The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia, 1772-1832

by Taylor, Alan

  72 William Tatham to James Barbour, Dec. 27, 1812, JBEP, reel 5507, LV; Robert B. Taylor quoted in James Barbour to the Council of State, May 12, 1812, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:137; Kendall Addison to Barbour, June 10, 1812, JBEP, reel 5502, LV; Robert Greenhow to Charles K. Mallory, Sep. 8, 1813, JBEP, reel 5516, LV. See also Thomas R. Joynes to Barbour, Jan. 13, 1812, N. Cargill to Barbour, Feb. 8, 1812, and Griffin Sith to Barbour, Feb. 8, 1812, JBEP, reel 5499, LV; Barbour to James Monroe, June 23, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 349, RG 3, reel 3009, LV; Charles K. Mallory to Robert Greenhow, Sep. 10, 1813, Executive Letter Book, 366, RG 3, reel 3010, LV. For a very shaky report of a British-assisted slave plot in Richmond, see William Neal, deposition, July 19, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:264.

  73 Sir George Cranfield Berkeley, “Thoughts upon a War between America and Great Britain,” Sep. n.d., 1807, MG 24 A 8 (Henry Bathurst Papers), reel H-2961, LAC; Sir Alexander Cochrane, “Thoughts on American War,” Apr. 27, 1812, Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville, Papers, HL; Lambert, Challenge, 25.

  CHAPTER FIVE: INVASION

  1 Walter Jones to Thomas Jefferson, Feb. 16, 1814, in Looney PTJ-RS, vol. 7:201.

  2 Norma Taylor Mitchell, “John Campbell,” in Sara B. Bearss et al., eds., Dictionary of Virginia Biography (Richmond: Library of Virginia, 2001), vol. 3:572–73; John Campbell to David Campbell, June 12 (“We wait”) and June 21, 1812 (“The Cannon”), CFP, box 2, SC-DUL.

  3 “The Fourth of July,” Richmond Enquirer, July 7, 1812 (all quotations except Campbell’s); Thrift, “Thomas Ritchie,” 170–73, 186–87; Ambler, Thomas Ritchie, 57–60; John Campbell to David Campbell, July 5, 1812, CFP, box 2, SC-DUL.

  4 For Barbour’s nickname, see D. P. Jordan, Political Leadership, 111; Lowrey, James Barbour, 62; James Barbour to James Singleton, May 26, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 286, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 30009, LV; John Campbell to David Campbell, July 5, 1812, CFP, box 2, SC-DUL.

  5 Lowrey, James Barbour, 41, 51–59.

  6 John Campbell to David Campbell, Sep. 7 and Oct. 17, 1812 (“Barbour takes it”), CFP, box 2, SC-DUL; William Wirt to Dabney Carr, Mar. 31, 1813, William Wirt Papers, LV.

  7 James Barbour to the Council of State, May 12, 1812 (“literally nothing”), in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:133; Barbour to William Eustis, Apr. 17 and May 19, 1812, Barbour to William Sharp, July 15, 1812, Executive Letter Book, pp. 237, 277, 399, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV; Lowrey, James Barbour, 62–69.

  8 Walter Jones to James Monroe, May 30, 1813, JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC; Thomas Cooper to Thomas Jefferson, Aug. 17, 1814, in Looney, PTJ-RS, vol. 7:558; A. Taylor, Civil War of 1812, 325–29.

  9 James Barbour to William Eustis, Apr. 17 and May 19, 1812, Barbour to James Monroe, June 23, 1812, Barbour to William Sharp, July 15, 1812 (“the great dangers”), and Barbour to James Madison, July 18, 1812, Executive Letter Book, pp. 237, 277, 349, 399, 414, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV; Charles K. Mallory to Barbour, July 22, 1812, JBEP, reel 5503, LV; “To the Virginia Legislature,” Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 15, 1812.

  10 Walter Jones to James Monroe, May 30, 1813 (“very badly equipped,” “in driblets,” and “a few muskets”), JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC; court martial of Lt. Horatio Woodard, Apr. 15, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV; Jones to Thomas Jefferson, Feb. 16, 1814, in Looney, PTJ-RS, vol. 7:201.

  11 William Tatham to James Barbour, May 11, 1812, JBEP, reel 5501, LV; Thomas Wells to Court of Nottaway County, Nov. 5, 1812 (“Were all”), JBEP, reel 5508, LV; John Campbell to David Campbell, July 31, 1812, and June 27, 1813 (“Nine-tenths”), CFP, box 2, SC-DUL; John Stokely to James Barbour, June 26, 1814 (“was often compelled”), JBEP, reel 5521, LV; Walter Jones to James Madison, Nov. 8, 1813, James Madison papers, American Memory Series, LC.

  12 William Sharp to James Barbour, Apr. 18, 1812, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:125–6; Henry Howard to Charles K. Mallory, Dec. 1, 1812 (“not more”), JBEP, reel 5507, LV; John C. Pryor to Barbour, May 2, 1812 (“Many of the pistols”), and William Bolling to Barbour, May 30, 1812 (“The Swords”), JBEP, reel 5501, LV. For similar laments, see Mann Page to Barbour, Apr. 18, 1812, JBEP, reel 5500, LV; Kendall Addison to Barbour, July 2, 1812, JBEP, reel 5503, LV; Barbour to William Boyd, July 9, 1812, and to James Machin, July 14, 1812, Executive Letter Book, pp. 383, 392, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV; Charles K. Mallory to Kendall Addison, Aug. 21, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 22, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV; Enoch Renno to Barbour, Apr. 21, 1813, and John Dangerfield to Barbour, July 16, 1812, JBEP, reel 5503, LV.

  13 James Barbour to Henry E. Coleman, May 28, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 292, RG 3, reel 3009, LV. See also Archer Hankins to Charles K. Mallory and Robert Quarles, Apr. 13, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV. For the decision in late 1800 to withhold arms from county arsenals, see Nicholls, Whispers of Rebellion, 85.

  14 Isaac A. Coles to Joseph C. Cabell, June 6, 1812, J.C. Cabell to Coles, June 8, 1812 (“not to kill”), J.C. Cabell to John Hartwell Cocke, June 17, 1812 (“Do this”), Cocke to J.C. Cabell, June 22, 1812, J.C. Cabell to Cocke, June 26, 1812, JCCFP (38-111-c), box 8, SSCL-UVA; William H. Cabell to J.C. Cabell, June 15 (“Hire a substitute”) and June 22, 1812, JCCFP (38-111-c), box 2, SSCL-UVA.

  15 Thomas Wells to James Barbour, Aug. 19, 1812, JBEP, reel 5504, LV; Miles Selden to Barbour, June 27 and July 7, 1813, and William Chamberlain to Barbour, July 8, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:235, 248, 249; Dempsey Veale et al to Barbour, Apr. 3, 1813 (“The cries” and “when they reflect”), JBEP, reel 5511, LV; Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, May 30, 1813, JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC. For the plight of artisans, see George Leslie et al to Barbour, Feb. 19, 1813, JBEP, reel 5509, LV.

  16 Princess Anne County memorial, Apr. 3, 1813 (“entirely repugnant”), JBEP, reel 551, LV; William Lambert to James Barbour, Apr. 15, 1814, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:321.

  17 John Stokely to James Barbour, July 31, 1812, JBEP, reel 5504, LV.

  18 William Haskins to James Barbour, June 6, 1812, and Noah Zane and John Richardson quoted in Richard McClure to Barbour, June 10, 1812, JBEP, reel 5502, LV.

  19 James Barbour to Richard McClure, June 22, 1812, Executive Letter Book, pp. 345–46, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV.

  20 James Barbour to Richard Mason, June 27, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 429, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV.

  21 James Barbour, “To the Patriotic Citizens of Richmond,” Richmond Enquirer, Sep. 4, 1812; “Spirit of the People,” Richmond Enquirer, Sep. 8, 1812; B.W. Leigh to Littleton Waller Tazewell, Jan. 7, 1813, Tazewell Family Papers, box 3, LV; John Taylor to James Monroe, Mar. 18, 1813, JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC.

  22 William Sharp to James Barbour, Feb. 4 and Feb. 6, 1813, and Andrew J. McConnico to Barbour, Mar. 6, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:184–86, 195; Richmond Enquirer, Feb. 9, 1813; Charles Stewart to William Jones, Mar. 17, 1813, in Dudley, Naval War of 1812, vol.2:315–6.

  23 Nathaniel Burwell to James Barbour, Mar. 30, 1813, and Robert B. Taylor to Barbour, Apr. 24, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:217, 227; John Campbell to David Campbell, Feb. 5, 1813, CFP, box 2, SC-DUL; Thomas Wilson to the Council of State, Feb. 12, 1813 (“our worst enemy”), JBEP, reel 5509, LV.

  24 Testimony by John Patterson’s Sci, Mathews County trial of Harry et al., Mar. 18, 1813 JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  25 Testimony by John Ripley (all quotations), and John Patterson’s Sci, Matthews County trial of Harry et al., Mar. 18, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  26 John Patterson, testimony, Matthews County trial of Harry et al., Mar. 18, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  27 Matthews County trial of Harry et al., Mar. 18, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  28 William Jennings testimony, James City County trial of Anthony, Tassy, and Kit, Mar. 31, 1813 (all quotations), JBEP, reel 5511, LV; “Important Information,” National Intelligencer, Apr. 6, 1813. For another apparent reference to this episode (or one very much like it), see Maria Carter Beverley to Robert Beverley, A
pr. 4, 1813, Beverley Family Papers, sec. 1, VHS.

  29 James City County trial of Anthony, Tassy, and Kit, Mar. 31, 1813 (“to rebel”), JBEP, reel 5511, LV; “Important Information,” National Intelligencer, Apr. 6, 1813 (“that 2000 negroes”); Shepperson, John Paradise and Lucy Ludwell, 445–46.

  30 Council of State Record Book, pp. 159 (Apr. 10), 172 (Apr. 17), 175 (Apr. 19), and 224 (Apr. 10, 1813, letter of William Robertson), RG 75, reel 2990, LV.

  31 For Mathews County, see Christopher Tompkins et al. petition, Apr. n.d., 1813, and John Patterson to William Robertson, Apr. 12, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV; Council of State Record Book, 172 (Apr. 17, 1813), RG 75, reel 2990, LV. For James City County, see William Walker et al. petition, Apr. n.d., 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  32 William Walker et al. petition, Apr. n.d., 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV.

  33 William Wardlaw to St. George Tucker, Apr. 13, 1813, TCP, box 32, SCSL-CWM; Council of State Record Book, p. 172 (Apr. 17, 1823), RG 75, reel 2990, LV; Mathews County, Mar. 18, 1813, trial of Harry et al., Auditor of Public Accounts, entry 756 (Condemned Slaves, 1783–1865), reel 2551, LV; James Barbour to the sheriff of James City County, Apr. 19, 1813, Barbour to the sheriff of Mathews County, Apr. 19, 1813, and Barbour to Thomas W. Alley, Apr. 19, 1813, Executive Letter Book, pp. 228–29, RG 3, reel 3010, LV. For the prices paid, see, Council of State Record Book, p. 251 (June 5, 1813), RG 75, reel 2990, LV.

  34 James Barbour to the sheriff of Mathews County, Apr. 19, 1813, Executive Letter Book, p. 228, RG 3, reel 3010, LV.

  35 Spencer George to James Barbour, Apr. 9, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:223; Lancaster County Court papers, Apr. 8, (“having consulted”) Apr. 20, and Nov. 12, 1813, reel 197, LV.

  36 “The Little Plot,” National Intelligencer, Aug. 24, 1814 (“talk” and “perfectly contemptible”); “Fredericktown,” Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser, Sep. 26, 1814 (“whipped”); Levin Winder, order, Aug. 20, 1814, and Frederick County grand jury, indictment, Sep. 13, 1814, Winder Papers, 1 folder, SC-DUL; Robert Cumming to Levin Winder, Aug. 20, 1814, MSP, ser. A, box S1004-129, doc. 36, MdSA.

  37 Powhatan County Court, trial of Thomas Harris’s Peter, Sep. 21, 1814, JBEP, reel 5523, LV. For Sci’s escape with seven other slaves, see Thomas R. Yeatman, deposition, Mar. 16, 1814, APA-GMR, entry 258, box 779, Mathews County folder, LV. For the paucity of wartime executions and transportations for conspiracy, see Schwarz, Twice Condemned, 329.

  38 Joseph C. Cabell to St. George Tucker, Feb. 6, 1813, TCP, box 32, SCSL-CWM; Lowrey, James Barbour, 71–72; “Virginia Legislature,” Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 28, 1813; Robert Quarles to James Barbour, Feb. 11, 1813, and Charles K. Mallory to Barbour, Feb. 13 and Feb. 15, 1813, and Quarles to Barbour, Feb. 17, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:191–93; Francis Preston to Barbour, Feb. 19, 1813, JBEP, reel 5509, LV; “Self Defence,” Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser, Feb. 20, 1813.

  39 John Campbell to David Campbell, Mar. 7, 1813, CFP, box 2, SC-DUL; James Barbour to James Monroe, Mar. 17, 1813, Executive Letter Book, p. 198, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3010, LV; Monroe to Barbour, Mar. 21, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:212; Barbour to Robert B. Taylor, Mar. 9, 1813, and Barbour to Monroe, Mar. 24, 1813, Executive Letter Book, pp. 184, 208, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3010, LV; James Barbour, statement, Mar. 31, 1813, Council of State Record Book for 1812–1813, p. 139, RG 75, reel 2990, LV. For a previous flirtation with the idea of a state regular force, see Barbour to Monroe, June 23, 1812, Executive Letter Book, p. 349, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3009, LV; “To the Virginia Legislature,” Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 15, 1812.

  40 Charles Fenton Mercer to James Mercer Garnett, Apr. 29, 1813, in Mercer Papers, LV; James Barbour to State Senate and House of Delegates, May 17, 1813, Executive Letter Book, p. 252, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3010, LV; Nathaniel H. Claiborne, dissent, Mar. 24 (“insurrection”) and Mar. 31, 1813 (“the spirit”), and Peter V. Daniel, dissent, Mar. 31, 1813, Council of State Record Book for 1812–1813, pp. 123, 142, RG 75, reel 2990, LV.

  41 Council of State Record Book for 1812–1813, pp. 174, 202, 229, RG 75, reel 2990, LV; James Barbour to Robert B. Taylor, Mar. 23, 1813 (“The inattention”), Executive Letter Book, p. 202, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3010, LV; John Campbell to David Campbell, July 14 and July 16, 1813 (“The General Government”), CFP, box 2, SC-DUL; “Propositions!” Richmond Enquirer, July 30, 1812.

  42 Edward Colston to Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Apr. 19, 1813, Leigh Papers, SC-DUL; John Campbell to David Campbell, June 18, 1813, CFP, box 2, SC-DUL.

  43 For the British strategy, see Walter Jones to James Monroe, May 30, 1813, JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC; William Jones to Manuel Eyre, May 12, 1813, in Dudley, Naval War of 1812, vol. 2:119; Sir John B. Warren to Lord Melville, July 22, 1813, MG 24, F 132 (Warren correspondence), reel A-2076, LAC; “Defence of the Sea-Board,” Richmond Enquirer, Oct. 13, 1814 (“They have wings”). For American recognition of the British caution, see James Maurice to Robert B. Taylor, Mar. 18, 1813, JBEP, reel 5510, LV; William Wirt to St. George Tucker, Mar. 26, 1813, TCP, box 32, SCSL-CWM; Wirt to Dabney Carr, Mar. 31, 1813, Wirt Papers, LV; William Chamberlayne to James Barbour, July 1, 1813, JBEP, reel 5514, LV; Richmond Enquirer, July 2, 1813; Henry St. George Tucker to St. George Tucker, Aug. 14, 1813, TCP, box 33, SCSL-CWM.

  44 George Cockburn to John B. Warren, Mar. 23, 1813, and William Jones to Manuel Eyre, May 12, 1813, in Dudley, Naval War of 1812, vol. 2:118, 326; Kendall Addison to James Barbour, Apr. 9, 1813 (“In that case”), JBEP, reel 5511, LV; William R. Custis to Barbour, June 3, 1813, JBEP, reel 5513, LV. For the Princess Anne County raid, see John Myers to Barbour, June 17, 1813, and Major Nimmo to Robert B. Taylor, June 15, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:230. In 1812, Virginia spent $104,881 on the following categories: militia officers ($5,602); militia fine fund ($5,633); manufactory of arms ($69,200); rifles ($6,493); lead and gunpowder ($3,119); gun carriages ($4,292); and “public arms” ($10,542). In 1813, Virginia spent $433,363 on the following categories: militia officers ($6,069); militia fine fund ($3,463); manufactory of arms ($59,853); rifles ($4,345); lead and gunpowder ($18,526); gun carriages ($8,272); public arms ($955); and “Defense of the State” ($331,880). The last category, new in 1813, represented expenditures to feed and pay the militiamen in active service, and it accounts for the entire increase over the 1812 level of defense funding. In 1812, before the war came to Virginia, the state’s total expenditures equaled $453,047. A year later the British invaded Chesapeake Bay, and the state spent $829,445, with defense expenditures accounting for almost all of the increase. For these figures, see Commonwealth of Virginia, Journal of the State Senate, 1812, 61–62; Commonwealth of Virginia, Journal of the State Senate, 1813, 29–30. Note: for all categories I rounded off to the nearest dollar, omitting all cents.

  45 Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, June 21, 1813, Jefferson to Nathaniel H. Hooe, July 21, 1813, and Jefferson to Jeremiah A. Goodman, July 26, 1813, in Looney PTJ-RS, vol. 6:217, 314, 331; John M. Garnett to Archibald R. S. Hunter, Nov. 29, 1813, War of 1812 Collection, box 3, WLCL-UM; Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. to Joseph C. Cabell, Dec. 29, 1813, Randolph Papers, folder 1, SC-DUL.

  46 Francis Preston to James Barbour, Feb. 19, 1813 (“more dreadful”), JBEP, reel 5509, LV; Peter V. Daniel, dissent, Mar. 31, 1813 (“From the pure atmosphere”), in Council of State Record Book for 1812–1813, p. 142, RG 75, reel 2990, LV; Barbour to the Senate and House of Delegates, Nov. 30, 1812, in Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 3, 1812; John Randolph to Josiah Quincy, July 4, 1813, in W. C. Bruce, John Randolph, vol. 1:394.

  47 Robert Hines and James Chalmers to James Barbour, Mar. 6, 1813, JBEP, reel 5509, LV; James Semple to Barbour, Mar. 22, 1813, JBEP, reel 5510, LV; James Singleton to Barbour, Apr. 10, 1813 (“midnight murder”), and Archer Hankins to Charles K. Mallory and Robert Quarles, Apr. 13, 1813, JBEP, reel 5511, LV; Barbour to the citizens of Williamsburg, Mar. 9, 1813, and Barbour to Robert B. Taylor, Mar. 24, 1813, Executive Letter B
ook, pp. 186, 205, RG 3, reel 3010, LV; John C. Cohoon et al. to Barbour, June 28, 1813, JBEP, reel 5513, LV; “Important Information,” National Intelligencer, Apr. 6, 1813; Bowers, Diary of Elbridge Gerry, Jr., 198–99 (“the blacks”); Hunt, First Forty Years, 89–90; “An Inhabitant of Amelia” to James Barbour, July 29, 1813 (“a great number”), JBEP, reel 5515, LV. See also Maria Corbin to Elizabeth Meade, June 30, 1812, Patrick Crawford Hoy Papers, sec. 1, VHS; Richard Ligon to Barbour, n.d. [ca. Dec. 1813], JBEP, reel 5517, LV; “The Enemy in York River,” Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 26, 1813.

  48 “Female Heroism,” from the Richmond Enquirer (“with such tremendous effect”) and Robert Greenhow to James Barbour, Dec. 15, 1813 (“the rescue”), both reprinted in Niles’ Weekly Register, vol. 5:279 (Dec. 25, 1813).

  49 Hugh Mercer to James Barbour, July 19, 1814, and Daniel Coleman et al. to Barbour, Aug. 3, 1814 (“uttered threats” and “in one instance”), JBEP, reel 5522, LV; Charles Johnston to Benjamin Hatcher, Sep. 16, 1814 (“a general rising” and “a plot”), in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:387–88.

  50 James Barbour to Daniel Coleman et al., Aug. 5, 1814 (“never manifest” and “sufficient number”), and Barbour to Alexander Parker, Aug. 26, 1814, Executive Letter Book, pp. 80, 89, RG 3 (Office of the Governor), reel 3011, LV.

  51 Lowrey, James Barbour, 75; John Stokely to James Monroe, Jan. 30, 1813, JMP, ser. 1, reel 5, LC; Philip Barraud to St. George Tucker, Feb. 16, Feb. 24 (“to reclaim”), Mar. 15, and May 6, 1813, TCP, box 32, SCSL-CWM; Elizabeth Trist to Thomas Jefferson, July 7, 1813, in Looney, PTJ-RS, vol. 6:265; James McDowell to James Barbour, Aug. 10, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:276; William Bowling to Barbour, Sep. 11, 1813, JBEP, reel 5516, LV; Robert B. Taylor to John Armstrong, June 18 and July 13 (“become”), 1813, RG 107, M 221, reel 57, USNA-DC.

  52 Archibald Stuart et al. to James Barbour, Aug. 10, 1813, and Edward Jones et al. to Barbour, Nov. 29, 1813, in Flournoy, CVSP, vol. 10:276–77, 291–92; Barbour to Richard E. Parker, Aug. 27, 1813, and Barbour to Francis Preston, Nov. 26, 1813, Executive Letter Book, pp. 358, 382, RG 3, reel 3010, LV; Robert Quarles to John Hartwell Cocke, Sep. 16, 1813, JHCFP, box 15, SSCL-UVA; Peter Fulkerson et al. to Barbour, Oct. 20, 1813, JBEP, reel 5516, LV; Lowery, James Barbour, 76; Robert Quarles to Cocke, Dec. 11, 1813, Wilson J. Cary to Cocke, Dec. 21, 1813, and Robert B. Taylor to Cocke, Dec. n.d., 1813, JHCFP, box 15, SSCL-UVA; Taylor to John Armstrong, Dec. 20, 1813 (“that the hope”), RG 107, M 221, reel 57, USNA-DC; Taylor to the adjutant general, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, 1813, in Richmond Enquirer, Dec. 30, 1813, Joseph C. Cabell to Cocke, Dec. 13, 1813, JCCFP (38-111-c), box 10, SSCL-UVA.