In the Eveng. abt. 5 Oclock Lt. Colo. Peyton with the Prince Wm. Detacht. Marchd consistg. of himself, Captn. 4 Subalterns and 96 private as pr. return.

See his order's at large in my orderly Book.

This day also the King George Militia had orders to March to Mendenhalls Fort to protect the Inhabitants under those Mountains

The Officer's and Soldiers of the Militia begin to discover great uneasiness at their stay and want much to return thinking they have performd a sufft. Tower of duty by Marchg. to Winchester.

May 13th. An express came from Colo. Peyton informg. that a Sergt. and 14 Men deserted last Night from him at Paris's Fort and desireing a Reinforcement I was oblgd. to Countermand the Order's to the King George Militia and to, send them to join him with Order's to remain in Ashbys Fort and they accordingly Marchd 29 in number under Lieut. Nugent the rest were Sick and deserted and this N: 5o 4 out of the 20 also Marchd off.

50

Many complaints from the Officer's of Militia abt. the insufficiency of the allowance of Provisions for their Men (tho they had a 1 lb. of Meat and the like quantity of flour pr. day wch is the same that the Soldrs. have) obligd me to order the Comy. to deliver the Officer's allowance to the Private Men in order to appease their clamours this I did to prevent increasing the allowance and settg. bad examples but this proveing insufft. also I was oblgd to order the allowe, to be increased to 14 of Flour and as much flesh pr. Day

May 14th. The Orange Militia under Colo. Talliaferro1 consistg. of 2 Field Officer's 2 Captns. 4 Subalterns and 100 privates Men came to Town as did Colo. Barret with 130 men from

50 Night.

51 Col. William Talliaferro.

Louisa. In the Evening of this day I summon'd all the Field Officer's to meet, that we might advise and consult on the proper expedts. to be taken with the Militia see a Copy of the proceedings in my Orderly Book, in consequence of these resolves and advise frm Colo. Martin and Mr. Comy. Walker knowg. in the Situation of our Frontiers I ordered the Commanding Officers of each Militia to furnish the following number of Men which was proportion'd equally among those that were here and appointed them to remain as below.

At Winchester to Work on the Fort and to be ready in cases of Emergency 75 exclusive of the above and taken from all the Sevl. Countys

Fairfax and P. W. have furnish a larger number of Men than the other county's because they arrived with those numbers and were ordered on to assist and relieve the Inhabitants on the Branch, and it wd. have run the Country to considerable additional expence to relieve them now and no very gt. purpose as we soon expected to receive the draughts.

May 15th. The Council being finishd. the aforesd. number of Men were ordd. to be draughted, and the remr. to receive provision to carry them back and to be discharg'd.

The said several draughts were orderd to get ready to March in the Mg. to their respective Posts.

May 16th. The Cg. Officers of each Militia (Culpeper excepted) reportd. that severals of their Men had deserted upon which I sent out to see if they coud be taken, the Comy. also reported that he had been trying and coud not procure a Waggon to tranport the necessary stock of Provn. and Amn. with them, I was therefore obligd. to postpone their March one day longer.

By this time I had engagd 70 Carp. from the Militia to work at 6 d. extra pay on the Fort and also had their own Officers to overlook and manage them.

May 17th. Some time last Night an express from the So. Branch arrivd with letter's from Ashbys, Cocks and Pearsall's Fort informg. that a considerable body of Indian's were abt. again and had taken a prisr. Upon this all the Militia of Louisa and Stafford save 6 of the first and 8 of the latter deserted and the Caroline Detacht. being reduced to 40 Rank and file the Spotsylvania to 22 and the Orange being lessen'd also I was obligd. to add the 6 Louisa Men to the Carpenter's till the return of their Officers who I immediately sent in pursuit of them, the 8 Stafford men to those of Spotsylvania and to alter the disposition that was first made to the one followg. viz;

The reason for this disposition to guard the Inhabitants that still remaind; to secure their grain and stock; to help in with their Harvest and to be contiguous to the People and to each

other that they might unite occasionally and go in quest of the Enemy. They all Marchd this day to thr. new appd. Stations: Besides the Militia Offrs. that were sent after the Deserters I orderd out one from the Regt. with a party of 8 or 10 Men mounted to go in pursuit of them.

Our Strength being so much reducd by the number of Deserter's that had gone off tht upon the rt. of Ashby's and othrs [?] I imy. dispatc'd. an express to the Colos. Barrat, Talliaferro and Slaughter who were the last that had left this place ordering them to return with their Men.

In the Eveng. the Colos. Barrat and Tallia. return'd without any Men informg. me that many of them had taken different roads homewards and that those who were with Colo. Talliaferro upon hearg. that they were orderd. back chargd. their pieces and cond. their march towards their County in defiance of the Offrs.

May 18th. last night Mr. Bullet the Officer who I had sent out returnd with 14 of the deserters who to avoid punisht. inlisd. in the V. R.

[May] 19 The Express returnd. from Colo. Slaughter who also informed that his Men were dispersed but if they cd. be gatherd. again he wd. return on thursday.

May 20th. Abt. 9 O'Clock this Night an Express came to Me from Colo. Slaughter who informed Me tht he had met at the Place appointed for the Rendezvous of his Militia but tht only 8 or 9 appeared, desired to know if he shoud farther endeavour to collect, he believed it might be done so soon as they recovered a little from the Fatigue of their March; I wrote him by this Express and desired him as I had heard nothing of the Enemy since to postpone bringing up any Men till they were drafted, wch. I recommended to him to be done wth. the greatest Expedition; also if it woud not be contrary to the

Govrs. Orders to him to march his Men so soon as draftd. to this Place, as it would save much Time and Expence.2

Parole Augusta.

ORDERS

Winchester, May 1, 1756.

A Return to be given in immediately of the whole number of men of the Virginia Regiment now in this Town; and those that are fit for Duty.

AFTER ORDERS

A Captain, two Subalterns, three Sergeants, three Corporals, one Drummer, and forty-five private men to mount Guard tomorrow morning, at eight o'clock.

Every Officer in town to make out his Recruiting accompt., observing the former Rules and Orders given about that point, and to give them in immediately.

Any commissioned Officer, who stands by and sees irregularities committed and does not endeavour to quell them; shall be immediately put under Arrest. Any non-commissioned Officer, present, who does not interpose shall be immediately reduced; and receive corporal punishment.

Any Soldier, who shall presume to quarel or fight; shall receive five hundred lashes, without the Benefit of a Court Martial. The offender (upon complaint made) shall have strict justice done him. Any Soldier found Drunk, shall immediately receive one hundred lashes; without Benefit of a court martial.

The Officer of the Guard is particularly ordered, to be diligent in seeing these orders executed. A Court Martial to sit immediately, for trial of these two Soldiers, confined for fighting with the Militia.

The entry for May 20 is in the writing of John Kirkpatrick.