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Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18, 1755)

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Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18
CONTEXT

In this letter to his brother John Augustine Washington, dated July 18, 1755, George Washington describes the defeat that General Edward Braddock and his army of British regulars faced at the hands of a smaller contingent of French soldiers and Indian allies. Washington served on Braddock’s staff as a volunteer aide, and while he escaped unscathed, Braddock was killed.

FULL TEXT

To John Augustine Washington

Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18

Fort Cumberland, Md., 18 July 1755]

To Mr Jno. Auge Washington, Mo.t Vernon.

Dear Brother,

As I have heard; since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death and dying speech; I take this early opportunity of contradicting the first, and of assuring you, that I have not, as yet, composed the latter.—But, by the All-powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me; yet escaped unhurt, altho[ugh] Death was leveling my Companions on every side of me!

We have been most scandalously beaten by a trifling body of men;—but fatigue, and want of time, prevent me from giving you any of the details, untill I have the happiness of seeing you at Mount Vernon; which I now most ardently wish for, since we are drove in thus far.—A weak and feeble state of Health, obliges me to halt here for two or three days to recover a little strength, that I may thereby

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Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18

be enabled to proceed homewards with more ease: You may expect to see me there, on Saturday or Sunday fortnight, which is as soon as I can well be down; as I shall take my Bullskin Plantations in my way.—Pray give my compliments to all my Friends.—I am, Dr Jack,

Your most aff.e Brother,
G. W——n

FURTHER READING
  • Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (May 31, 1754)
  • Letter from John Robinson to George Washington (September 15, 1754)
  • Letter from George Washington to Richard Washington (April 15, 1757)
  • Letter from George Washington to Robert Cary & Co. (May 1, 1759)
  • The Stamp Act (March 22, 1765)
  • An Act for Restraining and Prohibiting the Governor, Council, and House of Representatives of the Province of New York, until Provision Shall Have Been Made for Furnishing the King’s Troops with All the Necessaries Required by Law, from Passing or Assenting to Any Act of Assembly, Vote, or Resolution for Any Other Purpose (June 29, 1767)
  • Letter from George Washington to George Mason (April 5, 1769)
  • Letter from George Washington to Robert McKenzie (October 9, 1774)
  • Letter from George Washington to William Fairfax (May 31, 1775)
  • Letter from George Washington to Burwell Bassett (June 19, 1775)
  • Letter from George Washington to a Continental Congress Camp Committee (January 29, 1778)
  • From the Diary of George Washington (May 1, 1781)
  • Letter from George Washington to David Humphreys (July 25, 1785)
  • Letter from George Washington to John Jay (August 15, 1786)
  • Letter from George Washington to James Madison (November 5, 1786)
  • Letter from George Washington to Henry Knox (December 26, 1786)
  • Letter from George Washington to Alexander Spotswood (February 13, 1788)
  • Letter from Pierce Butler to Weedon Butler (May 5, 1788)
  • Letter from George Washington to Catharine Sawbridge Macaulay Graham (January 9, 1790)
  • Letter from Fisher Ames to Oliver Wolcott (September 2, 1795)
  • Message from George Washington to the House of Representatives (March 30, 1796)
  • Narrative Account of George Washington’s Death by Tobias Lear (December 15, 1799)
  • George Washington’s Last Will and Testament (July 9, 1799)
  • A Funeral Oration on the Death of George Washington by Henry Lee Jr.
  • Letter from John Adams to Benjamin Rush (April 22, 1812)
  • Excerpt from The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell 1774–1777 (1924)
CITE THIS ENTRY
APA Citation:
Washington, George. Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18, 1755). (2020, December 07). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/letter-from-george-washington-to-john-augustine-washington-july-18-1755.
MLA Citation:
Washington, George. "Letter from George Washington to John Augustine Washington (July 18, 1755)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (07 Dec. 2020). Web. 07 Dec. 2023
Last updated: 2021, February 08
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