Governor Robert Dinwiddie to John McNeill, September 27, 1755
extracted from
The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Volume II, R. A. Brock, editor
(Richmond: Virginia Historical Society, 1884), page 218-219.
Governor Dinwiddie to Lieutenant Jno. McNeill.
Sept'r 27th, 1755
Sir:
I rec'd Y'r L'r of the 21st and observe its Contents, and am much surpriz'd y't there were 59 People in the F't at Greenbrier y't they did not resist the Attempts of the Ind's, who I hear were not the fourth Part of y't No. But probably the People in the Fort were not properly furnish'd with Arms; but in general in Augusta the People have behav'd very ill in allow'g such scatter'd and few Ind's to rob and murder them; they appear to me y't in gen'l they have been seiz'd with a Panick by leav'g their Plantat's and Crops, w'ch they might have protected if they had joined with Resolut'n. I observed w't You write ab't nine Ind's of the Mohawk Nat'n com'g to the F't in a F'dly Manner, no doubt with some ill Intent. Y't Tribe of Ind's is divided; near one-half of them join'd the Fr. and go by the Name of Praying Ind's, to w'ch No. I suppose them nine belong'd, and it was ill manag'd of Capt. Dickeson in not secur'g of them, w'ch I sh'd have been well pleas'd with, as the Cherokees are at Peace with the Six Nat'ns. I have the most Reason to think they are of the No. of the Pray'g Ind's by their hav'g two Cherokee Boys Prisoners, and it's a shameful Thing they sh'd let them slip out of their Hands, as there wer e 21 Men to their nine. I desire the two Boys may be sent back to the Cherokees, relat'g the Story to them, and let them know it was by my Orders they were return'd. I am oblig'd for Y'r intended Pres't of the two Buffaloes, w'ch will be very acceptable; let them rem'n under good Care till a proper Time to be sent here. I am sorry You ressent the Advancem't of L't Woodward. Surely You w'd not hinder me from prefer'g People on their Merit and good Courageous Conduct, tho' not in Course of Rank. They were strongly recomended to me on their Behav'r, and many others appointed on their engaging to raise Compa's. I have a due regard for You, and do not doubt if You had been in the Act'n You w'd have behav'd very well, and I shall on Opp'ty as soon as possible of prefer'g You. I therefore desire You will rem'n easy a short Time longer, and Consider You might have been twenty Years at Home before You had been a Lieut. However, I shall have You particularly in my Tho'ts, and I am,
S'r, Y'r h'ble serv't.