Mutiny on the South Branch
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Sometimes telling the story steals the fun of discovery.
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We have learned the hard way what most established historians know. At some point the historian must cut off his research. The research never ends. There's always one more thing left unfound, left unproven.
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We'd like to see more history written with questions.
We'd like the reader know how much the author never got around to answering.
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In this spirit we ask you reader to go on a treasure hunt.
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We have a Mutiny on the South Branch.
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The full name of the South Branch is the
South Branch of the Potomac River.
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See a map of all the forts on this river.
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We don't know much about it so far.
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We only have this.
Read these 2 letters for your starting point.
We hand you the baton.
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From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 12 January 1757
To Robert Dinwiddie Fort Cumberland [Md., ] 12 Jan. 1757
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Your letter of the 27th ultimo came to hand the 9th instant—
I wrote to your Honor by Capt. Spotswood
(who was charged with the care of the Cuttawba Indians as far as Williamsburgh)
that I had sent Colo. Stephen with a Detachment,
to bring the mutineers on the Branch to this place
[Fort Cumberland]
in irons.1
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They were secured before he got there;
and he has brought all but six,
who deserted from Capt. Joshua Lewis’s company, before he reached it.
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We have held a General Court martial on the Ringleaders;
flog’d several severely;
and have some under Sentence of Death.
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The proceedings of the Court I thought it needless to send; or ask warrants for execution;
as we have no Law to inflict punishments even of the smallest kind.
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I shall keep those Criminals in irons,
and if possible, under apprehensions of death,
until some favourable opportunity may countenance a reprieve.
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We have as many men at work here, preparing Timber to strengthen the works, as Tools will supply: But I wish I had been ordered to build a new fort altogether, rather than attempt to repair the old one.
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1. GW’s letter has not been found. For further reference to the mutineers, see Dinwiddie to GW, 26 Jan. 1757. The small party of Catawba Indians were still in Williamsburg when Dinwiddie wrote GW on 26 Jan. 1757. See also Dinwiddie to GW, 27 Dec. 1756, n.5. 2. GW was referring here to Fort Loudoun at Winchester, not Fort Cumberland at Wills Creek. 3. George Mercer’s letter has not been found. 4. See GW’s Return of the Virginia Regiment, 1 Jan. 1757. 5. The enclosure in the missing letter cited in note 1 has not been found.
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To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 26 January 1757
From Robert Dinwiddie Williamsburg Jany 26th 1757
Sir Yrs of the 12th I recd—I am very sorry
for the Mutiny You mention on the So. Branch,
& I greatly approve the Steps You took to stop it;
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I hope the six Deserters have been apprehended & punish’d;
the Persons under Sentence of Death,
I hear some of them are Serjeants & Corporals,
it’s a most aragant Affair in them to promote & countenance Mutiny
for which they deserve the Sentence pass’d on them;
however take proper Methods
to make them sensible
of their atrocious Crime;
I desire You may pardon them,
but some of them for Example shou’d be reduced
& put into the Ranks, & others appointed in their room,
but this is left to You.
As Your People are enlisted
with the Money rais’d for His Majesty’s Service,
paid with the same,
& incorporated into a Regiment in his Pay, I
conceive they are subject to the Articles of War,
& every other Regulation as His Majesty’s more imediate Regular Forces, in this Opinion the Attoy Genl1 agrees with me.
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