To George Washington from Thomas, Lord Fairfax, 1 September 1756
From Thomas, Lord Fairfax
Sep. the 1st 1756
Sr
Yours I receivd last night wth the melancholly account of the People on Potomack deserting their Plantations;1 I had orderd Captain Paris to releive Cap. Caton with Thirty six Men from several Companies of these parts,2 as I had notice of the disagreement between him & Captain Sweringen, who has alway done every thing in his power to occasion confusion if his advice was not taken in every thing.3 Cap. Paris is to meet his detachment at Mr John Hytes on Friday next to proceed to Potomack;4 if any farther assistance is wanting nothing shall be omitted in the Power of Sr Your humble Servant
Fairfax
ALS, PHi: Gratz Collection. Lord Fairfax was probably writing from Greenway Court.
2. Fairfax was referring to the southern part of Frederick County, farther removed from the Indian threat. Captain Pearis is probably Robert Pearis of the Frederick County militia; Richard Pearis was in the Cherokee country at this time.
3. In taking note of the friction between Thomas Swearingen and Thomas Caton, officers of the militia in northern Frederick County, Fairfax seems to put the onus on Swearingen, but he is careless with his pronouns and he may have been picking up GW’s hints about Caton’s unpopularity. See note 1. See also Robert Stewart to GW, 20 June 1756, and Enclosure.
4. John Hite’s place was to the south of Winchester, about midway between the town and Fairfax’s residence at Greenway Court.