Documenting the American South Logo
Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Robert Dinwiddie to Arthur Dobbs
Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770
December 13, 1755
Volume 05, Pages 446-447

[Reprinted from Dinwiddie Papers. Vol. 2. P. 289.]
Governor Dinwiddie to Governor Dobbs.

Dec'r 13th, 1755.

Sir:

I hope y's will find You perfectly recover'd of Y'r late Indisposition, w'ch [I] shall be glad to have confirm'd by a Line from You. The enclos'd Packets came to my Hands Yesterday, and as I conceiv'd they cont'n Affairs of Consequence, I tho't it proper to send them by this Express. I am now prepar'g a Pres't for the Catawbas and Cherokees. Two of the Council go Commissioners to deliver it, and to solicit their Fr'dship to the British Subjects, and to endeavour to prevail with them to supply us with a number of their Warriors in the Spring. As the Fr., by their Priests and other Emissaries, are extremely busy with all our Friendly Ind's, to withd'w them from their F'dship with us, I think it is absolutely necessary, at this Time, to do our utmost to establish them in our interest. Our Com'rs will sett out from y's about the sixth of next Mo., and I am of Opinion if You w'd send two Com'rs from Y'r Province it w'd give a good Grace to the Negotiat's. I wrote You the 22d of y's Mo. my Intent'n, and, as I doubt not, You will see the Importance and Necessity of y's Affair, You will think it proper some sh'd be sent from You, and they may meet Our Com'rs among the Catawbas. The Cherokees have sent into our County of Augusta 130 of their Warriors. I join them with 200 of our Rangers, and they propose attacking the Shawnees in their Towns, and to cut them off. They are the People who have done most of the Mischief among our Back Settlers. To Y'r

-------------------- page 447 --------------------
Town, where the Cherokees now are, is but seven Day's march. They are fond of the Expedition, and I am greatly hurried in sending them Arms [and] Amunit'n. If we sh'd succeed, it will be doing an essential good Service, and probably may have the effect of reclaim'g some of the Other Nat's of Ind's y't have joined the Fr., or, at least, keep them in some awe. No doubt Gov'r Morris writes You y't Pensylvania at last have voted £60,000 for the Expedition, and he says he will consult a Plan of Operats, w'ch he will send me for my Approbat'n. You will therefore see the necessity of send'g the three Companies You intend for Assistance, to join our Forces near F't Cumb'l'd as soon as possible, y't they may be ready on the Spot to go on any Service y't may be concerted. Gen'l Shirley's Forces remain at Oswego y's Winter. Whether Gen'l Johnson, with his men, attempts any Thing ag'st Crown Point y's Winter is very uncertain, or have I any particular Acc't of him, but Gen'l Shirley was expected at N. York the end of last Mo. From England we hear Mr. Fox is made Sec'ry of State in room of S'r T. Robinson, Lord Barrington, Sec'ry at War, and [it is] s'd y't Mr. Neugent is Pay M'r-Gen'l, but I have not a Confirmat'n of these Changes, and y't the Duke of New Castle is to retire with a Pension of 7,000£ per Ann. Pray give the Express all possible Dispatch, and I rem'n, with kind Respects to Y'r Son and Nephew, in w'ch my Wife and Children join, and I always am

Y'r Ex's most ob'd't, h'ble serv't.