To George Washington from James Sinclair, 20 June 1758
From James Sinclair
Carlile [Pa.] the 20th June 1758
Sir
I am desired by Sir John St Clair to acquaint you it is his desire that you send six more of the light horse than he already required to the mouth of Conogocheek to escort Mr Glen the late Governor of South Carolina from thence to Winchester, where he is going to meet Colonel Byrd with Instructions from Genl Forbes relating to Indian Affairs.1 I am Sir Your most Obedt humble Servt
James Sinclair
A:D:Q:M:G:
ALS, PHi: Dreer Collection; Sprague transcript, DLC:GW.
Sinclair was undoubtedly the same young man for whom John St. Clair had earlier solicited a commission. On 16 Feb. 1756 St. Clair wrote William Shirley: “I have taken the liberty of Recommending to your Excells. favour the nearest Relation I have, his name is James Sinclair for whom I got an Ensigncy from General Braddock in April last, in the late Sir Peter Halkett’s Regt but as he did not join the Regt he was Superceeded the young Man is 18 years of Age and has had an Education for a Soldier. he is now on his passage from London” (John St. Clair’s Letter Book, ViU: Forbes Papers). Robert Dinwiddie referred to the young man as St. Clair’s cousin (Dinwiddie to St. Clair, 10 May 1755, ibid.). Lt. James Sinclair held a commission in the 22d Regiment of Foot and by April 1758 was acting as “assistant to Sr John at his own Choice” (James Abercromby to John Forbes, 24 April 1758, ViU: Forbes Papers). See also William Shirley to St. Clair, 24 Feb. and 13 April 1756, both in John St. Clair’s Letter Book, ViU: Forbes Papers. Young James Sinclair continued as the assistant deputy quartermaster general for Forbes’s army.
1. General Forbes wrote St. Clair on 16 June: “Governour Glen who was so kind as to come here from Carolina to pay me a visit, hearing of the wavering situation of the Cherokees, and having had more dealings with that nation than any person on this Continent, Has at my request for the publick service, most Chearfully undertaken to pay them a visit, and with all his Influence he is to endeavour the retaining them for some time with us. . . . So I must beg that you and my friend Byrd will give Mr Glen all the assistance in your power, and endeavour to make this jaunt of his as agreeable to him as possible. I have sent up Jamie St Clair along with him as his Companion and Conductor, and as I fancy you will want him, but I really think your own presence will be very necessary at Carlisle soon” (ViU: Forbes Papers). James Glen, a Scottish lawyer who served as governor of South Carolina from 1743 to 1756, was a kinsman of John Forbes. Glen left Carlisle for Winchester on 21 June, and he was at GW’s camp near Fort Cumberland by 5 July. Shortly after 17 July Glen went up to Raystown where he wrote Forbes two very informative letters, on 22 and 26 July, which are quoted at some length in Glen to GW, 19 July, nn.1 and 2.