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Subject Area: History
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE. - George Washington, The Writings of George Washington, vol. I (1748-1757) [1889]

Edition used:

The Writings of George Washington, collected and edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford (New York and London: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1889-1893). Vol. I (1748-1757).

Part of: The Writings of George Washington, 14 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.

Alexandria, 20 March, 1754.

Sir,

I was favored with your letter by Mr. Stewart, enclosing a lieutenant-colonel’s commission,2 and I hope my future behaviour will sufficiently testify the true sense I have of this kindness.

At present there are about seventy-five men at Alexandria, near fifty of whom I have enlisted. The others have been sent by Messrs. Polson, Mercer, and Waggener1 to this place. Very few officers have repaired hither yet, which has occasioned a fatiguing time to me, in managing a number of self-willed, ungovernable people. I shall implicitly obey your commands, and march out with all expedition. Major Carlyle is now preparing wagons for the conveyance of provisions, which till now could not move, on account of the heavy roads.

I doubt not but your Honor has been informed before this of Mr. Vanbraam’s ill success in Augusta, by the express, who was sent from thence for that purpose.2

Major Muse’s promotion, and Messrs. Rose and Bently’s declining, will occasion a want of officers; in which case I would beg leave to mention Mr. Vanbraam for a command, who is the oldest lieutenant, and an experienced soldier. Unless the officers come in, I shall be obliged to appoint him to that office, till I have your Honor’s further directions. It would be conferring a very great obligation on him, were you to confirm the appointment. I verily believe his behaviour would not render him displeasing to you. I have given Captain Stephen orders to be in readiness to join us at Winchester with his company, as they were already in that neighbourhood, and raised there.

I have nothing further to add at present, but my sincere thanks for the indulgent favors I have met with, and I am your Honor’s most obedient, &c.1

[2 ]Some entries in an account book found among the Washington MSS., will show the various military positions he held in 1754 and 1755, and the pay attached to each. 1754, February 24th, to pay as captain, from January 15th, at 8s. per day; to pay as major till March 20th, at 10s. per day; to pay as lieutenant-colonel till June 1st, at 12s. 6d. per day; to pay as colonel to September 1st, at 15s. per day. 1755. To pay as colonel in Virginia regiment, at 30s. per day.

[1 ]Sketches of these may be found in Dinwiddie Papers, i., 114.

[2 ]Vanbraam, acting as Washington’s lieutenant, had been sent to Augusta County to receive the fifty recruits to be raised in that county by Col. Patten, the County Lieutenant.

[1 ]Colonel Washington marched from Alexandria on the 2d of April, with two companies of troops, and arrived at Will’s Creek on the 20th, having been joined on the route by a detachment under Captain Stephen.