GW orders Dr. Thomas Walker

We continue our weekly series examining 1757 during Washington's days of headquartering in Winchester VA. and his network of frontier forts in old Frederick County VA.

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Knowing what a politically big man

Dr. Thomas Walker is,

the orders by GW

in this letter of

10 January 1757,

seem not very deferential,

especially after Lt Gov Dinwiddie

made sure GW knew of

Dinwiddie's good opinion

of Dr Thomas Walker.

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You will do this.

You will do that.

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GW needs supplies for 2 forts on the Patterson Creek, Fort Cocks and Fort Ashby.

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Maybe this is the letter that causes Walker to consider he doesn't need this noise?

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Colonel George Washington incurs trouble with Lt Gov Dinwiddie who very much favors Dr Walker.

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Lt Gov Dinwiddie writes 27 Dec 1756:

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.

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Then read GW's not very deferential orders on 10 Jan 1756 to Dr Thomas Walker.

Colonel George Washington began his sentences with "You are to" do this. "You are to" do that.

Not deferential at all.

It was all business. And after all, GW was the commander of the Virginia Regiment to be supplied by this high level man who sought this position of Commissary.

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So who is this Dr Thomas Walker?

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Walker explored Kentucky in 1750,

19 years before the arrival of Daniel Boone.

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Dr Walker was on the Braddock Expedition.

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Walker gave the name to Cumberland Gap,

honoring the Duke of Cumberland.

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Walker built the first White Man cabin in Kentucky.

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Thomas Walker's

1750 expedition

covered a lot of territory

that our Major Andrew Lewis,

3rd in command

of the Virginia Regiment

knew very well also.

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Walker surveyed the line between Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

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He was advisor to Thomas Jefferson and helped Jefferson on his epic Notes on Virginia.

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Peter Jefferson died in 1757, he named Dr. Walker as guardian of his son future Pres. Thomas Jefferson.

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And of course those details are the least of it.

This guy did a lot.

Highly productive.

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So how is Walker related to Washington

in the old Frederick Co area of Virginia?

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He is the Commissary

to the Virginia Regiment

who are primarily stationed in the most forward northern Virginia county closest to the French threat.

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He is the one handling orders

for supplies of food and blankets and other necessaries for the Regiment.

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Washington thinks that Dr Walker lives too far away

and has too many other diversions and interests

to retain focus on his Commissary job.

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GW prefers someone more local with less diversions.

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But Dinwiddie says repeatedly to GW to keep Walker as head Commissary.

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See the Dinwiddie's severity of emphasis of keeping Walker and not to replace him with Carlyle and Ramsay.

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It is amazing Colonel GW writes the orders 10 Jan 1756 to Walker in such curt fashion.

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Read this admonishment by Dinwiddie 15 Dec 1756 below:

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You recommend Messrs Carlyle & Ramsay to be Commissaries

in the room of Mr Walker,

[meaning in place of Mr Walker]

which I by no means approve of—the first resign’d when formerly appointed,

& when most wanted, I do not incline to give him that Opportunity again; t

he other I doubt not is a Gentleman of Capacity,

but a Stranger to the Business,

& not sufficiently acquainted with the People to make Purchases, therefore not eligible.

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Mr Walker has a very good Character for Probity & Capacity,

I have therefore orderd him to continue in his Office,

& I expect You will give him Your Countenance & Advice;

& supply him with the Money,

sent up by Capt. Mercer, appropriated for the Purchase of Provisions.

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I have ordered him to send Mr Rutherfurd with You to Fort Cumberland, & he to remain at Winchester to do the Necessaries there;2 I therefore expect You will give him all the Assistance in Your Power; it wou’d be cruel to superceed him after he has made such large Contracts for supplying Your Regiment, & at this Time of the Year to leave it to those not so well acquainted with the Business.

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Compiled by Jim Moyer 1/10/2021, 5/1/2022