Drafting Men
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One of Colonel George Washington's instructions to the drafting of men 1 July 1757:
. . . endeavour to give these men
a favourable opinion
of the way of life they are entered upon,
by treating them with kindness and humanity,
the most effectual means of removing those strange prejudices which the common people have in general against it.
As long as they are NOT . . .
subject to fits,
or that have ulcers or old sores on their legs,
or any other disease that renders them incapable of service—
nor that are under five feet four inches high;
unless active and well-built.
Want more on the status of those drafted
and brought to Winchester
to garrison and
build Fort Loudoun?
Founders Online notes where they came from:
Gloucester County (16 men),
James City County (2 men),
King and Queen County (9 men),
Lancaster County (7 men),
Middlesex County (6 men),
Northumberland County (3 men), and
Williamsburg (5 men).
Founders Online notes how many were drafted to work on building Fort Loudoun:
In his paper book of memoranda described in the source note of his Memoranda, 7 June 1757, GW gives the names of nineteen “men draughted from the Artificers to do Garrison Duty for a Time,” the names of
twelve draftees brought to Winchester from Prince William County,
eight from King George County,
nine from Stafford County,
twelve from Culpeper County, and
nine from Fairfax County (NN: Washington Collection).
More lists of drafted men by a Founders Online note:
But see also GW to John Robinson, 10 July 1757, n.7. For the names of the eleven men drafted in King George County, see GW to Charles Carter, 2 July 1757, n.3. For references to other lists, see GW to Dinwiddie, 3 Aug. 1757, n.2.
And now some of the Rejects:
Colonel George Washington writes from [Fort Loudoun, 2 July 1757]
To Colo. Henry Fitzhugh of Stafford, the County Lieutenant in charge of recruiting in his county:
Sir, Nine Draughts from your county were brought to this place by Captn Conway; six of whom I have given receipts for, the other three are discharged as unfit for Service—Capt. Conway lost two others by desertion, as he was bringing them up
Colonel George Washington writes from [Fort Loudoun, 2 July 1757]
To Charles Carter esquire; County-Lt of King-George, , the County Lieutenant in charge of recruiting in his county:
Dr Sir,
Eight Draughts from your county were brought to this place by Captn Rowley;1 for seven of whom I have given a receipt; the other, John Ryley, was rejected, on account of his having been in the Regiment several months before; and, by means of sickness, &c. never did a days duty, and was of course discharged.2 The same cause still existing, has discouraged me, a second time, from accepting him, to subject the country to the like needless expence.
Capt. Rowley had three men deserted from him on his march3—As this will be the case in all the counties, we shall fall greatly short of our complement, unless the commanding officer in each will exert himself in apprehending a sufficient number to send in their room.
SOURCES
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First Letter:
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[Fort Loudoun, 1 July 1757]
By George Washington Esq; Colonel of the Virginia Regimt and Commander of all the Virginia Forces.
To Major Andrew Lewis—
Sir,
You are to proceed to Fredericksburgh—where you are to remain for the reception of the Draughts for the Regiment.1
You are to take their names,
size,
complexion,
age,
country,
and former employment;
and the Officers names who deliver them:
specifying the number you receive from each officer;
to whom you are to give a receipt for them2—
You must not receive any that are subject to fits,
or that have ulcers or old sores on their legs,
or any other disease that renders them incapable of service—
nor that are under five feet four inches high;
unless active and well-built.
You are to order them up here in parties as they are;
and to transmit me, by the commanding Officer of each of the parties, an exact muster-roll of his command—You are to give the Officers of these commands, orders to be particularly careful, and to use every precaution to prevent desertion.
You are to procure provisions for them upon the best terms you can; and see they are properly supplied: They are to get nothing but provisions, ’till their arrival here; when they will receive necessaries of every kind.
You are to continue at Fredericksburgh, to march up the last of them ordered to rendezvous at that place, unless you shall receive a counter-mand.
You are to keep exact copies of the receipts you give for the Draughts:
and endeavour to give these men a favourable opinion of the way of life they are entered upon, by treating them with kindness and humanity, the most effectual means of removing those strange prejudices which the common people have in general against it.
If any of them shou’d desert, you are to write to the commanding officer of the county whence they came, informing him of it; and begging his aid in apprehending and sending them to the Regiment. Given at &c.
G:W. July 1st 1757.
LB, DLC:GW.
1. For Dinwiddie’s instructions about the drafts at Fredericksburg and the actions taken by GW, see Dinwiddie to GW, 20, 24, 27 June, and GW to Dinwiddie, 27 June 1757.
2. In DLC:GW there are size rolls for the men drafted in 1757 from
Gloucester County (16 men),
James City County (2 men),
King and Queen County (9 men),
Lancaster County (7 men),
Middlesex County (6 men),
Northumberland County (3 men), and
Williamsburg (5 men).
In his paper book of memoranda described in the source note of his Memoranda, 7 June 1757, GW gives the names of nineteen “men draughted from the Artificers to do Garrison Duty for a Time,” the names of
twelve draftees brought to Winchester from Prince William County,
eight from King George County,
nine from Stafford County,
twelve from Culpeper County, and
nine from Fairfax County (NN: Washington Collection).
But see also GW to John Robinson, 10 July 1757, n.7. For the names of the eleven men drafted in King George County, see GW to Charles Carter, 2 July 1757, n.3. For references to other lists, see GW to Dinwiddie, 3 Aug. 1757, n.2.
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2nd letter
. [Fort Loudoun, 2 July 1757]
To Colo. Henry Fitzhugh of Stafford
Sir, Nine Draughts from your county were brought to this place by Captn Conway; six of whom I have given receipts for, the other three are discharged as unfit for Service—Capt. Conway lost two others by desertion, as he was bringing them up:1 and as this will be the case with all the Draughts, we shall fall greatly short of our complement, unless the commanding Officer in each county respectively will exert himself in apprehending those which come under the letter of the Law, to supply their places.
I hope, Sir, it is needless to urge the necessity of this obvious measure, to you. I shall only say, that we stand greatly in need of men, to supersede the necessity of sending out your Militia upon every alarm, as is now the case; as well as to render that assistance to the poor distressed Settlers on the Frontiers, which they have a right to expect and which it is absolutely necessary to afford them. I am Sir, Yrs &c
. G:W. July 2d 1757. LB, DLC:GW.
Henry Fitzhugh (1723–1783) was county lieutenant for Stafford.
1. This was militia captain Withers Conway. GW discharged John Conway for “being Puny, Sickly & Dropsical”; Francis Brooks, “too low & Weakly & Old”; and Edmond Bowling, “renderd unfit for service by an old hurt in his Hip” (drafts for Stafford County, n.d., NN: Washington Collection).
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Third Letter:
To Charles Carter [Fort Loudoun, 2 July 1757] To Charles Carter esquire; County-Lt of King-George.
Dr Sir,
Eight Draughts from your county were brought to this place by Captn Rowley;1 for seven of whom I have given a receipt; the other, John Ryley, was rejected, on account of his having been in the Regiment several months before; and, by means of sickness, &c. never did a days duty, and was of course discharged.2 The same cause still existing, has discouraged me, a second time, from accepting him, to subject the country to the like needless expence.
Capt. Rowley had three men deserted from him on his march3—As this will be the case in all the counties, we shall fall greatly short of our complement, unless the commanding officer in each will exert himself in apprehending a sufficient number to send in their room. I am fully satisfied there need few arguments to convince you of this, and of the great demand we have for men.
I know you want no stronger motive than that of which you are already possess’d (vizt the love of your country) to promote the honor & interest of its Service. I am Sir, your most obedt Hble Servant,
G:W. Ft Loudoun: July 2d 1757. LB, DLC:GW.
Charles Carter (1707–1764) of Cleve, one of the most powerful men in the House of Burgesses, was a strong supporter of GW as commander of the Virginia Regiment
. 1. William Rowley, Jr. (died c.1774), remained active in the affairs of King George County until his death.
2. According to his accounts, GW paid £25 in bounties for draftees and volunteers from King George County. See GW to John Robinson, 10 July 1757, n.7.
3. In GW’s letter book immediately after his letter of this date to Henry Fitzhugh is the following memorandum: “Draughts sent by Colo. Charles Carter, of King-George county, under the command of Capt. Wm Rowley—vizt—Wm Patishall, Moses Rawkins [Rankins], Courtney Tanner, Wm Morrison, John Ryley, James Martin, Richard Underwood, Edwd Murphy, John Rose, John Sacry, and Edward Jones.” The list of draftees from King George County in GW’s paper book (see GW to Andrew Lewis, 1 July 1757, n.2) does not include the names Patishall, Morrison, Underwood, Edward Murphy, Rose, and Sacry; and the names Patrick Murphy, John McFarlin, and John Fugate have been added.
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