To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 25 October 1758
From Robert Stewart
Camp at Rays Town Octr 25th 1758
My Dear Colonel
Just now an Express arriv’d from Winchester with the Inclos’d Letter, the Cover of the Governor’s was quite to Pieces before it came to hand I observe it contains some Commissions I hope mine is amongst them as no body here has any accots from Virginia, I beg you’ll be so good as to let me know the News by first oppy.1
I wrote you yesterday Just as I was getting ready to March relative to Necessaries for the Men and as no oppy has since occurrd I send it Inclos’d notwithstanding the hurry in which it was wrote as it’s now late and the Express that brings you this sets out before Day in the morning.
Colo’s. Montgomerie and Byrd March’d yesterday—the Light Horse and Grenadiers waits with the General who defer’d Marching till this day which prov’d too rainy—The last Division of the Artillery March’d this forenoon but I fear the heavy rains will greatly retard it’s progress.2
Colo. Mercer with the last of the Waggons and Pack Horses will be in to morrow and it’s said we shall then have a sufficient Quantity of Provisions.3
An Express for Philadelphia sets out to morrow morning by him I send your Letter for Mr Chew4—No News of any kind are stirring at this place—as the General will push on when he sets outs I hope to have the pleasure of Joining you soon and in the mean time I beg leave to Subscribe myself with the highest & most unfeigned Esteem My Dear Sir Your truly affecte & Most Obliged hble Servt
Robert Stewart
ALS, DLC:GW. The letter is docketed “Inclosing one of the 22d & 24th.”
1. Fauquier mentions in his letter to GW, 7 Oct., sending blank commissions, which GW asked for in his letter of 25 September. See also GW to Fauquier, 30 October. It may be that Stewart was awaiting his commission as brigade major of the Virginia forces. For Stewart’s service as brigade major, see GW to Francis Halkett, 21 July 1758, n.2, and Orderly Book, 14 Nov. n.1. For Fauquier’s most recent reference to that office, see Fauquier to GW, 16–29 September.
2. Forbes wrote Bouquet from Raystown, this date: “Capt. [David] Hay with the remainder of the Artillery march’d from this, this morning but so incessant a Rain has made me make the whole Halt at the Shawnese Cabins, as such a train of waggons in rainy weather would hurt the roads more in one hour than wee could repair in a week” (Stevens, , 2:584–86). See also the entry in Forbes’s Orderly Book, 24, 25 Oct., printed in note 8, Orderly Book, 3 November.
3. Forbes wrote Bouquet on this day: “I expect Coll [Hugh] Mercer with all the rest of the Waggons and Bats horses, and a great Convoy of Cattle, in here to morrow” (Stevens, , 2:584–86).