61From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 9 March 1754 (Washington Papers)
In my last by Mr Stuart I slightly mentioned the objection many had against Enlisting (to wit) not knowing who was to be Pay Master, or the times for Payment: It is now grown a pretty general Clamour, and some of those who were amongst the first Enlister’s; being Needy, and knowing it to be usual for His Majesty’s Soldiers to be paid once a Week, or at most every Fortnight, are very...
62From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 20 March 1754 (Washington Papers)
I was favour’d with your Honours Letter by Mr Steward, inclosing a Lieutt Colo.’s Commission; for which Promotion, I hope my future Behaviour will sufficiently testifie the true sense I have of the kindness; and as I intend strictly to adhere to all the proper Rules (as far as it is in my power) and discipline of the Profession I have now enter’d into; I am vain enough to believe, I shall not...
63From George Washington to Adam Stephen, 22 March 1754 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you in Frederick not knowing your Intention of going to Stafford, desiring that all your Men &ca might be in readiness to March by the middle or last of next Week at furthest for Ohio: I have just receiv’d the Governers Orders (which was sent upon the Arri⟨val⟩ of Captn Trents express) to dispatch with all expedition thither, with the Men that are already raiz’d, and such Officer’s...
64Expedition to the Ohio, 1754: Narrative (Washington Papers)
On the 31st of March , I received from his Honour a Lieutenant Colonel’s Commission, The date of the commission’s receipt as given here is in error. Dinwiddie wrote to GW 15 Mar. enclosing the commission as lieutenant colonel of the Virginia Regiment, “pay, 12s. 6d. per day” ( ViHi ), and GW acknowledged its receipt 20 Mar. ( WRITINGS John C. Fitzpatrick, ed. The Writings of George Washington...
65From George Washington to Daniel Campbell, 31 March 1754 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Daniel Campbell, 31 Mar. 1754. On 28 June 1754 Campbell wrote to GW from Falmouth: “I was agreeably favour’d with yours of the 31st March last.” Campbell was a Scottish merchant living in Falmouth. In 1753 he served as master of the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge No. 4 A.F. & A.M. , of which GW was a member.
66From George Washington to Thomas Cresap, 18 April 1754 (Washington Papers)
The difficulty of getting Waggons has almost been insurmountable, we have found so much inconvenience attending it here in these roads that I am determined to carry all our provisions &c. out on horse back and should be glad if Capt. Trent with your Assistance would procure as many horses as possible against we arrive at Wills Creek that as little stoppage as possible may be made there. I have...
67From George Washington to James Hamilton, 24 April 1754 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest concern I acquaint you that Mr Ward Ensign in Captn Trents Company was compelld to surrender his small Fort in the Forks of Monongehele to the French on the 17th Instant: Who fell down from Venango with a Fleet of 360 Batoes and Canoes with upwards of one thousand Men and eighteen pieces of Artillery—which they planted against the Fort, drew up their Men and sent the...
68From George Washington to Horatio Sharpe, 24 April 1754 (Washington Papers)
It is with the greatest concern I acquaint you, that Mr. Ward, ensign in captain Trent’s company, was obliged to surrender his small fortress in the Forks of Monongehela, at the summons of captain Contrecoeur, commander of the French forces, who fell down from Venango with a fleet of 360 canoes and battoes, conveying upwards of one thousand men, eighteen pieces of artillery, and large stores...
69From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 25 April 1754 (Washington Papers)
Captain Trents Ensign Mr Ward this Day arrived from the Forks of Monongehele, and brings the disagreeable account that the Fort on the Seventeenth Instant was surrender’d at the summons of Captain Contrecour to a Body of French consisting of upwards of one Thousand Men, who came from Vena[n]go with Eighteen pieces of Cannon, Sixty Battoes, and three Hundred Canoes: they gave him liberty to...
70From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 9 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
I acquainted your Honour by Mr Ward with the determination’s, which we prosecuted in 4 Days after his Departure, as soon as Waggons arrived to convey our Provisions. The want of proper Conveyances has much retarded this Expedition, and at this time, unfortunately delay’d the Detachment I have the Honour to command—Even when we came to Wills Ck my disappointments were not less than before, for...
71From George Washington to Sarah Carlyle, 15 May 1754 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Sarah Carlyle, 15 May 1754. On 17 June 1754 Sarah Carlyle wrote to GW : “I Received your letter dated the 15 May.”
72From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 18 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
I receiv’d your Honour’s favour by Mr Ward, who arrivd here last Night just as two Indians from the Ohio Did—Which Indian’s contradict the Report of the French having receivd reinforcements, thô they agree that 800 Men are very shortly expected: those that are there, are busily employd in Erecting the Fort which they have remov’d to the point I recommended for the Countrys use, whose Walls...
73From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 18 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
I am heartily concerned, that the officers have such real cause to complain of the Committee’s resolves; and still more to find my inclinations prone to second their just grievances. I have endeavoured, as far as I was able, to see in the best light I could the trifling advantages that may accrue; yet nothing prevents their throwing down their commissions, (with gratitude and thanks to your...
74From George Washington to Joshua Fry, 23 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
This day I returned from my discoveries down the Youghiogany, which, I am sorry to say, can never be made navigable. We traced the watercourse near thirty miles, with the full expectation of succeeding in the much desired aim; but, at length, we came to a fall, which continued rough, rocky, and scarcely passable, for two miles, and then fell, within the space of fifty yards, nearly forty feet...
75From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 27 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
The 25th Ult. by an Express from Colo. Fry I receiv’d the News of your Honour’s arrival at Winchester and desire of seeing the Half King and other Chiefs of the 6 Nations —I have by Sundry Speeches and messages invited him Monacatoocha &ca to meet me and have reason to expect he is on his Road as he only purposd to settle his People to planting at a place choose on Monongehele Yaughyaughgane...
76From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
To answer your Honour’s Letter of the 25th by Mr Birney —I shall begin with assuring you, that nothing was farther from my intention than to recede, thô I then pressd and still desire that my Services may be voluntary rather than on the present Pay—I am much concernd that your Honour should seem to charge me with ingratitude for your generous, and my undeserved favours, for I assure you Honble...
77From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
The bearer hereof, Monsieur Druillong, with Monsieur LaForce and two Cadets I beg leave to recommend to your Honour’s particular Notice as Prisoner’s of War, and Officer’s whom I had the Honour of taking. I have assur’d them they will meet with all the Respect and favour due to their Charactr and Personal merit: and I hope they will do me the justice to acquaint your Honour that I neglected no...
78From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 29 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
Since writing the other, I have still stronger presumption, indeed almost confirmation that they were sent as Spyes, and were order’d to wait near us till they were truely informd of our Intention’s, situation, strength, &ca and were to have acquainted the Commander therewith and laid lurking near for Reinforcements before they served the Summon’s if it at all. I doubt not but they will...
79From George Washington to Joshua Fry, 29 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
This by an imediate express, I send to infm you that Yesterday I engagd a party of French whereof 11 were kill’d and 20 taken with the loss of only 1 of mine killd and 2 or 3 wounded among which was Lieutt Waggener: by some of their Paper’s we can discover that large detachts are expected every day, which we may reasonably suppose are to attack us especially since we have began. This is...
80From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 31 May 1754 (Washington Papers)
Since my last we have arrived at this place, where 3 days agoe we had an engagemt wth the French that is, between a party of theirs & Ours; Most of our men were out upon other detachments, so that I had scarcely 40 men under my Command, and about 10, or a doz. Indians, nevertheless we obtained a most signal Victory. The Battle lasted abt 10, or 15 minutes, sharp firing on both sides, when the...
81From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 3 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
The Half King with abt 25 Familys contg near 80 Person’s including women and children arriv’d here last night. He has given me some acct of the Twigtwee’s, Wyendotts and several other Nations of Indians which I have transmitted to your Honour by an express as you enquird circumstancially in your last and I was then unable to give any acct at all of them. The French early in the Spring sent a...
82From George Washington to John Carlyle, 6 June 1754 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Carlyle, 6 June 1754. On 17 June 1754 John Carlyle wrote to GW : “I Received your favour of the 6th.” This was probably the letter to Carlyle described by GW in his letter to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1754 , in which he stated that he complained to Carlyle of the “tardiness” of the commissary’s deputies and requested that “suitable stores of Ammunition might be sent...
83From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 1st, 2d, & 4th Ulto I receivd by the Post and return your Honour my hearty thanks for your kind congratulation on our late success—which I hope to improve without risquing the imputation of rashness or hazarding what a prudent conduct woud forbid. I rejoice that I am likely to be happy under the Command off an experienced Officer and a Man of Sense —it is what I have most ardently...
84Notes on the Navigation of the Potomac River above the Great Falls, July–August 1754 (Washington Papers)
Reference Above the Mouth of Shan[andoa]h there is but one fall and that is smooth and shallow which prevents Craft from passing at all times—Abt ½ Mile below is the place Esteem’d the most difficult It runs exceeding swift for wch reason it is call’d the spout and the bottom being very Rocky occasions rough water which will prevent small Canoes ever passing as our’s that was large had like to...
85II., 3 July 1754 (Washington Papers)
Capitulation accordée par ⟨M.⟩ de Vill⟨iers Capitaine⟩ D’infant⟨erie⟩ Commandant des troupes de Sa Majesté tres Chrétienne a celuy des troupes Anglais actuellement dans le fort de Nécessité qui avoit été Construit sur les terres du Domaine Du Roy Ce 3e Juillet 1754 a huit heures du soir. Savoir. Comme notre intention n’a jamais été de troubler la Paix et la Bonne armonie qui régnoit entre les...
86I., 19 July 1754 (Washington Papers)
The third of this Instant July, about 9 o’Clock, we received Intelligence that the French, having been reinforced with 700 Recruits, had left Monongehela, and were in full March with 900 Men to attack us. Upon this, as our Numbers were so unequal, (our whole Force not exceeding 300) we prepared for our Defence in the best Manner we could, by throwing up a small Intrenchment, which we had not...
87From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 28 July 1754 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Robert Dinwiddie, 28 July 1754. On 3 Aug. 1754 Dinwiddie wrote to GW : “I recd Yrs of the 28th ulto.”
88From George Washington to Charles Carter, August 1754 (Washington Papers)
Your desire, added to my own curiosity engaged me the last time I was in Frederick to return down by Water to discover the Navigation of Potomack—the following are the observations I mad thereupon —From the Mouth of Paterson’s Creek to the begg of Shannondoah Falls there is no other obstacle than the shallowness of the Water to prevent Craft from passing—the first of those Falls is also even...
89From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, August 1754 (Washington Papers)
As I wrote so lately and fully, to you by Mr Polson, on the subject of the Orders I had received, I have little to add now, only to acqaint your Honour, that as far as it is in my power, I shall endeavour to comply with them: what Men we can, we do enlist; but to send Officers into different parts for that purpose, would be unavailing, as they neither have money, nor can get any. I have given...
90From George Washington to James Innes, 8 August 1754 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to James Innes, 8 Aug. 1754. On 11 Aug. 1754 Innes wrote to GW : “Your favour of the Eight instt I receivd.”