131To George Washington from Robert Duncanson, 30 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Early opportunity I had of being acquainted with you, will I hope Excuse my writing you at this time in favour of my Brother who being a stranger to you, has Carry’d Recommendations from Gentlemen who have the Honour to share some part of your friendship, & I wou’d fain flatter myself that after he is known to you, youll have no Reason to blame them; Lieutent Stewart on acct of the...
132To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 30 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I received yours of the 28th by Jenkins and will do myself the honor to wait on you as soon as the accounts you order are made out, which will be without delay. I will likewise sound C. D. on the topics you mention and am with great respect Yr most obedt Sprague transcript , DLC:GW . It was Capt. John Dagworthy who was to be sounded out.
133To George Washington from Thomas Bryan Martin, 4 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer hereof Capt. Bailis is now going up to Joyn the Prince Wm Detatchment, by Order of Colo: Lee he Applyd to me for a discharge which I Refusd, as I daly Expect to hear from you. He Informs me that the Men are almost Naked and as the Expence of mentaining them is very great, I think they ought to be discharged, as soon as it can be done with Safty. I am Sir Your very Humbl. Servt ALS ,...
134To George Washington from John Carlyle, 9 January 1756 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Carlyle, 9 Jan. 1756. On 12 Jan. 1756 Carlyle wrote to GW : “I Wrote you the 9th Inst.”
135To George Washington from John Carlyle, 12 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
I Wrote you the 9th Inst. Acquainting you of the Arrival of the Cloathing. They are landed at Malbrough In Maryland, & I have Sent Six Wagons to bring their Loads & Expect them on Saturday Evening. I thought it better to Land them their at this Season of the Year & Trust to Land rather than Watter Carrage & Yr Men Will be upon a Certainty of Getting Cloathed 14 days Sooner & phaps a Month if a...
136To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 18 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your Commands I reconnoitred to Ross’s mill on the South-Branch—from that to Fort Lewis, and found it may be made very easily a good Waggon Road. Waggons have been carried that way already. only four miles which may be Cut by a Single Company in a day. I also reconnoitred the ground on Pattieson’s Ck and found a ⟨ mutilated ⟩ Convenient place for a fortress, about a mile and a...
137To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 22 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your two Letters of the 13th and 14th I shall answer Paragraphically. The Expedition against the Shawnesse I hope will be attended with Success, as two Women who were taken Prisoners made their Escape mention their being in their Towns & did not hear of their Intention of moving. You have done very right in ordering the Men to be train’d in the Indian Method of fighting but I can give You no...
138To George Washington from William Withers, 22 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
Mr Prentis omitting to send Majr Carlyle the Particulars in each Package ship’d on board the Rawley occasions You the Trouble of this —I am very sorry for Anderson’s misbehaviour, he was recommended by Capt. Tate, his Owner, as an honest industrious Man, & well qualified for such a Business; but I find he has given sufficient Proof to the contrary, for which I hope he will meet with his...
139To George Washington from Robert Carter Nicholas, 23 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
I was favour’d with yr Letter some Time ago, but know of no Opportunity of answering it sooner than by Capt. Mercer, as, upon Enquiry, I have not been able to hear any Thing of Jenkins. The Snuff Box was properly return’d & I took the Liberty of communicating the extatick Paragraph of your Letter; what Blushes & Confusion it occasioned I shall leave you to guess. It is with no small Concern...
140To George Washington from Charles Lewis, 25 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
The inclos’d is a Letter from Colo. Stephen, with which I should have waited on You, had I not have heard You were gone to Williamsburg; I am now a recruiting much discourag’d by the Gentlemen’s Success, who have lately been, but no Pains shall be wanting on my Side to compleat my Company, but I fear it will be without Effect, Colo. Stephen’s Orders to repair to Winchester by the first of...
141To George Washington from Peter Hog, 27 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
I Recd Yours by Capt. Bell of 10th Instant 10 Days before yours 27th Decr by Majr Lewis which only came to hand Last Night, you will See by the Inclosed Return that the Company wants but one of being Compleat: only the Mulattoes & Negos are still Included. I have Inclosed an Accot for Comisy Walker of the money I recd from Mr McNeil and have all the Vouchers Lodged to Send by the first safe &...
142To George Washington from John Robinson, 27 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Letter by Capt. Mercer and as the Sum he mentioned was more than I cared to issue without the direction of the Com. I went the next day to Wmsburgh and summoned a Com. tho. I could not get one to meet before friday, when they directed me to send you £3000—which I have now done by Capt. Mercer, I could not possibly dispatch him sooner, as there were no large Bills ready for me [to]...
143To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 31 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
I forgot to acquaint you, that The Governor, when I was at Williamsburgh, desird if possible, to procure Some Indians of Repute among their Tribes, to carry a message amongst the Confederate Nations of the Twightwees, To Sound their Intentions, know their Affection to the English, and how far they are attached to the French. I wrote him afterwards that Captain Trent had promis’d to procure...
144To George Washington from Robert Hunter Morris, 2 February 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am favoured with yours of the 1st Instant, which I did not receive till my return on Wednesday last from the Frontier, where I have been employed for a month past in forming a line of Forts and Block Houses from Delaware along the Kitectiny Hills as far as the new road that leads to the Aleghany Hills, and which I am in hopes ten days will complete; on the West of Sasquehanna I have placed...
145To George Washington from Peter Hog, 3 February 1756 (Washington Papers)
Incolsed are the pay Rolls for the Months of Decr & January you will See I have abt £4 in my hand over the pay Bill But Advanced Serjt McCully a dbloon when he went after the Deserters, the Men grumble to have half their pay Stopt for his Charges, and he thinks hard that he has not his Charges[,] horse hire & the pistole Reward which Last the Men think can only be Stopt In Justice from their...
146To George Washington from Landon Carter, 26 February 1756 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer Mr John Lawson having heard of nothing to discourage his Military inclination now comes to put himself in the Situation of a Cadet he is of a Family in Lancaster descended from the Steptoes by the mother side and I have told him that there are many waiting before him but as I learn there are three vacancys in the Company of Ensigns the number standing before him will be fewer[.] I...
147To George Washington from Robert Orme, 2 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
I writ to you the very day I sailed from America to convince you I left the Continent with all those Sentiments of Friendship towards you I ever professed I hope now to convince that I retain the same and shall ever have the greatest Happyness in the Continuance of it. Letters from America had made the Generals Character as odious in this Country as there but since my Arrival and my having...
148To George Washington from Joseph Chew, 4 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
I find by the Papers that you Arrived in Boston the Fryday after we Parted, and I hope had an agreable journey Considering the Severity of the weather. The many agreable objects you there met with I conclude prevented my having a Line from you by the Post, this you can Very Easily Settle by Spending one day at New London when you Return. I Engaged a Good Boatman to Call on me this day when I...
149To George Washington from William Shirley, 5 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
Governor Dinwiddie at the Instance of Colonel Washington having referred to me concerning the right of Command, between him and Capt. Dagworthy, and desiring that I would determine it, I do therefore give it as my Opinion that Capt. Dagworthy who now acts under a Commission from the Governor of the Province of Maryland, and where there are no regular Troops join’d, can only take Rank as...
150To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 29 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
There is no remarkable Occurrence on this Quarter since my last, only the Murder of Ensign Gordon for the particulars of which, I refer you to Capt. Stewart. I regret him much, as he was a diligent Officer, Staunch, and firmly attach’d to the Virginia Interest, and had a particular Regard for You. I have learn’d that you have been a long Journey, purely to pay your Compliments, and hear Some...
151To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 29 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
Inclosd you have the montly Return—George Hedgeman resigned last month. Captain Gist is the only Officer who, as [I] hear, has had good Success in recruiting—I have sent him, at his Earnest Request, £100 to pay off Some Expences on the Recruits left in Maryland. The Sickness continues among the men, and I have a thought of fiting up the New Store for an hospital, but wants your Orders how to...
152To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 30 March 1756 (Washington Papers)
The inclos’d is a Rough, but Exact Copy of Mr Boyd’s Accounts. The First Contains the Disbursements from The 1st of Septr to The 1st of January. The Other The disbursemts for January & February and Arrears. The Balance in Mr Boyd’s hands is £311.5.3½ which I shall desire him to Apply to the Paymt of the Officers for Janr. & Febry—not forgetting to Settle their Recruiting Accts which Balances...
153To George Washington from John Robinson, 31 March–2 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am under some difficulty in giveing my Advice in your present situation, as I think your presence may be necessary in both Places, tho. from the complaints I have heard from some Gent., who perhaps know nothing of the Matter, of the Behaviour of some of the Officers at the Fort, and the Opinion they have that things would be conducted much better if you was present, and the Apprehensions...
154To George Washington from Peter Hog, 3 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the Return for this Month of my Company. I arrived here this Evening with the Greatest part of the Men I Carried out, greatly fatigued & mostly reduced with famine & a flux however Mr Fleming thinks that Rest & Regular Diet will recover Most of them; & therefor has returned but one Sick of those that are present. Majr Lewis no Doubt will Inform you of the State of the Ill Concerted...
155To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 4 April 1756 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Adam Stephen, 4 April 1756. In JHB, 1752–1755, 1756–1758 H. R. McIlwaine and John Pendleton Kennedy, eds. Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia . 13 vols. Richmond, 1905–15. , 366, is the following entry: “The Governor has commanded me to lay before your House, a Letter from Colonel Washington dated at Winchester the 7th Instant, inclosing a letter to him from...
156Commission, 7 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Robert Dinwiddie Esqr His Majesty’s Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia. To George Washington Esqr: By Virtue of the Power and Authority to me given and granted by His Majesty I do hereby authorize and impower You to hold and appoint Courts Martial for the Tryal of Non-commissioned Officers and Soldiers as Colonel and Commander in Chief of the...
157To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 8 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
You formerly had a Commission to appoint Courts Martial, as that was not explicit enough, but rather a Repetition of the Act of Assembly. I therefore send You enclos’d an Order to appoint such Courts when You shall see proper, & it’s agreeable to Colo. Innes’s Order from General Braddock. I hope the Affairs of the Regimt are not in so bad a Condition as represented here. The Assembly were...
158To George Washington from William Fairfax, 14 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter to the Governor has been read in Council, but as no Shipping has arriv’d since your Departure the Genl Assembly is at some Loss what to propose, debate on and finish —Some Jealousies interrupt the good Agreement wisht for—Your Appointment of an Aid de Camp & Secretary is thought extraordinary and think the Committee will not allow Pay for —The Ho. of Burgesses adjourn to Monday next...
159To George Washington from Thomas Walker, 14 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
As The Committee have not Settled my accounts with Mr Kilpaterick I shall endeavour to settle them my self, for the following reasons to wit. As I have the Vouchers here it will be attended with trouble & Hazard to carry them up to fort Cumberland, & when that is done they must be brought here again. The Road from the blue ridge to the Fort being at this time dangerous is a further reason for...
160To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 15 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Jenkins I recd & it’s now before the House of Burgesses. I have reason to expect they will pass a Law for a Draught from the Militia to augment the Forces to 2000 tho’ they are very slow in their Proceedings. I am very sorry for the Acct You give of those Miscreant barbarous Murders; I hope You have sent a proper Reinforcemt to Conegachege, & for the present, with the assistance...
161To George Washington from William Withers, 15 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
The enclos’d Letter from Gov. Sharpe relatg to the Murder of Lieut. Gordon was omitted to be forwarded with the Governor’s, therefore by his Orders I write, to desire You wou’d inform Yourself of the Affair & direct the Evidences to attend at Frederick Court in Maryland agreeable to Gov. Sharpe’s Letter. I am Sir Your most humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . GW learned of Ens. George Gordon’s murder...
162To George Washington from John Fenton Mercer, 17 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday about seven O’Clock in the Evening the Waggons arrived here by which I received my Instructions to march to the Warm Spring Mountain, but finding it impracticable to attempt crossing the N. River between this an Enochs’s Fort, have, by the Approbation of the Officers here halted till the Waters shall fall, Great Cacapon having raised 8 Feet perpendicular since last Night & is still...
163To George Washington from John Robinson, 17 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
I recd your Letter by the Express and am sorry to find by it the unhappy situation our back Inhabitants are in from the frequent Incursions of the French and Indians, owing in my Opinion in a great Measure to the obstanctcy and dasturdlyness of the People themselves, and, I am sorry to say it, I fear from the Conduct of some of our Officers, of whom there are terrible reports, but I make no...
164To George Washington from William Stark, 18 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
The purport of this is to acquaint you of an Engagemt we had with the Indians late this Evening—Three of our Men going out on pretence of looking after some Horses met with a party of Indians within sight of the Fort two of which escaped and alarm’d us, we immediatly pursued them with a party of between fourty & fifty Men undr Command of Capt: Mercer Lieut: Williams, Ensn Carter Ensign McCarty...
165To George Washington from William Stark, 19 April 1756 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Stark, 19 April 1756. On 20 April 1756 GW wrote to Stark : “I received yours, dispatched last night by Express, about two o’clock this morning.”
166To George Washington from Landon Carter, 21 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Mr Swaringham intending up tomorrow for Winchester gives me an opportunity of expressing my great concern for the Death & Defeat of Capt. Mercer and for the dismal apprehension that those who yet Survive the Indian Massacre must necessarily be under And indeed my friend I must add that this Concern is greatly aggrevated when I find by your letter to Colo. Carter that you have suffered your...
167To George Washington from Charles Carter, 22 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your favour without date came to my hands yesterday; from a conversation with Lt Rutherfold I judge it was wrote on sunday last from which circumstance I conclude you had not seen Mr Kirkpatrick nor Capt. Stewart who I believe could have satisfied you that the House of Burgesses have the Greatest expectations from yr Personall appearance on our Frontiers and are so farr from imputing any...
168To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 23 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letr of the 19th by Mr Rutherfurd came to my Hands Tuesday last, but Yours of the 16th by Express did not reach me till the day after. I am heartily sorry for the Death of Capt. Mercer, & the other poor Men that were killed with him, it appears to me that the Enemy drew them out after them, pretending to fly, in order to destroy them from their lurking Places; but it surprizes me that we...
169To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 26 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
I recd Yr Letter by this Express last Night, & this Morning laid all the Letters before the House of Burgesses & really it gives me very great uneasiness & Concern to observe the dismal Situation our back Settlers are in—And when I consider the Slowness of the House in raising Men—I have sent Expresses to the Counties of Frederick Fairfax, Prince Wm Culpeper, Orange Stafford Spotsylvania,...
170To George Washington from William Fairfax, 26–27 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
I rec’d your Favor with the enclosd Estimate of your present Corps and proposd Regulation for 2000 Men to be formd into two Battalions. Those I have talkt with Seem to approve of the Scheme and wish it may be Effected. The Proceedings below Stairs go on slowly notwithstanding on hearing of the many and repeated Invasions of our Enemys, They appear alarmd and are for immediate Dispatch, Yet a...
171To George Washington from Charles Carter, 27 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
I recd yr Second and third of the 22d of this instant since which I have not had leisure to answer it I am now in the Country Com[mitt]ee. and have just Stole a moment to tell you all I can learn is that a few of the youths in the service have been at times imprudent and drank too Freely and in their cups have said what none of them in their sober moments would willingly own I think as you...
172To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 29 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 24th was delivered me by Capt. Peachy, which Letter with his Information gives me great Pain & Uneasiness for the back Settlements, & Your present distress’d Situation, I have & continue to do every Thing in my Power for Your relief. The Militia of ten Counties are ordered to march directly for Winchester, Small Arms, Powder Shott &ca have been sent from this to...
173To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 3 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I am sincerely concern’d for Your Situation from the many flying Parties of French & Indians, but I hope before this reaches You a large body of Militia are at Winchester to reinforce You, & if possible to drive the Enemy over the Allegany Mountains; besides the Militia there are to be Drafts from each County to compleat Your Regiment to 1500 or 2000 Men, but I fear it will be a Month before...
174To George Washington from Peyton Randolph, 3 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Some public spirited Gentlemen have done me the honor to fix upon me as their leader, till we can come to the place where you command; when we shall be very glad to follow such orders, as you shall think most conducive to the public good. Our number, I guess, will be about thrree hundred, & we hope to have the pleasure of seeing you before the last of this Month. I am Dear Colo. yours to...
175To George Washington from John Robinson, 3 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour by the Express and am extremely concerned to hear of the distress the poor Inhabitants of Hampshire and Frederick are in but am in hopes from the Steps that are now taking here they will be soon releived and encouraged to return to their habitations, You will receive a Letter from the Attorney, by which you will find that he at the head of a Company of Gent. Voluntiers...
176To George Washington from William Fairfax, 4 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Butler the Express was presented by the Governor & read in Council and immediately after Sent to the Ho. of Burgesses. A Vessel fraughted wth Gunpowder &c. has been already sent to Fredericksburg under Dr Walker’s Care for yr Direction, and another is Since orderd wth 500 Arms, half Barrls of Gun Powder of which I am to have for our County fifty small Arms & Powder &c. wanted. I...
177To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 8 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 3d I recd Yesterday, & observe its Contents. I have recd the Indian Scalp & I doubt not but many more were killed in that small Skermish. I am glad the Indians are gone over the Mountains, but I cannot think they were so numerous as represented, unless they have prevailed on the Twightwees to join with them; I am of Opinion if You cou’d send a Message to them by some trusty...
178To George Washington from George William Fairfax, 9 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Upon hearing the many Alarming Accots at Williamsburg, I hasten’d away as soon as possible, tho. there was some particur Acts I should have been glad to have seen pass’d, as they were Relative to our Militia, But upon my arrival, I found the Militia ordered out by Colo. Carlyle, whove Marched many days before; otherwise I believe I should have Accompanied them. Your letter dated at Winchester...
179To George Washington from William Fairfax, 9 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter to the Governor, G. Fx, and what accompanied them from Colo. Carlyle &c. describing the calamitous State & Condition of Hampshire & Frederick Countys, And Some Apprehensions of the blood thirsty and savage Enemy’s near Approaches to Shannondoah River and the blue Ridge, both the Council and Ho. of Burgesses thought it necessary the Governor should issue his Orders for half the...
180To George Washington from Thomas Gage, 10 May 1756 (Washington Papers)
I received your obliging Favor of The 14th of April, a few Days ago; & return you many Thanks for the good News you Sent me, of The Defeat of a Body of Indians, by one of your Partys; which tho’ no decisive Affair, nor attended with great Slaughter; may produce very good Effects, & I make no Doubt but it will give new Life & Courage to your People: The many Defeats we have had, & The Terrors...