|
|
396 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
|
Letter Bk. III
|
bar at Fort Cumberland to consider of the Expediency of his
leaving that place & marching the two Regiments to Phila does
not a little surprize me because I am confident that I never
advised him to take that Step & that I never subscribed such
an Opinion as you mention. Colo Dunbar had determined to
retire from Fort Cumberland & proceed to Phila before I saw
him, indeed I was advised thereof several Days before I got to
the Camp & had scarcely any thoughts of finding him there at
my Arrival, I have been told that immediately on his Return
to Fort Cumberland after the Action he sent to Capt Orme to
know how the General intended to have disposed of the Troops
if he had lived, & that on Capt Orme's answering he would have
left the Provincials at the Fort & marched the Regulars to Pensa
for Winter-Quarters, the Colonel declared that he would do the
same & instantly give Orders for the Troops to hold themselves
in Readiness to march, whether this was true I cannot say but
I well remember & so do those that were with me that as soon as
I reached the Camp & waited on Colo Dunbar he informed me
that he had determined to march from Fort Cumberland & that
he hoped to be in Phila within a few Weeks. During my Stay
at the Fort he received a Letter from Governor Dinwiddie
wherein he was urged in very strong Terms to march &
recover the Cannon & Stores that had fallen into the Enemy's
hands & to attempt again the Reduction of Fort Du Quesne.
The next morning by his Desire I met Colo Gage & Sr Iohn St
Clair at his Tent & when he asked us" Whether we thought it
was advisable & for his Majesty's Service that he should
immediately proceed to Fort Du Quesne" I as well as the other
Gentn answered in the Negative & I am apt to beleive that
after reading the inclosed Copy of my Letter to Governor
Dinwiddie you will not think We gave an improper Answer.
As I presume Colo Dunbar will be questioned on his Return to
England & asked what Motives induced him to leave Fort
Cumberland I doubt not but he will do all the Gentn that he
desired to attend the Council which he called there, the Justice
to acknowledge that he never asked their Opinion about
marching the Regiments to Phila I am convinced that they all
disapproved of that Step & that if he had thought proper to
have consulted them thereon they would have unanimously
advised him against it. Upon Dunbar's expressing (after the
Council) a good deal of Astonishment & some Resentment at
a Paragraph of Governor Dinwiddie's Lettr wherein he had
intimated that the Colonel ought to have advised the several
Governors on the Continent of the General's ill Success & of
his own Intentions & Resolutions thereon I could not help
observing that as to that I thought Governor Dinwiddie's
Expectations were not at all unreasonable as General Braddock
|
|
 |
