To George Washington from Francis Fauquier, 4 November 1758
From Francis Fauquier
Wmsburgh Novr 4th 1758
Sr
By an Act of the last Assembly The Regiment under your Command was remanded back to Virginia to protect the Frontiers, and in that Case they were provided for; but if they were not permitted to return by the first of December Their pay from this Colony was to stop from that Day. Some other saving schemes were obliged to be complyed with, for fear the whole should be given up.1
By a Letter I received from Coll Byrd I find the Army will be in the Heat of Action, and the Fate of Fort du Quesne depending at that Time.2 I have therefore summoned an Assembly to meet on Thursday the tenth instant in order to prolong the Time for both the Regiments to remain in the Field in Conjunction with the rest of his Majesties Forces. This is the only Step I could take to prevent the Ruin of the whole Expedition and Save this Colony from the Censure They would lie under as being the sole Cause of the Miscarriage of the whole; If the Fort should not be reduced by that Day.
I make no Doubt but that the Resolves of this Assembly will be favourable to our Wishes; as they have always proved themselves strenuous Asserters of his Majesties Rights. Whatever they are, you shall have them by Express as soon as they are known.3
Mr Turner who brought me Letters from the Army carries five Thousand pounds up with him for the payment of the Regiments. Whether this is sufficient I do not at all know, as I have had no Account either from Mr Boyd, or Major Peachy of what would be necessary: however it will serve to stop a present gap, and more shall be sent on the first Notice.4 But I desire you will give Orders to the paymasters to send down an Acct of the Time to wch the Forces are paid and what more will be wanting to compleat their pay to the first of December.
I long to see you return Victorious, that I may have the pleasure of taking you by the Hand, and assuring you with what Truth and Regard I am Sr Yr Very Hum. Servt
Fran: Fauquier
P.S. As the Money of the new Emission that is signed is in too large Notes for the purpose of Payment of the Troops; Captn Turner will remain here till the Assembly meets, so I have sent th⟨ose⟩ Letters by the Return of the last Messenger ⟨who⟩ came from the General.
F: F:
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For an account of the passage of the “Act for the defence of the Frontiers of this Colony” (7 171–79), see William Ramsay to GW, 17 Oct. 1758, n.2. The act provided up to £15,000 “for the subsistence and pay of the first regiment” from 1 Dec. 1758 to 1 May 1759, on condition that during this time it “shall be stationed . . . upon the frontiers of this colony.”
2. The (6:115–16) has the following entry for its meeting of 1 Nov.: “The Governor was pleased to communicate to the Board, a Letter from Col. Byrd dated Ray’s Town Octor, 21st signifying they are at a Loss to know what is to be done with the Men after the 1st of Decemr.—that the last Division of the Army marches from thence with the General on the 23d and imagines they must sit down before Fort Du Quesne between the 20th and 30th of Novemr.”
3. For the assembly’s passage on Nov. 11 of an amendment to its “Act for the defence of the Frontiers” (note 1), see Fauquier to GW, 22 November.
4. This may have been the Indian agent George Turner. Maj. William Peachey was acting as paymaster in the 2d Virginia Regiment.