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structions and make arrangements for organizing the new army. Public opinion had subdued the governor's partiality for another candidate, and he acquiesced with apparent satisfaction. In a letter to the ministry, he spoke of Colonel Washington as "a man of great merit and resolution," adding, "I am convinced, if General Braddock had survived, he would have recommended him to the royal favor, which I beg your interest in recommending." How far the minister's interest was effectual is uncertain; but no royal favor to Washington ever crossed the Atlantic.

CHAPTER

IV.

1755.

quarters at

Performs a

tour of in

spection.

September.

Being now established in a command of high responsi- Headbility, he applied himself to the discharge of its duties Winchester. with his accustomed energy and circumspection. Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Stephen and Major Andrew Lewis were the field-officers next in rank. His head-quarters were fixed at Winchester. After putting affairs in train, sending out recruiting officers, and reporting to the governor the state of the old regiment and estimates for the new, he performed a tour of inspection among the mountains, visiting all the outposts along the frontier from Fort Cumberland to Fort Dinwiddie on Jackson's River, giving the necessary orders, and obtaining, from personal observation, a knowledge of every thing within the compass of his command. Scarcely was this service completed, when an express overtook him, on his way to Williamsburg, bringing intelligence that the Indians had broken into the back settlements, committed ravages and murders, and spread terror on every side. He hastened back to headquarters, called in the recruits, summoned the militia to assemble, and ordered out such a force as he could muster to repel the ruthless invaders. The check was timely and effectual, but not such as to quiet the fears of the inhabitants, who flocked in families from their homes; and so great was the panic, that many of them continued their flight till they had crossed the Blue Ridge.

Called back

by an ex

Press.

the militia

On this occasion the patience and sensibility of the Defects of commander, as well as his discretion and address, were system. put to a severe trial. On one hand, he witnessed with

IV.

1755.

CHAPTER an aching heart the dangers, wants, and distresses of the inhabitants; on the other, he experienced all the evils of insubordination among the troops, perverseness in the militia, inactivity in the officers, disregard of orders, and reluctance in the civil authorities to render a proper support. And what added to his mortification was, that the laws gave him no power to correct these evils, either by enforcing discipline, or compelling the indolent and refractory to do their duty. The army regulations had been reformed, but they were still deficient in the essential articles for preventing desertions, punishing offences, and securing obedience. The militia system was suited only to times of peace. It provided for calling out men to repel invasion; but the powers granted for effecting it were so limited, as to be almost inoperative.

These defects repre

governor.

These defects, and their fatal consequences, were resented to the presented in strong language by Colonel Washington, in his official communications to the governor and to the Speaker of the Assembly. All ears seemed dull to his remonstrances and closed to his counsels; such, to use his own words, was the fear of displeasing the people, who were 66 so tenacious of their liberty, as not to invest a power where interest and policy so unanswerably demanded it." By dint of perseverance, however, by attending in person at the seat of government and conversing with individual members, by persuasion and argument, by force of truth and reason, he at last prevailed. A bill was carried through the House, in which were included all the articles required, providing for the punishment of mutiny, desertion, and disobedience, for holding courtsmartial, and for maintaining order and discipline. This success relieved him from a weight, which had hung heavily upon his thoughts. It was also a gratifying testimony of the respect entertained for his opinions and judgment. He returned to his station with a renovated spirit. It was too late in the season to meditate a campaign, or offensive operations. To fill up the army, reduce it to method, train the men, strengthen and secure

A new law providing a remedy.

IV.

1755.

the outposts, construct new forts, and provide supplies CHAPTER for the winter, were the objects demanding his attention. These tasks were executed with unremitted assiduity. When his presence could be dispensed with at headquarters, he visited the places of rendezvous and the principal posts, exercising, by his orders and personal oversight, a general superintendence, and thus promoting unity, system, and efficiency in every part.

respecting

Fort Cum

There was a circumstance at this time connected with Difficulties his command, which caused discontent both to himself command at and his officers. At Fort Cumberland was a Captain berland. Dagworthy, commissioned by Governor Sharpe, who had under him a small company of Maryland troops. This person had held a royal commission in the last war, upon which he now plumed himself, refusing obedience to any provincial officer, however high in rank. Hence, whenever Colonel Washington was at Fort Cumberland, the Maryland captain would pay no regard to his orders. The example was mischievous, and kept the garrison in perpetual feuds and insubordination. The affair was laid in due form before Governor Dinwiddie, and his positive order in the case was requested. Not caring to venture his authority in deciding a doubtful question, the governor refrained from interference, but at the same time told Colonel Washington that the pretensions of Dagworthy were frivolous; and he seemed not a little incensed, that a captain with thirty men should presume to dispute the rank of the commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, who had been commissioned under his own hand. In short, he intimated to Colonel Washington, that Dagworthy might be arrested, according to military usage, taking care, nevertheless, to give no order on the subject.

This vacillation of the governor only increased the embarrassment. In the first place, the fort was in Maryland, and Dagworthy acted under the governor of that colony, who was known to encourage his claim. Again, in General Braddock's time, Dagworthy, on the ground of his old commission, had been put above provincial officers of

IV.

CHAPTER higher rank. With these precedents before him, Colonel Washington did not choose to hazard an arrest, for which he might himself be called to account. He was prompt, however, in his determination, either to resign his commission, as he had formerly done for a similar reason, or to have this difficulty removed.

1755.

Application to General

Shirley.

Journey to Boston.

General Shirley grants his request.

As a last resort, it was proposed to refer the matter to General Shirley, now the commander-in-chief of his Majesty's armies in America; and it was the request of the officers, that the petition should be presented by Colonel Washington in person. The proposal was approved by the governor, who consented to his absence, and furnished him with letters to the General and other persons of distinction.

Despatching orders to Colonel Stephen, who was left with the command of the Virginia troops, he made no delay in preparing for his departure. He commenced his tour on the 4th of February, 1756. General Shirley was

at Boston. A journey of five hundred miles was to be
performed in the depth of winter. Attended by his aid-
de-camp, Captain Mercer, and by Captain Stewart, he
travelled the whole way on horseback, pursuing the route
through Philadelphia, New York, New London, and Rhode
Island. He stopped several days in the principal cities,
where his character, and the curiosity to see a person so
renowned for his bravery and miraculous escape at Brad-
dock's defeat, procured for him much notice.
He was
politely received by General Shirley, who acceded to his
petition in its fullest extent, giving a pointed order in
writing, that Dagworthy should be subject to his com-
mand. The journey was advantageous in other respects.
The plan of operations for the coming campaign was ex-
plained to him by the General; and he formed acquaint-
ances and acquired knowledge eminently useful to him
at a future day. He was absent from Virginia seven

weeks.

While in New York, he was lodged and kindly entertained at the house of Mr. Beverley Robinson, between

IV.

by Beverley Robinson in

New York.

whom and himself an intimacy of friendship subsisted, CHAPTER which indeed continued without change, till severed by their opposite fortunes twenty years afterwards in the 1756. revolution. It happened that Miss Mary Phillips, a sister Entertained of Mrs. Robinson, and a young lady of rare accomplishments, was an inmate in the family. The charms of this lady made a deep impression upon the heart of the Virginia Colonel. He went to Boston, returned, and was again welcomed to the hospitality of Mr. Robinson. He lingered there, till duty called him away; but he was careful to intrust his secret to a confidential friend, whose letters kept him informed of every important event. In a few months intelligence came, that a rival was in the field, and that the consequences could not be answered for, if he delayed to renew his visits to New York. Whether time, the bustle of a camp, or the scenes of war, had moderated his admiration, or whether he despaired of success, is not known. He never saw the lady again, till she was married to that same rival, Captain Morris, his former associate in arms, and one of Braddock's aids-de-camp.

He had before felt the influence of the tender passion. At the age of seventeen he was smitten by the graces of a fair one, whom he called a "Lowland beauty," and whose praises he recorded in glowing strains, while wandering with his surveyor's compass among the Allegany Mountains. On that occasion he wrote desponding letters. to a friend, and indited plaintive verses, but never ventured to reveal his emotions to the lady, who was unconsciously the cause of his pains.

As the Assembly was to convene just at the time of his return, he hastened to Williamsburg, in order to mature a plan for employing the army during the summer. The idea of offensive operations was abandoned at the outset. Neither artillery, engineers, nor the means of transportation necessary for such an object, could be procured. Pennsylvania and Maryland, aroused at last from their apathy, had appropriated money for defence; but,

Repairs to burg and plan for the

Williams

matures a

campaign.

April.

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