From George Washington to Henry Bouquet, 28 August 1758
To Henry Bouquet
Camp at Fort Cumberland 28th Augt 1758.
Dear Sir
Your favour by Mr Hoops has in some measure revivd a hope that was almost extinguishd—of doing something this Campaign1—We must doubtless expect to encounter many difficulties in opening a new Road thrô bad Grounds in a Woody Country of which the Enemy are possest but since you hope our point may be carried I woud feign expect the Surmounting these obstacles—’tis a melancholy reflection thô to find there is even a doubt of Success when so much is depending—& when in all Human probability we might have been in full possession of the Ohio by Now, if rather than running ourselves into the difficulties and Expence of cutting an entire new Road the distance we have first & last Braddock’s had been adopted.
Every one knows what coud have been done the old Road—few can guess what will be the new, their being not only the difficulties of the Road to encounter, but the chance of a French Re-inforcement also. but it is useless to add on this head—I shoud rather Apologize for what I have said.2
All the Waggon’s at this place fit for Service, comes to you under the Escort orderd for Mr Hoops.
Any Troops not of Virginia, shall be forwarded to you according to Order—and I coud wish most sincerely that our Rout was fixd that we might be in Motion, for we are all of Us most heartily tird, & Sick of Inactivity. Colo. Byrd in particular is really Ill.
Frazer having left this with the Convoy must be with you e’er now. I am very glad to hear that your Artillery pass the Alligany with so much ease.
A Letter which Colo. Byrd reced from the Genl of the 19th Instt gives room to imagine that the destination of the Virginia Troops will be fixd upon so soon as he arrives at Rays Town, as he then expresses a desire of seeing Colo. Byrd and I there immediately.3
Mr Walker was a long time as he informd me, under doubtful Orders in regard to his purchase of Cattle; so that he was obligd at last to pick up what he coud get at a short warning; which is I believe, the real Reason of the Cattle not being so good as they otherwise might be.4 I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, British Museum: Add. MSS 21641 (Bouquet Papers); LB (original), DLC:GW; LB (recopied), DLC:GW. This is the second of four letters in the original letter book not in GW’s but a clerk’s hand. It is signed by GW.
1. In his letter of 26 Aug., Bouquet promised to inform GW of the disposition of his troops “immediately.”
2. This tactless rehash of what he wrote at such length on 2 Aug. betrays the strength of GW’s commitment to Braddock’s road.
3. In the original letter-book copy, this paragraph comes before the preceding one and the last paragraph of the letter does not appear. William Byrd answered Forbes’s letter of 19 Aug. on 24 Aug. (Scottish Record Office: Dalhousie Muniments).