TO CAPTAIN ROBERT STEWART Winchester, May 10, 1756. Sir: I have received yours this morning; and wonder you were not more explicit in the reasons you have for believing the Enemys return. You are sensible, the want of proper intelligence, retards and disappoints the necessary expedients for Defence and Assistance. You must endeavour to procure Tools for the Carpenters; either from the inhabitants, or made by the Smiths there, upon the lowest terms: as we have no kinds here, nor can by any means supply you. And I hope you will take all care to make that place as impregnable as you possibly can; in case you should meet with an attack. In my former, I promised to send you some Tents: but, upon examination, the whole Stock consists only of twelve; which does not suffice half the number of men here: and the Militia taking up the houses in town; we are at present obliged to make use of tents. However, when the Militia march hence, I shall send what can be spared. Until then, you must make the best shift you can. You must try to supply yourself with cartridge paper in the neighbourhood; there being very little in Store here. As you will have frequent opportunities here, you must make out a particular Accompt. of what Cartridge Boxes, Blankets, and other necessaries; that we may furnish you with what we can. I would desire you to be careful how you employ that Doctor. The country has great objections to those occasional Quacks; whose only study is to swell their Bills, and to make their profit of the Country. Let him be used as seldom as possible; as I believe he can administer not a deal of comfort to those indisposed, if one may judge by his sobriety! You have what can be got of the medicines wrote for. The Horses I would have you send to some good pasture and let them recruit, if you can find one convenient. If Stoddarts Fort is to be burnt; I would have you send a pretty strong Guard to bring off the Flour, as soon as you can. Captain Woodward is arrived; and in order to preserve your strength, I have ordered an Escort from this to Conogochieg, to return with the Waggons. You may pay the Officers a months pay, as I directed formerly. What have you done in these Recruiting Accompts. you had a note of? You will be careful of the Rolls and Receipts, for the Paymaster; so as he may be able to adjust his Accompts. I am &c. To CAPTAIN WILLIAM COCKE1 May 12, 1756. Sir: Captain Baylis," of the Prince William Militia, will give you this; and leave you a reinforcement of twenty men; with these, and the Detachment of your own Company, which has now certainly rejoined you; you will be sufficiently able to send out several scouting parties: And it is my desire, you do your utmost to scour these parts, and protect the people. You will deliver Mr. Baylis what Carpenters tools you have in the Fort: as he has Orders to build a small Fort at the mouth of Little Capecapon. Take Receipts for the several Tools you deliver the Officers. I am, &c." 'Captain of the First Company of Rangers. Capt. John Baylis. "A copy of this was also sent to Capt. John Ashby. TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL HENRY PEYTON** Winchester, May 12, 1756. You are hereby Ordered to proceed with the Detachment under your command along the old waggon-road, until you come to Cockes's Fort, on Patterson's Creek; where you are to leave a Subaltern, one Sergeant, and twenty men, to strengthen that Garrison. From thence you are to continue your march to Ashby's Fort; which you are also to strengthen with the same number of men; and from there you are to proceed to Friend Cox's, at the mouth of Little Capecapon. Post your party at that place; and immediately set about erecting a Fortress, for the security of the pass, and for the defence of your Detachment. You are to draw out all such Carpenters tools as can possibly be spared from the two Forts: and you are to be very circumspect in chusing the spot of Ground to erect the Work on: which must be of the same dimensions, and built after the same model of Ashby's. For which reason you must be very careful in examining of it. You are always to keep covering parties to secure your Workmen: and to mount a Guard regularly on your March, and at your Station, to prevent Surprizes. You must apply to the Commissary for provisions to carry with your Detachment; and to take his Directions how to keep your party supplied for the future. I earnestly entreat, that you will be careful to observe good Order and Discipline among your men: that you will ever be mindful of the charge you are entrusted with: and diligent in executing with the utmost Dispatch, all these several Orders. Of the Prince William militia. COUNCIL OF WAR May 14, 1756. At a Council of War, Held at Winchester, the 14th. day of May, 1756; for considering and determining upon the neces sary measures to be taken at this juncture with the Militia ordered here by His Honor, the Governor. Colonel George Washington, President. Colonel Martin Colonel Thornton Major Stephen Colonel Baylor Colonel Lee Major Green Major Pendleton Upon the Question being put by Colonel Washington, whether it was advisable to send part of the Militia now here, to Guard and cover our Southern Frontiers? It was resolved in the negative; and for the following reasons: vizt. Ist. The Southern Frontiers lying at a greater distance from, and less exposed to the Enemy, than these northern frontiers; and being more difficult to come at: It is believed they can not suffer much, before the Draughts for completing the Regiment, may be sent thither. 2ly. By His Honor, the Governor, ordering none but the northern Counties to be Draughted; and those all directed to Rendezvous at this place; it appears plainly to have been his opinion in Council, that the southern Counties which lie contiguous, should be left to march out, in case the Enemy should invade the Country on that Quarter. 3ly. As it would be attended with great hardships upon numbers of poor men draughted out of these ten northern Counties, to march to the Frontiers of Augusta, when there are so many Inhabitants, that are much more convenient for its Defence. 4thly. Upon advising with the Commissary, we were informed, that it would require some time to lay in Provisions for a Body of men on that Quarter; and, unless Troops were immediately put there, it would not answer the salutary end proposed: which can not be done sooner than by the Draughts for the Regiment. 5ly. We have no certain advices of the Enemy being now down; but on the contrary many corroborating accounts affirming that their tracts in great numbers have been discovered repassing the mountain. It was judged advisable to discharge all of the Militia, except what were absolutely necessary to resist a second invasion upon this Quarter. Go: WASHINGTON P. J. BAYLOR HENRY LEE JOHN THORNTON HENRY FITZHUGH JUNIOR THOMAS SLAUGHTER WILLIAM TALIAFERRO GEORGE MUSE WILLIAM GREEN FRANCIS TAYLOR BENJ. PENDLETON JOSEPH STEVENS 65 65 Stevens's name in the list of members of the council, spelled Stephen, is an error of the copyist of 1784-85. The absence of Col. Thomas Bryan Martin's name among the signers is probably due to the same cause. |