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.

246 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [.ET. 25.
eight companies now remaining in Virginia are completed to about eighty men each, rank and file, four
commanding officers, four sergeants, and two drummers,
and are all marched to the several posts assigned them.
The commission, which I have received from Governor Dinwiddie, to hold general courts-martial, is very
long, and rather a repetition of the act. I should be
obliged, if you would let me know whether this be right
or not. I am, &c.
TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE.
Fort Loudoun, 27 August, 1757.
SIR,
The drafts from Lunenburg are arrived, to the number of sixteen, which does not replace the soldiers, that
have deserted since my last. The drafts, when they
were divided among the eight companies in July, completed them to eighty-six rank and file; and there remained over and above forty workmen, whom I detained
at this place, as mentioned in a former letter.
What the strength of the companies is just at this
time, I am no more able to say, not knowing what casualties may have happened since, than I am to send your
Honor a return of the regiment, which is impossible till
I get my returns from the several out-posts; and that, I
believe your Honor must be sensible, is difficult and
precarious, dispersed as the regiment is. I have given
express orders, however, that those returns shall be
made to me as regularly as the nature of things will admit, and I shall not be wanting in my duty to forward
them, nor shall I delay to send the companies' size-rolls,
when they come to my hands.
The enclosed is a copy of a report made to me by