8277. TARLETON (Colonel Bannastre ), Raid on Monticello.—[continued].
I did not suffer by Colonel
Tarleton. On the contrary, he behaved
very genteelly with me. On his approach to
Charlottesville, which is within three miles of
my house at Monticello, he dispatched a troop
of his horse, under Captain McLeod, with the
double object of taking me prisoner, with the
two Speakers of the Senate and Delegates,
who then lodged with me, and of remaining in
vidette, my house commanding a view of ten or
twelve counties round about. He gave strict
orders to Captain McLeod to suffer nothing to
be injured. The troop failed in one of their
objects, as we had notice of their coming, so
that the two Speakers had gone off about two
hours before their arrival at Monticello, and
myself with my family, about five minutes.
Captain McLeod preserved everything with sacred
care.—
To Dr. William Gordon. Washington ed. ii, 425.
Ford ed., v, 38.
(P.
1788)
See Cornwallis.
