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.

202 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. LET. 24.
care to pay the strictest obedience to your orders, and
the opinion, so far as I can. The detachment ordered
from Winchester exceeds, I believe, the number of enlisted men we have there; and the drafts, that made
our strength at that place to consist of about one hundred and sixty men, will leave us in seven days. I
have no hope of enlisting any, nor of prolonging their
stay, as we have heretofore engaged those, who were
willing to serve.
I am very sorry any expression in my letter should
be deemed unmannerly. I never intended insults to
any; on the contrary, I have endeavoured to demean
myself with the proper respect due to superiors. In
the instance mentioned, I can truly say, so far from intending a charge or affront of any kind, it was distant
from my thoughts; and I meant no more than to show
what strange, what unaccountable infatuation prevailed
among the magistrates of the back parts of Carolina;
who were so regardless of the common cause, as to allow fifty Catawbas to return, when they had proceeded
near seventy miles on their march, for want of provisions and a conductor to entice them along. This
was a fact with which I did not suppose your Honor
unacquainted, knowing Colonel Cobb had written to
land; as it was an affair of great consequence, 1 called the council for their
advice. In consequence thereof, I hereby order you immediately to march
one hundred men to Fort Cumberland from the forces you have at Winchester, which, Captain Mercer says, are one hundred and sixty enlisted
men. You are to remain at Fort Cumberland, and make the place as strong
as you can in case of an attack. You are to send out parties frqm the fort
to observe the motions of the enemy, if they should march over the Allegany mountains. Any stores at the fort, not absolutely necessary for its
defence, you are to send to Winchester.
"You are to order one of your subaltern officers, in whom you can confide, to command at Winchester, and to oversee the finishing of the fort
building at that place. These orders I expect you will give due obedience
to, and I am with respect," &c.