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. 301
TO MAJOR FRANCIS HALKET, BRIGADE MAJOR.
Camp, at Fort Cumberland, 2 August, 1758.
MY DEAR HALKET,
I am just returned from a conference with Colonel
Bouquet. I find him fixed, I think I may say unalterably fixed, to lead you a new way to the Ohio, through a
road, every inch of which is to be cut at this advanced
season, when we have scarce time left to tread the
beaten track, universally confessed to be the best passage through the mountains.
If Colonel Bouquet succeeds in this point *with the
General, all is lost, - all is lost indeed, - our enterprise
will be ruined, and we shall be stopped at the Laurel
Hill this winter; but not to gather laurels, except of the
kind that covers the mountains. The southern Indians
will turn against us, and these colonies will be desolated by such an accession to the enemy's strength.
These must be the consequences of a miscarriage; and
a miscarriage is the almost necessary consequence of an
attempt to march the army by this new route. I have
given my reasons at large to Colonel Bouquet. He desired
that I would do so, that he might forward them to the
General. Should this happen, you will be able to judge
of- their weight.
I am uninfluenced by prejudice, having no hopes or
fears but for the general good. Of this you may be assured, and that my sincere sentiments are spoken on
this occasion.
I am, dear Halket, most affectionately yours.
VOL. 11. Z