Primary tabs
Monday, June 5, 13 Geo˙ III, 1775.
A Message from the Governour by Mr˙ Blair:
Mr˙ SPEAKER: I am commanded by the Governour to lay before this House his Excellency' s written Message in answer to their Address relative to the Militia lately drawn out into actual, service, together with the other Papers which the Message refers to. And he presented the same at the bar; and the Message was read, and is as followeth, viz:
In answer to a Resolution of your House, brought to me by two of your members, that an Address be presented to me requesting me to communicate to you the best information I have had respecting the number of the Militia lately drawn out into actual service in defence of this Colony by my command, and the probable expense attending the same; and that I inform you what Militia I have ordered on duty since the conclusion of the late Indian expedition, and for what purposes: I can only from recollection (not having been furnished with exact returns) acquaint you that the body of militia which Colonel Andrew Lewis conducted, and that with which I marched in person, amounted together to about three thousand men, officers included;
but I refer you to the Lieutenants of the Counties from whence the Militia were draughted for that service, to the Commanding Officers, of the different Corps, and to the Captains under them, from the returns and lists of whose respective companies you will obtain the information in regard of number and from that of expense, which you require, in the best and most particular manner.
With respect to what Militia have been ordered on duty since the conclusion of the Indian expedition: it was thought requisite to continue a body of one hundred men at a temporary fort near the mouth of the Great Kenhawa, as well for raking care of the men who had been wounded in the action between Colonel Andrew Lewis' s division and the Indians, as for securing that part of the back country from the attempts of straggling parties of Indians, who might not be apprised of the peace concluded, or others of the tribes which, had not joined in it. It was likewise necessary to keep up a small body of men at Fort Dunmore, in like manner for the security of the country on that side, and also for guarding twelve Indian prisoners belonging to the Mingo tribe, which Lad not surrendered or acceded to the peace concluded only with the Shawanese; and seventy-five men were employed at this place, for these purposes. Twenty-five men were likewise left at Fort Fincastle, as a post of communication between the two others; and all together for the further purpose of forming a chain on the back of the settlers, to observe the Indians until we should have good reason to believe nothing more was apprehended from them; which, as soon as I received favourable accounts of, I ordered the several posts to be evacuated, and the men to be discharged.
I have ordered my letters to be laid before you for your further information, which contain all the orders I gave for the embodying and drawing but the Militia upon the occasion of the Indian disturbances; and likewise the substance
If there be any thing further which the House shall require to be informed of, I shall be ready to give them all the satisfaction in my power.
DUNMORE.
Ordered, That the said Message, and the Papers therein referred to, do lie upon the table, to be perused by the Members of the House.
Answer of the Governour
v2:1189
v2:1190
of the peace agreed to between me and the Indians, which has not been formally ratified, that having been deferred to a meeting intended to be held at Fort Dunmore this spring, where all the Ohio Indians, for the greater solemnity, were to be present, but which I have not been able to find time to proceed to.