subject to death, as in Military Law. The Country have also offered a reward to all who will apprehend deserters; and a severe punishment upon those, who shall entertain or suffer them to pass; also upon any constable who refuses to convey them to their Quarters, or suffer them to Escape, after such deserter is committed to their custody.

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These things, with the Articles of War, and a proper exhortation, I would have you immediately read to the Men; and see that it is frequently done hereafter. I must desire that you will use all possible means to facilitate the Salting our Provisions; and to give the Commissary such assistance of Men &c. as he shall ocasonably require. The Governor approves of the Committee's resolve, in not allowing either the Maryland or Carolina Companies to be supported out of our Provisions; this you are desired to make them acquainted with, and in case either of the Company's shoud be discharged, to use your utmost endeavours to enlist so many of their Men as you can. Lieutenant McManus has leave to go to Carolina if he desires it. The Assembly would make no alteration in the Militia Law; nor would the Governor order them to be draughted to compleate our Regiment; so that the slow method of Recruiting, is likely to be our only means to raize the Men. I think, coud a brisk Officer and two or three Sergeants be sent among the Militia stationed on the South Branch, they would have a probable chance of engaging many; as some seemed Inclinable in Winchester to enlist. Doctor Craik 38 is expected round to Alexandria in a Vessel, with Medicines and other Stores for the Regiment; so soon as he arrives, I shall take care to despatch him to you.

38

Lieutenant McManus belonged to the North Carolina troops.

Dr. James Craik, of Alexandria, a lifelong friend of Washington. He was surgeon to the Virginia Regiment and later chief physician and surgeon of the Continental Army. He was one of the attending physicians at Washington's last illness.

39

The Colonels Bird and Randolph, are appointed Commissioners; and will set out very shortly with a present, &c. to the Country of the Cherokees, in order to engage them to our Interest.

We have advices that the King return'd to London from Hanover on the 26th. of September, that War was Proclaim'd the 29th., and that we have already taken 5 of their Men of War and 120 Sail of Merchent Men; a bold stroke by jove; a glorious beginning; and I hope presages our future success. The Man of War mention'd in my last is not yet arriv'd, tho hourly expected; it is said (tho I can't believe it the King not being arriv'd when other ship left England) that she has Commission's for us:* Another ship of War was said to be dispatched to America imediately upon the declaration so that I have sanguine expectation's we soon shall receive them if they are not already on their way. I am encourag'd to hope this as all the Publick Prints, private Letters, and Gentleman from England say; that the behaviour of the Virginia Troops is greatly extold, and meets with public praises in all the Coffee Houses in London. Yea they exceed the bounds of probability (which I am sorry for) by saying in the London Magazine for August, that 300 Virginians maintain'd an unequal fight against 1600 French and Indians for three hour's after the Regular's fled. The Generals conduct is much condemn'd and the acct. further says; it is not to be wonder'd that those Regiments shou'd act so scandalously here when their behaviour reflected such dishonour on their Country at the Battle of Preston Pan's."1

"Peter Randolph and William Byrd. Commissioners to treat with the southern Indians. They successfully negotiated a treaty and returned to Williamsburg in 1756. 40 That would settle the dispute of rank with the captains of the independent companies.

"Prestonpans, in Scotland, a few miles from Edinburgh. The battle (in the War of the Austrian Succession) occurred Sept. 21, 1745, and was a victory for the pretender, Charles Edward.

By return of the express that brings this, I desire to have a return of the Troops with any occurances and the News that may have happen'd. I am etc.

TO CAPTAIN ROBERT STEWART"2

Fredericksburgh, November 18, 1755.

You are to repair immediately to Winchester; in the neighbourhood of which you are to recruit your Troops to the establishment of men. You are not to go any distance from that Town, until further Orders, as you will have the care of the Recruits which rendezvous there. You are to direct Corporal Broughton, who has the charge of the Troop of Horses, to be particularly careful of them; and you are to receive a horse that was left at Joseph Edwards, as one of the number. If any advices should come from Fort Cumberland or other places, you are to dispatch an Express with a return of the Troop, and Letters to me immediately, ordering him to proceed to Alexandria by Vestalls Gap. You are not to enlist Servants or Apprentices; nor are you to discharge any person after he is duly enlisted; which I am informed has been practised by some of the Officers. You are to forward the Letter for the Pay-master, by that Messenger you send to the Fort for your Sergeant.

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TO LIEUTENANT AUSTIN BROCKENBROUGH

Fredericksburgh, November 18, 1755. You are to proceed to those public places, where you have the greatest probability of success, and use your utmost endeavours to enlist what able-bodied men you can for his Majesty's

"Of the Light Horse.

Later known as Williams Gap; farther north in the Blue Ridge than Snickers Gap, which became the more-traveled route into the Shenandoah.

Service. You are not to enlist Servants or Apprentices, nor discharge any man after he is duly enlisted, upon any pretence whatsoever. In marching your Recruits to the place of Rendezvous, if there are any complaints of their misbehaviour, you will be liable to the censure of a Court Martial. You are to have particular regard to your recruiting Instructions, and to be at Alexandria, your place of Rendezvous, with what men you have raised, on the 1st of December precisely.

N. B. The same instructions to Ensigns Milner and Smith;** with this difference, that Milner is allowed to the 25th. of December.

To PAYMASTER ALEXANDER BOYD

Fredericksburg, November 18, 1755. I have had advice of Captain Hogg's Company at Fort Dinwiddie mutinying for want of their pay; which must be attributed entirely to your neglect: as I gave you orders in my last, to go, or send to that Fort, with the money for that Company. If you should not have sent it before this reaches you, you are to proceed immediately to that Fort, with two months' pay. You are only to pay the effective men &c.

To ENSIGN DENNIS MCCARTHY

November 22, 1755.

I am very sorry you have given me occasion to complain of your conduct in Recruiting; and to tell you, that the methods and unjustifiable means you have practised, are very unacceptable, and have been of infinitely prejudice to the Service: of this I am informed by many Gentlemen, as well as by all the Officers who were ordered to recruit in these parts: and am "Ensigns Nathaniel Milner and Charles Smith.

further assured, that it is next to an impossibility to get a man where you have been; such terror have you occasioned by forcibly taking, confining and torturing those, who would not voluntarily enlist. These proceedings not only cast a slur upon your own Character, but reflect dishonour upon mine; as giving room to conjecture, that they have my concurrence for their source. I must therefore acquaint you, that such Behaviour in an Officer would shake his Commission! Let it then be a warning to you, who I still hope, erred more through inadvertence than design; for which reason, I shall forget the past, in sanguine hopes of what is to come. I am &c.

TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL ADAM STEPHEN

Alexandria, November 28, 1755

45

Sir: I received your two Letters by Jenkins last Night, and was greatly surpris'd to hear that Commissary Walker was not arriv'd at Camp, when he came away. He set out from Williamsburgh about the 12th instant, with orders to proceed immediately up; but such disobedience of commands, as I have generally met with is insufferable, and shall not go unpunished! The account you enclosed of the method of receiving the Beef, I suppose is customary; but for want of judgment in those affairs, I can neither applaud nor condemn it. I am as much astonish'd as you was surprized, at the quantity of Salt said to be wanted for the Provision's, but certain it is, that if it, or a greater quantity is absolutely necessary, it must be had. I have left a discretionary power in Commissary Walker, to kill or Winter the Carolina Beeves, as the Interest of Service requires. Pray assist him with your advice, and urge him on to make the necessary purchases of Flour and Pork, in time.

45

Thomas Walker; appointed as an additional commissary