Letter, to Robert Dinwiddie

Containers:

Box 1, Folder 1754.03.07

Creator:

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Abstract:

In March 1754 Major George Washington prepared for his first military mission – to build a fort at the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela Rivers in response a growing French presence in the region. He followed direct orders from Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie and recruited approximately 150 Virginia soldiers to join him. With minimal pay and incentive, recruitment was not an easy task. And, in the months leading up to the westward expedition, Washington wrote several letters to Dinwiddie strongly advocating for supplies, uniforms, and consistent pay for his troops. While addressing all of those issues in letter, Washington also offered his personal observations of Native Americans with a request for proper uniforms – most notably red coats. He proposed that if full uniforms could not be procured, the uniform red coat would suffice as "red with them [Native Americans] is compard to Blood and is look'd upon as the distinguishing marks of Warriours and great Men." Washington argued that proper uniforms would earn the respect of Native Americans: "[t]he shabby and ragged appearance the French common Soldiers make affords great matter for ridicule amongst the Indians and I really believe is the chief motive why they hate and despise them as they do." Wanting to gain Native American support and ultimately fortify the western lands, Dinwiddie agreed to Washington's requests. Perhaps a naïve perspective on the challenges that Washington and his troops would face in this expedition, this letter nonetheless provides a glimpse into the life of a young, bold, and ambitious Washington. He concluded the letter with a measure of confidence in his observations, "I hope Your Honour will pardon this freedom, which I should not have assum'd but with a good Intention It is my acquaintance with these Indians, and a Study of their Tempers that has in some measure let me into their Customs and dispositions."

Scope and content:

Washington wrote this letter to Lieutenant-Governor Dinwiddie as he prepared for his first military appointment, an expedition with 160 soldiers to the forks of the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers. He requested supplies, uniforms, clarification of pay for troops, and offered his personal observations of Native Americans.

Language:

English .

Subjects:

Native Americans
Correspondence

Names:

Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770
Washington, George, 1732-1799
Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770

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