BLACKBURN Correspondence
RICH. GRAHAM

RC, MS letter, in hand of Foushee Tebbs, with autograph signatures (Lee Family Papers, Manuscripts Department, University of Virginia Library)

Direction for Payment of Claims of Officers and Soldiers

December 1, 1775

We the Commissioners appointed by the honourable Assembly and Convention of Virginia to settle the accounts of the Militia drawn out into actual Service have in obedience thereto stated an Account of the different Charges which were laid before us against the Colony, as well for the Officers and Soldiers pay as for provisions and other proper and legal Charges - and we have reported and returned agreeable to the Direction of the honourable the Convention the several Claims for rebuilding Fort Pitt and the Building Forts on the Waters of the Ohio as also the Cases of such Soldiers as were wounded in the late Expedition and applied to us for that purpose, for which we have granted Certificates to the respective Claimants except with Respect to the Forts and the Cases of wounded Soldiers, &c. a List of which said Reports is annexed.

Richard Lee
Francis Peyton
Josias Clapham
Henry Lee
T. Blackburne
Pursuant to the Foregoing Certificate of the Commissioners for stating the accounts & claims of the militia drawn out into actual service last year. You are to pay the several persons whose names are entered in the preceeding pages of this book, and the several sums set down against their [names]....

Vol. 4, p.326
6. For earlier complaints that the minute companies were having troubles recruiting, along with reasons set forth, see Rev War, IV, 246, 247 n. 3, 417 n. 1, 498. Leven Powell, major of the Minute battalion from the District of Prince William (for which see ibid., IV, 53 n. 4), sighed at "the difficulties & Perplexities attending" his branch of service were much greater than could be justified by the meager compensation provided (Powell to Sarah Powell, 5 Dec. 1775, Leven Powell Papers, Earl Gregg Swem Library, Coll. of Wm. and Mary.

Vol 4, p.326 4. On the present date Delegate Carter "of Stafford" Co. signed a receipt at the treasury for "One hundred Pounds for the Use of the Dumfries Salt petre Works & One hundred Pounds, AIlowed" him "to promote the different Salt petre Works" under his "Directions" (Treasurer's MS Receipt Book, no. 24, VSL entry for 9 Dec. 1775). By 21 Jan. 1776 Carter would report to the public that under his management, his 5 works were advancing "prosperously." At Alexandria, Aquia, Colchester, Dumfries, and Ravensworth he was producing an average daily grand total of 56 pounds of refined saltpeter. and he anticipated that when all of the works were fully "in motion," production would soar to a total of between 500 and 1,000 pounds per day (Va Gazette [Purdie], 2 Feb. 1776, supplement).

5. The convention resumed sitting as a Committee on the State of the Colony in compliance with an order adopted as the final transaction of the previous day, 8 Dec. 1775. Although the proceedings of this day respecting saltpeter may very well have been digested in the committee, the Ist business to be laid officially before the house as emanating from the committee-relating to defense and protection-would be received on 13 Dec. 1775 (Procs. and nn. 17-19).

Saturday, 9 December 1775

Fourth Virginia Convention Proceedings of Sixth Day of Session

Resolved, that the like sum of one hundred Pounds be advanced by the Treasurer of this Colony [Robert Carter Nicholas] to the Dumfries Salt Petre Company to promote their manufactory of that Article2 they entering into Bond with-- Security to repay the same in Salt Petre at the price of three Shillings per pound within six Months.3 Convention MS Journal VSL

Prince William County Committee

Report of Enquiry into Conduct of Cuthbert Bullitt

At a Committee of Prince William county, held the 16th day of December 1775,
Mr. Cuthbert Bullitt applied to the committee to have an inquiry made into his conduct relative to what had been reported against him. The committee took the depositions of Col. Burr Harrison, Mr. William Brent, and Mr. Cuthbert Harrison; and delivered it as their opinion, that Mr. Bullitt had only acted unguardedly, but that they were convinced, from the zeal he had always shewn in the American cause, and from what now appeared, that he had no design to depreciate the currency of the colony, or to injure the rights of America.
The depositions of the above-mentioned gentlemen set forth, that about the first of November, at Mr. Burr Harrison's funeral, they heard Mr. Bullitt censure the extravagance of the Convention, in allowing so great a salary, in many instances, to persons employed by them, so different from the frugal conduct of the Congress; that he had expressed his fears of the consequence of such a behaviour, if continued, which he foresaw would be the greatest injury to the credit of the paper money of the colony; that he thought every one in so righteous a cause ought to be contented with a reasonable allowance for his service, such as could enable him to live with economy, and not tempt him to luxury: and that for his part, he would rather suffer from his right hand to be cut off than to take more. But that, for the whole tenour of his conversation, it by no means appeared that he intended in the least to injure the credit of the paper currency.
Virginia Gazette (Purdie), 1 March 1776