The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-11-16

'"Sh"tSt"", AZ" .1tghSt, 1870.
MONTICELLO, q, May Is, 1896
Dear Sir; The sentiments of lrstce
which dictated your letters of the sd and
9th inst. are worthy OF all praise, and ner-
1t and meet my thankful acknowledge
ments. Were your father now living and
proposing, rs you are, to publish second
edition of his mernoirs, [ am satisfied he
would give very different aspect 10 the
pages of that work, which respects Ar
nold's invasion and surprise of Rchiiibnd.
IN the winter of 17S0-Sl. lie was then l
believe in South Carolina, too distant from
the scene OF th ese transactions, ~to relate
them on hls own knowledge, or oveh to
shut them from the chatl of rumors theR
atoat rumors which vanished soon before
the real truth. rs vapors before the ldn,
obhterated, by their notoriety, from every
candid mind, and by the voice OF the many
VINO, as'actors or spectators, knew v hat
had truly pass ed. The facts shall speak
for themselves.
General W ashington had Just given no.
tee TO all tue Governors on the sea -bb, rd.
North and 80 nth, that an eInbarkation'w was
taking place at New-york, destined for
the SoutbmGrd, as iods girea o,d here, and
On Sunday, the 3lst Of Dec. 1881, We re-
ceived information that feet had entered
our capes it happened fortunately. that
our legislature was at that moment In ses-
sion, and Within two days of their r4Fing.
SO that during these two days, we hat the
benefit OF their presence, and of the coun-
cil and information Of the members. Sndi-
vldually. On Monday the Ist of ia niary.
we were in suspense, as 30 the destination
OF thus fleet, whether up the bay or ub our
river. On Tuesday, at 10 O'clock, howev-
or, we received information that thoy had
entered the Jnmcs River; and on general
advice, we instantly prepared orders for
calling in the militia, one half from the
nearer countries, and fourth from he
more remote, which woGld constittHe.a
| force Of between four and FIVE thousand
men Of which orders the members OF the
Lcgisl aturc, which adioarned that Siav,
took charge, each TO his respective county.
ana we began tho removal of every thinr
from Richmond. The wind being fair and
strong the enemy ascended the rivoF as
rapidly as the expresses could ride, who
were dispatched to- us from time 10 time to
notify their progress.
At Z. Nj. on Thursday, we leurht that
they had then been three hours lanFsd d AT
Westoyer. The whole Militia of the nd
iacent counties were now called for. and
to come on, individually, without waiting
any regular array. All PM. the next
day, friday they entered Richmond and
on Saturday, after "a hours possession,
burning some houses, destroying proeerty,
&c. they retreated, entamped that even
ing I'D miles below, and reached ,hoiy
shipping at Westover, the next day, fSun.
day.
By this time had assembled three hum
dred Militia under Col Nicholas, @ miles
above Wostover, and two hundred Under
General Nelson, at Charles City Court
house miles below ; two or three hun
dred at Petersburg, had put themselves
under Gen. Sniallwood, Of Maryland, acci-
dentally there on his passage through the
State and Baron Steuben with eight hun
drod, and Col. Gibson with one thousand
were also on the South side Of James RI.
yer, aiming TO reach Hoods before the en-.
emy should have passed IL where thcv
hoped they could arrest them. But the
wind having shifted carried them down as
prosperously as it had brought them up the
river. Within the first five days therefore,
about $500 men had collected .at three or
four different points ready for junction.
was absent myself from Richmond, but
always within observing distance ofthe en-
emy, three days only during which | was
never oil my horse but to take food or rest;
and was every where, where my presence
could be OF any service and may with
confidence challenge any oae 10 put hls
finger on the point of tiins when was in
a state Of remissness frcm any duty 6f nv
statlon.-But ] was net with tho army =.
True, for lst, where was il %, was en-
gagged III the more important functions OF
taking measures TO collect an army; and
without military education myself, instead
OF Jeopardlsing the public safety by pre-
tending 10 take its command, Of which I
knew nothing, ] had committed that 10
persons Of the art, men who knew how 10
make the best use Of IT. 10 Steuben, fof.
instance; 10 Nelson ard others, possessing
that military skill and experience of which
| had nDuc.
Lee sur condition FOO, at that time b.
MY considered without arms, without
cy o'ctect, without regular soldier
The state, or regular officer except
StrubeD n militia scattered over the coun-
try add called az moments warning to
leave their families and friends, in the dead
oi winter 20 meet an enemy ready mar
shallcd aud prepared at all points to receive
them Yet had time been given them by
the tnrdy retreat of that enemy, have no
doubt but the rush 90 arms, andto the pro
lection Of their country, would, have been
mr. rspid and universal az in their INVASION
during our late war when at the first mo-
ment of notice Our citizens roge in mass.
from every part Of the State, and without
waiting to be marshalled by their officers
md themselves, aud marched off, by ones