Goodbye George Washington, Hello William Byrd III
Gloom. Anxiety. Worry. That's on the minds of those who await the new boss. But that's not on a new boss's mind. A new boss wants to make their mark. Establish their territory. The concerns of those who await their new boss? They only matter if it fits the new boss' needs and visions. It's hard enough to establish control and eminence let alone give into the chaos awaiting their command. Control the scene first. A new boss is often an unknowing wrecking ball.
Their new leader?
William Bryd III.
He had been Colonel of the 2nd Virginia Regiment created on 12 April 1758 and expiring 1 Dec 1758. He was already aware of what the position needs. But he had his own issues. He would later resign the new position in 1761. Many years later he will cause his own death on 1 or 2 Jan 1777 allegedly for the pressure and destruction his gambling debts will cause this formerly richest man of Virginia, whose wife is allegedly to have committed suicide in 1760. See Virginia encylopedia entry and Wikipedia entry. Not all is correct, but both are good starting points to help you search for more.
This man's second in command?
Lt Colonel Adam Stephen.
Stephen thought he had actually lost his job. And he did. But he gained it back under the newly constituted Virginia Regiment. As previously mentioned, the 2nd Virginia Regiments' term of service expired 1 Dec 1758.
So that left only one Virginia Regiment again.
The French were gone for now. But the Indians aren't. And who knows if both will re-unite again.
So this Virginia Regiment remains in service until 1762, just one year short of hostilties resuming.
Ask Shawneeland in Frederick Co Virginia where the Clowser House is.
Ask them if they could have used the Virginia Regiment in 1763 and 1764?
So here's a salute and an appreciation for Colonel Washington.
The men at Fort Loudoun composed a message to their Colonel George Washington who will no longer lead them. They mention their worries. They are very appreciative of the character that made up their Colonel George Washington.
On 31 Dec 1758 this message was constructed at Fort Loudoun.
Adam Stephen was not a part of this appreciation for Colonel George Washington.
“…where Stephen was, trouble was,”
wrote Douglas Southall Freeman
author of an extensive multi volume bio on Young George Washington, page 256, Volume II, Chapter on Rebuilding the Regiment (Summer of 1757), published 1948.
Robert Stewart whose name adorns a street in Winchester Va writes of his concerns on Adam Stephen.
Captain Robert Stewart writes from Fort Loudoun, Decembr 29th 1758 his take on Lt Col Adam Stephen’s behavior:
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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
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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
Founders Online Footnote 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.
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only to Sign the Discharges of the Drafts upon which I retain’d the Command till yesterday
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he without giving me the least notice, order’d the Adjutant to make him a Return of the Regiment, and that Jenkins might be got ready to go to Williamsbg—
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as I knew him, was at no loss to account for this extraordinary Behaviour,
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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,
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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,
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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?
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Here are the officers who signed this appreciation.
Here's who is missing on that list.
Founders Online footnote tells you:
The two columns of names appear in the manuscript as they do here, but it was certainly intended by this arrangement that Stewart’s name head the list followed by the other captains, McNeill, Woodward, McKenzie, and Bullitt.
Among the names of the senior officers of the regiment missing are those of
Lt. Col. Adam Stephen
who left Fort Loudoun on 29 Dec. (see Stewart to GW, that date),
Maj. Andrew Lewis
who was a prisoner of the French,
Capt. Thomas Waggener
who was in Pittsburgh,
Capt. Walter Steuart
who, after being wounded in September, had gone to New York, and
Ens. Thomas Gist,
who was also wounded and held prisoner by the Indians.
All of the officers have been identified in this or earlier volumes of the Papers, Colonial Series description beginsW. W. Abbot et al., eds. The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series. 10 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1983–95.description ends.
This is the last in a series covering 1758 in 2022.
For 2023 we will cover highlights in 1759 along with other topics related to George Washington and Fort Loudoun.
That's it.
That's our lead story.
There's always more.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2015, 2017, updated 1/1/2023, updated 306pm 1/1/2023, 1/2/2023, 1/4/2023
Sources:
Founders Online letters
Address from the Officers of the Virginia Regiment, 31 December 1758
To George Washington from Robert Stewart, at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA29 December 1758
William Byrd III
Virginia Regiment
Clowser House - Pontiac War attacks
Timeline
1758 Dec COLONEL WASHINGTON RESIGNS
by Jim Moyer compiled in 2015, latest updates 12/13/2016, 2017, updated 2022, 1/2/2023
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December 20, 1758
First evidence of
Col George Washington Resigning
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“…We are very anxious here to know the fate of the Troops, and who will be Commander. When the Regiment meets with that irrepareable lose, loseing you—The very thoughts of this lyes heavy on the whole whenever they think of it—and dread the consequences of your resigning3 . . .”
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3. This is the first reference in GW’s surviving correspondence to his impending departure from the regiment that he had commanded since September 1755.
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December 29, 1758
Concerns over Adam Stephen
Captain Robert Stewart writes from Fort Loudoun, Decembr 29th 1758 his take on Lt Col Adam Stephen’s behavior:
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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
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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
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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 might be got ready to go to Williamsbg—
.
as I knew him, 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?
31 December 1758
APPRECIATIVE ADDRESS TO COLONEL WASHINGTON
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See “The humble Address of the Officers of Virginia Regiment” to Colonel Washington
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Written in Captain Robert Stewart’s hand, written from Fort Loudoun, Winchester VA.
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10 January 1759
See George Washington’s response 10 January 1759
To the Officers of the Virginia Regiment To Captain Robert Steward and Gentlemen Officers of the Virginia Regiment.1 My dear Gentlemen.
From GW in New Kent County 10th Janry 1759
Founders Online footnotes to GW's thankyou back to his men: Copy, David Humphreys’ biographical sketch of GW, c.August 1786, PPRF. For a description of Humphreys’ sketch, see Papers, Colonial Series, 1:173.
1. It is not known what day GW received the Address from the Officers of the Virginia Regiment, 31 Dec. 1758, to which this is a response.
2. Presumably the “uncommon difficulties” were his sometimes strained relations with Gov. Robert Dinwiddie and his disagreements during the past summer with Bouquet and Forbes about the road that the army should take to Fort Duquesne.
3. In the minutes of the next meeting of the council there is no reference to an address from the Virginia Regiment. In the officers’ address of 31 Dec. to GW there is no indication that they wished GW to present that address, or any other, to the governor or council. See, however, Robert Stewart’s reference to “advertisemints” enclosed in his letter of 29 Dec. 1758.
Source
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Later on 23 January 1759
William Byrd III appointed officially
(appointed 26 January 1758, took office 5 June 1758)
wrote William Byrd on 23 Jan. 1759:
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“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”
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Source from footnote 5 of Founders Online:
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(Reese, Fauquier description begins George Reese, ed. The Official Papers of Francis Fauquier, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1758–1768. 3 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1980–83. description ends , 1:158–59)
26 February 1759
Resolution of the House of Burgesses, 26 February 1759
Col. William Byrd returned to Winchester in April 1759 to take command of the Virginia Regiment and was there as late as 4 June. Fauquier wrote Byrd in New York on 23 Jan. 1759 offering him the command of GW’s old regiment. See Founders Online source.
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Lt. Edward Hubbard of the Virginia Regiment wrote a letter to Bouquet on 9 March 1759 from Winchester: “The Virga Assembly have Voted the Recruiting this Regt to a Thousand. And I hear offer’d the Command to Col. Wm Byrd. Col Washington has Recievd the thanks of the House for his Services …”
Washington resigned before
Timeline for Surveyor 1752 and Adjutant positions 1753
10 June 1752:
Lt Gov Dinwiddie receives request for job by George Washington.
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25 October 1752:
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13 December 1752:
Lt Gov Dinwiddie and Council create adjutant for the Southern District
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30 October 1753:
Commission from Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Washington becomes Adjutant for the Southern District and has rank of Major.
Timeline for quitting in 1754 and 1755 and rehires
In October 1754 Washington presents the expense account and resigns.
Washington is hired 14 May 1755 by Braddock directly,
as an unpaid volunteer Aid de Camp, with hopes of maybe a British Commission.
See 26 July 1755 letter from Lt Gov Dinwiddie to Washington after the Braddock Expedition.
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Washington hired as a paid COLONEL of all of Virginia’s Regiments by Lt Gov Dinwiddie 14 August 1755.
Scroll down past the advertising to see: Washington Timeline
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Byrd's Wife
Founders Online footnote from a letter To George Washington from John Kirkpatrick, 14 August 1756:
3. Sometime after his return in April from his mission with Peter Randolph to the Cherokee, William Byrd III (1728–1777) sent his three oldest children (ages 7, 5, and 4) to live with relatives in England; put the management of his affairs in the hands of his business manager, three friends, and two brothers-in-law; and went off to join Loudoun in New York, leaving behind at Belvidere at the falls of the James River his wife Elizabeth Hill Carter Byrd and two babies. Byrd later succeeded GW as colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment and was with the regiment in 1760 when his wife was killed by accident or died by her own hand.
Source
added 1/4/2023
Sundry Notes for later use
Compiled by Jim Moyer 2015, updated 8/13/2017
Hire and Resign Dates Summarized
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30 October 1753: Commission from Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Washington becomes Adjutant for the Southern District and has rank of Major.
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20 March 1754 Lieutenant Colonel’s commission from Dinwiddie
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4 June 1754 Lt Gov Dinwiddie still in Winchester VA, sends Washington his promotion to Commander of the VA Regiment with Innes as overall commander of the united forces from North Carolina, VA, MD.
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October 1754: Washington RESIGNS and presents the expense account .
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Adam Stephen succeeds GW as head of the VA Regiment.
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Braddock appointed GW his third aide-de-camp on 10 May 1755, the day that the general and GW arrived at Fort Cumberland. This is an unpaid position for GW. He volunteers for opportunity.
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August 14, 1755: After the Braddock Campaign ended in disaster Washington was reappointed by Virginia. George Washington is appointed Colonel and Commander in Chief of all Virginia Regiments. This Founders Online Link surmises GW takes the reigns most likely September 1, 1755.
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September 17, 1755 George Washington at Fort Cumberland announces all promotions including his own to Colonel:
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George Washington Esquire, is by His Honor Governour Dinwiddie, appointed Colonel of the Virginia Regiment, and Commander in Chief of all the Forces that now are, and shall be Raised &c. &c.
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And here is the first organization after Braddock’s Defeat, the 16 companies and their officers.
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Colonel Washington RESIGNS from service in the French and Indian War
31 December 1758
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Chronology before the rehire:
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10 June 1752: Lt Gov Dinwiddie receives request for job by George Washington.
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25 October 1752: GW quits the profession of surveying after the last survey
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13 December 1752: Lt Gov Dinwiddie and Council create adjutant for the Southern District
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30 October 1753: Commission from Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Washington becomes Adjutant for the Southern District and has rank of Major.
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First adventurous Journey to “Ohio Country”
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31 October 1753 to 16 January 1754
Washington delivers message to French to leave. The story in this excellent link is printed in London and was printed in Maryland Gazette 21 & 28 March 1754 and the Boston Gazette 16 April–21 May 1754.
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Highlights consist of meeting Indians at Logstown, French manipulating Indians to stay and not leave with Washington, being shot at and Washington falling in an icy river and staying overnight on an island. This is a lively story. A wonderful one to dazzle children and adults. A video game, Assassin’s Creed popularizes this trip Washington and Gist makes coming back in the icy waters. Christopher Gist writes of this trip too. His story starts in Will’s Creek (Fort Cumberland) meeting up with Washington and ends back at Wills Creek.
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Links for Washington’s first trip to the “Ohio country.”
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1. Founders Online, excellent footnotes to this first trip.
2. Archive.org link, literally a page turner Printed in London.
3. Digital Link file. Ctrl F to find anything to research.
4. Christopher Gist’s journal 14 Nov 1753 to 6 Jan 1754.
5. Life Magazine article on Washington’s journey
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By the way, Christopher Gist begot Nathaniel Gist who begot Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee Alphabet.
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Guyasuta (c.1725–c.1794) was an important leader of the Seneca was on this trip with Washington
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Founders Online review of interim leading up to this 2nd journey
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February-March 1754 letter from Washington to Corbin, Royal Council member: “…you gave me some room to hope for a commission above that of a Major, and to be ranked among the chief officers of this expedition…”
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20 March 1754 Lieutenant Colonel’s commission from Dinwiddie
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October 1754: Washington presents the expense account and resigns.
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Second Adventurous Journey
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31 March 1754 to 27 June 1754 views of Washington’s journal:
1. Founders Online Washington’s journal of the 2nd expedition.
2. Library of Congress Washington Diaries link of same.
3. Archive.org page turner of same, published 1893
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Edward Ward, an Ensign in a militia company under Captain William Trent in the pay of Virginia tells of Captain William Trent’s exploits during Washington’s 2nd expedition
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17 April 1754 Edward Ward surrenders to the French the fort Trent’s forces built at the Ohio forks. See entry of 23 April 1754 War Council at Fort Cumberland at bottom of page on this.
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4 May 1754 Lt Gov Dinwiddie writes to Lt Col Washington to have Capt Trent and Lt Fraser courtmartialed and states this to Col Joshua Fry too.
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20 May 1754 Lt Gov Dinwiddie in Winchester VA awaiting the Twightwees (Miami Indians) , 25 May 1754 letter, 1 June 1754 letter, same day 2nd letter, 2 June 1754 stating rum is coming and a speech for Half King and meeting with prisoner La Force and other prisoners from the Jumonville Incident
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29 May 1754 Washington describes Jumonville Incident to Col Joshua Fry
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31 May 1754 Joshua Fry, Commander in Chief, falls off horse, dies
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4 June 1754 Lt Gov Dinwiddie still in Winchester VA, sends Washington his promotion to Commander of the VA Regiment with Innes as overall commander of the united forces from North Carolina, VA, MD.
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3 July 1754 Journal ends before defeat of Washington at Fort Necessity. See roster of men there.
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October 1754: Washington presents the expense account and resigns.
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As unpaid volunteer for Braddock Expedition
George Washington later in 1755, taking the role of an assistant to General Braddock.
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Braddock appointed GW his third aide-de-camp on 10 May 1755, the day that the general and GW arrived at Fort Cumberland.
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9 July 1755 Defeat of Braddock
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18 July 1755 Washington arrives in Fort Cumberland, writes to Lt Gov Dinwiddie about the Defeat
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26 July 1755: From Lt Gov Dinwiddie to Washington hoping they can regroup and re-attack:
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“But pray Sr wth the Numbr of Men remaing is there no Possibility of doing somethg the other Side of the Mounts (mountains). before the Winter Months—I have wrote Colo. Dunbar on this head3 & if the private Men have got over their Panick I think they may do a good deal as I suppose many of the Fr. (French) will immediately go up the River Ohio as they will not expect any Attack from this so soon after the late Defeat. Pray write me Yr Opinion thereon”
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Chronology After the Rehire
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August 14, 1755: After the Braddock Campaign ended in disaster Washington was reappointed by Virginia. George Washington is appointed Colonel and Commander in Chief of all Virginia Regiments.
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This Founders Online Link surmises GW takes the reigns most likely September 1, 1755.
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8 October 1755: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, Washington arrives in Fredericksburg VA
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11–14 October 1755: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, Washington arrives in Winchester VA
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17 October 1755: From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie,
Washington still in Winchester VA. Needing Captain Andrew Montour.
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18 October 1755: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie
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25 October 1755: To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie
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Here are 2 links listing all the letters back and forth on this rehiring:
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Colonel Washington RESIGNS from service in the French and Indian War
31 December 1758
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See “The humble Address of the Officers of Virginia Regiment” to Colonel Washington
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Written in Captain Robert Stewart’s hand, written from Fort Loudoun, Winchester VA.
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10 January 1759: See George Washington’s response
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26 February 1759: Resolution of the House of Burgesses,
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Col. William Byrd returned to Winchester in April to take command of the Virginia Regiment and was there as late as 4 June. Fauquier wrote Byrd in New York on 23 Jan. 1759 offering him the command of GW’s old regiment. See Founders Online source.
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9 March 1759: Lt. Edward Hubbard of the Virginia Regiment wrote a letter to Bouquet on from Winchester: “The Virga Assembly have Voted the Recruiting this Regt to a Thousand. And I hear offer’d the Command to Col. Wm Byrd. Col Washington has Recievd the thanks of the House for his Services …”
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Scroll down past the advertising to see: Washington Timeline
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