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.

SIR,

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.

Great Meadows, 27 May, 1754.

On the 25th ultimo, by an express from Colonel Fry, I received the news of your arrival at Winchester, and desire of seeing the Half-King and other chiefs of the Six Nations. I have by sundry speeches and messages invited him, Monacawacha, and others, to meet me, and have reason to expect the Half-King is on his way, as he only designed to settle his people to planting, at a place up the Monongahela chosen for that purpose. But fearing something might have retarded his march, I immediately, upon the arrival of the express, despatched a messenger with a speech. He is not yet returned. About four days ago I received a message from the Half-King to the following purport;

journal kept by Washington during his preceding campaign. With what fidelity these were published cannot now be known, but as it was the object of the Mémoire to prove a contested point, it may be presumed, that such parts of the papers only were brought forward, as would make for that end. Coming out as they did, however, under the name and sanction of the government, there can be no room for doubt, that the official papers at least were given with accuracy.

These papers were originally published by the French government in a duodecimo volume. A copy was soon afterwards found in a French prize, that was brought to New York. It was there translated into English, and printed the year after its appearance in Paris. The translation was hastily executed, and is worthy of little credit, being equally uncouth in its style, and faulty in its attempts to convey the sense of the original.

"To the first of his Majesty's officers, whom this

may concern.

"It is reported, that the French army is coming to meet Major George Washington. I exhort you, therefore, my brethren, to be on your guard against them, for they intend to strike the first English, whom they shall see. They have been on their march two days. I know not their number. The Half-King and the rest of the Chiefs will be with you in five days to hold a council. No more at present, but my remembrance to my brothers the English."

His account was strengthened in the evening by another, that the French were at the Crossing of Youghiogany about eighteen miles distant. I hereupon hurried to this place as a convenient spot. We have, with nature's assistance, made a good entrenchment, and, by clearing the bushes out of these meadows, prepared a charming field for an encounter. I detached, immediately upon my arrival here, a small light party of horse (wagon horses) to reconnoitre the enemy, and discover their strength and motion. They returned yesterday without having seen any thing of them; nevertheless, we were alarmed in the night, and remained under arms from two o'clock till near sunrise. We conceived them to be our own men, as six of them deserted, but cannot be certain whether it was they or our enemies. Be it as it will, they were fired at by my sentries, but I believe without damage.

This morning Mr. Gist arrived from his place, where a detachment of fifty men was seen yesterday at noon, commanded by M. La Force. He afterwards saw their tracks within five miles of our camp. I immediately detached seventy-five men in pursuit of them, who, I hope, will overtake them before they get to Red-stone, where their canoes lie. As Mr. Gist has been an eye

VOL. II.

4

C

witness of our proceedings, and is waiting for this without my knowing till just now that he intends to visit you, I refer you to him for particulars. I expect my messenger in to-night from the Half-King, and shall write more fully to-morrow by the express that came from Colonel Fry.

The numbers of the French have been greatly magnified, as your Honor may see by a copy of the enclosed journal of a person, whom I sent out to gain intelligence. I have received letters from the Governors of Pennsylvania and Maryland, copies of which I also enclose. I am, &c.

TO COLONEL JOSHUA FRY.

Great Meadows, 29 May, 1754.

SIR,

This is by an immediate express, whom I send to inform you, that yesterday I engaged a party of French, whereof ten were killed, one wounded, and twenty-one taken, with the loss of only one of mine killed and two or three wounded, among whom was Lieutenant Waggener. By some of their papers we can discover, that large detachments are expected every day, which we may reasonably suppose are to attack us, especially since we have begun.

This is therefore to acquaint you with the necessity of a reinforcement, which I hope you will detach immediately, as you can be in no manner of danger in your march; for the French must pass our camp, which I flatter myself is not practicable without my having intelligence of it, especially as there will be Indians always scouting. If a sufficient reinforcement does not come, we must either quit our ground and retreat to you, or

fight very unequal numbers, which I will do, before I will give up one inch of what we have gained. The great haste I am in, to despatch the bearer, prevents me from being particular at this time. I shall conclude, Sir, with assuring you how sincerely concerned I am, for your indisposition, which I hope you will soon recover from, and be able to join us, with the artillery, that we may attack the French in their forts. I am, &c.*

SIR,

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.

Camp at the Great Meadows, 29 May, 1754.

In answering your letter by Mr. Birney, I shall begin with assuring you, that nothing was farther from my intentions than to recede, though I then pressed, and

Colonel Fry died at Will's Creek two days after this letter was written, and the command of the expedition devolved of course on Washington, as second in rank. Reinforcements were forwarded, so that the whole number of troops under his immediate command amounted to somewhat more than three hundred.

The death of Colonel Fry was considered an essential loss to the service. He was born in Somersetshire, England, and educated at Oxford. Excelling in the mathematical sciences, he was at one time Professor of the Mathematics in the college of William and Mary; and, after resigning that station, he was a member of the House of Burgesses, and otherwise employed in public affairs, particularly in running the boundary line at the westward between Virginia and North Carolina. In concert with Peter Jefferson he made a map of Virginia, which had much repute. By these employments he had gained such a knowledge of the interior country, as, with other qualifications, pointed him out for this command. He was one of the commissioners from the government of Virginia for making a treaty with the Indians at Logstown, June, 1752. In a notice of him written at the time, it is said, "he was a man of so clear a head, so mild a temper, and so good a heart, that he never failed to engage the love and esteem of all who knew, or were concerned with him, and he died universally lamented."

still desire, that my services may be voluntary, rather than on the present pay. I am much concerned, that you should seem to charge me with ingratitude for your generous, though undeserved favors; for I assure you, Sir, nothing is more a stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one of ingratitude. I retain a true sense of your kindness, and want nothing but opportunity to give my testimony of willingness to oblige you, as far as my life or fortune will extend.

I could not object to the pay before I knew it. I dare say you remember, that the amount allowed by the first estimate to a lieutenant-colonel was fifteen shillings and to a major twelve shillings and sixpence, of which I then complained very much, till your Honor assured me that we were to be furnished with proper necessaries, and offered that as a reason why the pay was less than that of British officers. After this, when you were so kind as to prefer me to the command I now hold, and at the same time informed me, that I was to have but twelve shillings and sixpence, after this, influenced also by some other reasons, I was induced to acquaint Colonel Fairfax with my intention of resigning, which he must well remember, as it happened at Bellhaven; and it was there that he dissuaded me from it, and promised to represent the trifling pay to you, who would endeavour (as I at the same time told him that the Speaker thought the officers' pay too small) to have it enlarged.

As to the numbers that applied for commissions, and to whom we were preferred, I believe, had those gentlemen been as well acquainted with this country, and as sensible of the difficulties that would attend a campaign here as I then was, that your Honor would not have been so troublesomely solicited as you were. Yet I do not offer this as a reason for quitting the service.