1Editorial Introduction (Washington Papers)
In making GW colonel of the regiment that was constituted, or reconstituted, in Virginia as a consequence of Braddock’s defeat, Robert Dinwiddie issued to GW three documents: a Commission, his Instructions, and a Memorandum. The only copy of the Commission found is in Dinwiddie’s letter book, in the hand of his clerk William Withers. It is dated 14 August. There are also letter-book copies of...
2I. Commission, 14 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
By Virtue of H: Majesty’s Royal Com[missi]o[n] & Instructs. appointg me Lt Gr & Commander in Chief in & over this his Colony & Dominion of Virga with full Power & Authority to appoint all Officers both Civil & Military within the same—I reposg especial Trust in Yr Loyalty Courage & good Conduct, do by these Presents appoint You Colonel of the Virga Regimt & Commander in Chief of all the Forces...
3II. Instructions from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Colonel George Washington Commander in Chief of the Virginia Regiment. Whereas the French have unjustly invaded His Majesty’s Lands on the Ohio, and have sent flying Parties of French and Indians, to robb, and murder our back Settlers to the Westward, which the Legislature of this Dominion having seriously taken into their Consideration, and voted Money for the Protection of...
4III. Memorandum from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
Take a particular Acct of the Clothing at Majr Carlyles & those at Winchester & send me an acct of the Whole. The Provisions that remain at Alexa[ndri]a belonging to this Colony, is to be shipt for New York, desire Mr Carlyle to hire a small Sloop for that Purpose, & have the Pork & Beef Trimd & pickled. Consign the same to Robinson Esqr. & desire Remittans. in Flour—speak to the Treasurer for...
5To George Washington from George Mason, 21 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
I fully intended to have waited on You this Evening at Belvoir, but find myself so very unwell after my Ride from Court, that I am not able to stir abroad. I have taken the Liberty to inclose You two Bills for £300 . . . Ster: drawn by Mr Paymaster Genl Johnston on Colo. Hunter, & an Ordr on Govr Dobbs from his Son for £18.15. Ster: also a Letter for Colo. Hunter, & another for his Honr our...
6To George Washington from Robert Orme, 25 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter gave me infinite Pleasure as every Mark of your Friendship & Remembrance ever will do for believe me I shall ever however seperated cultivat⟨e⟩ as close an Intercourse as our Distance will permit. I thought you very long before you writ and feard some Accident which your ill State of Health at parting from us seem to confirm. The Part of your Letter mentioning the Reflections upon...
7To George Washington from John Martin, 30 August 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Under Sherif of this County Carries Down three Deserters which were taken up here and as they are of our Brave Blues, I most Earnestly Intreat your Interest in Procuring a Pardon for them. Smith has a Sweetheart & 2 Children here & Barker a Wife which I Presume were the Loadstones that Attracted them. Permit me now Sir to Congratulate on Your Late Escape & the Immortal Honr you have Gain’d...
8General Instructions for Recruiting, 1–3 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
General Instructions for the Recruiting Officers of the Virginia Regiment. Septr 1755. First; That each Captain shall, by beat of Drum or otherwise, Raise Thirty men; Each Lieutenant Eighteen; and each Ensign, Twelve men. Secondly: That each Captain shall appoint proper Persons to act as non—commissioned Officers, during their Recruiting Service: But those noncommissioned Officers, so...
9Memorandum, 3 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
All the Officers then present received the foregoing Instructions, and money for Recruiting; and some of them were appointed to act ’till further Orders, as followeth: viz. To Captain Spotswoods Company, Lieutenant Lomax and Ensign Carter, were ordered to do Duty as Subalterns: and to Captain Harrison—Lieutenant John Hall; Ensign Nathaniel Thompson. To Captain Lewis: Lieutenant Peter...
10To George Washington from Joseph Ball, 5 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
It is a Sensible Pleasure to me to hear that you have behaved yourself with such a Martial Spirit in all your Engagements with the French Nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun; and God prosper you. We have heard of General Bradock’s Defeat. Every Body Blames his Rash Conduct. Every body Commends the Courage of the Virginians and Carolina men: which is very Agreable to me. I desire you, as you may...
11Memorandum, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
At the same time, the Instructions given to the other Subalterns were the same with these, differing only in this Respect; those who were ordered to Rendezvous at Fredericksburgh, were to apply to Mr Dick for orders, in case the Field Officer for that place was not arrived; and those who were ordered to Alexandria, were to apply to Mr Carlyle. After issuing the aforesaid Orders, I set out for...
12From George Washington to Peter Hog, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
By the new Appointment and Regulations, you stand as eldest Captain in the Virginia Regiment; which I hope will be agreeable: I have therefore sent you your Commission, and orders to Relieve Captain Lewis; which I expect will be immediately complied with, his presence at Fredericksburgh being much wanted. As these kind of Orders will admit of no Delay; I must again repeat, that I expect your...
13From George Washington to Peter Hog, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby Ordered, and strictly commanded, to repair immediately, upon the Receipt of this, to Jackson’s River, or the Head-Quarters of Captain Lewis’s Company; and there take upon you the Command of said Company. You are therefore to be very punctual in obeying such Orders as have or may be given, by the Governour; and such as you shall receive, from time to time, from me: And above all;...
14From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Country have come to a Resolution, to Raise Sixteen Companies, to be Formed into a Regiment; the command of which they have honoured me with; and were kind enough to allow me the Liberty of appointing my Field Officers. In consequence of which I have commissioned you, Major, and must desire you will, so soon as Captain Hogg arrives, to take the command of your Company; repair to...
15From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby ordered, to repair to Fredericksburgh immediately upon the arrival of Captain Hogg; who is to take the command of your Company: And upon applying to Mr Dick, you will meet with your Commission and Instructions—You must, before you quit your Company, be careful in collecting an exact Return of the Effectives, and non-effectives; the State of their Arms of all sorts; the...
16Memorandum, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
After this, I sent to Mr Dick and finding him irresolute and indetermined, whether to continue to act as Commissary or no; I took an opportunity to write as followeth, in order to receive a written answer. LB , DLC:GW .
17From George Washington to Charles Dick, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I called at your Store last night, in order to converse farther with you, concerning the Commission of Commissary; but not meeting with you there, I have taken this method of desiring to be better informed of your Sentiments; I have enclosed you a Copy of that article of my Instructions, which empowers me to appoint another , in case you do not act; that you may see by what authority I am...
18Memorandum, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Mr Dick hereupon Resolved, to act until a Meeting of the Committee in October—and Received the following Orders. LB , DLC:GW .
19From George Washington to Charles Dick, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Orders for Mr Commissary Dick You are hereby ordered, to ascertain as near as possible the Country’s Debts, that they may be transmitted to the Governour. You are to Lay in Provisions at Winchester, Fredericksburgh and Alexandria, as they arrive, and to send up a Quantity of Salt for Curing the Beef at Fort Cumberland—Also to procure Coopers to make Casks for Pickling the Beef. You are to...
20From George Washington to Andrew Lewis, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Major Lewis. 1st So soon as you arrive in Town, you are to take upon you the Command of the Troops that are Recruited, and brought in from the different Counties by the several Officers: and after Reviewing, you are to Receive and reject such men as fall under the enclosed Instructions; which were delivered to each Recruiting Officer, to Regulate his Conduct by. 2dly You are...
21From George Washington to Robert Spotswood, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
As soon as you arrive in Town with your Recruits, you are to put yourself under the Command of Major Andrew Lewis, or the Field Officer appointed for that Rendezvous: and you are to be strictly obedient to all such lawful Commands, as you shall from time to time receive from him: and particularly to observe, that the Muster Rolls of your Men are regularly called three times a day, and that...
22Memorandum, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
A Copy of these Orders was also enlosed for Captain’s Lewis and Harrison, and Lieutenant Lowry, and Ensign Weedon. From hence I proceeded to Alexandria, and left the following Orders. LB , DLC:GW . Carter Henry Harrison (1732–1796), son of Benjamin Harrison (d. 1745) of Berkeley plantation, was “laid up with the Fever & Ague” for a time ( Dinwiddie to GW, 18 Oct. 1755 ). As late as 18 Nov. he...
23To George Washington from Charles Dick, 6 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I wish I had been at Home when you was pleased to call last Night. it might have saved this Trouble of writing, However as you desire I now send You all the Information I can as to the Commission as Commissary, Which I think I had from the same Authority you seem to have Yours, and with very full powers and Instructions. Agreeable to which Mr Walker & my Self embarkd in the Affair, happily...
24From George Washington to Adam Stephen, 11 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Instructions for Lieutenant Colonel Stephen. 1st So soon as you arrive in Alexandria, you are to take upon you the command of the Troops that are Recruited and brought in from the different Counties, by the several Officers; and after reviewing them, you are to receive and reject, such men as fall properly under the enclosed Instructions, which were delivered each Recruiting Officer, to...
25From George Washington to William Peachey, 11 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
You are hereby Ordered, as soon as you arrive in Town with your Recruits, to put yourself under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Adam Stephen, or the Field Officer appointed to that Rendezvous: and you are to be strictly obedient to such Lawful Commands as you shall from time to time receive from him; and particularly to observe, that the Muster Roll of your Men is regularly called three...
26Memorandum, 11 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
A Copy of these Instructions was also left for the other Officers appointed to this Rendezvous; and the following Letters wrote. LB , DLC:GW . For the officers assigned to rendezvous at Alexandria under Lt. Col. Adam Stephen, see GW’s Memorandum of 3 Sept. 1755 .
27From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 11 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
After waiting a day or two at Fredericksburgh, writing Orders for the Recruiting Officers appointed to that Rendezvous, and dispatching an Express for Major Lewis, who I have ordered Captain Hogg to relieve; I set out for this place in order to examine the Clothing, Provisions, &c.; an exact Return of which I herewith send. I also enclose your Honour a List of such Things as Major Carlyle can...
28From George Washington to John Robinson, 11 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
After a small Halt at Fredericksburgh, to issue out Orders to the Recruiting Officers appointed to that Rendezvous, I proceeded to this place, in order to collect a Return of the Provisions, Clothing, &c. that were lodged here; an exact Copy of which I herewith send you. I find after the Soldiers have their short allowances, there will arise great inconveniences, if Stores of Clothing are not...
29To George Washington from John Robinson, 14 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I received your favour by the Express, anduch approve of the Method you propose of supplying the men with Necessaries, and doubt not but the Committee will readily agree to it, at our next meeting, when I shall mention it to them, as to the other Matters you mention, I am satisfied that they will appear so reasonable, upon consideration, to the Committee, that they will not hesitate about...
30Memorandum, 15 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
After giving the necessary Orders, and collecting Returns of the Provision, Clothing, &c. at this place, and Stores at Rock-Creek, I continued to Winchester, where I arrived on the fourteenth, and sent for John Mercer, late Lieutenant of the Light Horse, and acquainted him and Deckiser, of their Promotion: appointed Deckiser to act as Ensign under him; gave them Money, Recruiting Instructions,...