Goodbye Lord Loudoun Again?
We said Goodbye to Lord Loudoun for December 1757.
That's because he was relieved of his command of all North America in December 1757.
But he's still here in NYC.
He's still Governor of Virginia, even though, yes, once again we have to say he never stepped foot in it.
He will still be Governor, and absentee Governor when Francis Fauquier assumes the duties of Lt Gov 5 June 1758.
Governor Lord Loudoun's Lt Gov Dinwiddie left 12 Jan 1758.
President of the Council, John Blair, will be acting Lt Gov during the interim.
But here it is February 1758
and Lord Loudoun has not left yet.
So there are mentions of Lord Loudoun's name indicating he's still around and still active.
One mention is to send the Indian allies to Lord Loudoun because he has the funds to carry them. And on 10 March 1758, Blair is still mentioning letters from Lord Loudoun.
The other is Robert Rogers and Lord Loudoun's dealing with him and his Rangers.
So to the first mention:
The Indians:
President John Blair mentions that the Indians coming to help fight be redirected to go to Lord Loudoun.
President John Blair on 5 Feb 1758 is recommending that the 600 to 800 Indians heading towards Clement Reade in Lunenburg VA ought to be redirected to Lord Loudoun who would have the money to provide them "presents" and supplies.
Once Mr Adam Dickinson from Augusta who came to me the 28th [Jan 1758] Ult. for some Arms & Ammunition for his Son John, Captain of a Company of Rangers, told me he heard that 600, were at Col. Reads, and that they were going to my Lord Loudoun, but that afterwds he heard it was a Company of 40 or 50, only, & that the rest were behind; of which however we have no certainty. On the Report of their going to my Lord [Loudoun], Sir John St clair seem’d pleased, & said my Lord [Loudoun] would make them wellcome; and by Mr Nelson’s advice I have writ, by that Mr Dickinson, to Mr Gist, (as I intended to write to you) to encourage the Indians (of any number) to go to my Lord [Loudoun] , who would receive & reward them well: and I desire you will press it upon him. But we are much surprised to hear that Mr Gist is in no wise prepared to receive them, as our late Govr told us that he had above a £1000. pounds worth in Indian Goods left in his hands for such purpose. I desire a particular Accot of what he has. We do not imagine their numbers will be any thing near so large as talkt of, and I hope they will not come this good while yet, unless they are going to my Lord. They are said to be Creeks & Cherokees together.
Letters between President John Blair and Colonel George Washington indicate agreement that this time of the year is useless to have the Indian allies. Little will get done. Expenses will mount to cover their stay in these winter months. The need for the Indians is best left for the Spring. War does not like the cold in these days of muddy roads and swollen icy rivers.
10 March 1758, Blair is still receiving letters from Loudoun: ". . . One George Speake an Ensign in your Regiment that came to me t’other day by an Express from Lord Loudoun . . ." This could still mean that the communication was received in Feb 1758.
Loudoun and Robert Rogers
And another matter raising Lord Loudoun's name, confirms he has not departed to England yet.
He is still dealing with Robert Rogers.
Robert Rogers and his Rangers had joined Lord Loudoun on the aborted mission to reduce Fortress Louisbourg.
Now they are all back in New York City.
Rogers is dealing with The Whipping Post Mutiny where one of his men got whipped.
"Rogers travelled to New York and saw Loudoun on January 9th [1758]. "
"Here he met with the same reception that Abercrombie had given him . . .
[ James Abercrombie currently Commander in Chief of North America even though Lord Loudoun was still hanging around in NYC despite having lost that position ]
. . . Loudoun "talked to him of the bad consequences of mutiny in particular and of the consequences of not keeping up discipline"; and Loudoun continues, to say: "that many things made me hesitate about augmenting the Rangers as much as I proposed". After his little lecture, Loudoun listened to Rogers' side of the story and heard of how prejudiced Haviland was against him and his men. Fortunately for Rogers, Loudoun had no great love for the tactless Colonel who behind his back had derided Loudoun's defensive tactics in conducting the War." Page 218.
On February 2, [1758] Loudoun gave Howe his order to proceed when he was ready, and to destroy Crown Point and Ticonderoga, . . Page 232.
This is interesting since technically Lord Loudoun was removed as Commander in Chief of all North America leaving James Ambercrombie technically in that position. Did the December removal by Pitt decision get communicated months later?
Source for the blue quoted text:
Keep tuned to further updates to document when Lord Loudoun leaves NYC for England.
End of our lead story.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2/13/2022
Lord Loudoun after leaving North America:
Lord Loudoun has a 2nd act as 2nd in command of forces in Portugal when Spain joins France in this world wide war. Lord Loudoun then takes over as top commander in Portugal.
Lord Loudoun has a 3rd act. He creates a masterful garden at Loudoun Castle. For gardeners, this story will be a treat.
Also we will look at other aspects of Lord Loudoun, particularly his recommendation of Lt Col John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment to succeed Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Because of that the House of Burgesses announced Lt Col Young's imminent assumption of the office on 12 Jan 1758.
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Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2/13/2022
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Sources
To George Washington from John Blair, Wmsburgh Feby 5th 1758
From Pages 303 and 315 we will provide a thumbnail portrait of the new players involved. From Douglas Southall Freeman's Young George Washington, Volume 2, published 1948, Charles Scribner's Sons
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