what it will, I am determined not to leave the regiment, but to be amongst the last men that quit the Ohio, even if I serve as a private volunteer, which I greatly prefer to the establishment we are now upon. I am, &c. SPEECH TO THE HALF KING Youghiogheny River, May 19, 1754. I despatched the young Indian who had returned with Mr Ward," to the Half-King, with the following speech. To the Half-King, &c. My Brethren, It gives me great pleasure, to learn that you are marching to assist me with your counsels; be of good courage, my brethren, and march vigorously towards your brethren the English; for fresh forces will soon join them, who will protect you against your treacherous enemy the French. I must send My friends to you, that they acquaint you with an agreeable speech which the Governor of Virginia has sent to you: He is very sorry for the bad usage you have received. The swollen streams do not permit us to come to you quickly, for that reason I have sent this young man to invite you to come and meet us: he can tell you many things that he has seen in Virginia, and also how well he was received by the most prominent men; they did not treat him as the French do your people who go to their Fort; they refuse them provisions; this man has had given him all that his heart could wish; for the confirmation of all this, I here give you a Belt of Wampum.' 12 Ensign Edward Ward. 13 13 When the Indians arrived, they brought their families with them, as they had been invited to do, and so proved rather a source of weakness than of strength. Later they complained that Washington had used them hardly. They were quick to sense situations, and before Fort Necessity was besieged they deserted the Virginians. TO COLONEL JOSHUA FRY1 May 23, 1754. Sir: This day I returned from my discoveries down the Youghiogany, which, I am sorry to say, can never be made navigable. We traced the watercourse near thirty miles, with the full expectation of succeeding in the much desired aim; but, at length, we came to a fall, which continued rough, rocky, and scarcely passable, for two miles, and then fell, within the space of fifty yards, nearly forty feet perpendicular. As I apprehended there would be difficulty in these waters, I sent the soldiers forward upon the road, when I left the camp, which was as soon as they could cross; therefore, no time has been lost; but the roads are so exceedingly bad, that we proceed very slow. By concurring intelligence, which we received from the Indians, the French are not above seven or eight hundred strong, and by a late account we are informed, that one half of them were detached in the night, without even the Indians' knowledge, on some secret expedition; but the truth of this, though it is affirmed by an Indian lately from their fort, I cannot yet vouch for, nor tell where they are bound. I would recommend, in the strongest terms possible, your writing to the Governor for some of the treaty goods, or any others suitable for the Indians. Nothing can be done without them. All the Indians that come expect presents. The French take this method, which proves very acceptable; besides, if you want one or more to conduct a party, to discover the country, to hunt, or for any particular service, they must be bought; their friendship it not so warm, as to prompt them to these services gratis; and that, I believe, every person, who is acquainted with "The text is from Sparks. The whereabouts of the original is unknown and no draft or copy is in the Washington Papers. the nature of Indians, knows. The Indian, that accompanied me down the river, would go no further than the Forks, about ten miles, till I promised him a ruffled shirt, which I must take from my own, and a match-coat. He said the French always had Indians to show them the woods, because they paid well for so doing; and this may be laid down as a standing maxim amongst them. I think were the goods sent out, and delivered occasionally, as you see cause, that four or five hundred pounds' worth would do more good, than as many thousands given at a treaty. I hope I may be excused for offering my opinions so freely, for I can aver we shall get no intelligence, or other services from them, unless we have goods to apply to these uses. I am, &c. *To ROBERT DINWIDDIE G't Meadows, May 27, 1754. Hon'ble Sir: the 25th Ult., by an Express from Colo. Fry, I receiv'd the News of your Honour's arrival at Winchester, and advice of seeing the Half King and other Chiefs of the 6 Nations. I have by sundry Speeches and messages invited him, Monacatoocha, &c., to meet me, and have reason to expect he is on his Road, as he only purpos'd to settle his People to planting, at a place chosen up Yaughyaughgane for that purpose. but fearing something might have retarded his March, I imediately, upon the arrival of the Express, despatch'd a Messenger with a speech. He is not returned yet. Ab't 4 Days ago I receiv'd a message from the Half [King] of which the following is a copy exactly taken: "To the forist, his Majesties Commander Offiverses to hom this meay concern: On acc't of a freench armey to meat Miger Georg Wassiontton therfor my Brotheres I deesir you to be awar of them for deisin'd to strik ye forist English they see ten days since they marchd I cannot tell what nomber the half King and the rest of the Chiefs will be with you in five dayes to consel, no more at present but give my serves to my Brothers the English THE HALF-KING This acc't was seconded in the Evening by another that the French were at the x'ing of Yaughyaughgane abt 18 Miles. I hereupon hurried to this place as a convenient spot. We have, with Nature's assistance, made a good Intrenchment, and, by clearing the Bushes out of these Meadows, prepar'd a charming field for an Encounter. I detach'd, imediately upon my arrival here, small light partys of horse (Wag'n Horses) to reconnoitre the Enemy, and discover their strength and motion, who return'd Yesterday with't seeing any thing of them nevertheless, we were alarm'd at Night, and remain'd under Arms from two o'clock till near Sun rise. We conceive it was our own Men, as 6 of them Deserted, but can't be certain whether it was them or other Enemys. Be it as it will, they were fired at by the Centrys, but I believe without damage. This morning Mr. Gist arriv'd from his place, where a Detachment of 50 men was seen Yesterday at Noon, com'd by Monsr. La force. He afterwards saw their tracks within 5 Miles of our Camp. I imediately detach'd 75 Men in pursuit of them, who, I hope, will overtake them before they get to red Stone, where their Canoes Lie. Mr. Gist being an Eye-witness of our proceedings, hereupon and waiting for this with't my knowing till just now that he intended to wait upon your Honr. obliges me to refer your Hon'r to him for particulars. 15 Davison was an interpreter. Washington copied the letter verbatim, to protect himself, as much probably as to amuse Dinwiddie, in event of the exact meaning of the intelligence being called into question later. As I expect my Messenger in to Night from the Half King, I shall write more fully tomorrow by the Express that came from Colo. Fry. But before I conclude I must take the Liberty of mentioning to your Honour the gt. necessity there is for having goods out here to give for Services of the Indians; they all expect it and refuse to Scout or do any thing without; saying these Services are paid well by the French. I really think was 5 or 600 Pounds worth of proper goods sent, it wd. tend more to our Interest than so many thousands given in a Lump at a treaty. I have been obliged to pay Shirts for what they have already done which I cannot continue to do. The numbers of the French have been greatly magnified, as your Honour may see by a Copy of the enclos'd journal, who I sent out to gain Intelligence. I have receiv'd letters from the Governors of Pensylvania and Maryland, Copys of which I also send. I am, &c. JOURNAL [V.H.S.] May 27, 1754. About eight in the Evening I received an express from the Half-King, who informed me, that as he was coming to join us, he had seen along the road, the tracks of two men, which he had followed, till he was brought to a low obscure place; that he thought the whole Party of French was hidden there. That very moment I sent out forty men, and ordered my ammunition to be put in a place of safety, fearing it to be a Stratagem of the French to attack our Camp: I left a guard to defend it and with the rest of my men, set out in a heavy rain, and in a night as dark as pitch, along a path scarce broad enough for one man; we were sometime fifteen or twenty minutes out of the path, before we could come to it again, and we would often |