Alexandria, 9 March,
1754.*
Sir,
In my last, by Mr. Stewart, I slightly mentioned the
objection, which many had against enlisting, to wit, not knowing who was to be
paymaster, or the times for payment. It is now grown a pretty general clamor;
and some of those, who were among the first enlisted, being needy, and knowing
it to be usual for his Majesty's soldiers to be paid once a week, or at most
every fortnight, are very importunate to receive their due. I have soothed and
quieted them as much as possible, under pretence of receiving your instructions
in this particular at the arrival of the colonel.
I have increased my number of men to about twenty-five, and
dare venture to say, that I should have had several more, if the excessive bad
weather did not prevent their meeting agreeably to their officers' commands.
We daily experience the great necessity for clothing the
men, as we find the generality of those, who are to be enlisted, loose, idle
persons, quite destitute of house and home, and, I may truly say, many of them
of clothes; which last renders them very incapable of the necessary service, as
they must unavoidably be exposed to inclement weather in their marches, and can
expect no other than to encounter almost every difficulty, that is incident to
a soldier's life. There are many of them without shoes, others want stockings,
some are without shirts, and not a few that have scarce a coat or waistcoat to
their backs. In short, they are as ill provided as can well be conceived; but I
really believe every man of them, for his own credit's sake, is willing to be
clothed at his own expense. They are perpetually teazing me to have it done,
but I am not able to advance the money, provided there was no risk in it, which
there certainly is, and too great for me to run; though it would be nothing to
the country, as a certain part of their pay might be deducted and appropriated
to that use. Mr. Carlyle, or any of the merchants here, would furnish them with
proper necessaries, if there was a certainty of any part of their pay being
stopped to reimburse the expense.
But I must here in time put a curb to my requests, and
remember that I ought not to be too importunate; otherwise I shall be as
troublesome to you, as the soldiers are to me. Nothing but the necessity of the
thing could urge me to be thus free; but I shall no more press this affair, as
I am well assured, that whatever you may think for the benefit of the
expedition, you will cause to have done. I am, &c.
_______________
* The letters written previously to this date have been
lost. For earlier papers see Appendix, No. I.
Washington arrived in Williamsburg, from his mission over
the Alleganies, on the 16th of January, and the Governor and Council resolved
to enlist two companies, of one hundred men each, and send them to the Ohio
with orders to construct a fort on that river. The command of the two companies
was given to Washington. One company was to be raised by himself, and the other
by Captain Trent, who was to collect his men among the traders and people in
the back settlements, and proceed immediately to the place of destination.
Major Washington, in the mean time, was stationed at Alexandria, till the other
company should be completed, and the proper military supplies forwarded to that
place.
“Having all
things in readiness,” says the Governor in his instructions, “you are to use
all expedition in proceeding to the Fork of the Ohio, with the men under your command;
and there you are to finish, in the best manner, and as soon as you possibly
can, the fort, which I expect is there already begun by the Ohio Company. You
are to act on the defensive; but, in case any attempts are made to obstruct the
works, or interrupt our settlements, by any person whatsoever, you are to
restrain all such offenders, or, in case of resistance, to make prisoners of,
or kill and destroy them. For the rest, you are to conduct yourself as the
circumstances of the service shall require, and to act as you shall find best
for the furtherance of his Majesty's service, and the good of this
dominion."
SOURCE: Jared Sparks, The Writings of George Washington:
Volume 1, p. 1-3
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