"1st Objection-- That General Washington's information was, that an embarkation was taking place, destined for this state.
"Answer-- His information was, that it was destined for the southward, as was given out at New York. Had similar informations from General Washington and Congress been considered as sufficient ground at all times for calling the militia into the field, there would have been a standing army of militia kept up; because there has never been a time, since the invasion expected in December 1777, but what we have had those intimations hanging over our heads. The truth is, that General Washington always considered as his duty to convey every rumor of an embarkation; but we (for some time past, at least) never thought anything but actual invasion should induce us to the expense and harassment of calling the militia into the field; except in the case of December 1779, when it was thought proper to do this in order to convince the French of our disposition to protect their ships. Inattention to this necessary economy, in the beginning, went far towards that ruin of our finances which followed.
"2d Objection-- Where were the post-riders established last summer?
"Answer-- They were established at Continental expense, to convey speedy information to Congress of the arrival of the French fleet, then expected here. When that arrived at Rhode Island, these expenses were discontinued. They were again established on the invasion in October, and discontinued when that ceased. And again on the first intimation of the invasion of December. But it will be asked, why were they not established on General Washington's letters? Because those letters were no more than we had received upon many former occasions, and would have led to a perpetual establishment of postriders.
"3d Objection-- If a proper number of men had been put into motion on Monday, for the relief of the lower country, and ordered to march to Williamsburg, that they would at least have been in the neighborhood of Richmond on Thursday. "Answer-- The order could not be till Tuesday, because we then received our first certain information. Half the militia of the counties round about Richmond were then ordered out, and the whole of them on the fourth, and ordered not to wait to come in a body, but in detachments as they could assemble. Yet were there not on Friday more than two hundred collected, and they were principally of the town of Richmond.
"4th Objection-- That we had not signals.
"Answer-- This, though a favorite plan of some gentlemen, and perhaps a practicable one, has hitherto been thought too difficult.
"5th Objection-- That we had not look-outs.
"Answer-- There had been no cause to order look-outs more than has been ever existing. This is only in fact asking why we do not always keep look-outs.
"6th Objection-- That we had not heavy artillery on traveling carriages.
"Answer-- The gentlemen who acted as members of the Board of War a twelve-month can answer this question, by giving the character of the artificers whom, during that time, they could never get to mount the heavy artillery. The same reason prevented their being mounted from May 1780 to December. We have even been unable to get those heavy cannon moved from Cumberland by the whole energy of government. A like difficulty which occurred in the removal of those at South Quay, in their day, will convince them of the possibility of this.
"7th Objection-- That there was not a body of militia thrown into Portsmouth, the Great Bridge, and Suffolk.
"Answer-- In the summer of 1780, we asked the favor of General Nelson, to call together the county lieutenants of the lower counties, and concert the general measures which should be taken for instant opposition, on any invasion, until aid could be ordered by the Executive; and the county lieutenants were ordered to obey his call; he did so the first moment, to wit, on Saturday, December the 31, at eight o'clock, A.M., of our receiving information of the appearance of a fleet in the bay. We asked the favor of General Nelson to go down, which he did, with full powers to call together the militia of any counties he thought proper, to call on the keepers of any public arms or stores, and to adopt for the instant such measures as exigencies required, till we could be better informed.
"Query-- Why were not General Nelson, and the brave officers with him, particularly mentioned?
"Answer-- What should have been said of them? The enemy did not land, nor give them an opportunity of doing what nobody doubts they would have done; that is, something worthy of being minutely recited.
"Query-- Why publish Arnold's letter without General Nelson's answer?
"Answer-- Ask the printer. He got neither from the Executive.
"Objection-- As to the calling out a few militia, and that late.
"Answer-- It is denied that they were few or late. Four thousand and seven hundred men (the number required by Baron Steuben) were called out the moment an invasion was known to have taken place, that is on Tuesday, January 2.
"Objection-- The abandonment of York and Portsmouth fortifications.
"Answer-- How can they be kept without regulars, on the large scale on which they were formed? Would it be approved of to harass the militia with garrisoning them?"
From Marie Kimball, Jefferson, War and Peace, 1776 to 1784, 248-250.
