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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Robert Dinwiddie to James Innes
Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770
March 23, 1754
Volume 05, Page 112

-------------------- page 112 --------------------
[Reprinted from Dinwiddie Papers. Vol. 1. P. 125.]


Governor Dinwiddie to Colonel James Innes. 23d Mar., [1754.]

Dear James:

Y'r Kind Let'r of the 12th Curr't I rec'd by Mr. Ashe, and I am very glad that I shall have the Pleasure of seeing You at the Head of a Regim't of 750 Men. I intended You the Chief Com'd of our Forces, but the few now rais'd were to march directly to the Ohio, that [I] was oblig'd to Com'on the Officers. Y'r Age is nothing, w'n You reflect on Y'r regular Method of living. It gives me Pleasure that You are to be on the Expedit'n, and I hope You will soon recover [from] your present Complaint. As for the Expectat's of the People here, I always have regard to Merit, and I know Yours and You need not mind or fear any Reflect's. The Bearer appears to be a very discreet, well-behav'd Gent., and I doubt not will make a good Officer, and the Encouragm't, You give in preferring those that raise their Compa's first to the Senior Com'o., is right. We allow'd a Pistole listing Money to each Man besides their Pay, but I refer You to my Let'r to Your Presid't. The very Thought You write me, occur'd to me, and a Month ago I wrote to [the] Gov'rs of N. York and New England to make a Faint towards Canada, to divert their sending the Number of Forces mention'd; whether they will put it in practice I cannot say. Dispatch is absolutely necessary, and [I] hope You will bring Y'r Forces by Sea, and I heartily wish to see You and them. I think Y'r Com'd from me must be by a Com'o. superior to any I have yet granted. You know my regard and Esteem for You. My Wife, Lise, and the Child, join me in sincere respects to You and Mrs. Innes, and believe me, I am,

S'r, Y'r affect'o. h'ble Serv't.

P. S. His M'y sent 30 Pss. Cannon, 4 Pownders, with all necessary Implem'ts. They are heavy, therefore [I] have sent only ten up to be carried in Waggons to the Ohio; if they be easily transported I shall send the other twenty. No Cowhorns or hand Granades here.