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Washington's long Dysentery

There are no letters to Colonel George Washington for 5 days -- from Nov 26 to Nov 30 in 1757.


There are no letter from GW since 20 Nov 1757.


This absence stands out, only because GW is a daily writing machine.


Absence often means there is a lot more going on.


it usually means GW is on his horse travelling somewhere.


But this time?


He's sick as a dog.


And he's been sick for months and getting worse.


It's Dysentery again, like he had before.


He had Dysentery on the Braddock Expedition.


He needed a pillow to sit on his horse and later he had to travel on a wagon in Braddock's Expedition. But as they got closer to the target, GW roused himself to ride up to the front.


That pillow? What became of it? What an artifact that would be.



GW's Dysentery start and end dates?

July-Aug 1757 to April 1758



Aug 1757 According to Capt Robt Stewart is when GW started dealing with the "Bloudy Flux."


Nov 9, 1757, Captain Stewarts writes to Dinwiddie.


upwards of three Months past Colo. Washington has labour’d under a Bloudy Flux, about a week ago his Disorder greatly creas’d attended with bad Fevers, the day before yesterday he was seiz’d with Stitches & violent Pleuretick Pains upon which the Docr bled him and yesterday he twice repeated the same operation.


The purpose is to ask Dinwiddie to allow GW to leave Fort Loudoun to recuperate at Mt Vernon.


March 1758 GW tries to go to Williamsburg but has another setback.


April 9, GW is finally well enough. On that day he starts towards Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.






Stewart's Nov 9 1757 letter


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What is dysentery?


list lack of letters by GW during this time






Robert Stewart to Robert Dinwiddie,


9 November 1757




Robert Stewart to Robert Dinwiddie Fort Loudoun Novr 9th 1757 Honble Sir






The "Bloudy Flux"


For upwards of three Months past


Colo. Washington has labour’d under a Bloudy Flux,


about a week ago his Disorder greatly increas’d


attended with bad Fevers,


the day before yesterday


he was seiz’d with Stitches & violent Pleuretick Pains


upon which the Docr Bled him


and yesterday


he twice repeated the same operation.






Good Air better than Leeches




This Complication of Disorders


greatly perplexes the Doctr


as what is good for him in one respect


hurts him in another,


the Docr has strongly Recommended


his immediatly changing his air


and going to some place where he can be kept quiet


(a thing impossible here)


being the best chance


that now remains for his Recovery,






Advice to Leave Now




the Colo. objected


to following this advice


before he could procure Yr Honrs Liberty




but the Docr gave him such reasons as convinc’d him


it might then be too late




and he has at length with reluctance agreed to it,


therefore has Directed me to acquaint Yr Honr


(as he’s not in condition to write himself)


of his resolution of leaving this immediatly1


and of his reasons for doing it


which I have now the honor to do.



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To George Washington from James Craik, 25 November 1757


From James Craik Fort Loudoun Novr 25th 1757

Dear Sir The dissagreeable news I recd by Jenkins,

of the Increase of your disorder, is real concern to me—


I had been flatering my self with the Pleasant hope of seeing you here again soon—


thinking that the change of Air, with the quiet Situation of Mount Vernon—


would have been a Speedy means of your recovery—


however as your disorder hath been of long Standing, and hath corrupted the whole mass of Blood—


it will require some time for to remove the cause—


And I hope by the Assistance of God and the requesite care, that will be taken of you, where you now are: that tho. your disorder may reduce you to the lowest ebb; yet you will in a short time get the better of it—


And render your friends here happy, by having the honour of serving once more under your Command—As nothing is more conducive to a Speedy recovery, than a tranquill easy mind, Accompanied with a good flow of Spirits—


I would beg of you; not, as a Physician; but as a real friend who has your Speedy recovery Sincerely at heart; that you will keep up your Spirits, and not allow your mind to be disturbed, with any part of Publick bussiness; that perhaps may not be going on so well, as your concern for the Publick could wish—


Any little step of this kind, that might happen, would be triffling to the Neglect of yourself—


The fate of your Friends and Country are in a manner dependent upon your recovery—


And as I am sensible of the regard you have for both, I make no doubt, but that you will use every endeavour that will be in the least conducive to your recovery so that both may still rejoice in the Enjoyment of you—


I am very much Surprised at Doctr Browns Neglect in not coming to see you, I cannot see how he can Account for it—


I wish Doctr Jameson could be got, I have a great oppinion of his judgement and I realy beleive he would be of Service to you.1

Collo. Stanwix I am inform’d is to continue in Winter Quarters at Lancaster—


If it is agreeable to you, I should be glad of your permission to go there, in order to see my Cousin Captn Stewart—


The Sick in the Hospitall are very few at present, which emboldens me to apply for leave2—


As reading & writing must be very troublesome to you in your present Circumstance, I shall only Pray God, who is the best of all Physicians, that he in his infinite mercy, may restore you, to your wonted health, and preserve you in the Command which is so agreeable to many, and none more so, than to him, who has the honour, to subscribe himself with the greatest Duty & Esteem Dr Sir Your Most Affe & Devoted huml. Sert

Jas Craik

P.S. Please hint to me in a few lines, if your disorder hath yet taken a turn for the better.

ALS, DLC:GW.

Dr. James Craik, an officer and surgeon in the Virginia Regiment, was with GW at Fort Necessity in 1754 and remained his friend until GW’s death.

1. Doctor Craik was probably referring to Dr. Gustavus Brown (1689–1762) of Charles County, Md., and to Dr. Alexander Jameson (died c.1766) of Petersburg.

2. This may have been Capt. William Stewart (Stuart) whose date of rank in the 60th Regiment was 25 May 1757.


Source:

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ALS : American Philosophical Society If convenient, I should be oblig’d to you for three or four...

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Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania As I find by what you told me and by my...

The dissagreeable news I recd by Jenkins, of the Increase of your disorder, is real concern to...

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Date:1757-11-24

1To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 24 November 1757 (Franklin Papers) Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The above is a Copy of my last. I have Since...


Dysentery 2To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 24 November 1757 (Washington Papers) When big with the hopes of your speedy Recovery indulging myself in the pleasing thought and...


Dysentery 3Enclosure III: Robert Stewart to John Stanwix, 24 November 1757 (Washington Papers) For near Four Months past Colo. Washington has Labour’d under a Bloudy Flux which till of late he...

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Copy and draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania On November 14 Franklin had sufficiently...


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ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society; parts reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 20–4....


Dysentery

It is much against my desire, to give you trouble in your Circumstance; but as I am informed that...

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Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society My two last to you by Capt. Budden to London, and...


Letter not found: to Robert Stewart, 20 Nov. 1757. On 24 Nov. 1757 Stewart wrote to GW : “. . ....

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Dysentery

1From George Washington to Sarah Cary Fairfax, 15 November 1757 (Washington Papers) I have lingerd under an Indisposition for more than three Months; and finding no relief above, on...


Dysentery 2Enclosure II: Robert Dinwiddie to Robert Stewart, 15 November 1757 (Washington Papers) I recd Your Letter by Jenkins last Night—The violent Complaint Colo: Washington labors under...

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Yr Letter of the 5th I duly recd & I am much surpriz’d at what You write that the Indn Affairs...

I received yr kind Letter of the 18th September about a Week ago, the Sight of which caused at...

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Necessity (and that I hope will apologize for the trouble I must give you—) obliges me to ask the...



Extract: The Royal Society Here is a visible Aurora Borealis; at 7 a Clock it was about two hours...


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You’ll perceive your name in the list of those who ’tis hoped will encourage the enclosed...

Invoice of Sundry Goods Shipd by Richd Washington on board the Peggy and Elizabeth, Jno. Whiting...



Dysentery

For upwards of three Months past Colo. Washington has labour’d under a Bloudy Flux, about a week...



William Fairfax had written GW to hire this Fairfax before he died 3 Sept 1757

As you shewed your Desire for my Welfare by your kind Recommendation to Capt. Cunningham; I think..


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To The Governor. Honble Sir. [Fort Loudoun] Novem. 5th 1757 Duty to my country and His Majesty’s...

Still complaining what a mess Atkin left in Winchester

Good info on Cherokee accomplishments, especially the 2nd party.

Dinwiddie responds to this nov 14 1757 saying he just sent new supplies to Gist for the inidans and smith the interpreter went by way of Augusta and must have gotten detained there

Added this to July 1757 post on The Problem with Atkin



I received your favour by Brinker, and am sensibly affected with the Miserable Situation of the...


Loudoun's plan from England did not permit to attack Fort Duquesne

. . . his answer was that he was always of Opinion that an attempt ought to have [been] made last Summer to take Fort Du Quesne, and annoy the Enemy in their Settlements, and that he had pressed Lord Loudon two or three times on the Subject, but his Lordship told him that he had received a Plan of Operations from home and that he would not deviate from it;


New Ranger Company

The Govr at the same time told me that he should send a Commission to Rutherford to raise a Company of Rangers to consist of Eighty men, which he hoped would be of some use in preventing the Savages from coming so far down to destroy the inhabitants, for my part, I confess I expect no great Matters from them,


Royal American Regiment

I was this Morning told that the Govr should say part of the Royal American Regiment was upon their march to our Frontiers, but he mentioned nothing of it to me,


Dinwiddie expecting to leave

His Honor is at this time almost wholy taken up with settleing his Affairs for his departure, as he expects a Man of War every day to carry him, We have not yet heard who is to succeed him, God send it may be some Body better acquainted with the unhappy Business we have in hand, and by his Conduct and counsel dispel the heavy cloud at present hanging over this distressed and unhappy Country



Creating New Company of Rangers

Yr Letter of the 24th Ulto I recd—And as You observe the absolute Necessity of having a Company...


Mercer still in Charleston SC

Tho. I have not been favored with an Answer to one of the many Letters I have wrote you since I...



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Dunkards

I am glad to find by your Lettr to Capt. Waggener that the Duncard Doctr is not escaped which we...


Maryland Complaint

Your favour of the 25th ultimo was delivered me to-day —If you had been more explicit in relating...

To Captain Joshua Lewis [Fort Loudoun, 1 November 1757 ] Sir, Captn Beale, of the maryland troops...


Reynolds lawsuit

’Tis now some Time since I wrote to Mr Woodford, desireing him to procure me the Papers I left in...




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GW IS IMPROVING TEMPORARILY

BUT DOESNT FULLY RECOVER UNTIL MARCH



To George Washington from John Stanwix,

13 January 1758

From John Stanwix Lancaster [Pa.] Janry 13th [1758] Dear Sir it is with great Pleasure I own the favour of your obliging letter by Capt. Stewart1 and am much rejoyced to hear of your being in a fair way of recovery wch is wish’d for by all your friends both for their own sakes as well as that of your Country whose services you are known to have so much at heart. I am told from my Friends in England that his Majesty intends me an Old Regiment but whether it is to be here or in Europe is not certain, as these things are often talked of a long time before done that may possibley be my case.




To George Washington from Robert Carter Nicholas,

5 January 1758

From Robert Carter Nicholas Williamsburg 5th Jany 1758 Dear Sir. Capt. McKenzie handed me yr Letter, which inclosed sundry Papers relating to yr Dispute with Mr Strother.1 Mr Power, poor Man, is gone from Home to try for the Recovery of his Health, which I fear will never be restored to him; Mr Wythe is also out of Town, so that I can’t with any Exactness say when we shall have an Opportunity of giving an Award; however I’ll get it done as soon as I can.2


I am very glad to hear of yr Recovery from so dangerous an Illness. If you’ve any good News ’twou’d be kind to tell it me;


GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE LEAVING

The Govr & his Family it is Thought will embark on Saturday next.


I wish you many happy Years & am Dr Sir, Yr most obt humble Sert Ro. C. Nicholas. ALS, DLC:GW. Robert Carter Nicholas (1728–1780), educated at William and Mary and a longtime resident of Williamsburg, was at this time practicing law and a member of the House of Burgesses from York County. 1. The chances are that GW’s “Dispute” with Anthony Strother, Sr., is related somehow to the purchase in 1738 by GW’s father of Ferry Farm on the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg. Augustine Washington bought the farm from the estate of William Strother, the brother of Anthony Strother, and moved there with his family. At his death in 1743 he left Ferry Farm to his young son GW. In 1748 Anthony Strother bought from the executors of Augustine Washington’s estate 165 acres of Ferry Farm. The proceeds of the sale were to be paid to Mary Washington to be held by her for her minor son. The ledger in GW’s account with “The Heirs of Wm Strother Gentn decd” shows that he paid on 19 July 1756 a total of £43.10.9 to “Mr Anthony Strother by Colo. Fielding Lewis, for Land bought of your [William Strother’s] Estate and recovered from him by Colo. Henry Fitzhugh” (General Ledger A, folio 278). This, the only Strother entry in General Ledger A, folio is dated 1756, but Fielding Lewis’s letter of 25 June 1758 acknowledging the receipt of £40 from GW with which to settle GW’s account with “Mr Strother” suggests the possibility that the ledger entry should be dated 1758 instead of 1756. On 18 May 1760 Anthony Strother wrote GW: “I reciev’d yours, in answer to which I can only say that I think that Land was conveyd to your Father by Mr John Grant and his wife [Margaret, the widow of William Strother], and the money thence ariseing was paid to me as Guardian to my Brothers Children to whome I paid it as the[y] came of age, so that I fear I shall be brought in my self, however as your right seems to be very clear, I only desire you’l let it lye till I can consult the Gentlemen who married those children who I will prevail on if possible either to refund the money, or submit it on the terms we did our dispute” (DLC:GW). The ledger has the following entry dated 5 Nov. 1768: “By Cash of Messrs Jones & Maddison pr Colo. Fieldg Lewis£14.10.0By Ditto of Colo. Thos Lewis pr Ditto6. 4.6Balle due G.W—n & chargd pr Contra22.16.3£43.10.9On 1 Jan. 1772 GW wrote off the balance due as a loss. 2. James Power and George Wythe were prominent lawyers in the colony.

PERMANENT LINK What’s this?




To George Washington from John Hall,

14 February 1758

From John Hall Suffolk in Virga Feby 14th 1758 Dr Sir I have yr acceptable favr from Mt Vernon—& I sincerely rejoyce at yr beginning to master the Indisposition Mr Boyd acquaints me you have long labour’d under—I hope to meet you perfectly recover’d & I shall impatiently wish to hear of yr being at Wmsburgh.

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From George Washington to John Blair, 20 February 1758

To John Blair To The President Honble Sir,Mount-Vernon, the 20th February, 1758. I set out for Williamsburgh the day after the date of my letter by Jenkins; but found I was unable to proceed, my fever and pain encreasing upon me to an high degree, and the Physicians assured me, that I might endanger my life in prosecuting the journey.1 In consequence of this advice, I returned back to this place again, and informed your Honor of the reason of my detention by the Post, whom I met with on the road, and who I have since understood, never lodged my letter in the Post-Office at Fredericksburgh;2 which is the cause of my writing this second one to the same purport. Whenever I shall be sufficiently able to attempt the journey again, I can not say: but shall delay no time after I am in a condition to perform it. I am your Honor’s &c. G:W. LB, DLC:GW. 1. GW wrote John Blair from Fredericksburg on 31 Jan. saying that he would await Blair’s instructions before proceeding to Williamsburg. Blair did not respond until 5 Feb. when he wrote agreeing that GW should come down. No letter from GW to Blair after 31 Jan. has been found, and it may be that GW started out on 1 Feb. without waiting for Blair’s response. In any case, he was back at Mount Vernon by 13 February. See also GW to Blair, 30 Jan. 1758. 2. This letter to Blair has not been found.

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His Excellency's Last Days

Here’s to George Washington, afflicted with so many killer diseases

it’s miraculous he survived to become father of our nation

This vintage portrait features George Washington, the first president of the United States. (iStock)

By Fred Barbash February 22, 2017

Today is George Washington’s Birthday. It’s something of a political miracle that the man indispensable to the founding of his country came into the world just at the right time, in 1732, so that when he reached manhood, he was there when we needed him. More miraculous still is that he survived so long, until 1799.

During the course of his 67 years on Earth, the father of our country survived smallpox, bouts of malaria, multiple infections and abscesses, tuberculosis, dysentery and in the first six months of his presidency, an extraordinarily painful boil “the size of two fists” accompanied by a fever.

So worrisome was his health at that point that some feared a “dreadful calamity,” and as James Madison wrote, a “crisis” in the affairs of the new nation, which had given no thought to anyone else as president. The presidency, indeed, was designed with Washington in mind. “Were we to be deprived of his influence,” wrote Rep. William Smith at the time, “I much fear no other man could hold us together.” As a young man, Washington fought with the British army during the French and Indian War. While not wounded, he became so ill and so close to being shot that before he returned home to Virginia, rumors were already circulating of his death.

“I have heard,” he wrote upon his return from battle in July, 1755, “a circumstantial account of my death and dying speech.

“I take this early opportunity,” he wrote his brother, John Augustine Washington, “of contradicting the first, and of assuring you, that I have not, as yet, composed the latter. “But by the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me; yet escaped unhurt.” He had also fallen victim to dysentery, which produced extreme diarrhea in a man with hemorrhoids. “At first the stoic young aide tried to conceal the malady,” writes Washington biographer Ron Chernow, “but he soon found it so debilitating that he had to travel lying down in a covered wagon.”

It was not dignified. But he survived.

He had an iron constitution, which can only be fully fathomed by considering the state of medicine at the time. “There was no well-defined concept of infection or immunity,” Anthony Fauci and David M. Morens wrote in a 2012 article in the New England Journal of Medicine, “no vaccines, almost no specific or effective treatments for infectious diseases and little idea that any treatment or public health measure could reliably control epidemic diseases … During Washington’s lifetime, infectious diseases were the defining challenges of human existence.” Perhaps the most defining challenge to Washington’s health was his first known confrontation with infectious disease, when he contracted smallpox at the age of 19 while visiting Barbados. And as debilitating as it was, the immunity it conferred upon him would prove vital at another pivotal moment in American history nearly three decades later, a “powerful dispensation” for him and for the nation. It was the spring of 1749 when George’s older half brother, Lawrence, contracted tuberculosis, a disease for which there was then no certain cure. In search of relief, he first traveled to England. Finding no reprieve in the treatments of English doctors, he returned to Virginia, where he only deteriorated further. He then decided to try Barbados, in hopes that the warmth there would help. “Because Lawrence’s wife had just given birth to a daughter,” writes Chernow, it “fell upon George, nineteen, to accompany his thirty-three-year-old-brother, acting as both nursemaid and companion” on the 37-day voyage and while Lawrence got treatment. Shortly after they arrived, the brothers received an invitation to visit Gedney Clarke, an uncle of Lawrence’s wife. Washington was reluctant to accept, because Clarke’s wife was confined with smallpox. Smallpox was “extraordinarily virulent; individuals exposed to the virus, which passes by contact, were almost certain to be infected,” wrote historian Jack Warren, unless through some previous exposure they developed an immunity to the disease.

As Virginia had not been touched by smallpox during Washington’s lifetime, he caught it. It’s not established that Mary Clarke, Gedney Clarke’s wife, was the source of Washington’s smallpox. But as Washington wrote in his diary on Nov. 16, 1751 he “was strongly attacked” with the lethal disease. Washington was housebound for 25 days with the painful pustules and fever and managed to survive. Lawrence returned to Virginia and died of tuberculosis at his home in Mount Vernon in 1752. Washington would soon become a soldier and “where soldiers go, plagues follow,” says the old axiom. The American Revolution brought with it soldiers from England and Germany carrying smallpox, facing American forces largely unexposed to the disease, and therefore greatly vulnerable. By the fall of 1775, Boston, then under British occupation, “suffered from a widespread smallpox epidemic that threatened to spread throughout the ranks of Washington’s army,” according to the Mount Vernon digital research library.

The disease “spread like wildfire through the weakened soldiers and crowded army camps, leaving death and devastation in its wake,” writes Jeanne E. Abrams in “Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers and Mothers in Sickness and Health.” “We should have more to dread” from the disease “than from the Sword of the Enemy,” Washington wrote. Because Washington had already had smallpox, he was safe. Despite the risks of spreading the disease by undertaking to inoculate the soldiers in the army he commanded, in 1777 he took the momentous decision to undertake the first mass military inoculation in history. By the end of that year, with some 40,000 troops inoculated, infection rates fell from 17 percent to 1 percent.

“It averted another health crisis within the Continental Army and dramatically altered the outcome of the Revolutionary War,” as Benjamin A. Drew wrote in JAMA Dermatology in July, 2015. Washington, of course, lived on to become the nation’s first president, albeit one still plagued by the other diseases of his era and ultimately by the state of what was then modern medicine.


His Last Days

White McKenzie Wallenborn, a physician, described his last days in an article supplementing the Washington papers at the University of Virginia: On December 12th, 1799,

George Washington in his 68th year of life, rode out around his farms on horseback from ten a.m. until about three p.m. The weather that day according to General Washington was snowing in the morning and about three inches deep. Wind at NE and mercury at 30 (30 degrees Fahrenheit). Continued snowing until about one o’clock, and at about four o’clock it became perfectly clear. Wind at same place-not hard. Mercury 28 (28 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. Colonel Tobias Lear, George Washington’s secretary, stated that the weather that day was bad, rain, hail, and snow falling alternately with a cold wind. When George Washington returned from his ride, the General’s neck appeared wet, snow was hanging from his hair, and he came to dinner without changing his dress (clothes wet?).

The next day, Friday December 13th, 1799,

the General did not go out as usual for he had taken cold and complained of a severe sore throat. He did go out in the afternoon to mark some trees which had to be cut down. He now had hoarseness which increased in the evening. He spent the evening reading the papers, and when he met anything interesting, he read it as loud as his hoarseness would permit.

On the next day, Saturday the 14th,

at three o’clock in the morning, he told Mrs. Washington that he was very unwell and that he had an “ague” (paroxysmal chills). It was observed that he could hardly speak and that he breathed with difficulty. At daybreak on the 14th, Colonel Tobias Lear came in and found the General breathing with difficulty and hardly able to utter a word intelligently. A mixture of molasses, vinegar, and butter was given but he (GW) could not swallow a drop and when attempted, he appeared to be distressed, convulsive, and almost suffocated. Later he tried to use a gargle of vinegar and sage tea but in attempting to gargle, he almost suffocated and when the gargle came back from the throat some phlegm followed.

At eleven a.m., his swallowing had not improved. After the last bleeding it was noted that the blood came “slow and thick” but there was no fainting (his physicians had ordered that he be bled a number of times in the course of his illness and an incredible amount about eighty two ounces or about five pints or units of blood were removed from him).

Doctors now believe Washington had acute epiglottitis, a life-threatening condition, caused by injury or infection, that causes the epligottis to swell, blocking the airways to the lungs. It was, and is still today, potentially life-threatening.

Today, Wallenborn writes, doctors would perform a tracheostomy, creating a surgical airway to allow air to flow to the patient’s lungs. While one of Washington’s three doctors suggested such a procedure, it was new and controversial and “might not have worked anyway,” Wallenborn writes. His friend, Lear, described his last moments.

“At his bedside,” Lear wrote, “I reached for his hand. ‘My breath cannot last long,'” Washington told him. “‘I believed from the first that the disorder would prove fatal,’ he said. He seemed so perfectly resigned — dignified even — despite his gasping breaths …’I am just going,’ he said. After uttering some instructions, he whispered finally, ‘Tis well.’ And then he expired.”

Gift Article

By Fred Barbash Fred Barbash was with The Washington Post for 30 plus years in a multitude of roles including but not limited to Supreme Court reporter, National editor, London bureau chief and founding editor of The Post's Morning Mix. He left The Post in May 2020. Twitter

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I am this moment arrived, and find your orders to march, which shall be Complyd with; tho’ The...



I shoud have been greatly puzzled to have found an excuse for my silence if I had ever receivd...

Permit me to return you my sincere, and hearty thanks for the honour you were pleasd to do me in...



Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society Yours of December the 9th. I receiv’d per the...

MS : American Philosophical Society Perhaps stimulated by the sweeping attack on the privileges...

Copy: Yale University Library Copy, of private Sentiments and Advice on Pensilvania Affairs from...

To The President. [Fort Loudoun, 24 April 1758 ] Honble Sir, Your letter of the 19th instant,...

5Council of War, 24 April 1758 (Washington Papers)

The Proceedings of a Council of Officers held at Fort Loudoun April 24th 1758 to consider whether...

To Lt Colonel Stephen. Sir [Fort Loudoun] April 24th 1758. I have this instant, and not before,...



Capt. Waggener Sir: Fort Loudoun, the 25th of April, 1758. I received Orders yesterday from the...



To The President of Virginia [Fort Loudoun, 26 April 1758 ] Honble Sir, Having wrote fully to...

To Major Lewis. Sir. [Fort Loudoun] April 26th 1758. I have this instant and not before, received...

To Mr Thomas Gist—Cadet [Fort Loudoun, 26 April 1758 ] Sir. You are forthwith to set out for...



I. Copy: Penn Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. II. MS : Boston Public Library. III. AD...

Letter not found: to Beverley Robinson, 27 April 1758. On 21 May Robinson wrote to GW : “Yours of...

The Post calling suddenly upon me, only allows time to acknowledge the receipt of your obliging...

I am sent here by Sr John St Clair to repair the Roads &c. on both Sides of the Potowmack; to...



Copy: Harvard College Library In persuance of Mr. Winthrop’s memorandum, which I lately rece’d...



Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Assembly being fully Convinced by the...



I should have comply’d with your orders in Sending an officer or two Recruiting, but it’s...




MAY 1758


The Inclosd came to my hand about five days ago by Express from Fredericksburg, but as it was...

To David Franks Esquire [Fort Loudoun, 1 May 1758 ] Sir: I shall be much obliged, if You would...

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Letter not found: from John Blair, 2 May 1758. On 4–10 May GW wrote to Blair : “After due...

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Col. Tayloe, Col. Lee & Col. Geo. Mason have strongly recommend to me Mr French Mason, the...


To The President Honble Sir Ft L[oudou]n the 4[–10]th May, 1758. The enclosed letter from Capt....

The Reasons given by Capt. Robt McKenzie and Ensign Woodford for acquainting Capt. Thomas...

To Mr T. Basset—Engineer. Sir Fort L[oudou]n May 4th 1758. Your letter of the 27th ultimo came to...

I have now had an oppertunity of Examining Ucahula, an Indian Warrior that brought in the Scalps...

General Forbes haveing information, that a party of our Cataubas are just return’d to Winchester,...



The Bearer Mr Charles Tomkies an officer in Colo. Byrds Regiment will deliver you this, and shall...


Lieutenant Thruston of Colo. Byrds regimt will deliver you this, & I begg leave to recommend him...

The Bearer French Mason, a Relation of mine, has an Inclination to serve his Country upon the...


Two days ago I received your Letter of the 1st which I transmitted yesterday morning by Express...



Letter not found: to George Mason, 8 May 1758. On 16 May Mason wrote to GW : “I am favour’d wth...



1Council of War, 9 May 1758 (Washington Papers)

At a Council of Officers, held at Fort Loudoun, May 9th 1758. Present, Colo: George Washington,...

I take the liberty to Recommend the bearers hereof Mr Thruston & Mr Cary to your favour, they...



I can not inform you better of the strange, and unaccountable dilemma I am reduced to, than by...

I Reced your Very kind Letter by my Brother and assure you both my Little Partner and self Return...

In obedience to your orders by the Express, I have sent Ensn Woodford to Releive Mr Steenbergen,...



To Major Halkett. Dear Sir. [Fort Loudoun] May 11th 1758. I am this day favoured with yours of...

Your favour from York of the 7th Instant I had the pleasure of receiving last Night. The Raven...

I Have in Listed twenty two men & thare is Eight or teen more that Has Promised if Can Gitt the...

I have just received a Letter from the Honble Wm Nelson Esqr. in favour of Lieut. Baker, now here...



LS with ALS postscript: Yale University Library I receiv’d yours of February 6. with the Votes...



ALS : New-York Historical Society This is the third Letter I have lately wrote you. With the two...

Yesterday afternoon the Post gave me your Letter of the 11th which I transmitted to Brigdr...



I have yours now by Mr Jenkins of the 10th with the advice of your Council of Officers, on the...

the Circumstances of afairs at this time Causes my Baldness in hopes To Receive Information what...



In Obedience to His Honr The Presidents orders to me wch I inclose you a Copy off. I have Sent...

I am favour’d wth Yrs of the 8th Inst. ⅌ French Mason, & am perfectly satisfied wth the Justice...



The Post waits I can therefore only stop him to cover the inclosed paper to wch Refer you for...

I have made it my Business since I Came here, to find out the past Conduct of Leiut. Steenbergen....



the linnen mr woodford brought up was devided between the two Companys for the mens Spatterdashes...



To Major Lewis Sir. Ft L[oudou]n the 21st May, 1758. Immediately upon receipt of this, you are to...

As John Waid a Soldier in my Company was Seting at the Indian Camp Eating some Victuls, one of...

Yours of the 27th Apr. I Received as I did Sometime before yours of the 6th Inclosing one for Mr...



Orders for Lt Colo. Stephen, of the Virginia Regiment. Sr John St Clair having, by virtue of a...

To Major Lewis [Fort Loudoun, 24 May 1758 ] Sir. I can not order your march to this place in more...

The distresses in Bedford and Halifax had occasioned my Calling a full Council to meet on the...

Orders for Colo. Washington Comg the Troops of the Collony & Dominion of Virginia. I am directed...



Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Comming into town I hear by Accident that a...



MS note: American Philosophical Society Lord and Lady Macclesfield Compliments to Mr. Franklin...

To The President. Honble Sir. Williamsbgh 28th May, 1758. I came here at this critical juncture,...



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