George Mercer Timeline 1750-1757
We created the reenactment group to portray Captain George Mercer and aid de camp to Coloneol George Washington on George Washington's birthday in Feb 2016.
1750
College Boy
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From Page 34 of The Cultural History of Marlborough, Virginia, by C. Malcolm Watkins. 1968 :
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“In 1750 George entered the College of William and Mary. He had a room at William Dering’s house, and the account of “Son’s Maintenance at Williamsburg” provides an interesting picture of a well-to-do college-boy’s expenses, chargeable to his father. Such items as “To Cash pd for Lottery Tickets” (£7 10s. 6d.), “To Covington the Dancing Master … 2.3,” “To Wm Thomson for Taylor’s work” (£1 9s. 6d.), “To pd for Washing” (£1 1s.), and “To Books for sundrys” (£22 4s. 7½d.) show a variety of obligations comparable to those sometimes encountered on a modern campus. The entire account appears in Appendix J.”
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John Fenton Mercer, George Mercer’s brother, also went to William and Mary. He was a Captain when he was killed near Fort Edwards at the Battle of the Great Cacapon, April 18,1756. All four of John Mercer’s sons attended the College of William and Mary.
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Source:
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List of expenses for his son at college:
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1754
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FORT NECESSITY
July 3
George Mercer is wounded at the Battle of Fort Necessity in the rainy night. See roster of the men who were there.
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Picture showing rainy night reviewing surrender terms.
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This was a bad scene as they say in modern parlance. The Virginia Regiment having gotten soaked all day from the rains and their powder wet and surrounded by the pure terror of wondering what the French Indian allies will do to them, got drunk. But the French worried that reinforcements were coming to help the Virginia Regiment, so they invited Washington to surrender on terms that included calling Washington an assassin.
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Early June 1754
George Mercer was a Captain in the Virginia Regiment to Colonel George Washington at least by early June 1754.
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Source
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and the roster at Fort Necessity
added above on Captain rank 9/23/2019
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July 3 1754
MERCER’S ARM WOUND AT THIS BATTLE
Mercer writes from Paris to GW November 28th 1778 about a wound he received at Fort Necessity that has come back to aggravate him.
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I have been confined at least nine Parts out of ten, of my Time since May last, to my Chamber, and very often to my Bed. I was at first siezed with a Rheumatism which after six Weeks Torture fixed on a Scratch, had it not been for the Scar I should perhaps not have remembered or called it a Wound, which I got at Fort Necessity 3d July 1754 on the Arm; but it occasioned a violent Swelling in that Arm, and at Length, after suffering nine Weeks Confinement, an Abscess not less than a Child’s Head formed on the Wound, which was laid open in five different Places and afforded me Relief from my Pain; but it has never since been healed; for more than ten Days together, before another Abscess has succeeded, and my Arm has been laid open six different Times. It is impossible for me dear Sir to describe to you the excruciating Pains I have suffered, besides having totally lost the Use of my Arm, it is the right, (for several Weeks.) I never stirred but once out of the House for eighteen Weeks.
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1755
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CAPT HOGG NOT LIKED
September 6, 1755
George Washington doesn’t like Peter Hogg. Find out why.
Colonel George Washington writes Captain Peter Hogg sending him his commission. Read the footnote to this letter by Founders Online for the long and full story of Peter Hogg. See also the Facebook Page for the 1st Virginia Regiment Hogg’s Company in Kentucky, which was Virginia at the time. Amazingly, later, this same Peter Hogg will get the job that apparently no one else wanted: supervise and build forts on the southwestern frontier.
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This side story is included here just to mention some other companies in the 1st Virginia Regiment of which our Company, Captain George Mercer’s, is a part.
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BIG ORDER OF 17 SEPTEMBER 1755
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Captain George Mercer is appointed aid de camp
17 September 1755
Captain Adam Stephen is appointed Lieutenant Colonel; and Captain Andrew Lewis, Major of the same Regiment—Captain George Mercer, of the Virginia Forces, is appointed aid de Camp to Colonel Washington.
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Uniforms described in the 17 September 1755 order:
Every Officer of the Virginia Regiment, to provide himself as soon as he can conveniently, with a Suit of Regimentals of good blue Cloath; the Coat to be faced and cuffed with Scarlet, and trimmed with Silver: a Scarlet waistcoat, with silver Lace, blue Breeches, and a silver-laced Hat, if to be had, for Camp or Garrison Duty.
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Besides this, each Officer to provide himself with a common Soldiers Dress, for Detachments, and Duty in the Woods.
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GW and MERCER inspecting the frontier
October 22, 1755
Captain Charles Lewis’ Journal: “This night about 9 o’clock we were joined by the Hon’ble Colonel George Washington and Captain George Mercer …”
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Here’s a sampling from Captain Charles Lewis’ Journal of what Colonel George Washington and Captain Mercer A.D.C. (aid de camp) saw on this trip:
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October 22d This day we marched from Sandy Top Mountain to little Cape Capon. The land very good. We encamped this night at a poor man’s house, entirely forsaken, and the people driven off by the Indians. We found here a plenty of corn, oats, and stock of all kinds ; even the goods and furniture of the house were left behind. This night about 9 o’clock we were joined by the Hon’ble Colonel George Washington and Captain George Mercer, A. D, C. Fifteen miles.
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October 23 Very bad weather ; snow and rain. We marched very slow to-day, and arrived at the South Branch, where we encamped at a house on the branch, having come up with Colonel George Washington and Captain Mercer, A. D. C. Nine miles. Very ill-natured people here.
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October 24th A very wet day. We marched to Patterson’s Creek, on which we encamped, in a house deserted. We found here good corn, wheat, and pasturage. Before we marched we discharged our pieces, being wet, and charged them, in expectation of seeing the enemy. Colonel Washington marched before with Captain Ashby’s company of Rangers. Fourteen miles.
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October 25th Marched from Patterson’s Creek. Passed many deserled houses. I was this day very curious in the examination of the mischief done in the houses, and was much shocked at the havoc made by the barbarous, cruel Indians at one Mecraggin’s. I found the master of the family, who had been buried but slightly by his friends after his assassination, half out of the grave, and eaten by the wolves ; the house burnt, the corn-field laid waste, and an entire ruin made. At half-past 6 we arrived at Fort Cumberland, cold and hungry. We had this day, by Major Lewis’s order, two women ducked for robbing the deserted houses. Twenty miles.
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1756
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MERCER’S ORDERS FROM GW
January 9, 1756
Orders from GW: “All the Officers now in town (Winchester VA) are to hold themselves in readiness to attend Lieutenant Colonel Stephens to Fort Cumberland to-morrow; except Captains Stewart, Peachy and Bell.”
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In this same order, GW lists all the companies and their leaders. 2nd Company is Captain George Mercer’s.
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Lieutenant Thomas Bullit, and Ensign George Hedgman are listed with Mercer’s company. By
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See all the orders Washington writes in these several days of January.
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By 12 July 1756 Captain Mercer is listed as captain of the 4th company
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The picture above of the model fort and town shows Fort Loudoun on the hill overlooking Winchester, but it wasn’t built yet. Building won’t start until 5 months from this moment. This model is at the George Washington Office on Cork and Braddock Streets in Winchester VA, and is based on a drawing by a Hessian Prisoner captured almost 20 years later Christmas night 1777 when Washington crossed the Delaware, in the War for Independence from Britain..
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Enclosed is a Commission, appointing you an Ensign in the Virginia Regiment. Colonel Washington has been pleased to appoint you to Captain Bronaugh’s Company—You are therefore ordered to act in that Company, until further orders. Yours &c.
G:M. aid de camp.
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BOSTON TRIP
1 February to 7 April 1756
Captain George Mercer, as aid de camp, accompanies Colonel George Washington on the trip to Boston via Philadelphia, New York, New London, Newport, and Providence.
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Purpose? To See Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, currently Commander of all North America. Why? To ask the Governor to prevent Maryland Captain John Dagworthy from using a prior British commission as authority over a Colonel of a colonial militia or regiment. Another reason? To ask the Governor if the Virginia Regiment officers can have the commissions, pay and authority of the British army.
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5 March 1756
Massachusetts Gov Shirley writes to George Washington for him to relay to Virginia Lt Gov Dinwiddie who will then relay to the Maryland Governor to tell Captain Dagworthy:
Governor Dinwiddie at the Instance of Colonel Washington having referred to me concerning the right of Command, between him and Capt. Dagworthy, and desiring that I would determine it, I do therefore give it as my Opinion that Capt. Dagworthy who now acts under a Commission from the Governor of the Province of Maryland, and where there are no regular Troops join’d, can only take Rank as Provincial Captain and of Course is under the Command of all Provincial Field Officers, and in case it shall happen, that Col. Washington and Capt. Dagworthy should join at Fort Cumberland. It is my Orders that Colonel Washington should take the Command.1
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[Massachusetts] Gov Shirley wrote on 5 Mar. to Dagworthy’s superior, [Maryland] Gov. Horatio Sharpe: “I must desire that Capt. Dagworthy may be removed from Fort Cumberland; or acquainted that if he remains there, he must put himself under the Command of Colonel Washington”
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After a long trip started in February 1, 1756 to Boston to see Governor William Shirley of Massachussetts, who was also Commander in Chief of all NorthAmerican forces, to settle the issue of Capt Dagworthy not submitting to Washington’s command at Fort Cumberland, Washington finally arrives BACK IN WINCHESTER APRIL 7, 1756 to find the frontier in turmoil, and a report about a dead Frenchman, Sieur Douville, who had plans to destroy the depot near Williamsport MD on the Potomac …in the heart of many settler’s forts and homesteads.
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Okay that was a long sentence.
BUT, do you wonder why George Washington chose to make such a long trip knowing Springtime is going to get HIT, really HIT ? GW knew the highway they just built for the failed Braddock Expedition was a two way street. The enemy was going to use it. And they will be coming. Still GW wants to handle that Dagworthy problem.
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So George Washington discovers they did get hit. And so too does his aid de camp, Captain George Mercer, who accompanied GW and his group to Boston. Captain George Mercer learns in a few days his brother was killed and scalped.
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And while Colonel George Washington is handling outrages and horror on the frontier upon arriving in Winchester, 3 days later, on 10 April 1756, Sharpe writes Governor Shirley: “The inclosed Letter I am desired to forward to yr Exllency from Colo Washington & to request you to commissionate & appoint him Second in Command in case these Colonies shall raise a sufficient Number of Troops for carrying on an Expedition or making a Diversion to the Westward this Summer; As Mr Washington is much esteemed in Virginia & really seems a Gentln of Merit I should be exceedingly glad to learn that your Excellency is not averse to favouring his Application & Request” George Washington never gets the Royal commission.
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MERCER’S BROTHER KILLED AND SCALPED
A few letters before the end:
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April 12, 1756
Washington orders George Mercer’s brother, John Fenton Mercer to Fort Edwards on the Cacapon River. Six Days later John Fenton Mercer meets his doom.
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April 15, 1756
Our George Mercer signs his letter, “aid de camp,” in writing his brother, John Fenton Mercer.
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April 17, 1756
George Washington writes again to George Mercer’s brother John Fenton Mercer. One more day until John Fenton Mercer meets his end.
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April 17, 1756
John Fenton Mercer writes of an attack on Captain Ashby’s men. One was shot in the neck. That was Daniel Morgan. This wound stays with him for life. The bullet had entered his neck and crashed out his mouth leaving a scar you can see in a portrait of Daniel Morgan decades later. See story on this in Fort Ashby link. Look for the part on Daniel Morgan.
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April 18, 1756
Battle of the Great Cacapon. Near Fort Edwards. Our captain, Captain George Mercer has a brother who is scalped and slain. His brother was Captain of a different company. Court Martials for cowardice and desertion were held May 2, 3, 4 in Winchester VA after this battle.
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Trouble in the front. Trouble from behind. Trouble on the back country frontier. Trouble with the leaders in Williamsburg.
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On this same day of the battle which GW doesn’t learn until 2am on the 19th, GW is upset to learn that the leaders of Virginia back in Williamsburg think the Virginia Regiment consists of drunkards, embezzlers, gamblers, thieves, street fighters, and men of debauchery and that there seems to be a lack of enforcing discipline and stopping deserters.
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April 19, 1756
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Washington learns of this Battle of the Great Cacapon in which John Fenton Mercer was killed on the 19th at 2am from William Stark’s letter above. GW also thinks Captain Ashby’s report is full of hyperbole and wants an accurate picture.
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GW writes to Harrison to avoid be baited or lured, having learned from William Stark that this is how the disaster at the Battle of the Great Cacapon unfolded. GW writes to Harrison: You are to be very careful that you are not decoyed into any snares of the Enemy: and if you ever detach any parties from the Fort, be sure to cover their retreat; and, if possible, draw them between your Fires, by advancing a Body of men before your main Body; with orders to retreat gradually between your parties, which you must have posted securely for that purpose.
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And GW needs AMMO . . . NOW! GW writes to Lord Fairfax for help:
“…for unless I can throw some Ammunition into Edwards’s Fort to Night, the Remainder of our Party & the Inhabitants that are there, will more than probably fall a Sacrifice to the Indians as the Bearer3 who came off with the inclosed assures Me that the Fort was surrounded, & that an Assault was expect’d to Day.” See more on Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron.
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This battle leads to several Court Martials on 2 May 1756, regarding cowardice, desertion during the battle.
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These court martials contain eye witness accounts of the battle.
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May 3, 1756
George Mercer’s brother’s body is found and recovered.
GW writes Lt Gov Dinwiddie, “…I have sent down an indian scalp which was taken off at the place where Captain Mercer had his Engagement. He was found thrust under some rocks, and stones piled up against them.”
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Over 20 years later George Mercer signs a letter as J. Fenton Mercer, his slain brother, Captain John Fenton Mercer, from that battle, as if a reminder to GW the sacrifices he shared with GW all those years ago.
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MERCER AT A COUNCIL OF WAR IN WINCHESTER VA April 21, 1756 The Captains of the Council of War agreed to stay in Winchester rather than go to Fort Cumberland. “…The most judicious of the Inhabitants solicited our continuation here in the most earnest manner; and represented in the strongest light, the impossibility of their making a stand, should any accident happen to the small party we proposed marching with…”
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See letters Washington writes on the same day of this Council of War in Winchester VA.
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What made this moment that precipitated the decision of the Council of War in Winchester VA famous? An illustration captioned “The People of Winchester Appealing to Washington” in Washington Irving’s Life of Washington (Volume 1 of 4) 1856. made this moment famous. Felix Darley drew it. This picture on left is a copy and not Darley’s original. We’re still looking for the original to show here.
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A painting based on Darley’s drawing appeared on the ceiling of the Empire Theatre on northwest corner of Rouss and Cameron streets. After the Empire Theatre/ Capitol Theatre was torn down, Farmers and Merchants Bank acquired the property and recovered the painting and after restoring it, displayed it in the bank. See Handley Library Archives photos of Empire Theatre.
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In 1932 the bicentennial of Washington’s Birthday, another version was created. The Winchester Frederick County Historical Society commissioned the artist, Burtis Baker. The picture on the right shows a metal engraving used to help Burtis Baker paint his copy. See link at Handley Library Archives.
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The final product by Burtis Baker’s version of Darley’s drawing, still exists in the west wall reading room of Handley Library.
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This is the picture shown here on the right, taken December 2015. Click on any picture on this page to enlarge, then hit backspace to come back here.
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MERCER’S COMPANY TO HELP BUILD FORT LOUDOUN May 18, 1756 This is the date picked as the start of building Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. The French and Indian War Foundation picks the Saturday closest to May 18 to celebrate the start of building Fort Loudoun as Fort Loudoun Day.
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Captain Mercer’s company is picked to provide carpenters to build it – along with carpenters from other companies.
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Washington in Winchester VA writes to Lt Col Adam Stephen (GW’s 2nd in command at Fort Cumberland), ” …I am also detained here [Winchester VA] to construct and erect a fort, which the Governor has ordered to be done with expedition3—As it will be necessary to have a number of Carpenters, &c. to carry on the work with spirit, and vigour; you are desired to send down all the men of Captain George Mercers Company; those that are there of Captain Bells—all the men that are really skilled in masonry: and if all these do not make up fifty—you are to complete the party to that number, out of the best Carpenters in other Companies…”
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See link on A Mercer Company’s Reenactors group is forming.
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MERCER AT COUNCIL OF WAR IN FORT CUMBERLAND July 10, 1756 This council decides that the Virginia Regiment will own building of forts in Old Frederick County and Hampshire County, but the rest of the forts in the rest of Virginia, particularly the southern front will be relegated to a subordinate officer, Captain Peter Hogg.
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THIS JULY 12, 1756 ORDER IS BIG
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MERCER’S ORDERS FROM GW
July 12, 1756
Orders from GW: George Mercer is now Captain of the 4th company and includes Lt Bryan Fairfax, Ensign Denis McCarty.
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This order of 12 July 1756 is a big deal. Lots of information on who was in each company of the Virginia Regiment. The 2nd Virginia Regiment was not yet created. Captain Mercer originally headed the 2nd company on 9 January 1756 and now is listed as the 4th company 12 July 1756 .
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For Re-enactors:
How to Name a Company
in this Virginia Regiment
before a 2nd VA Regiment was formed in 1758.
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The 17 September 1755 order names Captains in no particular order with no numbering for companies.
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The 12 July 1756 order numbered the companies.
The 9 July 1756 order numbers the companies too.
But . . . .
The 9 July 1756 order switches Captains, where Adam Stephen now has no company and the 2nd Company he headed is now Captained by George Mercer.
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Then George Mercer becomes heads 4th Company in Order of
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George Mercer’s company:
Angus McDonald, enl. 5 Mar. 1754 in King George County, 21, 5′10″, seaman, from Scotland; John Matthews, enl. 12 Jan. 1755 in Dinwiddie County, 43, 6′, sawyer, English, “knocked Knees & Speaks thick”; John Grinnon, enl. 25 Nov. 1754 in Stafford County, 19, 5′10″, carpenter, Virginian; Samuel French, enl. 1 Dec. 1754 in Fairfax County, 27, 5′10″, sawyer, from Maryland; John Pope, enl. 22 Dec. 1754 in Prince William County, 18, 5′7″, carpenter, Virginian, “a fresh Look”; Benjamin Barrett, enl. 18 May 1756 in Prince George County, 24, 5′7″, seaman, Irish (2 Aug. 1756, DLC:GW).
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This July 12, 1756 order makes clear: “Sergeants and Corporals;8 who are not to be broke or changed, but by the Sentence of a Court Martial—or particular orders from the Colonel: as such practices have made great confusion in the Regiments”
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This is the letter of 12 July 1756 lists 17 companies of the Virginia Regiment:
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MERCER REPORTS A DESERTER WHO IS LATER HANGED
September 1, 1756
Ignatius Edwards was a soldier in Capt. George Mercer’s company, and Mercer reported him a deserter on 1 Sept. 1756.
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See more on this story.
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Ignatius Edwards returned to the regiment after being drafted in June 1757. Court Martial held on Ignatius and others at Fort Loudoun noted, “he had already been twice pardoned for the villanous & shameful Crime of Desertion.” On July 29, 1757 this soldier and one other was hanged for desertion.
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Ignatius Edwards was a 25 year old, height 5’11, first an artificer or carpenter for Capt. Peachey, building Fort Loudoun in the summer of 1756 and then a soldier listed in Capt George Mercer’s Company returns.
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The first day of the trial was spent only on Ignatius Edwards. The other 20 or so deserters were sentenced all on the second day. The jurors spent time on Ignatius Edwards. He might have been one of the good guys and so the example of hanging this deserter would have more impact. There was concern here. Because depositions of witnesses were taken AFTER the hanging as well. See another link on this.
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This may be the first hanging in Winchester VA and it might be the first hanging ever by George Washington.
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CAPTAIN MERCER TESTIFIES IN 2 TRIALS
10 October 1756
Colonel Washington has now been on his journey to Augusta &c. since the 29th September.
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Per Founders Online Footnote:
” 1. Mercer was going down to the general court to give evidence in the case against the counterfeiter James Knap and to testify in James Lemen’s trial. See GW to Dinwiddie, 4 Aug. 1756, n.23, and Orders, 22, 23 Aug. 1756.”
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CAPTAIN GEORGE MERCER RETRIEVES DESERTERS
December 3, 1756
“All the Officers in town except the Adjutant and Ensign Smith with 25 men, to provide themselves with Horses immediately, and pursue the 18 men that deserted last night…”
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December 4, 1756
GW only 2 days now living in Fort Loudoun explains to Lt Gov Dinwiddie about the cause of the recent desertions:
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“. . . a very base and villainous scheme has been discovered; which has been I believe, the sole cause of 18 Soldiers deserting from us last night. The Gentleman concerned is our (late Ensign) Denis McCarty . . . He boasts the power & authority of enlisting Deserters and Delinquents of any kind whatever. With these pretences &c. his ungenerous principles, he scandalously & underhandedly seduced these, and I am afraid many more to abandon their duty and desert the Service.”
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December 10, 1756
Mission Accomplished:
“Capt. Mercer returned the 7th with sixteen of the Deserters; the other two escaped his diligence. . . They confirm the suspicion of Mr McCarty’s villany, by confessing, he had inveigled them with promises of protection, rewards, and good usage! and a deep-laid plan was concerted for accomplishing his base designs, binding each individual with an oath to follow him; to stand true to each other in case of being pursued; to kill the officer who attempted the command: and in case of a separation, private instructions to repair to McCarty, or some of his friends, who were to receive and entertain them. “
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December 20, 1756
MERCER PUT IN CHARGE OF FORT LOUDOUN
GW had moved in to Fort Loudoun 2 December 1756 after paying a year’s rent to Cox Tavern, 21 S Loudoun St Winchester VA.
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GW having only been 18 days in his new quarters at Fort Loudoun must now go to Fort Cumberland and designates Captain Mercer as head officer of Fort Loudoun.
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1757
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MERCER HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BUILDING FORT LOUDOUN
January 12, 1757
Colonel George Washington writes from Fort Cumberland to Lt Gov Dinwiddie, “When I left Winchester, I gave directions about carrying on the works at Fort Loudoun with all possible dispatch, but a letter from Captain Mercer .. informs me that they are at a loss in respect to the manner of making the ambrasures thro the parapet; although I gave directions in person before I came away on this head; they propose a method that will spoil the whole work. And as I could not make them sensible of my plan by instruction only when present, I have little hope of accomplishing it by writing, consequently I am reduced to a disagreeable dilemmma.”
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Early April 1757
MERCER ET AL RECOMMEND KENNEDY FOR QUARTER MASTER
Footnote by Founders online to a letter Captain Mercer sends to GW early April 1757 :
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David Kennedy, a young Scot identified as a merchant by profession, served as a commissary for the troops at Maidstone while acting as a sergeant in Robert Stewart’s company. He went to Fort Cumberland in July 1756 to become the assistant commissary there and remained until at least as late as January 1757. He succeeded John Hamilton as quartermaster of the Virginia Regiment in October 1757 after Hamilton fled before he could be prosecuted for selling regimental supplies to the inhabitants of Winchester.
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MERCER GREETS 148 CHEROKEE
AT FORT LOUDOUN WINCHESTER VA
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For this story of the Cherokee not receiving their presents yet still go on to scout for the Virginia Regiment even bringing back prisoners, see:
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April 21,22 , 1757
“Thursday and Friday last came to Town [Winchester] 148 Cherokees, with Major [Andrew] Lewis, and yesterday I spoke to them, as they did not chuse an Interview sooner.”.
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Mercer goes on to write that the Cherokee felt lied to and now their own young men of their Cherokee nation feel lied to by their own leaders.
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The phrase of “giving presents” means supplies of blankets, shoes, weapons, etc. The phrase of “treated as children” means to treat the Indians with the favor of giving them needed and nice things, like they would do so with their own children.
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So Mercer makes a promise to mollify the angry Cherokee.
To all this I replied in the best
and warmest Terms I possibly could,
and told them I was willing
to give them any security they could desire,
that the Presents should be here
ready for them at their Return;
that if they had it,
they would be obliged to leave it here in my Care,
it would be too heavy for them to carry to War;
and I told them,
they must look upon it in that Light,
that I had the present in the House
keeping for them ’till their Return,
that all their Things might look new & clean;
and urged them again to take the Wampum
as a Token that I spoke nothing but the Truth.
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He really can’t keep it because:
1. Mercer is ordered to Charleston SC with Lt Col Adam Stephen
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3. Lt Gov Dinwiddie and House of Burgessses did no follow up to supply those “presents,” as indicated in GW’s letter to Dinwiddie 24 May 1757.
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See Cherokee Allies
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VA REGIMENT LEAVES FORT CUMBERLAND May 5, 1757 Washington’s Virginia Regiment is FINALLY relieved of the responsibility (and so is a relieved George Washington who did not want to garrison Fort Cumberland, much less thought the fort itself was not in a good spot) leaving it only to Maryland’s Captain John Dagworthy who insisted his old British commission made him a higher rank than a colonial Colonel. See link on Council of War about the issues of Fort Cumberland itself.
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See excerpt below taken from this link: http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-04-02-0073 :
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“3. Dinwiddie wrote Horatio Sharpe on 5 April 1757 that he had ordered GW to send 200 men down from Fort Cumberland to be sent to South Carolina, “not doubting but You have order’d Your Forces to garison the Fortress in the room of the Virginians” (Browne, Sharpe Correspondence description begins William Hand Browne, ed. Correspondence of Governor Horatio Sharpe. 3 vols. Archives of Maryland, vols. 6, 9, and 14. Baltimore, 1888–95. description ends , 1:537). On 5 May Sharpe wrote Dinwiddie in response: “Before Colo. Washington left Annapolis I gave him a Letter to Capt Dagworthy to be delivered as soon as the Colo should receive your orders to withdraw the Virginians from Fort Cumberland & I learn in pursuance of my Instructions Capt Dagworthy has taken Possession of that place with a Detachment of 150 effective Men from the Troops in the Pay of this Province” (ibid., 548–49). See GW to Dinwiddie, 2 April 1757, n.5.”
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BIG REORGANIZATION Mercer retains his Captaincy. Others lose their Company. 16 May 1757 Lt Gov Dinwiddie writes to GW, that the Virginia Regiment has been too costly and top heavy with officers and so per the reorganization plan adopted by House of Burgesses on April 20, 1757, that, “…The said Regiment shall Consist only of ten Companies, of one hundred Men each—that all the Captains but Seven, be reduced1—Those I have thought proper to continue, are Captains Mercer[George Mercer], Waggoner [Thomas Waggener], Stewart [Robert Stewart], Joshua Lewis [Joshua Lewis], Woodward [Henry Woodward], Spotswood [Alexander Spotswood], and McKenzie [Robert McKenzie] …”
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Losing their companies would be Captains David Bell, William Bronaugh, Thomas Cocke, Henry Harrison, Charles Lewis, John Savage.
The Virginia Regiment was reduced from 16 Companies to 10.
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Five Companies to protect Virginia.
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“Four of the said Companies be sent to the Assistance of South-Carolina, ” is part of House of Burgesses’ five resolutions on 20 April 1757.
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“One Company to garison the Fort lately built in the Cherokee Country… , ” is part of House of Burgesses’ five resolutions on 20 April 1757.
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Another Big Change:
George Washington loses the job of talking to the Indians.
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Conjecture: With all the complaints by the Indians and complaints by Washington and his men regarding the mishandling of presents for the Indians, Lt Gov Dinwiddie decides to put someone else in charge of handling the Indians.
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George Washington and his Regiment is to discontinue any parley, any communications with the Indian allies. Edmond Atkin from South Carolina is to take over that job, with a title similar to the one given Sir William Johnson who handles the northern Indian allies. The Act of Union in 1707 gave opportunity to many Scots, possibly similar on a surface level to Affirmative Action policies of today.
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3 June 1757 Edmond Atkin arrives in Winchester VA as superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern colonies, a position he persuaded the Board of Trade to create.
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See Cherokee Allies.
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posted on wix website 7/31/2023 but using date at 2/23/2016
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