Letters to Washington and Accompanying Papers. Published by the Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton.
Robert Dinwiddie to George Washington,
WILLIAMSBURG July 1st: 1756
SIR
Last Night I recd: Yrs of the 25th: Ulto.--I am sorry for the Delay of the Waggon with the Tools probably occasion'd by the badness of the Horses, but I hope e'er this they are with You.
I approve of Your consulting at a Council of War in regard to building of Forts, which I fear will be attended with very great Delays from the small number of Men You have, & I think it will not be proper to divide Yr. Men at too great Distances therefore You must build them one after another, so that on occasion You may collect a proper number to repell any Forces that may appear against You. As the Six Nations have sumon'd the Delawares & Shawnesse to Onondago, I hope they will comply therewith & in course be ordered to live peaceably with us.
Inclos'd You have a Letr. to Capt. Hogg & another to the Commanding Officer of the Militia in Augusta; & I desire You will give Ct. Hogg Your Opinion & Direction in regard to building of Forts on their Frontiers, which I hope will answer the Intent of protecting our Frontiers by Forts. I very much approve of the Field Officers having each a Company, which You may now put in execution, tho' I am sorry to think we have so many Officers & so few Rank & File. --
I am surpriz'd there are no more than 246 draughted Men & so bad as three to be discharg'd, send me an Acct. of the Number from each County--If the six Quakers will not fight You must compell them to work on the Forts, to carry morter Timber &c. if this will not do confine them with a short Allowance of Bread & Water till You bring them to reason or provide others in their room2.
[Note 2: 1 Washington had written to Dinwiddie, June 25, "There remain in confinement six Quakers, who will neither bear arms, work, receive provisions, or pay, or do anything that tends, in any respect, to self-defence. I should be glad of your Honor's directions how to proceed with them."]
I am glad Gov. Sharpe is building a Fort which will be so useful, but the Assembly of Myld allow no more than 1100 to enlist & maintain 200 Men build a Fort & three Block Houses & I daresay the Gov. will not exceed the Note of Assembly.2
[Note 2: 2 The Assembly of Maryland had passed a bill for raising forty thousand pounds for his Majesty's service. Eleven thousand to be appropriated to building a fort on the frontiers, and twenty-five thousand for carrying on any expedition for the public service, in which the other colonies might join. The Governor was authorized also to raise two hundred men to be employed in constructing the fort. Acts of Assembly passed in May, 1756.]
I consulted the Treasurer3 now here, about the Militia, & he is of Opinion they will all desert therefore he & I agree that those that will not remain shd. be return'd to their Counties, & that You write to the Lieut.s of those Countys to make Draughts from their Militia agreeable to the Act of Assembly & send them up to You by the Major of each County but if You can prevail on any of them to remain till Decr. let them know they will be paid as Militia to that Time--I recomend to You to persuade those that are Tradesmen & can handle the ax &c. to remain in building of Forts & You may augmt. their Pay as You & they can agree--I am fully convinc'd the few Men You will have remaing. are not sufficient for Defence & building the Forts, nor can I at present propose any Method to augmt. Your Regmt. I am really ashamed of the dastardly pusillanimous Spirit of the People in general at this time of Danger. & we must depend much more on the Protection of Heaven, than on the second means expected from us by God.--I recomend You to his guidance, & wishing You Health I remain
[Note 3: 3 1John Robinson, who held the position of Treasurer of the Colony as well as Speaker of the House of Burgesses.]
... Sir
... Your most hble Servt.
... ROBT. DINWIDDIE
I hope You will send me a
proper Roll of all our Men
by this Expres--We have no
Acct. of Lord Loudon's arrival
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