The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART 1.] THE FRENCH WAR. 125
TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.
Alexandria, 14 January, 1756.
SIR,
Major Lewis, being at Winchester when your letter
came to hand, was immediately despatched to Augusta,
to take upon him the command of the troops destined
against the Shawanese Town;* with orders to follow
such directions as he should receive from you. This
scheme I am apprehensive will prove abortive, as we
are told that those Indians are removed up the river,
into the neighbourhood of Fort Duquesne.
I have given all necessary orders for training the men
to a proper use of their arms, and the method of Indian
fighting, and hope in a little time to make them expert.
I should be glad to have your Honor's express commands, either to prepare for taking the field, or for
guarding our frontiers in the spring, because the steps
for these. two operations are very different. I have
already built two forts on Patterson's Creek, which have
caused the chief part of the inhabitants to return to their
plantations; and have now ordered Captain Waggener
with sixty men to build and garrison two others, at
places I have pointed out high up the South Branch,
which will be a means of securing near a hundred miles
of our frontiers, exclusive of the command at Fort Dinwiddie, on Jackson's River. And, indeed, without a
much greater number of men than we have a prospectof raising, I do not see how it is possible to think of
passing the mountains, or acting more than defensively.
This seems to be the full determination of the Pennsylvanians; so that there can be no hope of assistance
from that quarter.' tIf we only act defensively, I would
most earnestly recommend the building of a strong fort
s Situated at the junction of the Great Kenhawa and Ohio Rivers.