The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-09-14
VIRGINIA UNDER plNwipplg.
WashIngton'n Withdrawal from Col.
onini Service NJ Twenty.three.


do not suppose that amy land was
ever worse governed than Virginia
was under Dlnwlddie. and M 10 mil
itary affairs worst Of all. bv, not
worse than other colonies. The gov
ernOra were Ignorant of warfare aud
expected too much from the halftrnln.
cd militia and their careless oiilccra
These conditions mny have seemed 10
Justify the kings order that all ON.
GERS holding militia appointments
should be- ouiranked by all royal com.
missions. and even by the kings ON
GERS on half pay. This was bad
enough. but there were also indcpcnd.
ent companies raised In time of need,
and their officers, being directly com
mlssloncd by the governors acting for
the king, insisted ON their right to
outrank gentlemen Of the militin. and
led the men In their commands 10 dis
obey such officers and TO consider
Themselves of class superior 20 the
militia. ! had already had 40 sad an
experience Of the difficulties which
arose out Of these conditions that
was unwilling 10 submit 10 Gov. Din.
widdle's plan uf making all the militia
independent companies and with on
ly captains In command. The object
10 be attained by this awkward cx.
pedient was 10 nut stop 10 the con
stant disputes as 10 precedency and
command. As this would reduce me
from colonel 10 captain. | made IL
clear 10 the governor that IL was not,
In my opinion. step 10 he advised.
but I would consider II, which indeed,
took me no long time.
In November | resigned my com.
mission, and before H. was accepted
went 10 Alexandria, where my regl-
mcnt then lay. | asked the officers TO
meet me and explained the cause Of
my being forced 10 resign. ! was sur.
prlsed 10 find my resolution, which all
admitted 10 be reasonable, met with
| the most flatterlng opposition. In
| deed, ! received coon after letter
from these gentlemen In which. Wits
much more. they said:
we, your obedlent and affcctlonate
officers, beg leave 10 express our great
| concern at the marked disagrecable
news we have received Of your deter
mlnatlon 10 resign the command OF
the corps. Your steady adherence TO
| impartial Justice, your quick discern
ment and invariable regard TO merit.
enlivened our natural emulation to
excel
| AS this letter lies before me and I
think OF the emotion II caused me. I
still like 10 remember that at the close
they spoke of me as "one who taught
them to desplse danger and to think
lightly of toll and hardships while led
by man they knew and loved"
have been spoken Of as wanting
In sensiblity. II 1t had not been said
lacked means to show what ! feel,
that were TO put the matter more
correctly. Even now the recollection
of the praise thus given moves me
deeply, and recalls the memory OF
my farewell TO those who served with
me In the War Of lndeDendency.
was but % when left the colonial
! service.
| did so with much reluctance. for
my desire was not to leave the mill
tary line. as my inclinatlons were stlll
strongly bent to arms. and Of this |
assured Col. Fitzhugh very plainly
when he would have had nc submit
to return 10 service In the inferior
grade OF captain. preferred my .arm
10 submitting TO this degradation
From g. Weir Mitchelrs THE Youth
of Washington" in the Century.