George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Author="Washington, George" AND Starting date=1 May 1756 AND Ending date=31 August 1757
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-03-02-0113

Memorandum respecting the Militia, 12 May 1756

Memorandum respecting the Militia

[Winchester, 12 May 1756]

May 12th—Was the first time I coud get a return of the Number of Carpenters that were among the Militia.1

In the Eveng abt 5 Oclock Lt Colo. Peyton with the Prince Wm Detacht marchd consistg of himself 1 Captn 4 Subalterns & 96 private as pr return.

see his orders at large in my orderly Book.2

This day also the King George Militia had orders to March to Mendenhalls Fort to protect the Inhabitants under those Mountains.3

The Officers and Soldiers of the Militia begin to discover great uneasiness at their stay and want much to return thinking they have performd a sufft Tower of duty by marchg to Winchester.

1In his letter of 3 May 1756, Dinwiddie authorized GW to use “many” of the militia in building the fort at Winchester.

2GW’s orders to Henry Peyton were copied in his letter book.

3See GW to Thomas Newgent, 13 May 1756. Mendenhal’s fort was a small fort “lying under the North-mountain and much exposed to the incursions of the Enemy” (GW to William Fairfax, 25 June 1757). It was probably near one of the gaps through the mountain a short distance south of the Potomac River. Mendenhal may have been John Mendenhal, a Quaker living in the northern part of Frederick County, now in Berkeley County, W.Va. His wife Martha (1713–1794) was a minister for most of her life.

Index Entries