Mass Resignation
Another Veterans story for today?
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It's an old story we've seen forever.
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It's an "attack piece" by the press.
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And everyone knows it is attacking the integrity of the Virginia Regiment, September 3, 1756.
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But today is the day, the officers write and sign their declaration to quit the service by November 20, 1756 to Colonel George Washington, overall leader of the Virginia Regiment.
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They wrote the same earlier to Lt Col Adam Stephen on October 6, 1756.
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Add insult to this injury, Lt Gov Dinwiddie sends the September 3rd 1756 "attack piece" article to Lord Loudoun, supreme command of all North American forces, ostensibly to show Lord Loudoun that Dinwiddie had issued some proclamations he thought Lord Loudoun should see.
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The Press?
As his GW’s brother writes, “…nay even the king himself does not escape the liberty of the Press. “
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See Source.
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WHEN?
Centinel X was first published September 3, 1756 in the Virginia Gazette. .
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WHO?
The author of the article signed as L. & V. under a series entitled The Virginia Centinel.
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The X was the 10th in that series entitled The Virginia Centinel.
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Source:
Douglas Southall Freeman’s Young Washington Volume 2, page 209, published by Charles Scribner & Sons, 1948.
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WHAT DID HE WRITE?
The article denounced the men of the Virginia Regiment for taking it too easy, for being “drunken debauchees,” often given rank for seniority rather than for merit. See Source.
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THE RESPONSE?
The Officers of the Virginia Regiment plan to resign if no redress of this insult. They become aware of the article October 5, 1756. They write of their intent to resign on November 20, 1756, handing their petition to Colonel George Washington November 12, 1756. See Source.
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The Front Page
of the Virginia Gazette
by the author Virginia Centinel:
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Douglas Southall Freeman in Young Washington Volume 2, published 1948 by Charles Scribner and Sons, page 207-208, has a picture of this issue:
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This very short summary is written by the discoverer of the Virginia Gazette issue.
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Ford, Worthington Chauncey, et al. “Washington and ‘Centinel X.’”
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The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 22, no. 4, 1898, pp. 436–451. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20085814.
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2nd Source for synopsis above:
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Provenance:
Worthington Chauncey Ford writes how he discovered the original Virginia Gazette "hit piece" entitled the Virginia Centinel, the 10th in a series.
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By the author of "Centinel X":
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The author of the article signed as L. & V. under a series entitled The Virginia Centinel.
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The X was the 10th in that series entitled The Virginia Centinel.
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“No Profession in the World can secure from Contempt and Indignation a Character made up of Vice and D⟨e⟩bauchery; and no Man is obliged to tre⟨a⟩t such a Cha⟨r⟩acter as sacred.
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When raw Novices and R⟨a⟩kes, Spend thrifts and Bank⟨r⟩upt⟨s⟩, who have been never used to command, or who ha⟨v⟩e been found insufficient fo⟨r⟩ the Management of their own priv⟨a⟩te Aff⟨ai⟩rs, are hono⟨r⟩ed with Commissions in ⟨t⟩he A⟨r⟩my;
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when Men are ⟨a⟩dvanced acco⟨r⟩ding to Seniority, the Interests and Influence of Friends, &c. and not accor⟨d⟩ing to Merit;
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when the common Soldiers are abused, in a Fit of Humor or Passion, or through an O⟨st⟩entation of Authori⟨t⟩y;
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and in the mean Time, perhaps, tolera⟨t⟩ed or co⟨nniv⟩ed at, in Pr⟨a⟩ctices really wor⟨t⟩hy of Correction;
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when the Militia Men ⟨a⟩re brow-beat and d⟨i⟩scourag⟨e⟩d in every noble At⟨c⟩hievment, as claiming a share with the Soldiery in their Mo⟨n⟩opoly of Hono⟨r⟩;
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when the Officers give ⟨t⟩heir Men ⟨a⟩n Example of all Manner of D⟨e⟩ba⟨u⟩chery, Vice and I⟨dl⟩ene⟨s⟩s, when they l⟨i⟩e sculking in Forts, and there dissolving in Pl⟨e⟩asure, till ala⟨r⟩med by ⟨t⟩he App⟨r⟩oach o⟨f⟩ the Enemy,
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who could expect to find them no whe⟨r⟩e else; when instead of sea⟨r⟩ching out the Enemy, waylay⟨i⟩ng and ⟨su⟩r⟨pri⟩sing them ob⟨structin⟩g their Marche⟨s⟩, and preven⟨t⟩ing their Incursi⟨o⟩n⟨s⟩, they tempt them by their Sec⟨u⟩r⟨it⟩y and Laziness, to c⟨o⟩me in Quest of them, a⟨n⟩d ⟨a⟩tta⟨c⟩k ⟨t⟩hem in thei⟨r⟩ For⟨t⟩ifica⟨t⟩ions.—
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When thi⟨s⟩ is the Case, how wre⟨t⟩chedly he⟨l⟩pless must a Nation be? What useless Lumber, what an Encum⟨b⟩ran⟨c⟩e, i⟨s⟩ the Soldiery;
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“I would by no Means m⟨a⟩ke the Event the Standard by which to judge of the Measure⟨s⟩ taken though ⟨t⟩his be un⟨d⟩oubted⟨l⟩y the Standard of the Crowd. S⟨u⟩ccessful R⟨a⟩shne⟨s⟩s will never fail of popu⟨la⟩r Applause, and unfortunate good Co⟨nd⟩u⟨ct⟩ will never escape Cen⟨s⟩ure.
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But w⟨h⟩en nothing brave i⟨s⟩ so much as attempted, but very rarel⟨y⟩, o⟨r⟩ by Accident, or for necessary Self-defence;
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when Men whose Profession it is to endure Hardships, and encounter Dangers, c⟨a⟩utio⟨u⟩sly shun them, and suff⟨e⟩r their Count⟨r⟩y to be ravaged in thei⟨r⟩ ver⟨y⟩ Ne⟨i⟩g⟨h⟩bo⟨u⟩rhood; then certainly,
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Censure cannot be silent; nor can th⟨e⟩ Public receive much Advantage from a Regiment of such dastardly Debauchees.”
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Source:
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TIMELINE
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September 3, 1756
The Attack Piece
Centinel X was first published September 3, 1756 in the Virginia Gazette.
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Douglas Southall Freeman in Young Washington Volume 2, published 1948 by Charles Scribner & Sons, page 207-208, has a picture of this issue:
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“…no copy of the original was known to be in existence until the issue of Sept 3, 1756 reproduced on the opposite page, was found among the photostats made for Colonial Williamsburg from documents in the Huntingdon Library. As explained in the text, this particular Gazette was sent Lord Loudoun by Governor Dinwiddie because it contained proclamations the Governor had issued. “
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Source
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Ford, Worthington Chauncey, et al. “Washington and ‘Centinel X.’” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 22, no. 4, 1898, pp. 436–451. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20085814.
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September 22, 1756
Don’t Resign, Don’t Respond
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Both letters counsel Colonel George Washington not to resign and not to respond.
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To George Washington from John Kirkpatrick, 22 September 1756
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To George Washington from William Ramsay, 22 September 1756
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September 23, 1756
Enemy of 300 Coming
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Found on Benno’s Figures Forum.
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While more and more of the colony are reading this front page opinion attacking the character of the Virginia Regiment, an Enemy of 300 is reported to threaten Fort Cumberland.
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September 29 to October 22, 1756
Where is GW?
GW is inspecting and touring southern Virginia defenses
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Colonel George Washington is touring the southern defenses of Virginia mostly under the commands of Captain Peter Hogg and Major Andrew Lewis.
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October 5, 1756
Officers read the Attack Piece
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This is the date the Officers of the Virginia Regiment first become aware of that article in the Virginia Gazette. From William Peachey et al.
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To Colonel George Washington Dated at Fort Cumberland [Md.] 12th Novr 1756:
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“Sir, On the 5th or 6th of October, We met with a papr in the Virginia Gazette intitled the Centinel N: 10, wherein some person or persons have undertaken to callumniate Us in the most vile & scandalous Manner, …. “
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See Source.
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October 6, 1756
Mass Resignation Threatened
addressed to Lt Col Adam Stephen
while GW is touring southern Virginia defenses
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The officers write to Lt Col Adam Stephen, their intent to resign 20 November 1756 if no redress of these insults.
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Note the highlighted sections.
Note especially the reference to Lt Gov Dinwiddie, reference as “Himself.”
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The Virginia Gazette would not publish something that might risk censure by the head of government.
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Also of note is that Lt Gov Dinwiddie sent that very paper attacking his own Virginia Regiment to Lord Loudoun, supreme commander of all North American forces.
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In that same edition were some proclamations by Dinwiddie for Lord Loudoun to see.
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Sir,
To our no small Astonishment We (last night) perus’d a Paper in the Virga Gazette intitled the Centinel No: X. The Contents of Which are so Scandalous and altogether so Unjust, that We think it a Duty incumbent on Us, Who have the least Regard for our Honor or Reputation to resent such base Treatment in the Strictest Manner. Therefore (upon mature Consideration) We have unanimously agreed to apply to you for Redress; firmly declaring (tho. at present for the great and just Regard We have for Collo: Washington and Yourself, join’d for the Duty we owe to Our King in defending as much as it is in our Power His Colony of Virginia to Which We belong) We do with The greatest exactness obey the Orders of our Superiors Officers. But unless We have ample Satisfaction for these so groundless And barb’rous Aspersions, We are one and All (at this Garrison) fully determin’d to present our Commissions to the Governor (As in that Paper it is hinted) ⟨wod we⟩ given to a Regt of dastardly Debauchees; and desire that You will inform His Honor We expect that he will provide a Sett of Men for the Service, that will better answer the expectations of Our Countrey and of Himself. We say Himself, beleiving The Printer wou’d never have dar’d to insert such a Paper in His Gazette without His previous Knowledge Or Consent in either of which cases He must have beleiv’d The Censures therein to be Just. Your Sir may therefore assure Him We are resolv’d to obey As Officers no longer than the twentieth day of November next, unless We have as Publick Satisfaction; as the Injury receiv’d In which Time His Honor may (We imagine) procure GENTLEMEN to do that Duty, a Denomination point blank contrary to that which the Centinel has given US.
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We are heartily sorry to be laid under The Necessity of being so free with You but hope the Occasion will be a Sufficient excuse for Our Behaviour; when You must be sensible of the Abuse not only Put on Us, but the Whole Regiment by this Author, wherein We are charg’d ⟨illegible⟩ Laziness, Idleness, Drunkeness, and Barbarity wh all manner of Vice. When so far from that it is Notorious that Virginia cannot furnish so great a Number of Men, that are more the Reverse⟨,⟩ A Character We are very Loath to give Ourselves were We not Obligd thereto by the circumstances of the present Case Which require That We shou’d Justifie Ourselves to the Neighbouring Colonies, amongst Whom We make no Doubt We are by this Time become a common Topic of Derision And Ridicule a Favor we are to thank Our Goodly COUNTREY MEN for. We are Sir with the greatest hope Your most Obedient Humble Servants
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Founders Online Note:
AD, DLC:GW. Like the letter to GW, this copy of the officers’ letter to Adam Stephen appears to be in William Peachey’s hand. GW docketed it as “From The Officers of the Virga Regimt 4th Oct. 1756.”
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Source:
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The officers wrote 3 letters:
To Lt Col Adam Stephen October 6, 1756
To Col George Washington November 12, 1756
To the House of Burgesses . See Source.
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Other addresses:
An 11 page response ” supposedly by Richd Bland Octo. 1756.” who signed as “Philo patria
A response written by Colonel George Washington himself, but never sent.
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October 6, 1756
Attacks in the North and South areas of Virginia.
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Picture by Eric Cherry.
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On the same day this revolt in Fort Cumberland occurs, there are published in the newspapers attacks on the South Branch.
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These attacks are among the forts built by Captain Waggener with the help of Ensign Charles Smith who gains from this experience to become Foreman of the workers building Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. .
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Picture by Eric Cherry.
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On 7 Oct. 1756 the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) printed an “Extract of a Letter from Captain Waggoner, of the Virginia Regiment, commanding on the South Branch of Potowmack,” which reported:
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“Last Week as Ensign Smith was coming from Sibley’s Mill with 12 Men, he was fired upon by a Party of Indians, which he, after a pretty smart Fire of 10 or 15 Minutes, put to Flight, and brought off 16 Matchcoats, 12 or 14 Pair of Moccasons, several Scalping Knives, and 4 very neat French Fuzees [light muskets], half mounted with silver. The Bones of an Indian were found near the Place a Day or two after, his Body being destroyed by the Wolves, &c. It was thought there were 20 or 30 Indians.”
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Founders Online footnote:
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While GW is touring the southern defenses of Virginia, he discovers not only attacks down there but also of his own northern defenses, noted above.
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October 16, 1756
Do Not Resign, Do not Respond
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As his GW’s brother, Augustine, also counsels GW not to resign and not to respond, adding, “…nay even the king himself does not escape the liberty of the Press. “ See Source.
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Colonel George Washington receives this letter while still touring the southern defenses of Virginia.
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And in that same letter, another matter at home, a Court Case over the Will of his Step brother Lawrence was still unsettled, and needing attention and resolution.
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November 9, 1756
GW goes to Fort Cumberland
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Colonel George Washington travels to Fort Cumberland after writing these 3 letters from Winchester VA.
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See last line in letter, "I am just setting out for Fort Cumberland."
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GW’s hot feelings and frustration were cooled by the prospect that Lt Gov Dinwiddie was going too far in his instructions moving men out of Fort Loudoun and all the other forts except for Waggener's Lower Fort to staff Fort Cumberland.
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And his own men were going too far in their feelings that would result in a defenseless Virginia.
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So GW tries to contain the situation from going worse.
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GW goes to Fort Cumberland and receives the official signed declaration of his men wanting redress to stop them from a mass walkout, dated the 12th of November
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GW writes a letter to Lt Gov Dinwiddie the same day he goes to Fort Cumberland but after receiving an angry letter from Lt Gov Dinwidde, GW writes back a letter apologizing for some things to cool the situation with Dinwiddie.
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"am very sorry any expression in my letter should be deemed unmannerly: I never intended insults to any: on the contrary, have endeavoured to demean myself in that proper respect due to Superiors."
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November 9, 1756 to November 29, 1756
Colonel George Washington’s Whereabouts
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1. GW went to Fort Cumberland on 9 Nov. but remained there for only a few days before going to Alexandria, with the intention of going from there down to Williamsburg. He was probably in Alexandria by 16 Nov., and he was back in Winchester on 29 Nov. without having gone to Williamsburg (see GW’s Ledger A, 31; GW to Dinwiddie, 24 Nov. 1756; and GW’s Orders, 29 Nov. 1756).
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November 12, 1756
Official Mass Resignation Promise
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The threat of Resignation is in this letter To George Washington from William Peachey et al., 12 November 1756.
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Picture by Eric Cherry. Modified by Jim Moyer. Click to Enlarge.
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The letter did not repeat the date
of their intended resignation
of 20 November 1756,
but made reference to the date of their resignation:
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“But as the Time prefix’d by us for giving up our Commissions,…” and later another reference to that date of resignation, “We agree to defer it, provided either of the two Things proposed be speedily done, otherwise we are as we inform’d Collo. Stephen determined soon to make good our Resolves…”
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Source:
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November 16, 1756
Speaker of the House writes to GW
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” …extremely sorry to find you are made so uneasy in your Duty; while you are venturing your Life and fortune for the good of your Country, to be aspersed and censured by a vile and Ignorant Scribler . . .”
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See Source.
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Dinwiddie is not so sympathetic
It also confirms the officers’ suspicion that Dinwiddie knew of the Virginia Centinel’s attack piece. And Dinwiddie sent that same attack piece to Lord Loudoun.
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“Yr Letter of the 9th I recd with a Report of Yr Journey along our Frontiers—The abuses mention’d in Yrs I have been made acquainted with from several Hands, but I expected You wou’d have been more particular in regard to the Officers neglecting their Duty, & the different Forts not being properly garrison’d with Men, nay witht their Officers: this vauge1 Report makes it impossible for me to call on the Delinquents—I agree the Militia Law is very deficient, & I hope the next Assembly will make proper Amendments.
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The Charges attending the Militia of Augusta is monstrous, & I believe a great Imposition on the Country; I have sent up Money & order’d a strict Scrutiny to be made into each Officer’s Acct & the actual Service done by their Companies2—I pity the poor Inhabitants; Majr Andw Lewis has my Orders to bring the Militia into better Order.3 “
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Source
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November 20, 1756
No Mass Resignation
The date of resignation comes and goes without event.
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November 25, 1756
Attack Piece Reprinted in Maryland
The Sept 3rd issue of the Virginia Gazette is reprinted in the Maryland Gazette. See Source.
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GW’s brother in the October 16, 1756 letter, worries a little bit about how the news of this attack piece will be received by the other colonies: “Was not the paper to go further than our own Colony I am sensible it wou’d not be worth your while giving yr self the lest concern abt it …” and later mentions this issue again, “…but what effect it may have in the Neighbouring Colonies I can’t venture to say…”. See Source.
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December 19, 1756
GW writes to The Speaker, John Robinson
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The whole letter is dark.
These 2 excerpts give a sense of GW’s frustration and worry.
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We are ordered to reinforce Fort Cumberland with 100 men: and, to enable me to carry that number thither, all the Stockade-Forts on the Branch are to be evacuated, & in course all the Sett[lemen]ts abandoned, except what lie under the immediate protection of Capt. Waggeners Fort; the only place exempted in their resolve. Surely His Honor and the Council are not fully acquainted with the situation and circumstances of the unhappy Frontiers, to expose so valuable a tract of land as the Branch, in order to support a Fortification, in itself (considering our present feebleness) of very little importance to the inhabitants or the Colony. The former order of council wou’d have endangered not only the loss of Fort Loudon, the Stores, and Winchester; but a general removal of the Settlers of this vale, and even to the Blue Ridge[.]2
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But the late Command reverses, confuses, and incommode every thing: To say nothing of the extraordinary expence of Carriage, disappointments, losses and alterations which must fall heavy on the Country. Whence it arises or why, I am truly ignorant; but my strongest representations of matters relative to the peace of the Frontiers are disregarded as idle & frivolous; my propositions and measures, as partial & selfish; and all my sincerest endeavours for the service of my Country, perverted to the worst purposes. My Orders are dark, doubtful and uncertain; to day approved, tomorrow condemned: Left to act and proceed at hazard: accountable for the consequence; and blamed, without the Benefit of defence!
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Source
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November 24, 1756
I am very sorry any expression in my letter should be deemed unmannerly: I never intended insults …
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This is George Washington’s apology and explanations to Lt Gov Dinwiddie:
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The apology and explanation from Colonel George Washington is a response to Lt Gov Dinwiddie’s short impatient letter of November 16, 1756, with Colonel George Washington.
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At least Colonel George Washington’s officers did not walk off the job as they promised from November 20, 1756.
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Now the Colonel has to fix the fire with Lt Col Dinwiddie.
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Lt Gov Dinwiddie’s exasperation over the complaints made of the Virginia Regiment was made worse by his own degrading health.
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LINKS
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Virginia Gazette
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Note about Presidents were Acting Governors when there was no Governor or Lt Governor
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