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.

102 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [_T. 23.
by the first opportunity to this place, or Alexandria,
with orders that they may be forwarded immediately to
Winchester.
I must again take the liberty of mentioning to you
the necessity of putting the militia, when they are drawn
out into actual service, under better regulation than they
are at present, as well as of putting us under a military
law. Otherwise we shall only be a burthensome charge
to the country, and the others will prove its ruin. That
this may not appear an unmeaning expression, I refer
you to Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen, who can give you
some late proofs of their disobedience and inconsistent
behaviour.
As these affairs will take some time, I find I cannot
possibly be in Williamsburg till the 6th, 7th, or 8th of
November, when I should be glad to meet a committee,
in order to settle with them and your Honor some
points, that are very necessary for the good of the expedition.
Colonel Stephen has orders to receive some money
below, that we may be eniabled to pay the troops, keep
them in spirits, and answer such immediate charges as
cannot be dispensed with, until I come down. I should
be glad if your Honor would order him to repair therewith (as soon as he has done his business with the committee) to Winchester; and from thence, with a proper
guard, to Fort Cumberland. I hope the treasury will
have a sufficient sum of money prepared against I come
down, that I may meet with no delay.
There are about seventy recruits at this place, and I
left twenty-five at Alexandria. I suppose they are augmented before this time by officers, who, I am sorry to
say, have paid slight regard to orders, by not being in at
the time appointed. I am, &c.