41From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 15 December 1771 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Burwell Bassett, 15 Dec. 1771. On 21 Dec. Bassett wrote to GW : “Your favour of the 15 Inst. I receive in Wmsburg yesterday.”
42From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 5 July 1763 (Washington Papers)
So good an oppertunity as Turner Crump on a visit to his Father (affords) I coud not omit of asking how you do; for I have nothing to require, and as little to communicate in this Epistle, as it cannot be News to inform you, that the Peace of the Frontier Inhabitants seems to have met with almost as rude a shock from the late Indian Insults, as it did from any of their Barbarities in the...
43From George Washington to Burwell Bassett, 20 June 1773 (Washington Papers)
It is an easier matter to conceive, than to describe, the distress of this Family; especially that of the unhappy Parent of our Dear Patcy Custis, when I inform you that yesterday removd the Sweet Innocent Girl into a more happy, & peaceful abode than any she has met with, in the afflicted Path she hitherto has trod. She rose from Dinner about four Oclock, in better health and spirits than she...
44From George Washington to Thomas Basset, 4 May 1758 (Washington Papers)
To Mr T. Basset—Engineer. Sir Fort L[oudou]n May 4th 1758. Your letter of the 27th ultimo came to my hands only last night. I have received no Orders yet for marching 2,00 men to Enoch’s; when I do, you shall be informed thereof. I am Sir, Your most obedient, humble Servant, LB , DLC:GW .
45From George Washington to William Baylis, 21 July 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are to use your utmost endeavours with the men under your command, to gather in all the Harvest on the Plantations abandoned by the Inhabitants, and secure it in the best manner you can. You are also to assist the inhabitants about you all you can in collecting their harvest; and guard them while they are about it. Let Captain Hamilton, and the rest of the Officers of the Militia, know the...
46From George Washington to John Baylor, 10 June 1757 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Baylor, 10 June 1757. On 20 June 1757 Baylor wrote to GW : “Yrs of the 10th I rec’d.”
47From George Washington to Alexander Beall, 20 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 19th instant came to hand about noon this day—As there now remain but a few Indians here, who cou’d by no means be prevailed on to return towards Fort Cumberland, altho’ so much wanted on that Quarter; imagining we wished to sacrifice them by attempting to expose them to (what they think) certain destruction, they positively refused marching until they saw such numbers as wou’d...
48From George Washington to George Beall, 2 June 1756 (Washington Papers)
I have Governor Dinwiddie’s orders to remove the Cannon &c. from Rock-creek to Winchester: In consequence thereof, I have ordered down ten waggons for that purpose: and desire that you will deliver them and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging; together with about five hundred weight of Rice or Barley: as I understand, a large quantity of one or the other was lodged in the Stores under...
49From George Washington to Joshua Beall, 1 November 1757 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 25th ultimo was delivered me to-day —If you had been more explicit in relating the circumstances of the abuse you were pleased to complain of, I shou’d have been better enabled to judge of the fact. But, after confessing, as you have done, that you made no enquiry at all into the affair, I am not more surprized at your making the complaint, than I am at a loss how to redress...
50From George Washington to David Bell, 28 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have Ordered Ensign Fleming to Repair to Captain Hoggs Company with eight good men; which I expect you will see immediately complied with. He is to account with you for his recruiting money before he leaves you. You are hereby ordered, peremptorily, to be at this place with what men you have, or can enlist by the 1st of December. Your late disobedience of Orders has greatly displeased me—It...
51From George Washington to David Bell, 8 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
To Captain David Bell. of the Virginia Regiment. You are Hereby Ordered to proceed immediately to Conogochege; and are there to take upon you the Command of the Troops now stationed there, for defence of the Stores, &c.—You are to endeavour with all possible expedition, to procure a sufficient number of Batteaus and Canoes (assisted by those which are already gone up with Captain Gist) to...
52From George Washington to David Bell, 22 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Waggons will be sent down to Conogochiege to bring some provisions to this place. Let the chief part of their loads be Flour; and put some Beef and Fish into each waggon—Take care to reserve a sufficient quantity for your own and Captain Gist’s Company, for a month. Captain Gist and you must remain at Conogochieg until further Orders: you must not neglect to procure as many Canoes as possible....
53Orders, 15 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for the Commanding Officer at Winchester. 1st So soon as you arrive in Town, you are hereby Ordered to take upon yourself the Command of the Recruits Raised and brought in by the several Officers appointed to that Rendezvous; and to keep it until another Officer arrive, who shall be Senior to yourself in Rank: then and in that case, you are immediately to give up the command, and...
54From George Washington to David Bell, 6 September 1756 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of the 15th August; which I had answered before I received yours of the 25th —I am sorry the Rangers seem to dislike the Service so much, but am still in hopes, the encouragement given by the committee will have some weight with them. They have allowed our Soldiers 8d. per day, with [no] deductions for clothes or Surgeon: A General Hospital is established for their reception...
55From George Washington to David Bell, 10 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
As the Inhabitants of the place seem much alarmed, and under continued apprehensions of being attacked—It is my Orders, that you keep out constant Scouting Parties of the Light Horse, &c. in order that you may receive timely notice of the approach of the Enemy; which you are immediately to communicate to the Inhabitants. If you think you can strengthen the place where you are, by throwing up...
56From George Washington to David Bell, 12 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
If you find it impossible to procure a sufficient number of canoes to transport the Stores at Conogchieg to Fort Cumberland at one Trip[,] you are to endeavour to engage as many as you can, to be in readiness against Captain Gists return: and then proceed with them, and those that come with Captain Gist, to Fort Cumberland. Captain Gist is to remain at Conogochieg with his Party, until further...
57From George Washington to David Bell, 14–15 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
It is my Orders that you send out Scouting Parties of the Light Horse as often as it can possibly be done, without too much fatiguing them. And you must order them to scour the Woods round for six or seven miles: as I am informed they never proceeded more than three or four miles upon any of their Scouts, heretofore. LB , DLC:GW .
58From George Washington to David Bell, 15 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
If it happens that I am not in Winchester when you arrive there with your Recruits; You are hereby ordered to put yourself &c. under the Command of the oldest officer then present; observing particularly, all such Directions as you shall from time to time receive from him. But, if it should so fall out, that you are the first that arrive there, or if you should be the oldest Officer there; you...
59From George Washington to David Bell, 3 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
As His Majesty’s Service requires that the Garrison at Fort Cumberland should be Strengthened; You are hereby Ordered, to march your Recruits to that place immediately, and to put yourself under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen, or in his absence, the Officer commanding the Fort. Given under my hand, this 3d of October 1755. LB , DLC:GW .
60From George Washington to David Bell, 25 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
As the roads at present are so much infested, I do not think it safe to send the things you wrote for until another opportunity. I must desire that you will be very diligent, and guard against a Surprize from the Enemy, as they will certainly attact you, if they find it possible to surprize you. You are to detach Ensign Crawford with twenty men, to reconnoitre the Country towards Hites, on...
61From George Washington to David Bell, 10 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to Fort Dinwiddie, to settle your Recruiting Accompt with Ensign Fleming. You are then to proceed to the borders of Carolina, or other places where you may hear of Deserters; and use your utmost endeavours to apprehend them. You must make application to all the civil Officers; who will assist you in apprehending and conveying them to the Regiment. You are to employ your time...
62From George Washington to John Bell, 25 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I have sent the enclosed to Colonel Lee, open to you, that you may peruse it, and afterwards transmit it immediately to him. As I have many Expresses to dispatch, I am puzzled to procure Horses for that service. I send you enclosed, letters for the County Lieutenants of Stafford and Spotsylvania, which I must desire you will forward with the utmost expedition; as it may be the means of...
63From George Washington to William Black, 17 January 1774 (Washington Papers)
I was not a little surprized when informed by your own letter, as well as from Mr Hills, of Mrs Black’s having refused to acknowledge her right of Dower in the Lands I bought of you. Did you not repeatedly assure me, that she was ready at all times, to relinquish her right? And did she not signify as much to me herself, as I brought her from Williamsburg to Colo. Bassett’s? From whence then...
64Bond to William Black, 30 November 1773 (Washington Papers)
Know all men by these presents that I George Washington of the county of Fairfax esquire am held and firmly bound unto William Black of the county of King and Queen merchant in the full and just sum of eleven thousand pounds of current money of Virginia to be paid to the said William Black or to his executor’s administrator’s or assign’s to the which payment well and truly to be made I bind...
65From George Washington to William Black, 18 November 1773 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your letter of the 16th; I have to inform you that, I cannot accede to your proposals. I have taken some pains to bring myself as well acquainted with the value of your Lands in the counties of King & Qeen & King William, as I can; & having also been at some trouble to know the sentiments of Mr Custis’s friends in respect to the purchase, I have come to the following resolution,...
66From George Washington to William Black, 6 December 1773 (Washington Papers)
I expect all the Papers respecting your Title to the Lands I purchased of you will shortly be in Mr Wythe’s possession, when he will be satisfied whether your title is good or not and if he thinks you have a good title he will draw a proper conveyence which will be tendered to you by the Bearer Barthw Dandridge and he will see it properly executed by you and Mrs Black. Whenever this conveyance...
67From George Washington to John Blagg, 2 February 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are Hereby ordered to proceed with the utmost dispatch to Winchester; there to take upon you the Command of the Troop of Light Horse, and such other Soldiers as you shall find Quartered there. You are to govern yourself strictly by the orders which you will receive there inclosed by Captain Stewart; he being directed to leave you the same orders which he received, when posted to that...
68From George Washington to John Blagg, 7 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are Hereby ordered to proceed with the party under your command, with the utmost expedition to Joseph Edwards’s on Great Capecapon; where you are to remain, and endeavour to procure what intelligence you can, and transmit to me from time to time. I would by no means have you go in pursuit of the Enemy, unless you are joined by such parties of the Militia, as you judge from the intelligence...
69From George Washington to John Blair, 30 January 1758 (Washington Papers)
Hearing of the Governors’ departure for England; I think it a duty incumbent on me to inform your Honor, that I lingered a long time under an illness which obliged me to retire from my command (by the Surgeons advice, and with the Governors approbation;) and that I am yet but imperfectly recovered from it: which is the cause that detains me from my Duty. I have many accompts to settle with the...
70From George Washington to John Blair, 31 January 1758 (Washington Papers)
To Mr President Blair [Fredericksburg, 31 January 1758 ] Honble Sir, I wrote to your Honor yesterday—Since which your favor of the 25th is come to hand. I am greatly distressed to know what conduct to observe with regard to the Indians that are coming to our assistance. I wou’d, notwithstanding the ill state of health I am in, go directly to Winchester, cou’d I flatter myself that the Service...
71From George Washington to John Blair, 2 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President—written on the road to Winchr Honble Sir, April 2, 1758 The Bearer, unfortunately pursuing me, insted of continuing on from Fredericksburgh (when he heard that I had passed that place in my way to Alexandria) is the cause of the enclosed being detained so long from your Honor. The business which carried me by Alexanda, was partly of a public and partly of a private nature; and...
72From George Washington to John Blair, 4–10 May 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President Honble Sir Ft L[oudou]n the 4[–10]th May, 1758. The enclosed letter from Capt. Waggener, will inform your Honor of a very unfortunate affair. From the best accounts I have yet been able to get, there are about 60 persons killed and missing. Immediately upon receiving this Intelligence, I sent out a Detachment of the Regiment, and some Indians that were equipped for war, in...
73From George Washington to John Blair, 17 May 1768 (Washington Papers)
At present the Road from Fort Cumberland to Pittsburg is very thickly Inhabited—so much so at least—as to render the communication easy & convenient for Travellers, & for the transportation of Provisions &ca from the Frontiers of this Colony to the last mentioned Garrison, and to the Settlers that now are, or may hereafter be fixed on the Ohio; but if the People on the other side of the...
74From George Washington to John Blair, 17 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To the President. Honble Sir. Fort Loud[oun] the 17th Aprl 1758. An unlucky, but unavoidable accident happened in the neighbourhood of Pattersons fort the other day. The Proceedings of an examining Court of Officers on that occasion (which are herewith sent) will bring your Honor acquainted with the circumstances. I caused a very strict enquiry to be made into the conduct of Mr Chew, that...
75From George Washington to John Blair, 24 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President. [Fort Loudoun, 24 April 1758 ] Honble Sir, Your letter of the 19th instant, intended to come by Colo. Stephen, was delivered me to-day, about noon, by Express. As there are several matters contained in it of an interesting nature, I chose to be aided in my determinations, by the advice of my Officers; and have enclosed, your Honor their, and my opinion on the several heads. I...
76From George Washington to John Blair, 20 February 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President Honble Sir, Mount-Vernon, the 20th February, 1758. I set out for Williamsburgh the day after the date of my letter by Jenkins; but found I was unable to proceed, my fever and pain encreasing upon me to an high degree, and the Physicians assured me, that I might endanger my life in prosecuting the journey. In consequence of this advice, I returned back to this place again, and...
77From George Washington to John Blair, 26 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President of Virginia [Fort Loudoun, 26 April 1758 ] Honble Sir, Having wrote fully to your Honor on the 24th past, I have little to offer at this time[.] I then thought to have sent an Officer for money, but all of them that can be spared from the several Garrisons, must be employed in recruiting. I have therefore ordered Mr Gist, a volunteer in my Regiment, to wait upon your Honor for...
78From George Washington to John Blair, 28 May 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President. Honble Sir. Williamsbgh 28th May, 1758. I came here at this critical juncture, by the express order of Sr John St Clair, to represent in the fullest manner, the posture of our Affairs at Winchester; and to obviate any doubts that might arise from the best written narrative—I shall make use of the following method as the most effectual I can at present suggest, to lay sundry...
79From George Washington to John Blair, 9 April 1758 (Washington Papers)
To The President [Fort Loudoun, 9 April 1758 ] Honble Sir, Since my last of the 2d instant, nothing remarkable has occurred: But, having an opportunity, by the Sheriff of this County, I enclose your Honor returns of the Regiment for the months of January and February. Those for March , are not yet come to hand from the several out-posts; for want of which a general return can not be made....
80From George Washington to John Blair, 4 December 1772 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to John Blair, Jr., 4 Dec. 1772. On 9 Dec. 1772 the Exec. Journals of Virginia Council H. R. McIlwaine et al., eds. Executive Journals of the Council of Colonial Virginia . 6 vols. Richmond, 1925–66. (6:516) reported: “Col. Washingtons Letter of the 4th, Inst. to the Clerk, and the Resolves (therein inclosed) of the Commissioned Officers of the first Virginia Regt. at a...
81From George Washington to Sarah Bomford, 23 December 1773 (Washington Papers)
Your tender feeling on account of the distressed Mrs Savage is exceedingly praiseworthy; & your last favor of the 21st of Septr, which is just come to hand, exhibits a pleasing specimen of your humanity, & benevolent way of thinking. Apologies, in a cause like this, are entirely unnecessary; especially to a person, who conceives himself honored by your corrispondence, though begun, & like to...
82From George Washington to Sarah Bomford, 28 August 1774 (Washington Papers)
In acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 25th of May ⟨(w⟩hich came to my hands a few days ago) I should find myself much at ⟨a⟩ loss if I did not consider the many flattering ⟨ex⟩pressions containd in it as the effect of your politeness—not my deserts—however if in my part of the transaction of Mrs Savages’s Business in this Country I have been able to give satisfaction to...
83From George Washington to Sarah Bomford, 20 September 1772 (Washington Papers)
The tender concern you shew to the distressed is sufficiently exemplifyed in the case of Mrs Savage, & will be attended, I am persuaded, with more pleasing reflections, than the acknowledgments of the Lady, or the thanks of her friends are capable of affording. Brutal as the Doctrs behaviour must appear to the feeling of every dispassionate mind, he is unwilling to be thought the Culprit he...
84From George Washington to Abraham Bosomworth, 8 December 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am informed you have enlisted one Patrick Murphy a Deserter from my Regiment who was confined in the Goal at York, tho’ you had previous knowledge of his being so. You must be sensible such proceedings are repugnant to the public interest, and contrary to established articles of war; to say nothing of the ill effects that follow precedents of this nature. The suspicion of a Soldiers...
85From George Washington to Abraham Bosomworth, 6 July 1758 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Abraham Bosomworth, 6 July 1758. On 11 July Bosomworth wrote to GW : “I recd your favor of the 6th.”
86Petition to Botetourt, 15 December 1769 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of George Washington in behalf of himself and the Officers and Soldiers who first Imbarkd in the Service of this Colony humbly Prays: That the 200,000 Acres of Land which was given to them by the Honble Govr Dinwiddies Proclamation bearing date the 19th of Feby 1754; May (in case your Lordship and Council shoud be of opinion, upon considering of the matter, that the reservation in...
87From George Washington to Botetourt, 9 September 1770 (Washington Papers)
The very obliging offer your Lordship was pleasd to make me in behalf of the Officers and Soldiers, who (under faith of Government) lay claim to the 200,000 Acres of Land on the Waters of Ohio promisd them by Proclamn in 1754 I postpond availing Myself of because it was evident to me from the knowledge I have of the back Country & the rapidity with which it is settling that any considerable...
88From George Washington to Botetourt, 5 October 1770 (Washington Papers)
Being fully convincd of your Lordships Inclination to render every just and reasonable Service to the People you Govern, & to any Society or body of them that shall ask it; and being in a more particular manner encouragd by a Letter which I have just receivd from Mr Blair (Clerk of the Council) to believe, that your Excellency is desirous of knowing how far the Grant of Land sollicited by Mr...
89From George Washington to Botetourt, 8 December 1769 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honr of seeing your Lordship in May last, I took the liberty of mentioning, in a cursory manner, the claim of sundry Officers of the first Troops raisd in this Colony, in behalf of themselves, & the Soldiery of that day, to certain Lands westward of the Aligany Mountains which they humbly conceivd themselves entitled to under, by virtue of a Proclamation of Governor Dinwiddies;...
90From George Washington to Jonathan Boucher, 14 October 1769 (Washington Papers)
I congratulate you upon your easy passage over the Sickly Months: We have had a much more troublesome time of it in this Family, but are now tolerably well recoverd of those disorders which prevaild pretty generally in this part of the Country. Business of an unexpected kind, will detain me so long at home, as to leave no time to spend on the Road otherwise we shoud with great pleasure call...