George Washington: First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen

For Lesson One: Honor and Passion for Glory:
George Washington in the Ohio Valley

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George Washington Papers, 1741-1799

[Letter from George Washington to Francis Fauquier, November 28, 1758]

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NOTE: This is an excerpt. The full text version of Letter from George Washington to Francis Fauquier, November 28, 1758 is in George Washington Papers, 1741-1799.

The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 02

Camp, at Fort Duquesne, November 28, 1758.

Honble. Sir: I have the pleasure to inform you, that Fort Duquesne, or the ground rather on which it stood, was possessed by his Majesty's troops on the 25th instant. The enemy, after letting us get within a day's march of the place, burned the fort, and ran away (by the light of it,) at night, going down the Ohio by water, to the number of about five hundred men, from our best information. The possession of this fort has been matter of great surprise to the whole army, and we cannot attribute it to more probable causes, than those of weakness, want of provisions, and desertion of their Indians. Of these circumstances we were luckily informed by three prisoners, who providentially fell into our hands at Loyal Hannan, at a time when we despaired of proceeding, and a council of war had determined, that it was not advisable to advance beyond the place above mentioned this season, but the information above caused us to march on without tents or baggage, and with a light train of artillery only, with which we have happily succeeded. It would be tedious, and I think unnecessary, to relate every trivial circumstance, that has happened since my last. To do this, if needful, shall be the employment of a leisure hour, when I have the pleasure to pay my respects to your Honor.

The General purposes to wait here a few days to settle matters with the Indians, and then all the troops, (except a sufficient garrison which will I suppose be left here, to secure the possession,) will march to their respective governments. I therefore give your Honor this early notice of it, that your directions relative to those of Virginia may meet me timely on the road. I cannot help premising, in this place, the hardships the troops have undergone, and the naked condition they now are in, in order that you may judge if it is not necessary that they should have some little recess from fatigue, and time to provide themselves with necessaries, for at present they are destitute of every comfort of life. If I do not get your orders to the contrary, I shall march the troops under my command directly to Winchester; from whence they may then be disposed of, as you shall afterwards direct.

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Questions:

• What is Washington's assessment of the situation on the frontier in his letter to Governor Dinwiddie?
• How does Washington describe the fall of Fort Duquesne to Governor Fauquier?
• What credit does Washington give to his troops during the long campaign to dislodge the French from the Ohio Valley?
• How does the British victory affect relations with the Indians?

Go to the complete interview from which this excerpt was taken.