George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0327

To George Washington from Peter Hog, 3 April 1756

From Peter Hog

Fort Dinwiddie 3d April 1756

Sir

Inclosed is the Return for this Month of my Company.1 I arrived here this Evening with the Greatest part of the Men I Carried out, greatly fatigued & mostly reduced with famine & a flux however Mr Fleming thinks that Rest & Regular Diet will recover Most of them; & therefor has returned but one Sick of those that are present. Majr Lewis no Doubt will Inform you of the State of the Ill Concerted Expedition that Miscarried from the Disobedience of Men Undisciplined, & Subject to no Military Law, a too Smal Store of provisions; & the most Impassable Route that Ever was Attempted.2 I have not time to give you the particulars; as I have just Embraced a Sudden Oppty of Conveying this to Augusta Courtho., With the Return; & to Desire the Remittance of the Companies pay for the 2 Months by gone; as the Men are really in Want of Shirts Shoes & Every part of Cloathing, and Expect new Regimentals this Spring I hope as formerly hinted that the Arrears for January & February 55 will be Sent for the Men under me Draughted from the other Recruiting officers Last Spring3 I am wt. Respect Sir Your Very hume Servt

Petr Hog

P.S. I shall Also Expect money to Enlist Men to Compleat the Company first Oppty. P:H:

ALS, DLC:GW.

1The “Monthly Return of the first Compy of the Virga Regt” from Fort Dinwiddie dated 3 April reported: 1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 ensign; 2 sergeants fit for duty and a third “on party”; 1 drummer; and 39 “Rank & file” fit for duty, 1 sick, and 8 on the sergeant’s party. It also reported since the last return one batman dead and one “Entertained.” Three men had deserted. Hog noted that “the Serjt & 8 Men Returned on party are 6 that were Left behind on Sandy Creek very Weak & Unable to March wt. the Rest of the Compy who were forced to Retreat as fast as possible to the Inhabitants or perish wt. hunger the Serjt was Sent back from New River to Meet them wt. provisions & the 2 others were Left Sick on the Road. one Died the 26th Feby & the other 16th March the three deserted from the Serjt at the fort.” Hog, Lt. John McNeill, and Ens. William Fleming signed the return (DCL:GW).

2Hog and his company had just returned from the ill-fated Sandy Creek expedition led by Andrew Lewis, the major in the Virginia Regiment since GW took command the preceding September. Composed of about 350 men and a party of Cherokee, the expedition left Fort Frederick on the New River on 18 Feb. 1756 and after suffering great hardships and accomplishing nothing turned back on 15 Mar.

3On 30 Dec. 1755 GW gave detailed instructions for paying the money owed the men recruited in the first 3 months of 1755.

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