21To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 20 August 1756 (Washington Papers)
Since writing You Yesterday The Express I sent to the Cherokees arrived & they have engag’d to send us 150 Warriors, who I expect with Major Lewis in about a Fortnight; I shall order the Majr to march them to Winchester to be under Your direction. The Cherokees & Catawbas are at prest strongly attach’d to our Interest; the Catawba King is gone to Chas Town So. Carolina & on his return he...
22To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 24 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
After closing my Letter to You of this Date I recd Yours of the 20th by Brinker giving Acct of the miserable Distress our Frontier Inhabitants are in, which gives me the greatest Concern & Uneasiness —Really it is not in my Power to do more for defence against the Incursions of our barbarous Enemies, than to recommend Your speedy executing my Orders to You, for raising a Company of Rangers to...
23To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 21 August 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 14th Inst. I just now recd. La Force was taken two Days after he made his escape & is properly secur’d—No doubt Your Men will be fully employ’d in garrisons &ca. I have in my former given You my Opinion in regard to Fort Cumberland, & now I am of Opinion that You shou’d send for some of the Stores from thence to Winchester for fear of Accidents or an Attack of the Enemy against...
24To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 8 August 1757 (Washington Papers)
the Bearer hereof Sam. Akerling has desir’d my Leave to go to see his Brothers, near the Monongahely proposing to give Security with You of his return to be here in the Octr Court; as I am a Stranger to the Evidence against him on Suspicion of being a Spy, which he sincerely denies & begs to be tried, but that cannot be ’till Octr—wherefore I refer him to You, & if You have any favorable...
25To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 3 August 1754 (Washington Papers)
I recd Yrs of the 28th ulto —the Bearer brings you £600 which is all can be got, & hope it will answer for the present. I have no doubt when the Assembly meets they will grant a Supply in such manner to comand Money; the want thereof I know has been a great Loss to the Expedition —I am sorry Yr regimt have behav’d so very refractory, tho’ they have a right to their Pay they shou’d have been...
26To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 June 1756 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer hereof Mr Richd Baker has been very active in getting Men from the Isle of White County & unless he had engag’d to go with them none wou’d have enlisted, his Friends have applied to me for a Commission, which I cou’d not regularly give, not knowing what Vacancies may be. I therefore take this Method of recommending him to You, & if You can fill up a Vacancy by giving him a...
27To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 20 December 1754 (Washington Papers)
I recd Yr Letter but at prest cannot order You the Money You say due you as Adjutt[.] wn the Council meets I shall let them know Yr Demd & if they agree with me it will be pd —I am Sir Yr humble Servt LB , ViHi : Dinwiddie Papers. The letter has not been found. While he was in Williamsburg in Oct. 1754 GW received £50 for “my Salary as Adjutant” ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772....
28To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 25 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 17th I recd the Contents duly considered, but I refer answering it till I see You, which I hope will be soon. Our Assembly sitts To-morrow when I hope they will do some necessary Things for the Service. If you find the Militia are not absolutely wanted and necessary, I hope You will order them back to their Counties, as this will be very expensive. The Commissaries cannot...
29To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 26 October 1756 (Washington Papers)
I recd Your Letter from Augusta & observe its Contents —the Behaviour of the Militia is very unaccountable, & am convinc’d they are under no Command; I order’d Part of the Militia to the Frontiers & there to remain till reliev’d by others, which I propos’d shou’d be done in a monthly manner, & so to be continued by a proper Rotation, instead thereof they go & come at their own Pleasure, & many...
30To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Capt. Mercer I receiv’d. I hope the Treasurer will send You the Money to make up 10,000 which I have desired him. If You find it for the good of the Service to remain below I have no Objection to it; but I hope the Men are duly exercised & taught the Indian Method of fighting, that they may be prepard for Action in the Spring. I am surpriz’d the Vessell with Arms &ca is not...
31To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 7 April 1757 (Washington Papers)
I recd Yours of the 2d last Night & must refer You to mine of the 5th which I sent You by Express, & doubt not You will receive at Fort Loudoun; The pressing Letter from Govr Littleton makes it absolutely necessary to send 200 of our Regimt to his Assistance; & I must therefore repeat my Orders for their march to Fredericksburg, & I hope they will be there by the 20th of this Month & I am...
32To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 8 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 3d I recd Yesterday, & observe its Contents. I have recd the Indian Scalp & I doubt not but many more were killed in that small Skermish. I am glad the Indians are gone over the Mountains, but I cannot think they were so numerous as represented, unless they have prevailed on the Twightwees to join with them; I am of Opinion if You cou’d send a Message to them by some trusty...
33To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 27 December 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 19th by Jenkins I recd last Night—& do observe You have ordered the Garisons on the Branch to Percealls, to escort the Flour to Fort Cumberland. The Provisions lying in Bulk at the different Forts, if possible shou’d be Smoked, which wou’d be a great Saving to the Country & I hope You have order’d it so. As we have had great Rains lately I hope a sufficient quantity of Flour may...
34To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 26 July 1755 (Washington Papers)
The dismal Defeat of our Forces by such a handful of Men gives me very great Concern, as also for the Death of the Genl & so many brave Officers entirely owing to the dastardly Spirit of the private Men their Panick I suppose made them deaf to all Commands & in course was the Bane of all our Misfortunes[.] The train of Artillery being in the Enemy’s Possessn is a monstrous Misfortune; however...
35To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 20 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter by Express, I received last Night, & I am sorry for the Intelligence it brings of such a No. of French & Indians marching from Fort Du Quesne, and it’s more than probable their Design is agst Fort Cumberland, and am sorry that Garrison is in so poor a Condition for Defence, & I really fear it is in the Enemys Hands before this can reach You. If so they probably will proceed to fort...
36To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, January 1754 (Washington Papers)
E ditorial N ote The reports that GW made to Dinwiddie upon his return from his mission to the French commandant reinforced the governor’s conviction that no time was to be lost in taking action against French encroachment on the Ohio. Dinwiddie had held a British vessel, the Speedwell , in port pending GW’s return from the Ohio and at once notified Holderness and the Board of Trade that the...
37To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 13 September 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 8th I recd last Night—I am affraid the Draughts from Prince William, Culpeper & Fairfax are not made agreeable to expectation, as I hear many of the Young Men have made their Escape & do not appear at the Musters. Sir, I mention’d in my Letter of the [1]9th Ulto to enlist Servants agreeable to the Act of Parliament; that of Act of Parliamt I wrote from Yr Letter to me, I...
38II. Instructions from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Colonel George Washington Commander in Chief of the Virginia Regiment. Whereas the French have unjustly invaded His Majesty’s Lands on the Ohio, and have sent flying Parties of French and Indians, to robb, and murder our back Settlers to the Westward, which the Legislature of this Dominion having seriously taken into their Consideration, and voted Money for the Protection of...
39To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 22 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 13th and 14th I shall answer Paragraphically. The Expedition against the Shawnesse I hope will be attended with Success, as two Women who were taken Prisoners made their Escape mention their being in their Towns & did not hear of their Intention of moving. You have done very right in ordering the Men to be train’d in the Indian Method of fighting but I can give You no...
40Instructions from Robert Dinwiddie, 30 October 1753 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for George Washington Esqr. Whereas I have receiv’d Information of a Body of French Forces being assembled in an hostile Manner on the River Ohio, intending by force of Arms to erect certain Forts on the said River, within this Territory & contrary to the Peace & Dignity of our Sovereign the King of Great Britain. These are therefore to require & direct You the said George...
41To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 November 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter of the 5th I duly recd & I am much surpriz’d at what You write that the Indn Affairs have been impeeded by a Train of Mismanagemt when I consider Mr Atkin’s Report that he had established every Thing in regard to those People in a most regular Manner I have wrote the Necessary to Ct. Gist on that Head, & order’d up a Quantity of Goods from Petersburg for that Service which I hope...
42To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 18 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 8th ⅌ Colo. Stephens I recd & am heartily sorry for the Acct he brings, but am in hopes from the Assistance of the Militia, & the Recruits You will be able to drive those Banditti from our Frontiers; I wish You may get a Troop of Horse from Fairfax County, as they will be of great Service in clearing the Woods, & I shall be glad if they can send down a Number of their Scalps. One...
43To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 26 January 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yrs of the 12th I recd—I am very sorry for the Mutiny You mention on the So. Branch, & I greatly approve the Steps You took to stop it; I hope the six Deserters have been apprehended & punish’d; the Persons under Sentence of Death, I hear some of them are Serjeants & Corporals, it’s a most aragant Affair in them to promote & countenance Mutiny for which they deserve the Sentence pass’d on...
44To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 19 August 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter of the 4th I recd & note it’s Contents —I observe You have been much engag’d in settling the proper Plans for the Chain of Forts propos’d to be built; & I doubt not the Places You have fix’d on are the most proper as You know the Situation of the Cotry You are the best Judge thereof. With Concern I see the Roll of Yr Companies & I am sorry they are so deficient in Numbers, the...
45To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 24 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 17th ⅌ Jenkins I recd—Ive wrote Colo. Read about the Lunenburg Draughts. I’m sorry to see the List of so many Deserters & I’m fully of Opinion that those that recd the Bounty, Cloaths & Arms ought to be outlaw’d & the Desertion of the Person that was condemn’d & afterwards pardon’d appears to me so villanous that I can’t prescribe any Rule to keep ’em together, but gt Severities,...
46To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 16 November 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter of the 9th I recd with a Report of Yr Journey along our Frontiers—The abuses mention’d in Yrs I have been made acquainted with from several Hands, but I expected You wou’d have been more particular in regard to the Officers neglecting their Duty, & the different Forts not being properly garrison’d with Men, nay witht their Officers: this vauge Report makes it impossible for me to...
47To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 23 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letr of the 19th by Mr Rutherfurd came to my Hands Tuesday last, but Yours of the 16th by Express did not reach me till the day after. I am heartily sorry for the Death of Capt. Mercer, & the other poor Men that were killed with him, it appears to me that the Enemy drew them out after them, pretending to fly, in order to destroy them from their lurking Places; but it surprizes me that we...
48To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 30 September 1756 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I recd a Letter dated the 23d from Alexaa not sign’d, but by its purport I believe it from You—Jenkins’s delay prevents laying any Thing before the Assembly as they were prorogued the Morning he arriv’d —I am of Opinion You may enforce the Articles of War the same as in the British Establishmt that with tenderness as the Exigency of Affairs may require; & tho’ no Crimes but Mutiny &...
49To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 19 October 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 3d by Jenkins I rec’d as Capt. Hogg is to be here Soon I Shall talk with him Abt the ranging Co[mpan]ys tho’ I fear he will not be able to raise the men, If they Should be rais’d they are to have 12d. ⅌ day no recruiting money or Cloaths & are to be rais’d protempore, So they are rais’d in Augusta, write me if you think it absolutely necessarie to have Such a compay if rais’d they...
50To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 24th May I received, Serjt Fent has given a pretty good Accott of his remarks at Fort Du Quesne &ca & appears to be a well behav’d Man—I’m sorry to acquaint You that the Bill for Supplies was rejected by the Councill but the Ho: of Burgesses are prepairing another which I hope will have a better Fate, they propose augmenting the forces, but ’till they vote Suplies nothing can be...
51To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 July 1756 (Washington Papers)
Last Night I recd Yrs of the 25th Ulto —I am sorry for the Delay of the Waggon with the Tools, probably occasion’d by the badness of the Horses, but I hope e’er this they are with You. I approve of Your consulting at a Council of War in regard to building of Forts, which I fear will be attended with very great Delays from the small number of Men You have, & I think it will not be proper to...
52To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 5 April 1757 (Washington Papers)
I hope by the Time this reaches Your Hands that Govr Sharpe has relieved Fort Cumberland by sending into it a Garison from his Maryland Forces, if so, this is to order You immediately to send down to Fredericksburg two hundred Men Officers included to be transported to South Carolina, under the Command of Lieut. Colo. Stephens, Captain Waggoner, Capt. Joshua Lewis, Lieuts. John Blag, John...
53To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 2 September 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 27th Ulto I recd last Night. Colo. Read from Lunenburg says he had sent You up twenty nine Soldiers, probably in two Parties, the last I suppose were not arrived when You wrote me. I am sorry so many have deserted since Yr last, or do I know what to do unless they will Out-law all those that do desert, & I wish You wou’d send the Names of those that deserted after receiving the...
54To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 17 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I recd yrs of the 11th with Acct of the Clothg & Provis[ion]s I suppose You will find some more Clothg at Winchester for the Acct at Alexaa belong. to me comes short of my Acct—I have had 500 Shirts made here & 100 Tents—I think you may engage from Mr Carlyle the white Shirts, Shoes, Hatts & the white Yearn Hose. Mr Dick has 84 Doz. of Soldiers Stock[ings] come in wch if he will sell...
55To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 12 June 1756 (Washington Papers)
I have read over Yr Memo. & observe thereon; I cannot advise how the Virga Regiment will be compleated if the Draughts from the Militia do not answer that End; but must here observe, if the Officers had perform’d their Engagements the Regiment wou’d have been in good Order, their Neglect & Breach of Promise is a great Loss to the Country. The Scheme of forming the Regiment into two Battallions...
56To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 2 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
I heartily wish that YrSelf & Officers had not at this Time discover’d an Uneasiness on Acct of Yr Pay especially as the long Delay of Colo. Fry’s Detachmt in not yet joining Yrs gives me too much Concern. You must all be sensible that if Yr present Establishmt is less than the first Estimate made; it was from a Calculatn of the 10,000 only granted to support the Expedition which if it had...
57To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 1 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
Mr Gist brot Yr Letter & the very agreeable Acct of Yr Killing & taking Monsr Le Force & his whole Party of 35 Men on which Success I heartily congratulate You, as it may give a Testimony to the Inds. that the French are not invincible wn fairly engagd with the English; but hope the good Spirits of Yr Soldiers will not tempt You to make any hazardous Attempts agst a too numerous Enemy. When...
58To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 4 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
On the Death of Colo. Fry I have thot it proper to send You the enclos’d Como. to Comd the Virga regimt, & another for Majr Muse to be Lieut. Colo. The eldest Capt. to be Majr & the eldest Lieut. to be Capt. the eldest Ensign to be Lieut. unless You shd have Objectn to them. I think You will want two Ensigns, if so, I recommend Mr Perroney if he has behav’d so as to merit it, the other I leave...
59To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 11 September 1754 (Washington Papers)
No doubt You have heard that our Assembly is prorogu’d without granting any Supplies; Under this unexpected Disappointment, I fear we are not Numbers sufficient to attack the Fort taken from Us by the French: Therefore I order You to give a Detachment of Forty or Fifty Men to Capt. Lewis, with them he is to march immediately for Augusta County, in order to protect our Frontiers from the...
60Commission from Robert Dinwiddie, 30 October 1753 (Washington Papers)
E ditorial N ote The commission from Governor Dinwiddie to GW to investigate reports that French forces were encroaching on frontier territory claimed by Great Britain marks the beginning of GW’s military career. Although both France and Britain had long entertained vague ambitions in the Ohio country, it was not until the middle years of the eighteenth century that the two powers met...
61To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 16 May 1757 (Washington Papers)
You are, so soon as you arrive at Fort Loudoun, to inform the Officers that the Assembly having consider’d the great expence the Virginia Regiment has cost The Country from the Number of Companies it consisted of, And those Companies not half compleat in proportion to the vast Charge of Officers—It is resolved, for the better Saving of expences, and establishing a proper Regulation, that The...
62To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 27 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 23d I recd last Night & note their Contents. I recd Your Journal relating to the Militia which gives me some surprize to observe their dastardly Behavior, in deserting & returning Home, I am sorry their Officers had no better Command over them, & indeed I always was of Opinion they wd not answer my Intentions in sending them to Winchester. I observe the Council of War...
63To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 18 June 1754 (Washington Papers)
I rec’d Yr Letter of June 3d & I am very glad to know by it that the Half Kg with 80 Persons is arriv’d at Yr Camp. I have given all necessary Orders for a proper Supply for Yr R[egimen]t and Yr[self] not doubting but by this Time Muse has joined You—The barbarous Intents. of the French surprizes me & their Speech to the Wayandotts Twightwees &ca & it gives me Pleasure that those Nat[ion]s...
64To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 23–27 May 1757 (Washington Papers)
This probably may be deliver’d to You by the Hon. Edmd Atkin Esqr. who has his Majesty’s Commission to transact & superintend all the Affairs with the different Tribes of Indians the back of Georgia, South & No. Ca⟨r⟩olina & this Dominion; I desire You will receive him in a genteel Manner, & on his meeting with the Indians now at Fort Cumberland, give a Grace to his Operations by having a...
65To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 24 June 1757 (Washington Papers)
I cd not answer yr several Letters till now, I’ve wrote to Mr Atkin abt the Indians, & he must know better than I can how to manage ’em—Capt. Pearis having accepted a Comisso. from Govr Sharpe any Expectations from this Colony, his Conduct has been bad, so I think it’s a good riddance of him. As to Bat-Men I presume My Ld overlook’d that Article, but on return from me he’ll be more particular,...
66To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 18 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of 10th & 11th I recd by Jenkins & observe their Contents—I wrote You the 13th which sent up by Serjt Fent—There will soon be Publicats. for any Persons inclineable to contract for Provisions for the Forces at Winchester, & those in Augusta; they are to give in their Proposals in Writing, & by this Method I hope they will be properly supplied. The Money remaining of the 2000£...
67To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 13 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
I recd Yrs of 27th Ulto—As to Mr Gun, if he rejects Lieutt’s Pay, I shall not give him more, & I hear he is come down the Country. I wrote You pretty fully by Jenkins to which be refer’d. I now send You 400 Arms, which with those You have will be sufficient to Arm the Draughts &ca. they come under the Care of Serjeant Fent, who appears to me to be a deserving Young Man, I therefore desire You...
68To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 15 March 1754 (Washington Papers)
Yr two Letters of the 3d & 7th Currt I recd & the enclos’d from Messrs Trent & Cresap. I am surpriz’d from their Letters that the French are so early expected down the Ohio; which I think makes it necessary for You to march what Soldiers You have enlisted immediately to the Ohio, & escort some Waggons, with the necessary Provisions; Colo. Fry to march with the others as soon as possible. I...
69To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 3 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am sincerely concern’d for Your Situation from the many flying Parties of French & Indians, but I hope before this reaches You a large body of Militia are at Winchester to reinforce You, & if possible to drive the Enemy over the Allegany Mountains; besides the Militia there are to be Drafts from each County to compleat Your Regiment to 1500 or 2000 Men, but I fear it will be a Month before...
70To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 13 August 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter of the 3d I received from Mr Boyd, I don’t want the Vouchers from the People to whom Money is due for the Indns, but surely yo. may get the particular Summs to qualify me to grant a Warrant on the Treasurer, by this loose Method of writing, I know not whether they amt to 100£ or 1000£—Yo. will before this have some more Draughts from Lunenburg, & some other Counties which I hope will...