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 I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 281
calculated, itl should seem, rather to breed confusion,
than to benefit the other regiment.* There is not an
ensign there, that would not rather quit the service, than
accept of a company in the other regiment, so much do
they disapprove Colonel Mercer's proposal; and I have
neither inclination nor power- to force their compliance.
Captain Rutherford's company was raised and posted in
this quarter by Governor Dinwiddie's express orders,
and can be more useful here, than any other men whatever, being all sons of the neighbouring farmers, men of
property, young, active, and acquainted with the woods
on these frontiers. Whereas, if they go to the southward, they will be utter strangers to the enemy's haunts,
and of no more use there, than the militia of an adjacent
county; while their places here must be supplied by
militia equally ignorant of these woods; besides giving
them a useless march of two hundred miles, and exposing the frontiers in the mean time. Another reason,
which may be urged, is, that their property all lies in
this county. Interested motives induced them to enlist,
and to be vigilant in defending it, and, I believe, they
would desert, rather than go to the southward.
Your Honor will please to remember, that one of the
last questions, which I had an opportunity of asking,
was, whether I should send out recruiting parties. You
replied, "that, since the Assembly was so near meeting,
you would defer giving any directions on that head."
As I had no money for the purpose, I hope it will not
seem surprising, that we have recruited but few men
since. I have been waiting for orders to complete the
regiment. I shall now use my best endeavours, with
the very few officers, who can be spared from the garrisons, dispersed as we are. I am, &c.
* Mercer was lieutenant-colonel of the second, or new regiment. The
commanding officer of this regiment was Colonel Byrd.
VOL. nt. 36 X X