ALBEMARLE IN REVOLUTIONARY DA YS 
277 
miles to the east of Monticello, the Americans liad an important 
military depot under the charge of Baron von Steuben, with a 
small bod}’- of troops. The British Colonel Simcoe, with his bat- 
talion of “ Queen’s Rangers,” was sent to dislodge him, which he 
did in a manner at the time not considered creditable to the 
American commander. 
Cornwallis also in June detached Tarleton with 180 troopers 
from his own legion, 70 mounted infantrymen, and a gang of 
Carolina tories to go to Charlottesville to capture Governor Jef- 
ferson and the legislature. Tarleton selected a secluded route 
up the valley of the South Anna by way of Louisa court-house, 
and on the morning of June 4, 1781, had approached to within ten 
miles of Charlottesville on the east. But for the courage of a man 
whose name is still remembered his plan would have been a 
perfect success. John Jouett, a scout and partisan, then 23 years 
of age, susjDected the designs of the British, cut his wa}^ througli 
the front of tlie column, and having a very fleet horse reached 
Charlottesville two hours in advance and gave warning to the 
legislature, and also got a messenger to Monticello to give warn- 
ing to Mr .Jefferson and to several members of the legislature 
who were residing at his house. This man was the grandfather 
of a citizen of Washington whom many of us personally know, 
Rear-Admiral James E. Jouett of the Navy. 
The legislature adjourned with astonishing rai)idit}'’ to Staun- 
ton, on the other side of the Blue Ridge, and only seven were 
captured. Shortly afterward they were again stampeded, and 
took to the mountains still farther west. The cause of their 
flight was somewhat curious. A company of Virginia troops 
marching northward approached Staunton, the colors flying and 
drums beating. J'he peo|>le of this region had never before seen 
soldiers in uniform and knew only the buckskin-clad rangers of 
their own region. The country people supi)Osed the advancing 
column to be that of Cornwallis and gave a false alarm. When 
Tarleton’s white-coated troo|>ers reached the crest of Monticello, 
Governor Jefferson was not there; he was safe in the woods on 
Carter’s mountain, the elevation ne.xtto Monticelloon thesouth, 
and his family were at Enniscorthy, Colonel Carter’s plantation, 
al)out six miles away. 
Visitors to .Monticello are often told that Mr Jefferson made 
his escape from the house by a sort of passage which connected 
it with outbuildings. In this stoiw there is no truth. 'I'lie cir- 
cumstances of his (light are well remembered by his descendants, 
