31From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 12 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
After Jenkins left this yesterday evening, the enclosed, from Capt. Dagworthy, came to hand. We have pretty many men, and very few arms here (that are fit for service). I must now beg the favor of your Honor, to send me a commission for holding General Courts’-martial; as I apprehend that which I had under the former act, was no longer in force, than while that act existed. Irregularity and...
32From George Washington to Robert McKenzie, 11 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
The exorbitant expence, and bad precedent of giving to every Indian who is pleased to demand it, a Horse to ride, compel me to tell you, that a stop must be put to the practise, or the officer who directs it will be made liable for the cost. The Country will not allow it; Nor are you to give them liquor, but upon extraordinary occasions. I have the pleasure to inform you, that you are one of...
33From George Washington to James Baker, 12 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I embrace this opportunity of congratulating you upon your safe return; and of thanking you, for the Services you have done the public, in your late scout and skirmish. I was greatly surprized at not receiving an account of this matter from yourself: but am satisfied, there was some particular reason why I did not: For I can not believe that you, who have behaved so well in one respect, wou’d...
34From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 4 December 1756 (Washington Papers)
Since writing to your Honor yesterday, a very base and villainous scheme has been discovered; which has been I believe, the sole cause of 18 Soldiers deserting from us last night. The Gentleman concerned is our (late Ensign) Denis McCarty; of whose Character and practises, the enclosed Depositions will afford your Honor a specimen: and with whom all ties of honor and morality are of no force....
35From George Washington to Joshua Lewis, 3 August 1757 (Washington Papers)
As the inhabitants in general unanimously concur in opinion, that Pattersons wou’d much better answer the end proposed by your command (vizt the protection of the Inhabitants) than your present station —You are therefore upon receipt of this, immediately to quit your present post, and proceed to Pattersons, leaving five men at Captain Catons. You are to apply to Patterson and his neighbours...
36From George Washington to Robert Jackson, 26 May 1757 (Washington Papers)
The following is a list of necessaries wanted for the public works at this place. I must beg the favour of you to send them up by the first waggon, if they are not already sent by the direction of Capt. Mercer. vizt 2 Barrels of 4d. Nails 2 Bar. of Span. Brown 1 ditto Flooring Brads 2 do spanish whiting 1 do 4d. Brads 1 do white-Lead 60 pairs of small HL Hinges 6 lb. Lampblack 40 ditto large...
37From George Washington to Abraham Bosomworth, 8 December 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am informed you have enlisted one Patrick Murphy a Deserter from my Regiment who was confined in the Goal at York, tho’ you had previous knowledge of his being so. You must be sensible such proceedings are repugnant to the public interest, and contrary to established articles of war; to say nothing of the ill effects that follow precedents of this nature. The suspicion of a Soldiers...
38From George Washington to Joshua Lewis, 4 August 1757 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of the 3d instant, covering a size and necessary roll of your company; which, being incomplete, is not what I wanted. Whenever you get all your company under your own command, you are to have them completed with necessaries agreeably to orders; and then to transmit me an exact size and necessary roll of the whole; and afterwards you are each month to send me a return of your...
39From George Washington to Richard Peters, 30 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to recommend Colo. Fairfax (the bearer of this) to your Friendly notice while he stays in Philadelphia. He is Son of our late President (who is but just dead) and nearly related to the present Lord Fairfax Proprietor of this Neck. Business calling him to England, he is proceeding hence to New York, hoping to get a Passage in the Packet or some Ship of War; & being a Stranger in your...
40From George Washington to Orange County Lieutenant, Henry Fitzhugh, and John Spotswood, 25 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Copy of Letters to the County Lts of Orange, Stafford and Spotsylvania-counties. Gentlemen, As the Governor informs me, that in consequence of the intelligence we received of the Enemys motions, he had ordered up a third of the Militia of several counties, amongst which yours are included. I send this to acquaint you, that I have received a subsequent account, by which it appears, that they...
41From George Washington to William Lightfoot, 26 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
By George Washington Esqre Colonel of the Virginia Regiment, and Commander of the Virginia Forces You are with the Militia under your command, to march from hence to Back-Creek, and carefully range it quite down to its mouth. From thence you are to march to New-kirks fort where, and in its neighbourhood, you are to remain ’till further Orders. You are to maintain strict discipline among your...
42From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 16 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
This instant the enclosed letters came to my hands —I have not lost a moments time in transmitting them to you, as I look upon the intelligence to be of the utmost importance. If the enemy are coming down in such numbers and with such a train of artillery as we are bid to expect, Fort Cumberland must inevitably fall into their hands, as no timely efforts can be made to relieve the Garrison. I...
43From George Washington to John Dagworthy, 16 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I have seen your Letter, and have dispatchd Copy’s of it by good Expresses to Governor Dinwiddie, Govr Sharpe, Colo. Stanwix and the County Lieutenants of four Countys; so that I have no manner of doubt, but a very considerable Force will be with you in a very little time. I have dispatchd the bearer to inform you of this, that it may give Spirit to your Garrison. I heartily wish you all the...
44From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 29 May 1757 (Washington Papers)
Mr Atkins delay is productive of numberless ill consequences. I am teased incessantly by the Indians to know when he will come; and have put them off so long, that their patience is quite exhausted; and several of them are going off without waiting his arrival. Among these are three who I must beg leave to recommend to your Honors particular notice—The first is Capt. Aires, about Hixayoura; a...
45From George Washington to Richard Washington, September 1757 (Washington Papers)
Be pleasd over and above what I wrote for in a Letter of the 15th April and 10th Instt to send me one dozn strong Chairs of about fifteen Shillings price the bottoms to be exactly made by the Inclosd Dimension’s and of three different colours to suit the paper of three of the bed chambers (also wrote for in my last)—I must acquaint you Sir with the Reason of this request. I have one dozn...
46From George Washington to David Ross, 25 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I was this day favoured with yours of the 23d instant. I think your proposals relative to the provisions at Fort Cumberland quite equitable. But as the management of them properly belongs to Mr Walker; I do not choose to interfere in the business without Governor Dinwiddie’s instructions. I have therefore enclosed your letter to His Honor, that he may be the better able to give explicit...
47From George Washington to Horatio Sharpe, 16 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
This Moment the inclos’d Letters came to My hands: I have not lost a moments time in Transmitting them to you—as I look upon the Intelligence to be of the utmost Importance. If the Enemy is coming down in Such Numbers, and with such a train of Artillery as we are bid to Expect Fort Cumberland Must inivitably fall in to their hands as no Efforts can be timely Made to save it. I Send you Sir a...
48From George Washington to John Robinson, 30 May 1757 (Washington Papers)
We receive fresh proofs every day of the bad direction of our Indian affairs. It is not easy to tell what expences have arisen on account of these Indians; how dissatisfied they are, and how gloomy the prospect of pleasing them appears, while we pursue our present system of management. I therefore beg leave to propose a plan, which I know is exactly agreeable to the french policy of treating...
49From George Washington to Robert Fell, 20 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
You are ordered to wait upon His Excellency, the Governor of Maryland, with a letter which you will receive with this; and to request the favor of him to issue his warrant for the more effectually apprehending the many Deserters of the Virginia Regiment, that now appear publickly in Baltimore-county, under the protection of the civil Majistrates. If His Excellency shou’d entertain any doubts...
50From George Washington to William Smith, March–April 1757 (Washington Papers)
[ March-April 1757 ]. The text of this letter is printed as Document III of “The Capitulation of Fort Necessity.” There William Smith is tentatively identified as the addressee. On 3 Mar. 1757, while GW was in Philadelphia to attend Loudoun’s meeting with the southern governors, the printer James Chattin announced in the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) his intention to publish within two...
51From George Washington to John Stanwix, 19 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 14th instant is come to hand. I wrote you fully in three several letters, under one cover, about four days ago. Before yours came to hand, I had received a letter from Captn Dagworthy, enclosing a copy of Steels [Street’s] depositions; & made particular enquiry (of the bearer) whether the account was transmitted to you; being answered in the affirmative, and hearing by the...
52From George Washington to Henry Lee, 30 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of the 28th instant; in consequence whereof I have discharged John Wood (who has employed Doctr Bowles to serve in his room.) I have, also, finding it inconsistent with the interest of the service, discharged John High Werden, who, thro’ age and consequent infirmity, is altogether unfit to undergo the fatigues of a Soldier. As the number of draughts I have received from...
53From George Washington to Commanding Officer on the South Branch, 3 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
In my letter to you of yesterdays date, I enclosed you one to Major Lewis; desiring him not to bring the Indians down if he cou’d possibly avoid it. Since that, the Honble Mr Atkin, superintendant of indian Affairs, has arrived here; and is desirous to hold a conference with them as soon as possible. The enclosed is to inform Maj: Lewis thereof: and I desire you will send it to the upper part...
54From George Washington to David Hall, 28 August 1757 (Washington Papers)
If you be rememberd when I dischargd my account in your Office in March last, I desird notwith standing the Post was discontinued to Winchester, that the Papers might be sent to Alexandria for me, from whence I coud get them, tho. not so regularly. I conceive, as I have [not] got any since, that you must have mistaken my meaning or directions. The Officers of the Virginia Regiment and some...
55From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 1 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
By George Washington Esq; Colonel of the Virginia Regimt and Commander of all the Virginia Forces. To Major Andrew Lewis— Sir, You are to proceed to Fredericksburgh—where you are to remain for the reception of the Draughts for the Regiment. You are to take their names, size, complexion, age, country, and former employment; and the Officers names who deliver them: specifying the number you...
56From George Washington to John David Wilper, 7 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for John Davd Wilper—Sergeant in the Virginia Regiment. By George Washington Esq. Colonel of the Virginia Regimt and Commander of all the Virginia Forces. [Fort Loudoun] The 7th June, 1757. You are hereby ordered to take charge of the Cherokee Indians, whereof Warhatclie and Yautanou are Chiefs, and to conduct them in the nearest and best way you can from this place, thro’...
57From George Washington to David Ross, 6 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
Governor Dinwiddie directed me to get the affair relative to the provisions left by our corps at Fort Cumberland, adjusted; in consequence of those instructions, I sent two officers to reinspect the Beef; and ordered a commissary to give his attendance and assistance. By the enclose copy of the officers report, and commissarys return, you will observe, a quantity of it was used by your troops;...
58From George Washington to Charles Carter, 2 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
Eight Draughts from your county were brought to this place by Captn Rowley; for seven of whom I have given a receipt; the other, John Ryley, was rejected, on account of his having been in the Regiment several months before; and, by means of sickness, &c. never did a days duty, and was of course discharged. The same cause still existing, has discouraged me, a second time, from accepting him, to...
59From George Washington to Richard Washington, 10 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosd addresses Copy of mine of the 15th April by a Vessel which I find has mistaken her Rout and got to France. On board the Integrety Captn Thompson I shipd 14 Hogsheads of best Sweet-Scented Tobo for 4 of which and no more I was allowd liberty of Consignment; and these four I Shipd to you—the other ten together with 8 more in Captn Younger are sent to Mr Bacon; of whom please to...
60From George Washington to Alexander Beall, 20 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 19th instant came to hand about noon this day—As there now remain but a few Indians here, who cou’d by no means be prevailed on to return towards Fort Cumberland, altho’ so much wanted on that Quarter; imagining we wished to sacrifice them by attempting to expose them to (what they think) certain destruction, they positively refused marching until they saw such numbers as wou’d...