Revolutionary War-dated twice-signed ALS as governor, signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page, 7.5 x 8.75, May 14, 1780. Letter to Colonel Anthony Walton White, "of the Virginia horse in South Carolina," in full: "I do myself the pleasure of transmitting to you the inclosed advice of Council and order in answer to your application to us. The board of trade inform me they have & shall immediately forward to the Southward such stores as will amount to about half the annual allowance." Jefferson addresses the reverse of the second integral page and adds his signature to the upper left. In very good condition, with trimmed bottom edge, a few light stains, tears to the right side repaired via overall silking, and all of the handwriting several shades light.
Colonel Anthony Walton White (1750-1803) of the 1st Continental Dragoons, who served with the Virginia cavalry in South Carolina, had been defeated by Col. Banastre Tarleton just days earlier on May 6th during the Battle of Lenud's Ferry. Of particular note was that all of Tarleton's 150 men were in fact Loyalists who had been born and raised in the colony of South Carolina; the unit was known as the Loyalist British Legion.
White's men were unprepared for the surprise attack, which resulted in the American deaths of five officers and 36 soldiers. In Tarleton's own words: 'Being totally surprised, resistance and slaughter soon ceased...All the horses, arms, and accoutrements of the Americans were captured. Colonels White, Washington, and Jamieson, with some officers and men, availed themselves of their swimming, to take their escape, while many who wished to follow their example perished in the river.' A fascinating document that finds Governor Jefferson attempting to assuage the losses dealt to Colonel White and his men. From the Collection of Dr. Lawrence E. Miller.
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