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.1 THE FRENCH WAR. 319
TO GENERAL FORBES.
Armstrong's Camp, 18 November, 1758.
SIR,
I came to this camp about eleven o'clock to-day, having
opened the road before me. I should immediately have
proceeded on, but, as the bullocks were to be slaughtered,
and provisions dressed, I thought it expedient to halt
here till three in the morning, when I shall begin to
march with one thousand men, leaving Colonel Armstrong and five hundred more in this camp, until Colonel
Montgomery joins him. I took care that the road
should not be delayed by this halt, for I ordered out a
working party, properly covered, before I came here, to
cut it forward till night, and then return.
I fear that we have been greatly deceived, with regard to the distance from this place to Fort Duquesne.
Most of the woods-men, that I have conversed with,
seem to think that we are still thirty miles from it. I
have sent out a party in that direction to ascertain the
distance, and the kind of ground to be passed over, and
two others to scout on the right and left, for the discovery of tracks.
I found three redoubts erecting for the defence of this
camp. Mr. Gordon thinks, that it will be sufficiently
secured by these means; but, for my own part, I do not
look upon redoubts alone, in this close country, to be
half as good as the slightest breastwork; indeed, I do
not believe they are any security at all without other
works.
I enclose you a return of the total strength of this
place, and the time for which we are served with provisions, by which you will see how much a supply is
needed. I must beg, that commissaries and steelyards
may be sent forward, otherwise a continual dissatisfac