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French and Indian War

Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie to George Washington, January 26, 1757

extracted from

The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie, Volume II, R. A. Brock, editor
(Richmond: Virginia Historical Society, 1884), pages 584-585.


Governor Dinwiddie to Colonel Washington.
Jan'ry 26th, 1757.

Sir:

Y'rs of the 12th I rec'd. I'm very sorry for the Mutiny Yo. Mention in the So. branch, and I greatly approve the Steps Yo. took to suppress it. I hope the six Deserters have been aprehended and punish'd. The Persons under sentence of Death, I hear some of 'em are Serjeants and Corporals. It's a most arogant Affair in them to countenance and promote Mutiny, for w'ch they deserve the Sent'ce past upon 'em, however, take proper Method to make 'em sensible of their atrocious Crime and I desire Yo. may pardon 'em, but some of 'em, for Example, sh'd be reduc'd and put into the Ranks, and other apointed in y'r room, but this I leave to Yo. As Y'r people are enlisted w'th the Money rais'd for His M'y's Service, and paid w'th the same, and incorporated into a Regim't in his pay, I conceive they are subject to the Articles of Warr, and all other regulat'ns as His M'y's more immediate regular forces. In this Opin'n, the Attorney-General agrees with me. Mr. Walker has broke his Promise to me, but he never intimated any ill-Usage from Yo. I c'd not imagine his Reasons, and only suggested that he met with some hindrance or Disappointm'ts in discharge of his Duty. I expect him in Town, when I shall talk with him fully on the Affair. He sent me an Acco't of 690 annual Charges atending his Duty, besides his own pay, w'ch w'd be a monstrous Charge on the Country. I therefore intend to put the Victualing in another channel when the Assembly meets; at present I can't see any Inconveniency, as Provis'ns are contracted for to supply Yo. for some Mo's, w'ch Mr. Walker says were by his Order to Mr. Rutherford. As Capt. Mcneel is at Winchester, it will be too long to wait his coming here to go with the Catawbas, they are an avariciuos, greedy Set of People. I think Yo. was wrong in giving 'em all horses. I fear it will be expected by others. I'm much plagued and troubl'd to please 'em. Mr. Mercer writes he has engag'd a No. of Serv'ts. I wrote Yo. to engage no more till I see where to get Money to Pay 'em. There is none to be had from the Treasury; however, if he can keep the paym't off till Aprill, I hope then to supply him for those he has enlisted, but desire him to purchase no more. I am sorry that Gent. c'd not understand Y'r Direct'n in regard to the Ambrozures, &c. No doubt Yo. made a Draft of the Works for his Conduct.

You've acted proper in evacuating no more forts than was necessary to reinforce the two Garrisons. I've the return of y'r Strength w'ch [I] shall transmit to L'd Loudoun. Great Clamours here ag'st the many officers in Commiss'n to command so few Men, and I dare say L'd Loudoun will take Notice of it. I wish Yo. had a better supply of Tools. Your L're of the 14th I shall answer by Jenkins, whom I detain till my Express arrives from M'yl'd. I expect him daily, as he left N. York the 9th of this Mo. I shall then be more able to write Yo. In the meantime, I rem'n,

S'r, Y'r h'ble serv't.


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