7 Dec 1756 to 15 Dec 1756
On Facebook every Sunday throughout this year of 2020 we have been tracking the year of 1756 of George Washington and of Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. We will track the year of 1757 starting in 2021, with particular emphasis on the movement of the Cherokee and Catawba and other Indian allies supporting the Virginia Regiment during this war.
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What caught our eye this week was a wagon of supplies to be escorted by 8 men to go to Pearsall's fort from Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. This was ordered by Colonel George Washington. It was not an unusual order. The Colonel was always ordering constant movement of men and supplies to all the forts on the frontier. What caught our eye is how this story is an example of how fast these men moved through this mountainous, wooded terrain. Some of the stopping points was a supply depot at Jeremiah Smith's forted place around the bend of Great North Mountain. He was known as the old pioneer even during George Washington's time. And he is a distant ancestor to Willa Cather, a Pulitzer prize winner, also famous in her time and who lived in a house nearby.
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We are winding down the year of 1756.
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Let us just look at just some of this week of
7 Dec 1756 to 15 Dec 1756
of Colonel George Washington writing letters from Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
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What we cover here
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2-7 Dec 1756
Colonel George Washington's move into Fort Loudoun,
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13, 14, 15 Dec 1756
GW orders supplies to Fort Pearsal and to the South Branch.
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15 Dec 1756
Lt Gov Dinwiddie insists on Dr Walker (he's one of the big people of his time) to be Commissar.
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Deserter Update
Our Captain George Mercer, aide de camp to Col George Washington, recovers 16 deserters. And McCarty is caught getting men to desert and then enlist to the Royal American companies.
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7 December 1756
Founders Online footnote states this:
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Hereafter, when GW was at the fort at Winchester, Fort Loudoun instead of the town usually appeared in the dateline of GW’s orders and letters.
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Source:
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But we believe GW started datelining his orders and letters Fort Loudoun starting 2 December 1756.
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This is the date Colonel George Washington finished paying a year's worth of rent to Cocks Tavern.
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GW moves into Fort Loudoun while it is still undergoing construction on this date 2 Dec 1756.
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He moves into Fort hoping he can change Lt Gov Dinwiddie's orders for him to move to Fort Cumberland and bring the supplies just brought from Fort Cumberland to go back to Fort Cumberland.
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See more on this move into Fort Loudoun 2 Dec 1756.
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And see same story in this link too:
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13, 14, 15 Dec 1756
GW orders supplies to Fort Pearsal and to the South Branch.
He orders 8 men to escort a wagon of supplies to that forted place on the South Branch of the Potomac River.
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Here is the order:
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The reason why? GW is surprised how fast the supplies have been consumed.
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To Thomas Waggener [Fort Loudoun, 13 December 1756] To the Commanding Officer on the So. Branch Sir, I was not a little surprized to find what a quantity of provision had been consumed by your command, in the short space they have been stationed on the Branch: There certainly must have been great waste & neglect. To prevent which for the future, it is my Orders—That you direct each of the commanding officers where the troops are stationed on the Branch, to appoint a Sergeant of his command (the most trusty one) to be exempt from all other duty—to receive and issue the provisions which are brought to that Garrison. Let the officer certify the quantity he receives from each person; and let regular returns be made each drawing day, signed by the Officer commanding each Detachment; and he must issue provisions agreeable thereto, and deliver none without a written order from the Officer which will be his vouchers for the consumption of what he receives.
. As some of the Officers have only small commands, and can not spare a Sergeant for this Duty; you must direct to take one of the best of the men, or make him do the Sergeants duty, whichever is most convenient. Let all the officers know I expect they will account for the Shoes, &c. received from the Store, which they stand charged with on the Quartermasters Book. I am &c.
. G:W. Fort Loudon Dec. 13th 1756. LB, DLC:GW.
. Capt. Thomas Waggener of the Virginia Regiment was the senior officer of the troops deployed on the South Branch. For the disposition of these troops, see particularly Waggener to GW, 10 Aug. 1756, n.1.
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15 Dec 1756
Lt Gov Dinwiddie insists on Dr Walker (he's one of the big people of his time) to be Commissar.
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Colonel GW felt Dr Thomas Walker lived too far away and had too many other duties and work. GW felt these were distractions to Dr Walker maintaining focus and priority on this job of procuring supplies and maintaining them for the Virginia Regiment.
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Lt Gov Dinwiddie felt otherwise.
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See Founders Online footnote on this matter:
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Dinwiddie gave these orders to Thomas Walker on 15 Dec., and added: “I wish yo. had been more explicit in regard to the Incovenciences complain’d of, that I might have removed them. but I expect Colo. Washington will now give you his Advice, Assistance & Countenance in every thing relating to yr Duty” (ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers). Dinwiddie wrote to William Fairfax on 15 Dec. in response to a letter of 27 Nov. from Fairfax recommending John Carlyle and William Ramsay for commissaries for the Virginia Regiment: “I can by no means agree to his [Walker’s] being superceded. he is now at Winchester & I’ve wrote him to confirm his commission, and to Colo. Washington to countenance & suport him therein—There are some Uneasiness on that Head from whence they arise I know not, but am in hopes they’ll now subside” (ibid.). Walker had left Winchester by 19 Dec., confirming his intention to resign. For GW’s emphatic denial of any friction between him and Walker, see GW to Dinwiddie, 12 Jan. 1757.
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Source:
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Deserter Update
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Lt Gov Dinwiddie writes to Colonel George Washington:
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"Yours of the 9th I have recd—I am glad Ct. Mercer [ our Captain Mercer] has brought back sixteen of the Deserters, upon Promise of Pardon, which I agree to on Your Recommendation; but I hope You will make them sensible of their Crime & that they are pardon’d on Your Solicitation."
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And about our favorite bad boy in the Virginia Regiment, McCarty, Lt Gov Dinwiddie finds out from Colonel George Washington that Denis McCarty is encouraging men of the Virginia Regiment to desert and join the Royal American Regiments.
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"The villainous Actions of McCarty really surprize me, & I shall take Care to make him repent of it."
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But later Dinwiddie changes his tune when he finds out he is running up against the British establishment who supports Denis McCarty's enlisting them to the Royal American Regiments.
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Source:
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Just a little tidbit on Denis McCarty. This little biography reminds us of Hemingway's short story titled, The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.
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Here is the short happy life of Denis McCarty from Founders Online:
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Denis McCarty recruited men for the Virginia Regiment in the fall of 1755 as a volunteer, without a commission.
On 22 Nov. GW rebuked him for “forcibly taking, confining and torturing those, who would not enlist.”
Despite this, GW sought and got Dinwiddie’s approval in Jan. 1756 to make McCarty an ensign.
After serving in both William Bronaugh’s company and George Mercer’s during the next 8 months, McCarty quietly resigned in Oct. 1756.
At the same time he persuaded Dinwiddie to give him a commission to recruit for the Royal American Regiment.
On 4 Dec. 1756 GW denounced McCarty to Dinwiddie for having the night before “scandalously and underhandedly” persuaded 18 soldiers to desert from the Virginia Regiment with a view to signing them up for the British regiment.
William Fairfax a few weeks later, on 22 Jan. 1757, wrote GW that while recruiting for the Royal American Regiment McCarty had also “committed several illegal Acts . . . at Alexandria, forcing open Doors in the Night time, taking Men out of their Beds and carrying them” off.
Dinwiddie revoked McCarty’s commission to recruit, and McCarty returned to his home in Fairfax County.
There, though not yet 30 years old, he made his will in March and was dead before the end of May 1757.
Denis McCarty, the son of Denis and Sarah Ball McCarty, was a cousin of GW’s.
Members of McCarty’s family were lifelong friends and neighbors of GW at Mount Vernon.
Source:
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Notes on Denis McCarty
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He got 20 recruits from Fairfax County 17 October 1755.
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0119
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But Denis McCarty is accused of heavy handed tactics in recruiting.
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0119#GEWN-02-02-02-0119-fn-0003
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While this is going on Col George Washington with his aid de camp (A.D.C) Captain Mercer are visiting the perimeter defenses at Fort Edwards to Fort Cumberland.
https://archive.org/stream/journalofcaptain00lewi#page/208/mode/2up/search/mercer
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When Col George Washington comes back from his tour, he rebukes Denis McCarty:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0181
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Denis McCarty
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To George Washington from John Carlyle, 17 October 1755
From John Carlyle
At Wm Wests Fryday 17th Octr 1755
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This Will be deliver’d you by Capt. Elzey & our Draft from the Militia of Fairfax. We hope that they will be Approved of as they Are All Young healthy fellows tolerable well mounted & Accouterr’d.1
A Waggon woud Sett of this day from Alexandria with the Powder & Lead you desired Also the Cloaths for the Soldiers & hope they will be Up in time for you, I cou’d Nether gett Carradge horses, nor a Waggon, before this, nor did I think it Safe to Send the powder on horse back the Casks was So bad.2
Their is but about Six Recruits In Alexandria, Mr Bullet has Nine In Prince William, he & Mr Dennis McCarty3 will be able to Gett (they say) Twenty recruits.
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http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0119
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From George Washington to Denis McCarty, 22 November 1755
To Denis McCarty
[22 November 1755]To Mr Denis McCarty.
I am very sorry you have given me occasion to complain of your conduct in Recruiting; and to tell you, that the methods and unjustifiable means you have practised, are very unacceptable, and have been of infinite prejudice to the Service: of this I am informed by many Gentlemen, as well as by all the Officers who were ordered to recruit in these parts: and am further assured, that it is next to an impossibility to get a man where you have been; such terror have you occasioned by forcibly taking, confining and torturing those, who would not voluntarily enlist. These proceedings not only cast a slur upon your own Character, but reflect dishonour upon mine; as giving room to conjecture, that they have my concurrence for their source. I must therefore acquaint you, that such Behaviour in an Officer would shake his Commission! Let it then be a warning to you, who I still hope, erred more through inadvertence than design; for which reason, I shall forget the past, in sanguine hopes of what is to come.1 I am &c.
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3. Denis McCarty recruited men for the Virginia Regiment in the fall of 1755 as a volunteer, without a commission. On 22 Nov. GW rebuked him for “forcibly taking, confining and torturing those, who would not enlist.” Despite this, GW sought and got Dinwiddie’s approval in Jan. 1756 to make McCarty an ensign. After serving in both William Bronaugh’s company and George Mercer’s during the next 8 months, McCarty quietly resigned in Oct. 1756. At the same time he persuaded Dinwiddie to give him a commission to recruit for the Royal American Regiment. On 4 Dec. 1756 GW denounced McCarty to Dinwiddie for having the night before “scandalously and underhandedly” persuaded 18 soldiers to desert from the Virginia Regiment with a view to signing them up for the British regiment. William Fairfax a few weeks later, on 22 Jan. 1757, wrote GW that while recruiting for the Royal American Regiment McCarty had also “committed several illegal Acts . . . at Alexandria, forcing open Doors in the Night time, taking Men out of their Beds and carrying them” off. Dinwiddie revoked McCarty’s commission to recruit, and McCarty returned to his home in Fairfax County. There, though not yet 30 years old, he made his will in March and was dead before the end of May 1757. Denis McCarty, the son of Denis and Sarah Ball McCarty, was a cousin of GW’s. Members of McCarty’s family were lifelong friends and neighbors of GW at Mount Vernon.
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http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0119
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bio Denis McCarty
Not yet 30 years old died May 1757, so he was born in 1727 probably after May.
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3. Denis McCarty recruited men for the Virginia Regiment in the fall of 1755 as a volunteer, without a commission.
On 22 Nov. GW rebuked him for “forcibly taking, confining and torturing those, who would not enlist.”
Despite this, GW sought and got Dinwiddie’s approval in Jan. 1756 to make McCarty an ensign.
After serving in both William Bronaugh’s company and George Mercer’s during the next 8 months, McCarty quietly resigned in Oct. 1756.
At the same time he persuaded Dinwiddie to give him a commission to recruit for the Royal American Regiment.
On 4 Dec. 1756 GW denounced McCarty to Dinwiddie for having the night before “scandalously and underhandedly” persuaded 18 soldiers to desert from the Virginia Regiment with a view to signing them up for the British regiment.
William Fairfax a few weeks later, on 22 Jan. 1757, wrote GW that while recruiting for the Royal American Regiment McCarty had also “committed several illegal Acts . . . at Alexandria, forcing open Doors in the Night time, taking Men out of their Beds and carrying them” off.
Dinwiddie revoked McCarty’s commission to recruit, and McCarty returned to his home in Fairfax County.
There, though not yet 30 years old, he made his will in March and was dead before the end of May 1757.
Denis McCarty, the son of Denis and Sarah Ball McCarty, was a cousin of GW’s.
Members of McCarty’s family were lifelong friends and neighbors of GW at Mount Vernon.
PERMALINK What’s this?
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-02-02-0119
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