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.

162 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [ET. 24.
far advanced, that, if we meet with opposition in conducting the work, the difficulties and delays attending
the execution cannot be described.
It gave me infinite concern to be informed, that the
Assembly had levied their troops until December only.
By the time they will have entered into the service,
they will claim a discharge. They cannot get the least
smattering of their duty, and we find by experience, that
our poor and ragged soldiers would kill the most active
militia in five days' marching, so little are the latter acquainted with fatigue. Men would almost as soon have
entered the service for seventeen months, as for seven,
and in that time I am convinced we could have enlisted
them upon our own terms. As it is, some perhaps may
be obtained.
In a recent letter your Honor approved the scheme I
sent down for forming the regiment into two battalions
of twenty companies, assigning one to each of the fieldofficers, but never gave any directions concerning the
appointments. Nor do I think there can be any plan
judiciously concerted, until we know what number of
forts is to be built upon our frontiers, as the number of
our companies must in a great measure depend upon the
divisions of the regiment. There are now several vacancies in the regiment, and I have but one blank commission. Indeed, if I had more, I should not think it prudent
to fill them up, until matters are a little better regulated.
At this place I have begun the fort according to your
manded the forces of this dominion. General Braddock had so high an
esteem for his merit, that he made him one of his aids-de-camp, and, if he
had survived, I believe he would have provided handsomely for him in the
regulars. He is a person much beloved here, and he has gone through
many hardships in the service, and I really think he has great merit, and
believe he can raise more men here, than any one present that I know.
If his Lordship will be so good as to promote him in the British establishment, I thinrk he will answer my recommendation." - Dinwiddie's Letter
Books.