The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-08-27
yiNDIcATION OF Mr.. JEFFERSON
No. II.
Fiyf approach Of M< s.se,g, 70 Rielnesa

III the time oil Arnolds invalon l1S0 and hearing
that an expreis had arrived the governors with
Intelligence of the approach of an invading enemy,
immediately rode his hone, and met governor
Jeiferfen walking out. He had received fuch ex-
l,refs, but other intelligence led him to iuppoie
,',ey were nothing more than Averaging party I'm
lefs he had further Information iufy the mea!ure
he fhould not dfurb the country by calling the
Militia; he would thank nevertheless, II would
yo down to the Maj. Gen. Baron Steubcn who was
a, Wilton, (1x miles below Richnoud) and receive
his orders if nesdful. The Baron difparched ne to
genera, Nelfoa a. Wiliamieurg where lioundthe
in confukna, expecting an immediate attack the
penny being a, ANCHOR, and having boat ticking the
fourdnys towards the ihore, Kings Mid q
miles be,v WilliamlSurg) cta
They proceeded, however, UP the river, and
manned in tn. flute of General Mellon ieveral days.
when was d=ired by him be the bearer of io,ue
diipa,ches the governor, OF fuch importance, that
n,uit avoid a.! riique OF being taken. Knowing the
country well, ventured among the plantations,
ill I 90, to that of d. Truehart, near the Meadow
Bridges on Chickahoniny learnt that the enemy 5
picket juh called in, and retired from the Bridges
towards the main body Richmond. followed the
picket carefully, entered Mr.. Dnvars boue, at Mount
Comfort while the a ,ors with liquors ipt
b. the Briti(h folders, and pulled into Richmond,
from whence the army had hrR retreated. Here one
OF our we'll affected citizens q think old Richard
Crouch) referred me to Notes 1'redway, in Manchef
ter, who rondu eted me MIR. ]efferlon, at houfe
then occupied by Doctor Evans, aLd here delivered
nay ditpach, and fpent part of the evening under
oo,i the enemy eiicaniped that night -Four Nile
creek, abou. 10 or - miles off and then OH
their retreat"
In 1896, Mr.. D, Hyl.on, before Doctor VIM.
fouihee, "a pcriou qualified to adninAer an oath)
'iade the following depoiition
9fsnrico County
That in 1881 when Arnold invaded this place
was living near the Foundery at Weflhan :
that was going out to join the Militia TO oproce
Arnold when ! was Ropt by Mr. JefTerion
then governor ofthe State and requeifed by him to
attend TO the removal of the powder ammunition,
arms and other property belonging to the public then
IN the magazine Weftham that his orders were
IN have every thing removed with all poible expe
diton acrois the river; that IN the plight preceding
Arno'ds ARRIVAL the foundery, MIR. Ieferfon was
a the inbicrhers hou,e, late as eleven or twelve
CLOCK at night, attending and giving directions a.
bout the public property that he then faid he ouId
go up the river about rifles TO his family crors the
next morning and come down 10 Britton's oppofite
Weithah and that CARRIAGES. &c thould be proyid-
cd 70 take on the properly; that this was done that
very confederate quantity " fDpoie about fifteen
tHnS) OF Gnnoowder and arnnlunition with number
arms torres e<c We're tranirorted directed and
thereby iaved to the public thar the enemy were
10 cioic to US thar was obliged TO have about three
hundred jtand of arms thrown into the r;ysr 81.
greater part of which were afterwards recovered /.
that IN the night proceeding the day of invaion ..
wagons tdr'ven By White nlen) emploved re- bring
records, &c. from Richmond by rriltske ATTEMPTED
20 get to the Magazine inead of the landing on the
river, and near the Magazine overfr, and broke f,,e
arms &c Ihat n coniequence of this accident the
PACKAGES which afterwards found contained re
cords, were lodged at the Magazine AVID CARRIAGES
could nor be procured in time for the removal as he
ann was 10 great and fudden, that aln,oft every
Fer'n IN rhe neighbourhood was endeavourino n
pu5 ms property in tate of lafety by removing II
mat u 5-0 and ever has appeared to the fubicrbe,
thai the aid Mr Ieferfon did every thing which tbe
nature Of the cafe AID his ftuation would admit for
the public interen.''
(Sgned) d. dyIToN
Such are the affevcrations of man, which no in
dviduaacquanted with his character willdsreto denv
James Curre, OF Richmond, well known for his "a
irnts as Phycian. and his Uniform candor as man
thus expreiies hmfelf. On application made TO me
recoiieet any thing in regard 20 the lois of the
Pu9c records and ohcr valuable papers i'll tie year
L8i during the invA(ion of the Britilh army when
W.T. iHerIon was governor, well remember that he
appeared extremely anxious, and very active in bav
ing them removed from Richmond. and depo(ited in
place ut atety and If po(bIe entirely our of ,be
reach ot do enemy and for that and other din
ues OF ms office as Chief Magihrate, did remain in
'nuy as 'onT, as 'va either pvobr, or prudent for
An'" ~ 70 do' wt"nnf nanife't danger of Incoming
fhe priioner o. nc invading army, who were fan
approa hing the iea of government without any, eff
o;ent force that could that time be broupb, aoa;nn
'hen 20 itnp their march; aud that his conduct wa,
%" peTisctIy proper AMI that of real tqf-iot and
lrieh' OF his country, will he very fully evinced nv
'ne c"ncuFTent voice of rhe gentlemen who then ar
Cd w'th ht'n in council we'll as tine n7qai,79y, qo
P''''1g vo'ee Of Br Yi,giao Lepatpye At the fubfe
qusns meeting Of ale nbly of the nate"
r. llnil2TrequeR being made of Mr. A. b ,te Cler If
te n,agentlemau ofthe faref chara Ger henads
tir 'oho|ing hatement al well remen,hsr tina,
'h. Jeherior was extremely active in removing all
pu,"c records from Richmond and have reaCo1 m
neusVe the chief lois was occaGoncd BY niaate Of
I'VE w'ggoners conveying them to the founderv If
"e"ha'n where they we're to have been thrown n
yer th- river 1t pur'uei by the enemy Mr.. Jsger
ION aellred me as Clerk of the Council to eontrue
WIN him and to take with me the public Cc,l md
inch papers as miTbt be Immediately wanted. ar
soring'y procured fervant, and horie, 10 carry a
ln'A trunk containing the papers, ar' on the after
noon preceding Arnold's taking pofpflon Of Rich.
tnond NV JeIerfon delired me to proceed tn Tuet
ahoG' where ne could come to me. FAT on, 4, su,
- and left Mr. JefFsrfon bafy in getting of the re-.
cords. % N
('gneO A. BLAIR.
October ] g. 1896.
Mr.. John Bse's!-y who was then cerk 70 the Viz
g M ieg0Iture and at this time m, ~ to o,rc L.