To George Washington from James Glen, 19 July 1758
From James Glen
Camp Rea or Bouquetsburgh July 19th 1758
Gentlemen
The civilities I received from you at your Camp were many, but at present my acknowledgements must be few, for I have borrowed this single sheet of paper to pay my thanks to you both.
The beauty, regularity, and cleanliness of this camp will charm you.1 It is slightly fortified with a parapet of wicker work, extreamly neat, rammed full of earth taken out of a Small ditch on the outside and (which is surprizing) it was begun and finished in one day, altho’ it be near 400 feet square, with small bastions in the middle of each side, and no interruption of the other Camp duty; There are at present 1500 Men in it, but it is capable of containing 4000 by placing the Tents nearer, which are all so disposed, that in case of an alarm every man who stepps out of his Tent finds himself at his post. There are also Forts, Redouts, Raselins, Magazines &c. &c. and all this without one farthing expence (except about nine pence per day to the best house Carpenters) such wonders does the admirable Bouquet work in the Wilderness. Come and see, or will you defer it till your return from Du Quesne?2
I wish Col. Washington could be prevail’d upon to think with me that his presence is more necessary at Winchester, for one day at least, than in Camp Cumberland, had I the pleasure of being better acquainted I would press it, had I any authority I would command it, I hope he will permit me to pray it. A propos I was at public prayers this morning before four O’clock.3 I hope Mr Barcklay is better.4 A hint.
I hope the party that were sent to view the road have not lost themselves for they have not been able to find their way back yet.5
The General is expected at this Place the beginning of next week depend upon my writing to you every thing that happens—now and then what is likely to happen.
My Compliments to my friend and fellow-traveller Capt. Stewart and all the Gentlemen Officers of both Battallions I am with truth Gentlemen Your most Obedient Servant
James Glen
ALS, DLC:GW. Glen wrote on the cover, “For Col. Washington and Col. [William] Byrd or either of them.”
1. Glen wrote Forbes on 22 July: “I am at present sheltered under the feathers of Bouquet, who stretches a fatherly wing over all his chickens, his nest is beautifully built, and is kept very clean, in short it is a fortified Vaux hall” (ViU: Forbes Papers).
2. Well aware of the strongly held views of GW and Byrd that the army should use Braddock’s Road and of the equally strong convictions of Bouquet and Forbes that the army instead should build a new road from Raystown, Glen was here making a sly dig. He wrote Forbes on 26 July: “You are to consider that the Provencial part of your Army is divided up this point [i.e., which route to take to Fort Duquesne] and tho’ Washington is a cool sensible modest young man yet he and all the Virginians espouse Braddocks road with warmth and should you meet with any difficulties in your March on any other Path it will be said why did you not take the wellknown tried and beaten road.” Glen then went on to argue persuasively that the army should march by a new road from Raystown rather than use Braddock’s Road from Cumberland (ibid.).
3. GW decided not to attend the election in Frederick County on 24 July but led the poll anyway. See GW to Bouquet, 19, 21 July, and Adam Stephen to GW, 19 July.
4. In this weekly return of the 2d Virginia Regiment on 17 July William Byrd noted: “The Revd Mr Barcley reinstated—Doctor Humphries resign’d” (DLC:GW). In GW’s regimental receipt book there is a receipt for 19 June 1758 showing that the Rev. John Barclay had been paid £11.17.6 “in full of my Forrage Baggage & Bat Money Allowed me by the Country for the First Virginia Regiment” (Va. Regimental Receipt Book, 1755–58, DLC:GW). Barclay (d. 1772), who was among the clergymen signing the second petition against Virginia’s Two-Penny Act in 1755, was the rector of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, in 1756 and 1757. For a full identification of John Barclay see , 2:175. For reference to the 2d Virginia Regiment’s being allowed a minister, see 7 163–68. See also GW to Andrew Lewis, 21 April 1758, n.1, for a discussion of the provisions of the act.
5. See Bouquet to GW, 8 July, n.2.