1To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 14 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter by Capt. Mercer I receiv’d. I hope the Treasurer will send You the Money to make up 10,000 which I have desired him. If You find it for the good of the Service to remain below I have no Objection to it; but I hope the Men are duly exercised & taught the Indian Method of fighting, that they may be prepard for Action in the Spring. I am surpriz’d the Vessell with Arms &ca is not...
2To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 22 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I had just finish’d my Letter of this date when Capt. Stewart deliver’d me Yours of the 18th Inst. The Men I am in great hopes will answer Your Expectations They Shoot extreamly well, but are much harass’d at present with the Cattle—I make the Butchers, Cutters, Salters, & Coopers wait on McLean for Orders every morning—and a Return is made to me every night of what work is done. To keep...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To George Washington from John Jones, 17 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Its impossible to Return an exact Accot of whats on hand as to perticulars, I haveg no delivery nor could not get any. Mr Thos Walker gott an estimate of the provisions Vizt. which I think comes near the purpose an exact Return Shall be deliverd Mr Dick on Wednessdays next of whats been deliverd in my time as likewise Ed above of whats on hand. I’m Sr Yr Most Obedt Hbl. Servt ALS , DLC:GW ....
7To George Washington from Peter Hog, 17 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I recd yours of the 28th Novr and can only Say that the Uncertainty of knowing where to find you and the little care taken to forward Letters in this part of the Country Occassions great Suspence on my side and great Uncertainty on yours with regard to the State of the Company. Else you would not have doubted my care to prevent the Desertion for by the Subsequent returns you would Observe that...
8To George Washington from Christopher Gist, 24 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have Sent twenty of My Soldiers to York Town who are all in good Sperritts there and Two I now Send to them. To Morrow I Shall follow them I have been forced to Borrow Money, and if Could have had Money enough I Bleive I Should have had 50 Men by this Time, I hope I Shall be properly Supploy’d with cash to Answer what I have done and if We want men I think I Can Soon get them. We have had No...
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To George Washington from Thomas Walker, 17 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
If you will lodge one Hundred pounds in the Hands of Mr Robert Rutherford to Pay for such Necessarys as may be wanted for the Servis I will be accountable for it. If Mr Rutherford wants any direction beg you will give such as you think proper & oblige your Most Humble Servant ALS , DLC:GW . Walker had recently made Robert Rutherford commissary in Winchester in the place of John Jones ( Walker...
12To George Washington from Peter Hog, 26 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have Sent under Cover the Return of the Company which tho more than a Week distant from the former I believed would be Satisfactory as it Includes the recruits by Mr Fleming and the Serjt and some of my Enlistd & Mr McNeil’s I Shall Endeavour to Compleat the Company with all Expedition and desire to know the allowance Settled for Recruiting agreable to the new Regulations. As the second...
13To George Washington from John Defever, 18 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Return of the stores Belonging to the Royal Trane of Artillery Left at Fort Cumberland: viz: Tumbril 1 Cover’d Waggons 15 Sling Cart Compleat 1 Round Shot with Wooden Bottoms 6 pts 100 Tin Cases fill’d with iron shot & 12 pts 112 Fix’d with Wooden Bottoms 6 pts 392 Grape shot with Wooden Tampeons and pins Compleat for Howitzers 8
14To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 21 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I suppose Majr Lewis informed You that the Valley at the mouth of Pattersons Creek did not extend above 800 yards from hill to hill. I went up to Ashby’s and Saw Mr Boyd pay the men—He sold us some Liquor for our Detachmt as the weather was Cold, and we found that three months pay was due to some of his Men whilst others were paid off to the 4th inst. I really do not like the mouth of the...
15To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 29 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Commissary has arrived, and I suppose You will learn a State of his Affairs by his Letter. I was as Active as I could be, in hurrying up Salt. I would have been at Fort-Cumberland two days ago, but have been employd in the disagreeable Service of Apprehending Deserters—Four, out of a gang of 20 Banditti, all with Arms and ammunition, are apprehended, We are in hot pursuit of the rest,...
16II. 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...
17To George Washington from Robert Hunter Morris, 31 October–1 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Good Intelligences being of the utmost Consequences at this Juncture, and Mr Gist knowing more of Indians and of the Nature of the Country than any man here I have availd myself of his coming and desird him to go by Mr Weisers & consult with him in what manner to obtain true Accots of the Motions of the Enemy & to settle a Correspondance with You at Fort Cumberland. He will not be long detaind...
18To 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...
19To George Washington from Peter Hog, 23 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here on the Sunday Evening which Majr Lewis can Inform you was using great dispatch for the badness of the Road. I send you Inclosed a return of the Men remaining at the fort, with a List of the Tentes tools Arms & Ammunition[.] You will observe the smal proportion of Each considering the great distance from Supplies. The fort is Inclosed on the four sides but the Bastions are yet to...
20To 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...
21To George Washington from Roger Morris, 3 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 17th Octr from Winchester I receivd from Gist, when I was down at Newcastle with Governor Morris. I own, I am at a loss what to say in answer to some particulars in your Letter; & shall only appeal to your Judgment, from what I say. I have not since we parted at Fort Cumberland, recievd a single Line from you; Orme indeed, had a Letter wherein you desird I would send you a Copy of...
22To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 18 October 1755 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 8th ⅌ Colo. Stephens I recd & am heartily sorry for the Acct he brings, but am in hopes from the Assistance of the Militia, & the Recruits You will be able to drive those Banditti from our Frontiers; I wish You may get a Troop of Horse from Fairfax County, as they will be of great Service in clearing the Woods, & I shall be glad if they can send down a Number of their Scalps. One...
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...
24To George Washington from Christopher Gist, 1 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have taken all the pains in My Power to find the true Intents of the Indians. Monnacatootha is return’d from the Six Nations, but is not yet come from Shamokin. but I understand he and the Other chiefs will On Sunday or Monday be at John Harrises Ferry where I intend god willing to Meet them. but I am to go to Conrad Wiser and get all he knows; I have the governors Letters to him on that...
25To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 7 November 1755 (Washington Papers)
Last night the Detachmt marchd with only Eight waggons at last; There is no more Salt here, of which I have acquainted Mr Dick, and desir’d him to forward the Quantity necessary, while the weather favourd us So much. The Cattle from Carolina fall away much, and unless They are Slaughterd soon, they will not be worth while—I have procurd Several Cooper’s Tools here, and mentiond what we want to...
26To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 25 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Sunday about 9 O’Clock two Indians took a fuzee from a Boy within musket Shot of the Sentry in the Bottom as you pass Will’s Creek —They took hold of him and asked him to go along—why they did not kill him I cannot Say, but upon his refusing they gave him a Couple of Blows with their Fist—And upon his retiring a little, they Shot two Arrows into him, the wounds are but slight—He Roard out...
27To 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]...
28To George Washington from John McNeill, 4 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
By Captn Hog’s orders I came down here for Money to pay for Provisions Contracted for. I now return to Fort Dinwiddie with it, from which I hope you’ll be so good as to give orders for my being soon releas’d, that I may Join the Troop in which (I learn) you have been pleas’d to promise me an Appointment, the requesting this favour will I hope be the more readily forgiven as it proceeds from...
29To George Washington from William Brockenbrough, 29 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
The Parental feelings I have at the parting with a dutifull Son I hope will be some apoligie for my troubling you with this Epistle, his great inclination to go into the Army, and the friends he has got & the favours he has receiv’d made it quite agreeable to his going But I am afraid as he’s young and knowing little of the world or mankind That he’l be more lyable to Errors, But D. Sr if I...
30To George Washington from John Champe, 30 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
I am again Solicited to write you in favor of the bearer Mr Brockenbrough, am in great hopes his Modest Behavour will recommend him. his Circumstance’s are such, that nothing but a View of Serving his Country could induce him to this undertaking. your Protection so far as is right & Justifiable will Extremely oblige Dear Sir yr most obedt Humble Servt ALS , NN : Emmet Collection; Sprague...