I flatter myself, that, under a skilful commander, or man of sense, (whom I most sincerely wish to serve under,) with my own application and diligent study of my duty, I shall be able to conduct my steps without censure, and, in time, render myself worthy of the promotion, that I shall be favored with now. I am, &c.

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.

*

SIR,

Alexandria, 20 March, 1754.

I was favored with your letter by Mr. Stewart, enclosing a lieutenant-colonel's commission, and I hope my future behaviour will sufficiently testify the true sense I have of this kindness. †

* Dinwiddie was lieutenant-governor of Virginia, yet, as he was the acting governor, all Colonel Washington's letters are addressed to him as bearing that title.

The Virginia Assembly, at a recent sitting, had voted ten thousand pounds towards supporting the expedition to the Ohio. With this aid the Governor was induced to increase the military establishment to three hundred men, divided into six companies, and Colonel Joshua Fry was appointed to command the whole. Major Washington was in consequence raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and made second in command. Ten cannon, and other military equipments, were sent to Alexandria for the use of the expedition. These had recently arrived from England.

As early as the first of March, also, Governor Dinwiddie received a letter from the Earl of Holdernesse, enclosing an order to the governor of New York to send two Independent companies to Virginia, for the purpose of cooperating with the forces destined to the Ohio; and an order to the governor of South Carolina to furnish another Independent company for the same service. The troops, called Independent Companies, were raised in the colonies, under the direction of the governors, but they were paid by the King, and the officers had King's commissions. Hence they were not subject to colonial regulations, but could be marched to any point at the King's command.

By the laws of Virginia, the militia could not be marched more than five miles from the boundary line of the colony. It was doubtful whether the

*

At present there are about seventy-five men at Alexandria, near fifty of whom I have enlisted. The others have been sent by Messrs. Polson, Mercer, and Waggener to this place. Very few officers have repaired hither yet, which has occasioned a fatiguing time to me, in managing a number of self-willed, ungovernable people. I shall implicitly obey your commands, and march out with all expedition. Major Carlyle is now preparing wagons for the conveyance of provisions, which till now could not move, on account of the heavy roads.

I doubt not but your Honor has been informed before this of Mr. Vanbraam's ill success in Augusta, by the express, who was sent from thence for that purpose.

Major Muse's promotion, and Messrs. Rose and Bently's declining, will occasion a want of officers; in which case I would beg leave to mention Mr. Vanbraam for a command, who is the oldest lieutenant, and an experienced soldier. Unless the officers come in, I shall be obliged to appoint him to that office, till I have your Honor's further directions. It would be con

territory invaded by the French was within the limits of Virginia, as the western bounds of Pennsylvania had not been defined. Hence the governor could not order the militia on this service, but was obliged to rely on volunteer enlistments.

To encourage these enlistments, and give spirit to this enterprise, Governor Dinwiddie issued a proclamation, granting two hundred thousand acres of land on the Ohio River, which were to be divided among the officers and soldiers engaged in the present expedition. The grant was confirmed by the King, but it was not till the war had been long at an end, that the land was surveyed and appropriated. This was effected at last chiefly, if not entirely, through the active and persevering agency of Washington. Governor Dinwiddie wrote to Governor Delancy of New York, that his orders from the King were, "to prevent the French and their Indians from settling on his lands on the Ohio, and to build two or three forts on that river; and that he had been pleased to send thirty cannon to be mounted on those forts, and eighty barrels of gunpowder."- Dinwiddie's Manuscript Letter-Books, 21 March, 1754.

ferring a very great obligation on him, were you to confirm the appointment. I verily believe his behaviour would not render him displeasing to you. I have given Captain Stephen orders to be in readiness to join us at Winchester with his company, as they were already in that neighbourhood, and raised there.

I have nothing further to add at present, but my sincere thanks for the indulgent favors I have met with, and I am your Honor's most obedient, &c.*

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.

SIR,

Will's Creek, 25 April, 1754.

Captain Trent's ensign, Mr. Ward, has this day arrived from the Fork of the Monongahela, and brings the disagreeable account, that the fort, on the 17th instant, was surrendered at the summons of Monsieur Contrecœur to a body of French, consisting of upwards of one thousand men, who came from Venango with eighteen pieces of cannon, sixty batteaux, and three hundred canoes. They gave him liberty to bring off all his men and working-tools, which he accordingly did the same day.t

* Colonel Washington marched from Alexandria on the 2d of April, with two companies of troops, and arrived at Will's Creek on the 20th, having been joined on the route by a detachment under Captain Stephen.

The position occupied by Captain Trent's men was at the junction of the Monongahela and Allegany Rivers (now Pittsburg), which had been visited by Major Washington on his mission from the governor of Virginia to the French, and which he described in his Journal as well situated for a fort. The Ohio Company had already a small establishment there. When Contrecœur appeared before the fort, very little progress had been made in the work. Captain Trent was absent at Will's Creek, and Lieu

Immediately upon this information I called a council of war, to advise on proper measures to be taken in this exigency. A copy of their resolves, with the proceedings, I herewith enclose by the bearer, whom I have continued express to your Honor for more minute intelligence.

Mr. Ward has the summons with him, and a speech from the Half-King,* which I also enclose, with the wampum. He is accompanied by one of the Indians mentioned therein, who were sent to see where we were, what was our strength, and to know the time to expect us out. The other young man I have prevailed upon to return to the Half-King with the following speech.

66

Sachems, Warriors of the Six United Nations, Shannoahs, and Delawares, our friends and brethren. I

tenant Frazier was at his residence ten miles distant. Ensign Ward, therefore, was left in the command. His whole number of men amounted only to forty-one.

Contrecœur approached within a short distance of the fort, halted his troops, and sent in an officer with a summons, allowing Ensign Ward an hour to consider the subject, and directing him then to repair to the French camp with his determination in writing. He immediately counselled with the Indians, and the Half-King advised him to inform the French, that he was not an officer of rank, nor invested with powers to answer their demands, and to request them to wait the arrival of the chief commander. He went accordingly with this reply to the French camp, accompanied by the Half-King; but Contrecœur refused to wait, and demanded an immediate decision, saying that he should otherwise take possession of the fort by force. Hereupon a capitulation was agreed to, and Ensign Ward marched off his men the next day, and ascended the Monongahela to the mouth of Red-stone Creek. Contrecœur invited him to supper the evening of the capitulation, and treated him with much civility

A full narrative of the particulars was given under oath by Ensign Ward to Governor Dinwiddie, who communicated it to the English government. The original is now in the Plantation Office, where it was examined by the editor. This seizure of a post by a military force was considered, at the time, as the first overt act of hostility in the memorable war which followed, and which raged for seven years both in Europe and America.

* A Chief of the Six Nations, devoted to the interests of the English.

received your speech by the Buck's brother [Mr. Ward], who came to us with the two young men five sleeps after leaving you. We return you thanks from hearts glowing with affection for your steadfast adherence to us, for your kind speech, and for your wise counsels and directions to the Buck's brother.

"The young man will inform you where he met a small part of our army advancing towards you, clearing the road for a great number of our warriors, who are immediately to follow with our great guns, our ammunition, and our provisions.

"I could not delay to let you know our hearts, and have sent back one of the young men with this speech to acquaint you with them. I have sent the other, according to your desire, to the governor of Virginia, with the Buck's brother, to deliver your speech and wampum, and to be an eyewitness of the preparations we are making to come in haste to support you, whose interest is as dear to us as our lives. We resent the usage of the treacherous French, and our conduct will henceforth plainly show you how much we have it at heart.

"I cannot be easy without seeing you before our forces meet at the fork of the roads, and therefore I have the greatest desire that you and Escuniate, or one of you, should meet me on the road as soon as possible to assist us in council.

"To assure you of the good will we bear you, and to confirm the truth of what has been said, I herewith present to you a string of wampum, that you may thereby remember how much I am your brother and friend."

I hope my proceedings in these affairs will be satisfactory to your Honor, as I have, to the utmost of my knowledge, consulted the interest of the expedition and good of my country; whose rights, while they are