To George Washington from William Ramsay, 19–20 August 1758
From William Ramsay
Camp near Rays Town Augt 19[–20]th 1758
Dr Sir
Your requests obliges me. I hope they are intended to do justice to our injur’d Colony, this I have long wish’d for; We have bled freely, yet are made hewers of Wood & drawers of Water—Colo. Bouquet is gon this day to view the road up the Mountain. The Genl is expected on Tuesday. ’Tis generaly tho’t, L. Hannin will be the ne plus Ultra of our Operations this Campaign. I shall endeavor to inform myself speedily of the several things you mention, tho; many may be very accurately got from the Philadela Gazette, this I shall take pleasure in & always of Obliging you. The restoration of your health and its continuance, will be among my chief felicitys. My next will give you what facts I can collect & the whole I hope when I have the pleasure of seeing you—’till then farewell & trust me I am Dr Sir Your Affte & obliged H. Servt
Wm Ramsay
20th The Colo. return’d last Night, the road clear’d to the Top of the Mountain & said to be much better than representd.1 a Letter now in Camp from a Gentn of Credt in Lancaster says, we may rest asured, Louisburg was in our possession the 1st Inst. of this I wish you joy—I am as before yrs &c.
Wm Ramsay
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. On 20 Aug. Colonel Bouquet wrote Forbes: “I went yesterday to reconnoiter that terrible mountain [Allegheny] and found a road where a six-horse carriage could be taken without difficulty. The gap is improved, and I have seen twenty loaded wagons go up there without doubling. . . . By climbing to the second hill, which requires no effort, I could see as far as sight could reach, and saw distinctly the whole course of Laurel Hill” (, 2:395–99).