From George Washington to John Forbes, 1 January 1759
To John Forbes
Williamsburg Jany 1st 1758 [1759]
Sir,
The Governor writing fully to you on the present System of management, and posture of our affairs here leaves me no room to add on that head1 I was in hopes an Assembly woud have been calld immediately, but the Council I believe were of Opinion that as they had met so lately and were Summond to attend sometime in February it wou’d be inconvenient to convene them sooner at this Juncture so that no measures for securing the Communication between Fort Cumberland and Fort Duquesne or in short, any thing else can be effectuated—or even attempted till their Resolutions is known thereupon.2
Captn McNeill (who Commanded the first Virga Regiment in my absence) committed an Error I am informd at Rays Town in confining Mr Hoops: I am not thoroughly acquainted with the particulars of that Affair, but believe from the Accts I have receivd that Mr Hoops was equally culpable (or blamable) in detaining the Provision’s from half starvd Men. This unheeded step of McNeill’s3 I am told is likely to bring him into trouble, I therefore beg the favour of you Sir (being well convincd he had nothing in view by it but the care of his Men) to interpose your obliging Offices to settle the difference which will lay Captn McNeill and myself under equal Obligations to you.4
I shoud be extreamely glad to hear of your safe Arrival in Quarters5 after your fatieguing Campaigne and that a perfect return of Health contributes to Crown your Successes.6 I am Sir with great esteem Yr Most Obedt & Most Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALS, Scottish Record Office; LB, DLC:GW. The letter-book copy is dated 30 Dec. 1758.
1. Fauquier wrote Forbes at some length on 19 Nov. 1758 about the political situation in Virginia (, 1:107–9); no letter of a more recent date has been found.
2. The assembly was supposed to meet on 21 Dec. 1758, but on 13 Dec. the governor and council deferred its meeting until 22 Feb. 1759.
3. GW later changed this in his letter book to read “piece of rashness.”
4. The Pennsylvanian Adam Hoops wrote Bouquet on 14 Dec. 1758: “Inclosed is a small Detail of the Usage I have Received here [at Fort Bedford, Pa.] from the first Virginia Regimt which I request you’ll be so kind as to lay before his Excellency” (Stevens, , 2:628–29).
5. GW later changed this in his letter book to “at Head-Quarters.”
6. Forbes reached Philadelphia on 17 Jan., and on 11 Mar. 1759 Bouquet wrote General Amherst: “It is with the utmost grief I am to inform your Excellency that Br Genl Forbes died this morning. Tho’ in the cruel situation he was reduced, his death only could put an End to his miseries” (Kent, ibid., 3:186–88).