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G.Washington on Braddock's Request June 1751 tin the Field on way to Fort Duquesne and "Braddock's Defeat" Beginning His Military Career
G.Washington on Braddock's Request June 1751 tin the Field on way to Fort Duquesne and "Braddock's Defeat" Beginning His Military Career
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G.Washington on Braddock's Request June 1751 tin the Field on way to Fort Duquesne and "Braddock's Defeat" Beginning His Military Career

In this note from the long, difficult journey to Fort Duquesne at present-day Pittsburgh, General Edward Braddock requested through his aide-de-camp Roger Morris that George Washington bring up Jervais, the groom or horse manager. The groom was often a young boy who fed, groomed, and exercised the horses. Washington endorsed the note with a file note in the upper left corner.

The management of horses was an essential part of the progress of Braddock's army through the heavily wooded Allegheny Mountains between Fort Cumberland, Maryland, and Fort Duquesne. By late June, Washington complained in a letter to his brother that the corps with whom he was traveling "are in a misserable Condition for want of Horses, not havg half enough for their Wagns.... there has been vile management in regard to Horses."

[GEORGE WASHINGTON, Autograph Endorsement about 30 letters in the future general and President's hand, on Roger Morris, Autograph Note Signed, to George Washington, June 1755, western Pennsylvania. 1 p.

Complete Transcript
[File Note in Washington's Hand:]
Capt. Rog Morris / A D.C. to G Bradock / June 1755

If Mr Washington can bring up Jervais the groom, the General [Desires he will?].
Roger Morris

Historical Background
In the summer of 1755, General Edward Braddock (1695-1755) led a British force of 2,100 British regular and provincial troops in an attempt to capture the French Fort Duquesne, established in 1754 at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers at the current site of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As the commander-in-chief of the British Army in North America, Braddock led the main offensive against the French as part of the global Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in British North America). Braddock's force departed Fort Cumberland in western Maryland, in three divisions between June 7 and 10, 1755, but faced the logistical challenge of moving equipment, cannon, supplies, and men through densely wooded forests and across the Allegheny Mountains, a journey of approximately 110 miles.

Among those in Braddock's force was George Washington, whom Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie had promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the Virginia Regiment the previous summer. However, in this campaign, Washington served as a volunteer aide-de-camp to Braddock with no official position in the chain of command. Washington's white body servant, John Alton (d. 1785), also accompanied him.

Braddock had sent Washington from Fort Cumberland on May 15, 1755 to Hampton, Virginia, to obtain funds for the expedition from William Johnston, Braddock's deputy paymaster general. By the end of May, Washington had returned to Fort Cumberland. He departed with Braddock on June 10. After leaving Fort Cumberland, Braddock's force determined to leave behind some wagons and employ more pack horses to speed their progress. On June 14, Washington became ill with a fever and headaches, a condition that persisted until June 23. At Braddock's order, the army physicians gave Washington "Doctor James Powder," which relieved his symptoms within four days. In the meantime, he could not ride on horseback. He tried riding in a wagon, but the jolting proved too much, so he was left with a guard and supplies to await the next detachment, which was two days behind. Braddock gave Washington "his wd of honr" that Washington would be brought up before they reached Fort Duquesne.

Braddock insisted on clearing a road to the fort that he hoped to take and defend. The forces at Fort Duquesne included about 250 French marines and Canadian militia, together with about 640 Native American allies camped outside the fort. On July 9, Braddock's men crossed the Monogahela River about ten miles south of Fort Duquesne.

When some of his advanced forces came unexpectedly upon French forces, the Battle of the Monongahela began. After several hours of intense combat along the forest road, Braddock was shot off of his horse. Washington managed to impose some order and form a rearguard, allowing the British to disengage and earning him the sobriquet "Hero of the Monongahela." Just over a week later, Washington wrote to his mother, "I luckily escapd with[ou]t a wound, tho' I had four Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me." During the long retreat, General Braddock died of his wounds. Of Braddock's force of approximately 1,400 at the battle, 456 were killed and 422 wounded. In sharp contrast, the French and their Native American allies lost approximately 30 killed and 57 wounded.

Roger Morris (1727-1794) was born in England as the son of a Yorkshire gentleman. He had been a captain in the 48th Regiment since September 1745 and became lieutenant colonel of the 47th Regiment before resigning from the British Army in 1764. Morris was appointed as Braddock's second aide-de-camp at Alexandria on March 27, 1755. He was wounded early in the Battle of the Monongahela but survived. In January 1758, Morris married Mary Philipse, a wealthy New York heiress, and lived in a fine house on the Hudson River. During the Revolutionary War, he attempted to remain neutral but was condemned as a loyalist and had his property confiscated. He and his family left America at the end of the war and returned to Yorkshire.

Provenance
Frederick R. Kirkland Library
Sotheby, Parke-Bernet, No. 4588E, item 181, New York, New York, March 1962

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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