George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Author="Washington, George" AND Recipient="Waggener, Thomas" AND Starting date=1 May 1756 AND Ending date=31 August 1757
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0137

From George Washington to Thomas Waggener, 16 May 1756

To Thomas Waggener

[Winchester, 16 May 1756]

To Captain Thomas Waggener—of the Virginia Regiment—on the South-Branch.
Sir,

A party of the militia of Stafford, is ordered to Harnesses Fort;1 and will march to-morrow: as will a party of the culpepper Militia, to your upper fort.2 So soon as they arrive there, I would have you order down your men from that, to your station at Vanmeeters—as you will be posted there to assist the Inhabitants, with your Company and advice, in case of any alarms; and a second descent of the Indians. I would have you collect from these different Forts near you, a sufficient number of men, and endeavour immediately to drive them off.

The different stations of the Officers and men, which you will have the direction of; and must order as you think proper, upon any alarm—are as follow—At Cockes, Harnesses, and your upper Fort. You are immediately to make out a Pay-Roll for pay due your Company; and send it by an officer immediately to the Pay-Master, at Fort Cumberland; and he will receive the money.

If your Officers should arrive at the Fort, before the Pay-Master receives advice from me; he must wait until he does.

So soon as he returns and you pay your men off—you must transmit me their Receipts for their pay, not only now, but for all you have paid them since you have been at that Station; as directed in a former order. I am Sir, Yours &c.

G:W.

LB, DLC:GW.

1See Memorandum, 16 May 1756. Harness’s fort was on the South Branch about 80 miles from Winchester and apparently only a few miles upstream from Waggener’s Upper Fort. Michael Harness, Sr. (died c.1785), and several of his sons were living on the South Branch.

2See GW to John Field and GW’s memorandum (regarding George Hedgman), both 16 May 1756. Waggener’s Upper Fort was one of the two forts that Waggener had built in recent months on the South Branch above the Trough. Fort Pleasant was the other. The Upper Fort was at Lunice (Looney’s, Luney’s) Creek where it flows from the northwest into the Branch. Fort Pleasant was at Henry Van Meter’s about 10 miles lower on the South Branch.

Index Entries