1From George Washington to John Ashby, 23 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Orders to Captain John Ashby, of a Company of Rangers. You are hereby Ordered, to Repair here to-morrow morning with the Men of your Company, to assist Escorting the Waggon, &c. to Fort Cumberland. The remainder of the men under command of your Lieutenant, are to march to the Plantation of Cellars and there remain until further Orders. While they remain there, he is to send out frequent...
2From George Washington to John Ashby, 14 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Orders for Captain John Ashby, of a Company of Rangers. It is my express Orders, that you do not presume to March your Company down on any pretence whatsoever, unless compelled by the Enemy. Clothes will be sent up immediately to you, which you may distribute to the most needy of your Company; and money I shall bring up to pay them off, if wanted. Given under my hand, at Winchester, October...
3From George Washington to William Cocks and John Ashby, 27 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered, to remain with your Companies at George Parkers’ Plantation, where you are to erect a Stockade Fort; in building of which, you are to follow Lieutenant Bacons Instructions; he being sent to direct and plan the same. As this is intended for the protection of the Country People, there is no doubt but they will assist all in their power, especially in providing Tools...
4From George Washington to John Ashby, 28 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I am very much surprized to hear of the great irregularities which were allowed of in your camp. The Rum, although sold by Joseph Coombs, I am credibly informed, is your property. There are continual complaints to me of the misbehaviour of your Wife; who I am told sows sedition among the men, and is chief of every mutiny. If she is not immediately sent from the camp, or I hear any more...
5From George Washington to William Cocks and John Ashby, 10 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
In the summer of 1755, during Braddock’s expedition and after his defeat, Governor Dinwiddie issued a number of commissions for raising companies of rangers to patrol the Virginia frontier and offer some protection to its inhabitants. The ranger companies came under the command of GW in early September when he became colonel of the newly formed Virginia Regiment. These companies were never a...
6From George Washington to John Ashby, 29 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
As I am informed of several Soldiers having deserted your Company. You are hereby ordered to pursue them with all possible dispatch; and use your utmost endeavours to apprehend and secure them. Given &c. at Winchester 29th December, 1755. LB , DLC:GW .
7From George Washington to Anthony Bacon, 6 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have answerd the Contents of your acct to Mr Carlyle, who told me he had lodgd money in your ha⟨nds⟩ to discharge it. Mr Richard Washington has orders to call upon you for the small ball[anc]e in my favr £6.18s.1d. as per yr acct which please to pay & oblige Yr most Hble Servt LB , DLC:GW ; LB , DLC:GW . This letter to Bacon, and the one following addressed to Richard Washington, as printed...
8From George Washington to John Bacon, 28 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
As those Stockades on Pattersons Creek, are only intended by way of cover to the Rangers, and as a Receptacle now and then for Provisions; you are desired not to plan any work, which requires much time to execute—We have neither men nor Tools, to carry on the undertaking with vigour. I am &c. LB , DLC:GW . For GW’s instructions with regard to the fortifications on Patterson Creek, see GW to...
9From George Washington to John Bacon, 26 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to George Parkers Plantation, where you will meet with Captain William Cocks and his Company of Rangers, who are ordered to erect a Work of Defence at the said place. You are to make choice of the most convenient Ground, and direct them in building a Quadrangular Fort of Ninety feet, with Bastions. You will direct them in what part of the Fort to build their Barracks, and...
10From George Washington to David Bell, 28 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have Ordered Ensign Fleming to Repair to Captain Hoggs Company with eight good men; which I expect you will see immediately complied with. He is to account with you for his recruiting money before he leaves you. You are hereby ordered, peremptorily, to be at this place with what men you have, or can enlist by the 1st of December. Your late disobedience of Orders has greatly displeased me—It...
11From George Washington to David Bell, 8 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
To Captain David Bell. of the Virginia Regiment. You are Hereby Ordered to proceed immediately to Conogochege; and are there to take upon you the Command of the Troops now stationed there, for defence of the Stores, &c.—You are to endeavour with all possible expedition, to procure a sufficient number of Batteaus and Canoes (assisted by those which are already gone up with Captain Gist) to...
12Orders, 15 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for the Commanding Officer at Winchester. 1st So soon as you arrive in Town, you are hereby Ordered to take upon yourself the Command of the Recruits Raised and brought in by the several Officers appointed to that Rendezvous; and to keep it until another Officer arrive, who shall be Senior to yourself in Rank: then and in that case, you are immediately to give up the command, and...
13From George Washington to David Bell, 10 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
As the Inhabitants of the place seem much alarmed, and under continued apprehensions of being attacked—It is my Orders, that you keep out constant Scouting Parties of the Light Horse, &c. in order that you may receive timely notice of the approach of the Enemy; which you are immediately to communicate to the Inhabitants. If you think you can strengthen the place where you are, by throwing up...
14From George Washington to David Bell, 12 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
If you find it impossible to procure a sufficient number of canoes to transport the Stores at Conogchieg to Fort Cumberland at one Trip[,] you are to endeavour to engage as many as you can, to be in readiness against Captain Gists return: and then proceed with them, and those that come with Captain Gist, to Fort Cumberland. Captain Gist is to remain at Conogochieg with his Party, until further...
15From George Washington to David Bell, 14–15 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
It is my Orders that you send out Scouting Parties of the Light Horse as often as it can possibly be done, without too much fatiguing them. And you must order them to scour the Woods round for six or seven miles: as I am informed they never proceeded more than three or four miles upon any of their Scouts, heretofore. LB , DLC:GW .
16From George Washington to David Bell, 15 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
If it happens that I am not in Winchester when you arrive there with your Recruits; You are hereby ordered to put yourself &c. under the Command of the oldest officer then present; observing particularly, all such Directions as you shall from time to time receive from him. But, if it should so fall out, that you are the first that arrive there, or if you should be the oldest Officer there; you...
17From George Washington to David Bell, 3 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
As His Majesty’s Service requires that the Garrison at Fort Cumberland should be Strengthened; You are hereby Ordered, to march your Recruits to that place immediately, and to put yourself under the Command of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen, or in his absence, the Officer commanding the Fort. Given under my hand, this 3d of October 1755. LB , DLC:GW .
18From George Washington to David Bell, 10 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to Fort Dinwiddie, to settle your Recruiting Accompt with Ensign Fleming. You are then to proceed to the borders of Carolina, or other places where you may hear of Deserters; and use your utmost endeavours to apprehend them. You must make application to all the civil Officers; who will assist you in apprehending and conveying them to the Regiment. You are to employ your time...
19From George Washington to John Blagg, 2 February 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are Hereby ordered to proceed with the utmost dispatch to Winchester; there to take upon you the Command of the Troop of Light Horse, and such other Soldiers as you shall find Quartered there. You are to govern yourself strictly by the orders which you will receive there inclosed by Captain Stewart; he being directed to leave you the same orders which he received, when posted to that...
20From George Washington to John Blagg, 7 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are Hereby ordered to proceed with the party under your command, with the utmost expedition to Joseph Edwards’s on Great Capecapon; where you are to remain, and endeavour to procure what intelligence you can, and transmit to me from time to time. I would by no means have you go in pursuit of the Enemy, unless you are joined by such parties of the Militia, as you judge from the intelligence...
21George Mercer to John Blagg, 8 April 1756 (Washington Papers)
As there is a stronger party of the militia now to join you than was expected, Colonel Washington Orders, that, if upon a consultation with the Inhabitants of the place and the officers of the Militia, it is thought best to pursue the Enemy, you join them with your party. You are to observe your first Orders, to send all the intelligence you can procure of the Enemy. I am &c. LB , DLC:GW . In...
22From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 10 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
You are, out of the public money in your hands, to pay off all the Troops of the Virginia Regiment to the first of this instant with what arrears are due both Officers and Soldiers. After doing that, if you do not receive a supply of cash from me; and should not have sufficient in your hands to pay the whole, this present months pay; you are, in order to keep the Soldiers quiet, only to pay...
23From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 1 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
As Colonel Stephen has brought £1000 which I wrote for to pay off the Troops, it will save you a journey to Williamsburg at this time: but I think it absolutely necessary that you should, after paying the Troops in Garrison, go into Augusta, to pay off Captain Hoggs Company, which is now complete; unless you can send the money by Mr McClenachan, or some safe hand from hence. The Recruits at...
24From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 3 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
You will receive from the Bearer, Captain Bronaugh, one thousand pounds, for payment of the Troops; which you are to see immediately done, agreeably to their muster-Rolls; having regard to those Instructions of the 28th October. As I understand the Rangers are complaining for want of their pay; you must send such part of this money as is sufficient to do that; and also one months’ pay to...
25From George Washington to Alexander Boyd, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have had advice of Captain Hogg’s Company at Fort Dinwiddie mutinying for want of their pay; which must be attributed entirely to your neglect: as I gave you orders in my last, to go, or send to that Fort, with the money for that Company. If you should not have sent it before this reaches you, you are to proceed immediately to that Fort, with two months’ pay. You are only to pay the...
26From George Washington to Austin Brockenbrough, 18 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are to proceed to those public places, where you have the greatest probability of success, and use your utmost endeavours to enlist what able-bodied men you can for his Majesty’s Service. You are not to enlist Servants or Apprentices, nor discharge any man after he is duly enlisted, upon any pretence whatsoever. In marching your Recruits to the place of Rendezvous, if there are any...
27From George Washington to William Bronaugh, 3 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered to proceed immediately to Winchester, with the money entrusted to your care, which is to be delivered to Mr Boyd, Paymaster; taking his Receipt for the same. If it should happen that Mr Boyd is returned to Fort Cumberland, you are to follow him to that place. After delivering this money, you are to employ your time diligently until the 25th of December, in recruiting; at...
28From George Washington to Mordecai Buckner, 16 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Recruits now in this town are to remain here until the arrival of the vessel with the Stores, &c. and to be under the same directions as before ordered. So soon as the Stores arrive, you are, with all possible dispatch, to procure a sufficient number of Waggons to carry them to Winchester; whither they are to be sent, under the escort of the Soldiers now here: except the Suits of Clothes;...
29George Mercer to Mordecai Buckner, 14 January 1756 (Washington Papers)
As Colonel Washington is doubtful that some of the men, to whom you delivered Shoes, Stockings, Shirts, &c. here, have received them a second time at Winchester—Desires you will examine the Commissary’s Book there; and if you find any such, give a list of them to the Pay-Master; in order that he may stop the value of them next pay-day. As soon as you receive this, you are to continue your...
30From George Washington to Robert Callender, 20 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Mr Gist being appointed Captain of a Company of Scouts, and informing me that you had a mind to engage in our Service—I thought it expedient to acquaint you, that if you can assist him in Recruiting some likely young Fellows, acquainted with the woods, that you will meet with proper Encouragement for so doing; either by receiving a post among us, or full Satisfaction for your trouble. I am &c....