Governor Robert Dinwiddie to the Earl Granville, October 25, 1754
extracted from
The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Volume I, R. A. Brock, editor
(Richmond: Virginia Historical Society, 1883), pages 372-373.
Governor Dinwiddie to Earl Granville
Oct'r 25th, 1754
R't Hon.:
My last was the 23d of Sept'r. The few forces I have for the Expedit'n are employ'd in building a Fort and Magazine near the Allegany Mount's, w'ch I expect is finish'd by this Time. His M'y has been pleased to appoint Horatio Sharpe, Esq'r. Gov'r of M'yl'd, to be Com'd'r in Chief of the combined Forces on the Expedition, w'ch I am very glad of, and doubt not from his Experience in Military Affairs, y't he will be of good Service, and he is now here in order to concert a Plan of Operat's for the Campaign. There is an unlucky Misunderstanding between the Officers of the Ind't Compa's and those appointed by me, in regard to Rank, w'ch I fear in Case of Act'n, may be of pernicious Conseq'ce. I have therefore wrote to S'r Thos. Robinson, praying for blank Com's for the Officers y't com'd the Forces in this Dom'n. And, as our Assembly have voted 20,000 for conducting this necessary Expedit'n, I propose raising 10 Compa's of 100 Men each, with 3 Lieut'ts to each Co., and if put on the B. Establishm't [it] will be more agreeable to them, and the Money raised in each Colony shall be properly acc't'd for. I have further pray'd to have the Com'd of them, but if it is not tho't proper, I am ready to assist the Expedit'n in any Shape y't may be tho't proper, but as it's for the Service, and to conduct it regularly, the above Commiss's I think absolutely necessary to confirm Peace among the Officers. I therefore h'bly intreat Y'r favo. to speak to His M'y or S'r Thos. Robinson on this Affair. I know Y'r great Concern for the Success of this Expedit'n, w'ch engages me to give You this Trouble. Mr. Corbin has sent a little Money to be remitted to Y'r L'ds., but I have not yet rec'd it, but [he] says, very soon, he will send me a little more; w'n it comes to hand I shall carefully remit it to You.
I rem'n, with much Gratitude and dutiful Respects,
R't Hon., Y'r L'd's much obliged,
Most obed't humble Serv't.