Christmas 1753-1759
No diary by George Washington appears for 1759. That was a year of settling in. It was the first year of George Washington's marriage to Martha 6 Jan 1759, right after resigning his Colonelcy of the Virginia Regiment December 1758. That year of 1759 involved GW attending his first session as a representative of Frederick County in the House of Burgesses, handling getting Mount Vernon ready for Martha to live in, handling Martha's estate which was full of law suits.
A diary starting 1 Jan 1760 mentions a difficult Oysterman possibly interfering with Washington's fishing operation on the Potomac. Above all the farms and products Washington produces, this fishing of the Potomac is his biggest money producer. And the other matter? Martha has measles...
Also the 12 Days of Christmas was bigger then.
Not so much for the back country, but the 12 Days of Christmas were celebrated with balls and parties in the Tidewater area by the elite. The period in Christian theology that marks the span between the birth of Christ and the coming of the Magi, the three wise men. It begins on December 25 (Christmas) and runs through January 6 (the Epiphany, sometimes also called Three Kings' Day). And at the last day of these 12 days of Christmas, George and Martha married 6 Jan 1759. But this 12 days of Christmas from 25 Dec to 6 Jan 1760? That was about some work for George Washington. He was conducting business. Hassling for the right price of pork, pulling in schools of fish from the Potomac, hassling with an Oyster man who felt it was his right to operate off the shore of Mount Vernon, and getting help for Martha with her measles, even getting help from one of the great loves of his life, Sally Fairfax, who came over to help Martha.
So that was the Christmas time for 1758 and 1759 for the Washingtons.
Elsewhere notable?
A peace treaty is signed 26 Nov 1759 between SC Gov Lyttelton and the Cherokees at Keowee SC. It doesn't last long. It was really a cover for Lyttelton to claim mission accomplished.
That's it.
That's our lead story.
There's more on the Christmas stories 1753-1758 below.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
I enjoy the Adam Stephen Christmas in 1755. Something about that merriment reminds me of "Animal" dancing with a strawhead fellow prisoner in Otto Preminger's Stalag 17 movie.
That Christmas of 1755 at Fort Cumberland had the quality of an island outpost surrounded by the enemy, like an Alamo, like a prison.
Compiled by Jim Moyer over time since 2015. last updated 12/24/2023, 12/25/23
Table of Contents
ADAM STEPHEN on Christmas 1755
In this context, Christmas of 1755 was still observed with merriment.
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Adam Stephen, who created Martinsburg WV, in 1777, writes to Washington in Winchester VA five months before the construction of Fort Loudoun Winchester VA in 1755:
I had the honour to dine at the head of 24 fine Gentlemen yesterday—We had an extreamly good dinner, and after drinking the loyal Healths, in a Ruff and Huzza at every Health we pass’d an hour in Singing and taking a Cheerful glass.
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We then amus’d ourselves with acting part of a Play, and spending the Night in mirth, Jollity and Dancing, we parted very affectionatly at 12 O’Clock, remembering all Absent Friends
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Footnote – A ruff, or ruffle, was a term used among drummers of British regiments to signify a sort of vibrating sound made upon a drum, less loud than the roll.
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Charles Lewis, in reporting the same celebration, spoke of the “Rowls of Drum” (Charles Lewis, “Journal” in ViU: Lewis Family Papers).
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In an amusing letter written probably in 1756, Henry Woodward described to John Dagworthy a production of “Tamorlane” performed at Fort Cumberland.
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Woodward listed the cast of 12 men, all members of the Virginia Regiment, and added: “Brockenbrough was so touchd by it so that he will never never Act Again.
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Aesop was the Farce and De fierre [Defever] was the fine Lady by wh you may judge if it was a Farce or not” (Turner, Sussex County, Delaware, 323).
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Austin Brockenbrough, who was no older than 17, took the role of “Prince of Tanais.”
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Source is Founders Online Footnote:
Nightmare Days Before Christmas 1755
Read a description of horror
preceding that Christmas of 1755:
CHARLES LEWIS’ observation
Quick magic marker sketch on white board by Jim Moyer
In this last command I may,with the greatest truth,
aver that I saw the most horrid,
shock-ing sight I ever yet beheld.
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At a house adjoining to the cornfield, in which our soldiers were employed in gathering corn, we saw the bodies of three different people who were first massacred, then scalped, and after thrown into a fire.
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These bodies were not yet quite consumed, but the flesh on many parts of them.
.We saw the clothes of these people yet bloody, and the stakes, the instruments of their death, still bloody and their brains sticking on them, the orchards cut down, the mills destroyed, and a wast of all manner of household goods.
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These people were, in my opinion, very industrious, having the best corn I ever saw, and their plantations well calculated for produce and every other conveniency, suitable to the station of a farmer.
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Attacks, Scares, Seige
ADAM STEPHEN’S Observations
In this island of a semi siege called Fort Cumberland, sat Lt Col Adam Stephen, Washington’s No. 2 guy in the 1st VA Regiment.
Sunday about 9 O’Clock two Indians took a fuzee from a Boy within musket Shot of the Sentry in the Bottom as you pass Will’s Creek1—
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[Will’s Creek empties into Potomac River – location of Fort Cumberland Maryland. Click on Picture to enlarge. Picture is from William Lowdermilk’s 1878 History of Cumberland Maryland]
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They took hold of him and asked him to go along—why they did not kill him I cannot Say, but upon his refusing they gave him a Couple of Blows with their Fist—
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And upon his retiring a little, they Shot two Arrows into him, the wounds are but slight—
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He Roard out murder, & the Savages Ran.
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I sent out a party under Lt Stuart to intercept them, and about twelve, Burris came in wounded.2
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They took him about a mile below the Fort where the Old Path enters the waggon Road, and carried him to the Top of Wills Creek mountain, crossing Potomack above the New Store, and going Steight to the Gape.3
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They there discovered our Party and were only 300 yards behind them—Burris encouragd by the Sight of our men, while the Two Frenchmen and 5 Indians were Sculking, Sprung off—
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an Indian pursud him and coming up Sides with him threw the Tomhawk and woundd him Notwithstanding, Burris was lucky enough to Escape.
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Lt Stewart Saw nothing of the Enemy; Burris was oblig’d to take another Course.
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He learned from the Indian who Could Speak Shanase, That there were Parties all round us, & We have discoverd Numerous Tracts, in Several places.
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CHARLES LEWIS on Christmas 1755
Captain Charles Lewis (NO relation to Major Andrew Lewis who commanded the southwestern portion of VA) also writes of the same Christmasin Fort Cumberland in his journal:
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December 24 1755
Being Christmas, we were invited to spend the evening with Colonel Stephen, where we spent the time in drinking loyal healths and dancing ’till 1 1 o’clock, and then parted in the most amicable manner.
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December 25th 1755
Were invited to dine with Colonel Stephens, where we had the most sumptuous entertainment. After dinner drank the Royal Healths and sung some entertaining songs with Huzzas and rolls of Drums to every health and song. Then took partners and spent the evening in dancing, about 12 o’clock broke up well pleased with our generous entertainment.
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December 26th 1755 Sociably spent.
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Here’s Charles Lewis’ journal.
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The next day he is to take over Fort Ashby…
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Christmas in Winchester 1755
And what was Christmas like for George Washington?
and for his aid de camp, Captain George Mercer?
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They’re staying at Cocke’s Tavern, 21 S Loudoun St Winchester VA (roughly on the lot that has the lawyer office across from the Thai House Restaurant as of 2016) .
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GW paid a year’s rent to Cocke’s Tavern on December 2, 1756 when he moved into the upstairs of the building in Fort Loudoun overlooking the present day walking mall of Loudoun Street.
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GEORGE MERCER’S ORDERS
Winchester December 25th 1755.
It is Colonel Washington’s Orders, that Ensigns Polson and Thompson,1 Corporals McDonald and Broughton,2 do immediately go in pursuit of Sergeant Campbell3 and two men who deserted last night;
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and use all possible means to apprehend and bring them back.
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As an encouragement for apprehending them, the Colonel promises a reward of twenty-shillings for each of them, to the two Corporals.
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G:M. Aid de camp (Captain George Mercer)
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N:B. That two of the above Deserters were brought in by John Rins; and a certificate given him, to entitle him to the reward by Law, for apprehending, and securing Deserters.
G:W.
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And Captain George Mercer adds among other things this Christmas Day:
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The commanding Officers of Companies to give in an exact return to the Commissary to-morrow morning, at 9 O’Clock, of their men, signed by themselves.
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Source:
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And about those Deserters on Christmas Day in Winchester VA?
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[Winchester, 26 December 1755]
After Orders.
The Deserters1 now confined in the Guard-House, are to be immediately handcuffed; and to be supported with bread and water only.
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1. Sgt. Henry Campbell and two soldiers deserted on Christmas Eve and were retaken on Christmas Day. See the Orders and After Orders of 25 Dec. 1755.
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Source:
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A 1754 CHRISTMAS
avers GW might have been around Mt Vernon for Christmas 1754 playing cards.
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1. Byrd’s invitation to spend the holidays at Westover probably was extended during GW’s visit to Williamsburg between 20 Oct. and 2 Nov. 1754. It may have been the leasing of Mount Vernon on 17 Dec. 1754 or some related event that prevented GW from keeping this engagement. He was apparently at or near Mount Vernon from the day the lease was signed until 1 Jan. 1755 when he set off on a trip to Fredericksburg. Little is known of his activities during that period beyond the fact that he played cards on 25, 26, and 27 Dec.
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George Washington and Christopher Gist’s adventure written by themselves.
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George Washington’s version gets printed in London, fascinating important readers across both sides of the Atlantic.
A 1756 Christmas
The year of 1756 was jam packed. At the beginning of it Col George Washington went to Boston to get a decision on who outranked who. He comes back in time in April 1756 to hear of numerous Indian attacks. Later in the Fall he goes south almost to the southern border of Virginia to check on the southern forces and their forts. At the same time he gets letters from his officers they are all about to quit the service because of the insults printed in the Virginia Gazette.
By Christmas 1756? GW is hit with a decision to comply with Lord Loudoun wanting Fort Cumberland not to be evacuated but instead to be fully reinforced. Luckily GW has the Speaker of the House of Burgesses John Robinson on his side. Robinson knows there's not enough men to do this. He knows the other forts need to be garrisoned too, and not at the expense of moving them to Maryland's Fort Cumberland. Robinson suspects Lt Gov Dinwiddie either influenced Lord Loudoun or just obsequiously approved Lord Loudoun's idea of keeping Fort Cumberland at the expense of other forts in the back country.
Then there's all sorts of problems of supply and clothing the men. And Thomas Walker, famously important at the time did not do his due diligence to follow up to see if that job was done. But Lt Gov Dinwiddie still wants Thomas Walker because he's one of the elite influencers. He does not want to see Walker resign.
2 letters, first from Lt Gov Dinwiddie, 2nd one from Speaker John Robinson.
To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 27 December 1756
From Robert Dinwiddie
Williamsburg Decr 27th 1756
Sir
Yours of the 19th by Jenkins [ he was the pony express of the time ] I recd last Night—& do observe You have ordered the Garisons on the Branch to Percealls, to escort the Flour to Fort Cumberland.
The Provisions lying in Bulk at the different Forts, if possible shou’d be Smoked, which wou’d be a great Saving to the Country & I hope You have order’d it so. As we have had great Rains lately I hope a sufficient quantity of Flour may be secured, as Mr Walker told me he & his Assistant had contracted for as much as wou’d serve our Forces twelve Months.1
The Orders given You at first, were on Capt. Mercer’s repeated Assurances of Your having 160 enlisted Men at Winchester, which, with the Servants You mention’d to be enlisted, I conceived You cou’d march 100 Men from Fort Loudoun to Fort Cumberland, but by the Return You write of only 85 Men at Fort Loudoun—It was thought proper to call in the Forces from the Stockade Forts to garison the above Forts compleatly; but not knowing Your Numbers in those Out-Forts I gave general Orders to call them all in, however after Garisoning Fort Cumberland & Fort Loudoun properly, the Surplus Men You are to fix at any Forts You think proper between the above two Forts, & where You think they may be of most essential Service .2
I am surpriz’d Mr Walker shou’d leave his Duty after the Assurances made me (last Time he was in Town) of discharging that Duty with all Diligence, I fear he was not properly countenanc’d, his Probity Knowledge & Experience makes him as equal to that Service as any in the Country, & as he & his Assistant have made so large Contracts, I shall not appoint another till I have his Reasons for resigning. 3
Colo. Stephens had the Keys where the Indian Goods were lodged, & he must render an Account of them; I have a Copy of the Invoice from Colo. Innes.4
I am of Opinion that Capt. McNeill is a proper Person to conduct the Catawbas Home (if You cannot prevail with them to remain some Time longer) & he probably may engage some of their Warriors to come in the Spring 5—
Capt. Pearis & 20 Men, were employ’d to escort the Cherokees and Catawbas, but You may observe how I was disappointed.
I sent Capt. McNeill 500£ to pay the Masters for the Servants enlisted, & order’d him to engage as many as that Money wou’d answer & send them up to You; but ⟨I ca⟩nnot give Directions for enlisting more till I see the Treasur⟨er⟩, to know what Money he may have applicable to that Serv⟨ic⟩e.
Fort Cumberland is to be kept as Defensible as You can till Spring,6
when I expect Lord Loudoun will give Directions therein, but not to be made Cannon proof unless it can be done at a small Expence, which the Country must pay unless Lord Loudoun otherways directs.
The Paragraph of Lord Loudoun’s Letter to me, is intirely confin’d to Fort Cumberland, he was affraid You wou’d have evacuated, & dismantled that Fort before his Letter reach’d me, which wou’d have had a bad Effect as to the Dominion & no good Appearance at Home—As to the String of Forts he knows Nothing of, or can You, from the Paragraph sent You, think that he either prejudges or has any bad Opinion of Your Conduct, & as Fort Cumberland is reinforc’d he will be much pleased.7
I confirm my former Leave of Your coming here when his Lordship arrives, as You will be able to give him a good Account of our Back Country, & I desire You will give the necessary Orders to Your Lieut. Colo. before You leave Fort Cumberland—And I expect You left Directions with Ct. Mercer to continue the Constructing of Fort Loudoun, & that with all possible Expedition.
I was in hopes the Interpreter for the Catawbas wou’d have served for the Cherokees; however I have sent up the Country to engage an Interpreter 8—
You must keep the Indians employ’d in Scouting, if idle they will be thinking of Home.
I approve of the Leave You have given to Lieutts Baker & Lowry, & I shall be glad to see them—I have paved the Way & I expect a good Number of the Tuscaroras & Nottaways early in the Spring & I think Lieut. Baker will be of great Service with those People.
I am in Pain & greatly uneasy for the poor Men’s cloathing—I understand the Treasurer appointed Colo. Carlyle & Mr Chas Steuart 9
to provide them, & I hope the first Vessell from London will bring them; the Severity of the Weather & the Work they have to do gives me concern when I think of their naked Condition; I wish You cou’d purchase some Blankets for the present tho’ I think it cannot be long before they arrive; endeavour to keep them in Spirits for a short Time longer.
You do right in writing to the Treasurer to provide Money You know I am only to grant my Warrant, & when I see him I shall speak to him on that Head.
I shall be glad to have a regular Return of Your Strength to lay be⟨fore⟩ Lord Loudoun when he arrives10—
I wish You Health & remain Sir Your humble Servant
Robt Dinwiddie
LS, DLC:GW; LB, ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers. The bracketed portions in this document have faded to illegibility in the LS copy and have been taken from Dinwiddie’s letter-book copy.
Founders Online Footnotes
1. In his letter to Thomas Walker, 15 Dec. 1756, Dinwiddie wrote: “Your 2 Letters of the 4th & 9th of this Mo: I received, the first mentions yo. have no Doubt of purchasing Provisions sufficient for the forces” (ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers).
2. For the two sets of orders, see the enclosures in Dinwiddie to GW, 16 Nov. and 10 Dec. 1756.
3. For Dinwiddie’s response to Thomas Walker’s stated intention to resign as commissary, see GW to Dinwiddie, 19 Dec. 1756, n.3.
5. The Catawba Indians, who had arrived in Winchester in late October, left Fort Cumberland for Williamsburg on their way home near the end of December. See GW to Robert Dinwiddie, 9 Nov. 1756, n.13. In DLC:GW there are two addresses to the Catawba, both in Adam Stephen’s hand and perhaps written in the name of GW. One, directed to the “Brothers Catabaws,” expressed regret that the warriors were leaving and sorrow “for the Loss of the two Catabaws, and for our five white men.” (For the names of the five lost soldiers and the reappearance of two of the five, see GW to Dinwiddie, 24 May 1757, n.1). The first address went on to say “we are mighty sorry that the 40 Catabaws, which we Expected did not come to war, according to treaty made last spring; We are afraid that they hearken to much to what the traders Say, who tell them many lies, and want them to Stay at home to kill dear, and get Skins for them.” It followed this with a plea that they “tell the Warriors of the Catabaw Nation, that the Road is now Open and Clear, and that we want to Shake hands with them Early in the Spring. . . . We will take a great many Scalps, and prisoners, for which we will get a great deal of money, & thanks from the Gret King George our Common Father.”
The other address, directed to “Capt. Johnne,” the leader of the little party, asked him “to go to the Cherokees, and tell them the Road is now clear and Open; We expected them to War last Spring . . .; but we are mighty Sorry that they hearken so much to the lies the French tell. . . . If they Continue to Listen to What the French Say much longer they will have great cause to be sorry. . . . Tell them we long to Shake hands with them; Let them get their knives and tomhawkes Sharpe . . .” (1756, DLC:GW). See also Dinwiddie to GW, 26 Jan. 1757.
6. For Stephen’s efforts to strengthen Fort Cumberland, see GW to Dinwiddie, 10 Dec. 1756, n.3.
7. See GW’s letter of 19 Dec. 1756.
8. Dinwiddie wrote to Andrew Lewis on 17 Dec. that Col. Peter Randolph would send “one Smith” as an interpreter for the Cherokee (ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers). This was either Richard or Abraham Smith, two brothers often used as interpreters.
9. See John Carlyle to GW, 2 Dec. 1756. Charles Steuart was probably the Norfolk merchant of that name.
10. See the Return of the Virginia Regiment dated 1 Jan. 1757 (DLC:GW). GW enclosed a copy of it in his letter to Dinwiddie, 12 Jan. 1757.
Source
To George Washington from John Robinson, 31 December 1756
From John Robinson
Decr 31. 1756
Dear Sir
I am truly concerned at the uneasiness you are under in your present Situation, and the more so, as I am sensible you have too much reason for it, The Resolution of defending Fort Cumberland and evacuating the other Forts was taken before I knew or mistrusted 1
any thing of the Matter, I must confess I was not a little surprised at it, and took the Liberty to expostulate with many of the Council upon it, who gave me for Answer that Lord Loudon had insisted that Fort Cumberland should be preserved at all Events, and as we had so few Troops, it could not be done without breaking up the small Forts and taking the men from them it was to no Purpose to tell them that our Frontiers would thereby be intirely exposed to our Cruel and Savage Enemy, and that they could receive no Protection from Fort Cumberland, as it was in another Province, and so remote from any of our Inhabitants, and further that by such a Conduct the Act of Assembly which gave the Money solely for the Defence and Protection of our Frontiers would be violated and the Money applied otherwise than the Assembly intended, yet notwithstanding all I could say they persisted in their Resolution without alledging any other reason for it, than that it was in pursuance of Lord Loudon’s desire, it cant be any difficult matter to Guess who was the Author and Promoter of this Advice and Resolution, or by whom my Lord Loudon has been perswaded that the Place is of such Importance, 2
but supposing it was realy so, surely it ought to be defended by the People in whose Province it is or least at the Expence of the three Colonies jointly, and not to leave our own Frontiers exposed for the defence of a Place from which we cant receive the least advantage or Protection, the present unhappy State of our Country must fill the Minds of every well wisher to it with dismal & gloomy Apprehensions, and without some speedy Alteration in our Counsels, which God sends, the Fate of it must soon be determined.
I am extremely sensible of the miserable situation the poor Soldiers are in for want of their Clothes and do from my heart compassionate them for the hardships they must undergo and sincerely wish it was in my Power to relieve them, I was in hopes the Cloths would have come in before this time, as I saw a Letter from the Mercht to whom they were sent for, that they would be shiped the begining of Octr. I think it cant be long before they arrive and I have ordered them up to Alexandria as soon as they come, in the meantime I shall use my utmost Endeavours to procure Blankets for the Poor Soldiers.
I am sorry you should have any Occasion for money again so soon, especialy so large a Sum, as I dont know how you will be supplied with it, for the money that was given by the Assembly for the Payment of the Forces is so near exhausted that I am very sure that there is not in my hands one third part of the Sum that you say will be wanted to clear you off to the first of Janry and how the deficiency will be supplied or how the Forces will subsist till the Assembly meets in Febry I cant imagine; when Capt. Mercer came for the last Money he informed the Committee that the reason of so large a Demand at that time was to pay for the Provisions which were laid in for a Year, and for the pay of the men to the last of November, and we were then in hopes that what was left would be near sufficient to pay the men that would be left to the last of Janry, and then the Assembly when they met would make such further Provision as they should think proper, if any Prejudice should happen to the Service for want of money before the Assembly meets, it must be charged to those by whose Advice the meeting was delayed so long; however I will call a Committee to meet on Monday the3 17th of next month, as I cant possibly do it sooner, and lay your Demands before them, and shall then be ready to pay Mr Kirkpatrick whatever Sum the Committee shall direct.
I am Dr Sir Your Affecte Freind and Obedt Servt
John Robinson
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Robinson was using “mistrusted” as a synonym for suspected.
2. For an indication of Dinwiddie’s dealings with Loudoun with regard to the manning of Fort Cumberland, see Dinwiddie to GW, 10 Dec. 1756, n.4.
3. The MS reads “to.”
Source
A 1757 Christmas
Colonel George Washington is at Mt Vernon. He has dysentery. GW's Dysentery start and end dates? July-Aug 1757 to April 1758.
Along with that, he had some online ordering problems. He had ordered some items from Amazon and they didn't come as of 26 Dec 1757.
My Goods, that is such part as you have sent me I am told will be round from Rappahannock River shortly—I can’t help expressing great concern, and some Surprize at your not sending the following Articles . . .
I have been under concern for sometime past at your long Silence; and have been put to many Shifts, and some Expence for want of my Goods: I have wrote you several times and addressd Copies, to which be referd. . . . I hope you will take the first oppertunity of sending me (if you have not already done it) all the Goods which, from time to time I have wrote for, . . .
On 27 Dec 1757, some boundaries and parcels have not been confirmed.
The Land has never been yet layed off, So that the line to give the three hundred acres must be run.
On 30 Dec 1757 more items needed . .
Since writing the forgoing Letter [of 26 Dec 1757] I find myself in want of the following Articles, besides those containd therein please to send the whole to me therefore by the first Vessel to Potomack or Rappahannock.
A 1758 Christmas
Dr Craik thinks his services are no longer needed. He wants to resign. The medicines were destroyed by an accidental explosion at Fort Cumberland. This explosion occurred Oct 1758 when Maryland's Gov Horatio Sharpe was commanding the Marylanders at Fort Cumberland. And then by November 1758 the fall of the French Fort Duquesne occurred.
And Robert Stewart has trouble with Lt Col Adam Stephen at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. It is true the law passed in Williamsburg was vague about limiting to only one Colonel, meaning maybe both Lt Colonel and Colonel. So Stephen had assumed that meant him. Stewart avers that although Adam Stephen was going to still receive pay without performing the duites of the command and leaving that to Robert Stewart.
On top of that Adam Stephen might be promoted to Colonel anyway. That is alarming.
Douglas Southall Freeman writes "where [Adam] Stephen was, trouble was. …. He had been loyal to Washington . ." But there were issues later over land acquisition and voting in the 1761 election where Stephen ran against Washington.
To George Washington from James Craik, 29 December 1758
From James Craik
Winchester Decr 29th 1758
Dear Sir
Your most kind letter I had the great pleasure to receive, and acknowledge my self under new obligations for your repeated offers of friendship. I wish it may ever be in my power to make you a suitable return for such friendship is seldom to be met with in those days—But to pretend to testifie the just sense I have of your kindness’s would be too troublesome to you, and probably might appear too fullsom. therefore shall only say that they are so great that I shall never be able to repay them—
By Mr Boyd I made bold to trouble you with a letter, in which was inclosed a list of Medecines for the use of the Troops1—The dissapointment I met with in not getting what I wrote for from Fredricksburg (as they could not be had there) makes it absolutely necessary to dispatch of medecines immediatly for the relief of the sick—many are now suffering & I cannot assist them for want of necessaries—
The distruktion of the medicines at Fort Cumberland has been a great misfortune to us. [Footnote 2. There had been an explosion at Fort Cumberland destroying the medicines ]
—In my last to you I mentioned something with regard to myself—Whether or not you thought I had best resign immediatly—If you think the troops are to take the feild soon, and that it would be an injury to the country (in not allowing them time to provide themselves with another) for me to continue any longer—I should be gland you would inform the Govr that I beg leave to resign—And in case you think this most expedient, I have inclosed a list to Mr Boyd, to give to Doctr Carter for my own use: untill I can be supply’d from home [footnote 3 ] —I hope you’l excuse this repeated trouble—And beleive me to be with the greatest sincerity and Respect Dr Sir Your Most
Obliged & Obedt Servt
James Craik
ALS, MH: Jared Sparks Collection.
Founders Online Footnotes
1. GW’s letter to Craik has not been found, but see Craik to GW, 20 Dec. 1758.
2. For a possible explanation of the destruction of medicine at Fort Cumberland, see Fauquier to GW, 7 Oct., n.3, and GW to Fauquier, 30 Oct. 1758, in which an explosion at the fort is reported and described.
3. Doctor Carter is probably Dr. James Carter of Williamsburg.
Source:
From Robert Stewart
Fort Loudoun, Decembr 29th 1758
Dear Sir
Your affectionate and obliging Letter of the 18th Inst. I with infinite pleasure received1 the very genteel manner in which those fresh marks of your disinterested Friendship are therein given at once Demonstrate your refin’d Sentiments of that Celestial virtue so rarely found genuine in this world and your steady perseverence in the prosecution of it—If I know anything of myself I think no distance of time or place can ever diminish that gratitude with which my heart overflows for the particular manner in which you have long been pleas’d to take notice of me.
About 9 days ago Lt Colo. Stephens arrived here.
I immediatly waited on him, shew’d him your Orders and offer’d to give them up to him as Commanding Officer but he before several Officers said that as he understood that the assembly had voted away the Lt Colo. he would no further be concern’d with the Command,2
only to Sign the Discharges of the Drafts upon which I retain’d the Command till yesterday he without giving me the least notice, order’d the Adjutant to make him a Return of the Regiment, and that Jenkins [ he was the pony express of the time ] might be got ready to go to Williamsbg—
as I knew him [referring to Adam Stephen] , was at no loss to account for this extraordinary Behaviour,
and plainly saw his Intentions by Signing the Discharges and Transmitting the Returns was to make it appear to the Governor and you that he Commanded while I did the Duty,
therefore I desir’d he would either take the Sole Command or no part of it, the former he made choice off, as his being reduc’d was not given out in Orders, and I suppose till then he will be entitled to his Pay—should be vastly glad to know from you what is done in that affair and whether he is an officer in your Regiment or not? or if he is what his Rank is?
The Inclos’d came here 2 days ago and as I knew the hand & that it could contain nothing relative to your private affairs I thought it better to open it and see if it was necessary to send an Express with it 3—if I have done amiss I beg you’ll forgive me—my being formerly accustom’d to it in similar cases could alone have induc’d me to use that freedom on this occasion—no Letter came along with it except the Inclosd for Docr Hay; 4 one of the Expresses that went from here proceeded no further than Reas Town where he found the Inclos’d Letters & forwarded those he had for the General by an Express he there met with, going to Loyalhann.
It’s whisper’d here that Lt C. Stephens has receiv’d a Letter from one of the Council intimating the Governor’s intention of giving him the Regt whenever you Resign 5
—I need not tell you how alarming this is to the Corps but as I did not till Just now know of this oppy I’m oblig’d to write you in a great hurry but as an Express will set out in a few days with an address from the Officers to you6 will write you more at leisure—The fear of losing you has struck a general Grief & Dejection in both officers and Soldiers the men have already begun to Desert—no doubt Colo. Stephens has sent you an accot of the Situation of affairs here—I take the Liberty of sending the Inclosd advertisemints to be Publish’d7 and begs leave to Subscribe myself with the highest Esteem & most perfect Regard My Dear Colo. Your most Affecte & Most Obliged humble Servt
Robert Stewart
ALS, DLC:GW.
Founders Online Footnotes
1. Letter not found.
2. The defense act passed in October 1758 provided “that there shall be but one colonel to the said [1st Virginia] regiment” (7 Hening 171–79), and GW was still colonel of his regiment.
3. Stewart’s letter to GW of 31 Dec. indicates that the letter he enclosed here was one from Bouquet, which has not been found.
4. Dr. Peter Hay (d. 1766), of York County, was a well-known physician in the colony.
5. If there was indeed such a letter, it was a mistaken one. Fauquier wrote William Byrd on 23 Jan. 1759: “Colonel Washington has resigned his Command of the Virginia Forces (and is married to his agreeable Widow) This Command is intended for you, on Condition the Assembly, when it meets in February will restore the Officers and put the Regiment upon the former Establishment” (Reese, Fauquier, 1:158–59).
7. Stewart’s “advertisemints” have not been found.
Source:
RESEARCH NOTES
Currently under construction:
Compiled, written by Jim Moyer 12/20/2015, 12/12/2016, 12/18/16, 12/25/2022
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Some may think this is just the view of a “White” Christmas. And they’re right. The Native American, who by now knew the whites by name and their ways were pushed and pulled in so many directions.
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The atrocities that followed were not by strangers but by those who knew each other. They traded with each other. Hunted with each other. Proof? Read the story of Killbuck. And that’s one story of many.
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[Picture of statue of George Washington looking at Guyasuta, one of the Indians on GW’s trip in 1753 to Fort LeBoeuf. Click on location. When map appears, click on red dot. ]
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With such a tidal wave of people hitting what was currently “their” land and the concepts of ownership radically different between the two, this is what happened:
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Letter carriers from Fort Cumberland needed armed escort to reach Winchester VA after the Braddock Expedition Defeat.
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From that July 9 defeat, into the winter of 1755, Fort Cumberland was an island outpost, surrounded by bands of native Americans waiting to pick off any outlyers, any settler still near the fort.
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Burnt cabins. Smoking corpses filleted. Children’s heads bashed in.
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Heart of Darkness
is a story going up the Congo River.
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is a movie based on that story but goes up the Mekong River.
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And this Story?
How about the Potomac River, Kurtz?
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John St Clair thought about blowing up
to make it more navigable
to transport supplies
and troops back and forth
for Major-General Edward Braddock, Generalissimo of H. R. M. Forces in America earlier in 1755.
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LINKS
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Fort Cumberland Name Origin
Named after
Prince William Augustus (26 April 1721 [N.S.] – 31 October 1765)
was the third and youngest son of George II of Great Britain
and Caroline of Ansbach,
He was Duke of Cumberland from 1726.
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He is best remembered for his role
in putting down the Jacobite Rising
at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Despite his triumph at Culloden,
he had a largely unsuccessful military career.
Following the Convention of Klosterzeven in 1757,
he never held active military command
and switched his attentions to politics and horse racing.
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Source
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Initially named Fort Mount Pleasant,
it was renamed Fort Cumberland in 1755 …
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Sources:
extracts from colonial Maryland Gazette September–October 1754
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CAST OF CHARACTERS
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DISAMBIGUATION
Which Lewis was related and
which Lewis was NOT
Short biographies on each Lewis:
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Charles Lewis (b. 1730), a cousin and friend of GW’s,
was a younger brother of Fielding Lewis, GW’s brother-in-law,
and of Warner Lewis, of Warner Hall in Gloucester County,
whose letter to GW of 9 Aug. is referred to here.
Charles Lewis secured a commission as captain
and served under GW in the Virginia Regiment
from Sept. 1755 until mid–1757, leaving the service
after Dinwiddie on 16 May 1757 ordered t
hat the number of captains in the regiment be reduced.
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Our Charles Lewis is related to George Washington,
according to Founders Online Footnote and
a different Charles Lewis is
killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774,
who is the younger brother of Andrew Lewis –
according to this source:
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Joshua Lewis – all correspondence with GW
Not sure if Joshua Lewis is related to
the Charles Smith of George Washington or
the Charles Smith of Andrew Lewis or
to neither.
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MAJOR ANDREW LEWIS FAMILY
Andrew Lewis – all correspondence with GW
Andrew Lewis – Wikipedia bio
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Thomas Lewis – all correspondence with GW.
Thomas Lewis 1718 to 1790 the older brother of Andrew Lewis, was the longtime surveyor of Augusta County. Source is Founders Online. Scroll down to see beginning of footnotes. See his Wikipedia bio.
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William Lewis
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More on Sir John St Clair, Baronet
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Biography in Pennsylvania Magazine 1885, Vol. IX, No.1
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Letters between John St Clair and GW
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EDWARD BRADDOCK
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The history of an expedition against Fort Du Quesne, in 1755; under Major-General Edward Braddock , Generalissimo of H.M.R Forces in America Author Sargent, Winthrop, 1825-1870 Publish Data 1855, 1856
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Wiki Map of Braddock
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