The portrait is from a painting by Rembrandt Peale.

Analytical Table of Contents

I

IN THE BRITISH ARMY AND COLONIAL

COUNCILS

To Governor Dinwiddie, 18 July, 1775.

The battle with the French on the Monongahela;
the cowardice of the regular troops; death of
General Braddock; dangerous condition of the fron-
tiers.

To John Augustine Washington, 18 July, 1755.

False report of the writer's death; narrow escape

in the battle with the French.

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5

To Mrs. Martha Custis, 20 July, 1758

6

A friendly message written while on the march

to the Ohio.

To Francis Dandridge, 20 September, 1765

7

The Stamp Act; how the Americans regard it; its

probable effect on American trade with Great

Britain.

10

To George Mason, 5 April, 1769

American liberty must be protected; arms to be the

last resort; effectiveness of starving British trade

considered; methods of beginning the work.

To Bryan Fairfax, 4 July, 1774

Futility of petitioning the throne for a redress of

grievances; injustice of confiscating debts due to

Great Britain.

15

To Bryan Fairfax, 20 July, 1774

Useless to try to induce Parliament to repeal the

offensive acts; evidence of a fixed plan to tax

America; nothing to be expected from addressing

the throne.

To Bryan Fairfax, 24 August, 1774

Measures adopted by Great Britain repugnant to

the British constitution; the colonies must resist;

effect of the resistance of Massachusetts Bay.

To Captain Robert Mackenzie, 9 October, 1774

Defends the people of Massachusetts against the

charge of seeking independence; the ministers must

abandon their measures if they would avoid rebel-

lion; independence not desired by any thinking man

in America.

II

IN THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE

Address accepting the Command of the Army,

16 June, 1775 .

Expresses fear that he may be unequal to the task;
declines to receive any pecuniary compensation.

Commission as Commander-in-Chief, 19 June, 1775

To Mrs. Martha Washington, 18 June, 1775 .

Informs her of his appointment as commander-in-

chief, and declares that he could not avoid it; hopes

that she will try to be contented during his absence;

has made his will.

To the President of Congress, 21 September, 1775

Finds it difficult to persuade the troops to sub-

scribe to the Continental articles of war; the whole

army will dissolve on or before January 1st; the

distressing condition of the army for want of sup-

plies.

To Joseph Reed, 28 November, 1775

Laments dearth of public spirit; difficulty in the en-

listment of men.

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