To George Washington from Henry Bouquet, 1 November 1758
From Henry Bouquet
Camp at the East Side of Lawrell Hill
1st Novr 1758
Dear Sir
The General desires that you will order 150 men to Set out from Loyal Hannon to morrow morning as early as possible, with 100 falling axes, to cut a new Road along the old one upon the West Side of Lawrell Hill which is unpracticable: Capt. Shelby is desired to take the direction of the Said Road.1
As the little Carpenter will be to morrow at Loyal Hannon The General desires that Seven Guns be fired for him—We expect to be there by one o’Clock.2
Two Sledges and two Cross Barrs will also be wanted upon the new Road.
Col. Montgommery wth his Regt will encamp where Capt. McKenzie is actually.
Col. Byrd’s Regt must encamp upon the Hill beyond the 1st Batt. of Pensilva & the marylanders. A Place for the three Troops of Light Horse.
I am wth great Regard Dr Sir Your most obedt hble Servant
Henry Bouquet
ALS, MH: Jared Sparks Collection.
1. Bouquet reported to Forbes on 20 Oct.: “The descent [on the west side of Laurel Hill] is very bad as a result of a number of springs flooding it since the last rains, which had not appeared here before. The only place where a better passage could be opened is so rocky that we have neither time nor strength to undertake it” (Stevens, , 2:578–81). It was apparently after talking this day with Bouquet, who had just come over Laurel Hill from Loyalhanna to consult with Forbes, that Forbes decided something had to be done about the road on the far side of Laurel Hill.
2. For an account of Little Carpenter’s joining Forbes with his small party of Cherokee on 13 Oct. and his departure on 19 Nov., see Forbes to GW, 19 Nov., n.2. In his report of the guards for 31 Oct. (Orderly Book, 1 Nov., n.1), Lt. Col. Thomas Lloyd reported that “Capt. [Abraham] Bosomworth arrivd at about 12 A.M. with 30 Cherokees 8ber 31st 1758.”