George Washington Papers

Memorandum respecting the Militia, 20 May 1756

Memorandum respecting the Militia

[Winchester, 20 May 1756]

May 20th Abt 9 o’clock this Night an Express came to Me from Colo. Slaughter who informed Me that he had met at the Place appointed for the Rendezvous of his Militia but that only 8 or 9 appeared, desired to know if he shoud farther endeavour to collect.1 he believed it might be done so soon as they recovered a little from the Fatigue of their March2—I wrote him by this Express3 & desired him as I had heard nothing of the Enemy since to postpone bringing up any Men till they were drafted, wch I recommended to him to be done wth the greatest Expedition, also if4 it woud not be contrary to the Govrs orders to him to march his Men so soon as draftd to this Place, as it woud save much Time & Expence.

D, DLC:GW. See Memorandum respecting the Militia, 1–2 May 1756. This is the last of the series of GW’s memoranda relating to the militia. Unlike the earlier memoranda, it is in the hand of George Mercer, GW’s aide-de-camp.

1No letter from Thomas Slaughter has been found.

3No letter has been found.

4GW struck out “he thought” after “if.”

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