George Washington to Colonel Henry Bouquet, July 9, 1758
extracted from
The Writings of George Washington, Volume II, by Jared Sparks
(Boston: Charles Tappan, 1846), pages 293-294
To Colonel Bouquet.
Camp, near Fort Cumberland, 9 July, 1758.
Sir,
Colonel Byrd, with eight companies of his regiment, arrived here yesterday. He left many sick men behind, and, as he posted a company at Edwards's and Pearsall's, our strength is considerably reduced.
Captain Dagworthy informed me, that Governor Sharpe is to open the road to Town Creek, within fifteen miles of this place, and, as Maryland has nearly two hundred men here fit for duty, I hope you will be of opinion, that they are sufficiently strong to proceed on the Fort Frederic road, without needing a reinforcement from us; especially if you will consider, that they are in a manner covered by the troops here, and by those to be employed on the road to Raystown, to which service I shall send a detachment to-morrow. We have no hay at this place; it was corn, which I called forage. We shall have tools enough to open the road to Raystown, among the artificers of Colonel Byrd's regiment.
I am sorry to hear that the Catawbas have so egregiously misbehaved. When I write to Governor Fauquier, I shall touch on this subject.
It gives me great pleasu re to find, that you approve the dress I have put my men into. It is evident, that soldiers in that trim are better able to carry their provisions, are fitter for the active service we must engage in, less liable to sink under the fatigues of a march, and we thus get rid of much baggage, which would lengthen our line of march. These, and not whim or caprice, were my reasons for ordering this dress. I am, &c.