To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 24 October 1758
From Robert Stewart
Camp at Reas Town Ocr 24th 1758
My Dear Sir
A Light Horse man was just setting out for Loyalhannan with an accot of what things could be procur’d here in a short time for our Men1 when yours of the 21st Inst. by Mr Grant came to hand upon rect of it I immediatly applied to the General for a Party to Winchester to Escort up the Necessaries but he told me it was impossible2—therefore I gave the Returns to Speirs & Smith with Directions to send up what of the things could be immediatly got by Capt. Waggener and the rest which is expected in 5 or 6 Days to follow[.] Majr Wells is to send them up to Stony Creek and the Commanding officer there to forward them—I wrote to Capt. Waggener to give Speirs a List of Necessaries the men of his Detachmt may want that they may be sent up at the same time—I have orderd Blue Duffils half thicks & Flannels for the Coats Jackets & Breeches & Leggins and 100 Shirts & 150 Blankets more than in the Returns3—As we are just going to March I beg you’ll forgive my hurry &ca & allow me to be on all occasions with unalterable Esteem—My Dear Colonel Your truly Affecte & Most Obliged hble Servt
Robert Stewart
please make my Complemts to all our Gentn Mr Duncanson’s Recovery affords me infinite Joy I have not a minute to spare else would write to him—I have wrote to his Brother about him.4
ALS, DLC:GW. This letter and that of 22 Oct. were enclosed in Stewart’s letter to GW of 25 Oct. 1758.
1. See Stewart to GW, 22 Oct. 1758.
2. GW’s letter of 21 Oct. has not been found. Lt. James Grant of the Highlanders, General Forbes’s physician, was returning from Stony Creek where he had taken a letter from Forbes to Bouquet, dated 15 October. On his return from Stony Creek Grant probably brought a letter (not found) from GW to Forbes as well. In a postscript to his letter of 25 Oct. to Bouquet, Forbes wrote: “Pray make my Complimts to Coll Washington who’s letter I receiv’d, and who’s desire should have been Complyed with as Major Stewart will tell him who writes by this conveyance to him upon that head, having at present no time My Self, for which I shall apologize at meeting” (Stevens, , 2:584–86).
3. The return given by Stewart to Speirs and Smith has not been found, but see the description of GW’s return of 26 Oct. in Orderly Book, 24 Oct., n.3.
4. Lt. James Duncanson (1735–1791) of the 1st Virginia Regiment, Stewart’s fellow Scot, was wounded in the attack on Loyalhanna, 12 Oct., by a “Musket Ball passing through his Throat” (, 1761–1765, 152). Though reported “mortally wounded” (Bouquet to Forbes, 13 Oct., in Stevens, , 2:555–56), Duncanson survived and continued in the Virginia Regiment. His brother Robert Duncanson was a storekeeper in Fredericksburg.