To George Washington from Charles Smith, 27 August 1758
From Charles Smith
Fort Loudoun Augt 27th 1758
Dr Sir
I have inclos’d you three Weekly Returns Wherein you will se what strengt I am off, at this time.1
There is one Christopher Hencely a Deserter from the First Virga Regt I have taken up he Promises for the time to come to be a very Dutifull Soldier but Did not Imagin any officers would a Meddleed with him, as he had been out of the servis so Long He Left us with Six more from the Dunkers just before the Scrumage at the Great meadoes.2
by a Letter yesterday from the Governour, Wherein he says you inform’d him that I had about 20£ Left with me to Finnish the Well & to Close in the Buildings; the Miners Accot is come to more than that sum allready but still we continue for the want of water makes Duty very hard, as I am still ordered to carry on the well I Emagin you k[n]ow best how the Blacksmith’s is to come at their Parts as these Parts Runs Prety High.3
Hardwick was here Yesterday & tels me there is a Worse Prospect this Year for a Crop as he Ever see. I Persuaided him if he had not constant work for the Negroes to set some of them to cuting of Wood for the Iron Workes.4
we have no News here worth Relating as I Refaire it to the Papers sent up.
The Raingers still keep on the Scout & have not Put them in my Weekly Returns to You but shall take your advice before I send to the Governour as he thinks it Nessary as they Should Guarde the Stors but Let Duty be Ever so hard I Would sooner have them away then shuch a Grumling.5
So many Men being Sick in this Garrison as I am Oblige to Advance a Prety Deal, for Doctrs Medisens & other Necessary as they cant Possible Do with out—some with the Flucks Rumatics Fits Sore leggs, & the Foul Deseas6 it cant be supposd that these men can be savd with out sufficient care takien of them & I being not a gudge the Doctrs may Impose on me, as they think Proper.
I have no more to add as all Friends is Weell believe I am Dr Sr Your Friend & very Hhble Servt
Chas Smith
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The only August return of the soldiers from the 1st and 2d Virginia Regiments under Smith at Fort Loudoun is that of 4 Aug. in which Smith reported eleven sick and twenty well soldiers from the 1st Virginia Regiment and seventeen sick and only two fit from the 2d. See Smith to GW, 15 Aug., and note 8 of that document.
2. On 3 July 1754 GW with more than three hundred men at Great Meadows surrendered to a French force. For the possible identity of these Dunkers or Dunkards, see Peter Hog to GW, 27 Jan. 1756, n.5. Smith wrote to GW on 7 Sept. again asking what should be done about Christopher Hensley, and then on 18 Sept. he wrote that after being pardoned Hensley had deserted once more.
3. For earlier references to the well and well digger at Fort Loudoun, see Smith to GW, 5 Aug., and note 4 of that document.
4. Smith may have been referring to the ironworks on William Vestal’s land at the base of the Blue Ridge not far from GW’s Bullskin property. Richard Stephenson, with whom GW perhaps was already involved in an ironmaking venture, was one of the original partners in Vestal’s ironworks.
5. See Smith to GW, 1 July, n.5.
6. Smith probably meant syphilis, sometimes called the evil as well as the foul disease.