The Carlyle House and its Associations -- Braddock's Heaquarters -- Here the Colonial Governors met in Council, April. 1755. Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ The Carlyle House and its Associations -- Braddock's Headquarters -- Here the Colonial Governors met in Council, April. 1755. Richard Henry Spencer William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 1. (Jul., 1909), pp. 1-17. WILLIAM AND MARY COLLEGE QUARTERLY HISTORICAL MAGAZINE VOL. XVIII. JULY, 1909 NO. 1 THE CARYLE HOUSE AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS -- BRADDOCK'S HEADQUARTERS -- HERE THE COLONIAL GOVERNORS MET IN COUNCIL, APRIL, 1755. BY RICHARD HENRY SPENCER. To the student of history and biography, particularly of the Colonial period, every- thing connected with the stirring events of those days, is invested with a peculiar charm. There are a great many historic houses of the Revolution which are well known, but the Colonial houses with their earlier history, are none the less interesting because so little has been written about them or their owners. In this country, with its spirit of progress and the desire for that which is new, we have levelled to the earth many of its old landmarks, and we are still continuing to do so. We have no embattled castles telling of feudal wars and imprisoned enemies, or ancient abbeys with their massive towers, vaulted domes, monuments and effigies, armorial encaustic tiles and beautiful chantry chapels, to thrill us with wonder and delight and to remind us of the granduer and splendor of the past, but we have a few old Colonial churches and houses left, abounding in sacred memories, in which important events have taken place, and these should be preserved from the ravages of time and the ruthless hand of the destroyer. These shrines of the nation, unless cared for, will pass rapidly into ruin and decay and soon become only a memory. Page 2. Among them the "Carlyle House", in Alexandria, Virginia, built by Colonel John Carlyle twenty-four years before the Revolution, and since generally known as "Braddock's Head- quarters", is one of the most interesting on account of its association with the historic past. He was born in Annandale, Demfriesshire, Scotland, the 6th of February, 1720, the son of Dr. William Carlyle of the Torthorwald, Brydekirk and Limekilns branches of the family, who were descended from Sir William Carlile and his wife Margaret Bruce, the sister of King Robert I. of Scotland. Coming to America about the year 1740, and settling first at Dumfries, Virginia, he was one of the incorporators in 1748, of the town of Alexandria, with Thomas Lord Fairfax, Honorable William Fairfax of Belvoir, George William Fairfax, Lawrence Washington of Mount Vernon, John Alexander, Gerard Alexander, Philip Alexander and others. He was also one of the most active members with George William Fairfax, Lawrence Washington, Augustine Washington and others of "The Ohio Company", which was formed to secure a share of the trade with the Indians of that region, as well as to establish a colony or colonies there- in. Hon. Thomas Lee, President of the Council of Virginia, whose sons Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee were afterwards two of the Signers of the Declaration of In- dependence, took the lead in the management of the affairs of the company, but upon his death Lawrence Washington was chosen as his successor. A few families were settled under the auspices of the company, but the French and Indian wars finally caused a total sus- pension of operations. Edward Everett in his "Life of George Washington", says, "Out of this germ of private enterprise grew the Seven Years' war, and by no doubtful chain of cause and effect, the war of American Independence". The "Carlyle House" is still in a good state of preservation and ought to be regarded as one of the most historic houses in America. It is situated at the corner of Fairfax and Cameron Streets. On what is called the east front -- that por- Page 3. tion facing the Potomac River, from which a fine view of the house can be obtained -- is a door with a keystone over it, in which are cut the letters "J.S.C.", and underneath them the figures "1752", showing the year that John Carlyle built the house, the letter "S", being for his wife Sarah, the second daughter of Honorable William Fairfax of Belvoir, her eldest sister Anne, being then the wife of Lawrence Washington of Mount Vernon, the half brother of George Washington. The "Carlyle House" is said to have been built upon a stone fort, supposed to have been erected by the very earliest settlers, as a defense against the Indians, the old fort being turned into a cellar, and above it the mansion was reared. This square, well built house was once surrounded by a lawn sloping to the river's edge, and shaded by lofty trees, but it is now hemmed in, the City having grown up around it. It is usually spoken of as "Braddock's Headquarters", from the fact that General Edward Brad- dock and his aid-de-camp Captain Robert Orme wre the guests of Colonel Carlyle in March and April 1755, and the five Colonial Governors met here in Council to concert measures for the campaign against the French and just before Braddock started on his disastrous expedition to Fort Duquesne. It was here that General Braddock first met the youthful Washington, whom he had already invited to become a member of his military family. And here also were Benjamin Franklin, Richard Henry Lee, Colonel William Johnson, Commodore Keppel, Sir Peter Halkett, once a Member of Parliament, but then in the army, and many of the British military and naval officers then in Alexandria. In October 1753, Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, sent George Washington, on a mission to La Garduer de Saint Pierre, the French Commandant of the Fort on the upper Ohio River, to demand an evacuation of the territory, but his mission was unsuccessful. Troops were then ordered to be raised at once under the command of Colonel Joshua Fry and Lieutenant Colonel George Washington, and on the 26th of January 1754, Governor Dinwiddie appointed John Carlyle, Major and Commissary of the Virginia forces. Page 4. The campaign, however, of that year was unsuccessful, ending in July, in the surrender by Colonel Washington of Fort Necessity to M. Coulon de Villiers. After this unfortunate affair, the English Government determined to send over two Regiments of Infantry of about five hundred men each, the 44th under Colonel Sir Peter Kalkett and the 48th under Colonel Thomas Dunbar. On the 24th of November 1754, Major General Edward Braddock(1) was appointed "General & Commander of all & singular our Troops & Forces, Yt are now in North America & Yt shall be sent or rais'd there to vindicate our just Rights & Possessions in those Parts". A fort at Wills's Creek was erected and named Fort Cumberland, in honor of the Duke of Cumberland, Captain General of the British Army, and where now stands the flourishing City of Cumberland, Maryland. General Braddock sailed the 24th of December 1754, on board the "Norwich", accompanied by the famous "Centurior", whose figure head adorns Greenwich Hospital to-day, the flagship of Commodore Agustus Keppel, and the "Syren", followed a little later by the transports, ordinance ships and convoys. The Honorable Augustus Keppel (1725-86), who commanded the little squadron, second son of William Anne Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, for whom Queen Anne stood godmother in person, and thence his second name, entered the Navy and became eminent as Admiral Keppel. His father was Governor-in-Chief of Virginia (which he never visited) for seventteen years and until his death the 22nd of December 1754, just two days before the squadron sailed for Virginia. __________________________________________________ (1) Edward Braddock born in 1695, son of Major General Edward Braddock, entered the army as an Ensign in the Coldstream Guards 14th. October 1710. Lieutenant Colonel 21st. November 1745. Major General 29th March 1754, and 24th September, Commander in chief of his Majestys' Forces in America. He was fatally wounded at the engagement on the Monogahela, 9th. July 1755, and died four days later. Page 5. His second sister Lady Caroline Keppel married in 1758, Robert Adair, for whom she wrote before her marriage to him, that beautiful ballad "Robin Adair", that was destined to become familiar through the length and breadth of the civilized world. The inhabitants of the colonies of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania eagerly looked forward to the arrival of General Braddock and his army, and to the ultimate defeat of the French. Expressions of popular pleasure were frequent and the poets of the day were in- spired to tune their joyful lyres to strains like these. "Breathe, breath, ye winds, rise, rise, ye gentle gales; Swell the ship's canvass, and expand her sails! Ye sea-green Nymphs, the royal vessel deign To guide propitious o'er the liquid main; Freighted with wealth, for nobe ends designed (So willed great George, and so the Fates inclined.) The ponderous Cannon o'er the surges sleep; The flaming Muskets swim the raging deep; The mur'drous Swords, concealed in scabbards, sail: And pointed Bayonets partake the gale; Ah! swiftly waft her to the longing shore; In safety land her, and we ask no more!" On the 20th of February 1755, General Braddock arrived at Hampton Roads, and immediately went to Williamsburg, where Commodore Keppel agreed to meet him, to consult with Governor Dinwiddie. By the middle of March the entire fleet had arrived and proceeded up the Chesapeake Bay and up the Potomac River, passing by Mount Vernon, to Alexandria. General Braddock remained in Wiliamsburg planning with Governor Dinwiddie preparations for the approaching campaign. On the 10th of March, General Braddock from Williamsburg, wrote to the Governors of Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania requesting them to meet him in Annapolis, Maryland, the beginning of April, for consultation and to settle upon a plan of operations, and urging on them the establishment of a common fund for defaying in part the expenses of the expedition. Page 6. On the 26th of March, accompanied by Governor Dinwiddie and Commodore Keppel, he arrived in Alexandria, and made his headquarters at the "Carlyle House", all the forces having reached there by that time, where they were encamped. The next day he announced the appoint- ment of Captain Robert Orme(1) of the Coldstream Regiment of Guards and Captain Roger Morris(2) of Colonel Dunbar's* Regiment of Foot, as his aids-de-camp; and on the 31st, General Braddock reviewed the forces, in the presence of Governor Dinwiddie and Commodore Keppel. On the 3rd of April, General Braddock, Commodore Keppel, Governor Dinwiddie, Captain Orme and William Shirley, Esqr., went to Annapolis, where they were the guests of ___________________________________________ (1) Robert Orme of Devonshire, England, entered the army as an Ensign in the 35th Regiment of Foot, and in 1745 exchanged into the Coldstream Guards. Accompanying Braddock he served as aid-de-camp, and was wounded with him. He returned to England he same year and in October, 1756, resigned his commission, and married the Hon. Audrey Townshend, only daughter of Charles Viscount Townshend, sister of Lieutenant Colonel Roger Townshend who fell at Ticonderoga in 1759, and of George, afterwards 1st Marquis Townshend, who fought with the victorious Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham the same year, and succeeded him in command after the capture of Quebec, which surrendered to him. Captain Orme was a great favorite of General Braddock's; he made a most favorable impression on all whom he encountered, and he and Washington became warm friends. The day he sailed for England, he wrote to Colonel Washington, as follows: "Nantasket Bay, Nov. 10, 1755. My Dear Friend, If you see Mr. Carlyle tell him of my Surprise at his not sending the Box of Books and Maps which was left in my Bed Chamber (Carlyle House) and which he has not sent as it by Accident was left out of the List. Pray let him send it directed to me in Hollis Street, near Cavendish Square, London. Write to me often and assure me of your friendship, as I have the greatest Pleasure in telling you, I am, Dr. George, Yr affectionate Friend, Rob. Orme." (2) Roger Morris was born in England. Accompanied Braddock as one of his aids-de-camp. He married in 1758 Mary Philipse of New York, a great heiress, who is said to have been very much admired by Washington and whose character is so beautifully drawn by Cooper in "The Spy". She died in England at the age of ninety-six. Page 7. Governor Sharpe until the 7th, but owing to the absence of Governor Shirley and Lieutenant Governors De Lancey and Morris, the Council was postponed to the 14th, the place of meeting being changed to Alexandria. On the 11th and 12th, the three Governors, with "a great number of other gentlemen of distinction", among them Benjamin Franklin, arrived at Annapolis and with Governor Sharpe proceeded to Alexandria. On Monday, the 14th of April 1755, and the two following days, General Braddock and Commodore Keppel held a Council at the "Carlyle House", through the courtesy of its owner Colonel John Carlyle, with the Governors of five colonies concerning plans for the proposed hostilities of the English against the French and Indian allies along the Ohio and St. Lawrence Rivers and concerted measures for the united action of the Northern and Middle Colonies. Colonel Washington met the members of the Council during their stay in Alexandria, all of whom received him very cordially. "There were present at the Council, His Excellency Edward Braddock, Esqr., General & Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Forces in North America. The Honble Augustus Keppel, Esqr., Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels in North America. The Honble William Shirley(1), Esqr. The Honble Robert Dinwiddie(2), Esqr. The Honble James De Lancey(3), Esqr. The Honble Horatio Sharpe(4), Esqr. __________________________________________________________ (1) Hon. William Shirley, born in Preston, Sussex, England, in 1693. Studied law and came to Boston, Mass. to live in 1734. Governor of Massachusetts 1741-56. He died 24th March 1771. (2) Hon. Robert Dinwiddie, born in Scotland in 1693, Collector of Customs in Bermuda in 1727. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1751-58. He died in England 1st August 1770. (3) Hon. James DeLancey, son of a Huguenot emigrant from Caen, Normandy. Born in New York City, 27th November 1703. Lieutenant Governor of New York 1753-55. He died 2nd August 1760. (4) Hon. Horatio Sharpe born in England. In early life he was an officer in the British Army. Proprietary Governor of Maryland 1753-68. He died 9th November 1790. Page 8. The Honble Robert Hunter Morris(5), Esqr. and William Shirley Esqr., Secretary". "The General's Commission having been read and the Articles of his Instructions from his Majesty relating to a common Fund to be established in the Colonies for carrying on the services under the General's direction, and also the article relating to the measures to be taken for engaging the Indians in his Majesty's interest", the members of the Council agreed upon a plan of operations and arranged the details. General Braddock proposed to proceed in person against Fort Duquesne, while Governor Shirley was to command an expedition against Niagara and Colonel William Johnson (who was in Alexandria at the time) one against Crown Point. After the plans of the campaigns had been arranged the Governors in Council, on the subject of hte common Fund proposed, "gave it as their unanimous opinion that such a Fund can never be established in the Colonies without the aid of Parliament". They likewise declared "that having found it impracticable to obtain in their respective governments, their pro- portions expected by his Majesty towards defraying the expense of his service in North America, that they were unanimously of opinion that it should be proposed to his Majesty's Ministers to find out some method of compelling them to do it, and of assessing the several Governments in proportion to their respective abilities, their shares of the whole money already furnished and which it shall be thought proper for them further to furnish towards the General expense of his service". Governor Shirley, Lieutenant Governors De Lancey and Morris remained in Alexandria until the 17th, when they returned to Annapolis with Governor Sharpe, whose hospitality they en- joyed for several days, when they and the gentlemen who accompanied them, went over the Chesapeake Bay on their return to the respective governments and homes. When __________________________________________ (5) Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, son of Hon. Lewis Morris Governor of New Jersey. Born in Morrisania, New York about 1700. Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 1754-56. He died 20th February 1764. Page 9. they arrived in Philadelphia they were received with every demonstration of joy. "At their entering the City, they were complimented with a Peal of the New Sett of eight bells in Christ Church steeple. They were likewise saluted with a Round of Twenty one brass guns." These eight bells pealed forth twenty one years afterwards, with the LIberty Bell, to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The chime of bells is still in the belfry of old historic Christ Church steeple and are rung every Sunday in "ye ancient manner", as they were rung when President Washington and the Revolutionary heroes worshipped there in the long ago, and in July 1908, the same old Liberty Bell, on a carefully guarded truck and partly buried in straw, was shown in Philadelphia's great historical pageant just as it was hurried away, with the chimes of Christ Church, in a hay wagon to Allentown, Pa., for safekeeping in 1777. After the adjournment of the Council, General Braddock wrote from the "Carlyle House", on April 19, 1755, to Sir Thomas Robinson, one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, as follows: "The copy inclosed will acquaint you of the different subjects that have been examined in Council, and what I brought upon the carpet at this interview which I have had with the Governors. * * * You will be sufficiently informed, Sir, by the minutes of the Council, which I send you, of the impossibility of obtaining from several colonies the establishment of a general fund agreeable to his Majesty's instructions, and to the letters you have directed to me for several Governors. * * * I cannot but take the liberty to represent to you the necessity of laying a tax upon all his Majesty's dominions in America, agreeably to the result of Council, for reimbursing the great sums that must be advanced for the service and interest of the colonies in this important crisis". This was the first suggestion by the British officials in Council, for taxing the American Colonies - a project which ended in their independence. Page 10. In the meantime, however, it had been decided to march the toops at once from Alexandria in two divisions, accordingly General Braddock, on his return from Annapolis on the 7th of April, Ordered, "That all Departments for Duty of every nature whatever are to parade at the Grand Parade and to march from thence". These were stirring times in the little town, meet- ing of the Royal Governors, many dinner parties and much ceremony. On the 8th, the Grand Parade took place, and General Braddock, in the presence of a large and distinguished assembly of ladies and gentlemen, reviewed the troops, British and Provincial, of which reference is made by Colonel Washington, in a humorous letter to Mrs. George William Fairfax, dated Fort Cumberland, May 14, 1755. "I have at last with great pains and difficulty discovered the reason why Mrs. Wardrope is a greater favorite of General Braddock than Mrs. F----x, and met with more respect at the review in Alexandria. The cause I shall communicate, after having rallied you upon neglecting the means which produced the effect. And what do you think they were? Why, nothing less, I assure you, than a present of delicious cake and potted wood-cocks, which so affected the palate as to leave a deep impression upon the hearts of all who tasted of them. How then, could the General do otherwise than admire, not only the charm, but the politeness of this lady". Between the 8th and the 18th days of April, the two divisions started on their march to Fort Cumberland, and by the 18th of June, General Braddock with his whole force of about two thousand, one hundred and fifty men, had reached the Little Meadows, when it was decided to move forward with a detachment under the command of General Braddock in person, Sir Peter Halkett(1) acting as Brigadier, Lieutenant ___________________________________________________ (1) Sir Peter Haklett born in Scotland in 1695. He was the son of Sir Peter Wedderburne, who marrying the heiress of the ancient family of Halkett assumed her name. In 1734, he was in the House of Commons. Colonel of the 44th. Regigment of Foot 1751. His son James was killed with him in the battle of the Monogahela, 9th. July 1755. Page 11. Colonels Burton and Gage, with a little over twelve hundred men and twelve pieces of cannon. On the 8th of July, they reached the fatal Monogahela River, where Colonel Washington, who had been ill, rejoined General Braddock as his aid-de-camp. On the 9th, Lieutenant Gage with about four hundred men was ordered to advance early in the morning. By one o'clock the entire army had crossed the river the second time, at a point about seven miles from Fort Duquesne, when the advance guard was attacked by a body of French and Indians, concealed behind rocks and trees. The circumstances attending the disastrous defeat and the dreadful slaughter on that day, is too generally known to require a detailed account. With Braddock on that beautiful, but fateful summer day, there were five young men, all of whom afterwards gained renown in the Revolutionary war - Gage commander of the British Troops at Bunker Hill; Gates victor at Saratoga; Mercer killed at Princeton; Morgan who de- feated Tarleton at the Cowpens, and last but not least George Washington. Thackeray, in his novel, "The Virginians", gives a spirited account of Braddock's defeat and refers to the marvelous rapidity with which tidings of the disaster were circulated, in Eastern Virginia. "The house negroes, in their midnight gallops about the country, in search of junketing or sweethearts, brought and spread news over amazingly wide districts. They had a curious know- ledge of the incidents of the march for a fortnight at least after its commencement. * * * But on the 10th of July, a vast and sudden gloom spread over the province. A lok of terror and doubt seemed to fall upon every face. Affrightened negroes wistfully eyed their masters and retired; and hummed and whispered with one another. The fiddles ceased in the quarters; the song and laugh of those cherry black folk were hushed. Right and left, everybody's servants were on the gallop for news. The country taverns wre thronged with horsemen. who drank and cursed and brawled at the bars, each bringing his gloomy story. The Page 12. army had been surprised. The troopes had fallen into an ambuscade, and had been cut up almost to a man. All the officers were taken down by the French marksmen and savages. The General had been wounded and carried off the field in his sash. Four days afterwards the report was that he was dead, and scalped by a French Indian". The news of Braddock's defeat spread consternation in the colonies, and in England it was received with mingled feelings of regret and amusement. Regret at the great sacrifice of human life, and the loss, for the time being, of the territory on the Ohio River and its tributaries, and amusement at the inglorious ending of what was expected to have been a brilliant campaign, expressing itself in such lines as these from the Gentlemen's Magazine for September 1755. "Ah! Braddock why did you persuade To stand and fight each recreant blade, That left thee in the wood? They knew that those who run away, Might live to fight another day. But all must die that stood". It is interesting to note, that the sash worn by General Braddock and in which he was carried from the field, is still in existence, the history of whic is thus graphically told by the late General William Price Craighill, U.S.A., in the West Virginia Historical Magazine, July 1902. "I saw this sash in Winchester, Virginia, several years ago, through the courtesy of Mrs. Betty Taylor Dandridge. She had received it from her father General Zachary Taylor, who died as President of the United States. The sash is very large and made of red silk. It has on it the date of 1707. The stains of blood on it are distinctly visible. The report of De Haas, (History of the early settlement and Indian Wars of Western Virgnia,) is that in 1846, 'a gentleman of New Orleans' had the sash. His wish was that it should be presented to the soldier who was most distinguished in the 'recent campaign' on the Rio Grande. Thus it came into the possession of General Taylor after his victories at Buena Vista, Resaca de la Palma and Page 13. Monterey. After prolonged and diligent search I ascertained that the sash passed into the hands of General Washington at the death of Braddock in 1755. From him Nellie Custis re- ceived it. She became Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, and one of her daughters (the eldest Eleanor Park Lewis) married Colonel E. G. W. Butler of Louisiana, and he was 'the gentleman of New Orleans', who presented the sash to General Taylor". The famous sash, now over two hundred years old, is still preserved with jealous care. It is a singular coincidence that General Taylor died in 1850, on the anniversary of the defeat of General Braddock. It is of more than passing interest to add, that on the 10th of November, 1907, the Society of Colonial Wars, in the District of Columbia, placed a "boulder" on the sacred grounds of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C., on the first line of march taken by Braddock's soldiers and seamen, when they went from Alexandria to Rock Creek and thence to Frederick-Town, Maryland, and placed thereon a bronze tablet bearing this inscription: THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED IN 1907 BY THE SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO MARK THE ROAD OVER WHICH, ON APRIL 14, 1755, A DIVISION OF THE BRITISH ARMY, UNDER GENERAL BRADDOCK, MARCHED ON ITS WAY TO FORT DUQUESNE Page 14. The ceremony of the unveiling was performed by the Honorable James Bryce, British Ambas- sador, the bronze tablet was covered by two laurel wreaths, one with the British and the other with the American colors. And in the distance, rising majestically, could be clearly seen the white marble shaft to the memory of Washington. Lawrence Washington of Mount Vernon, died in 1752, leaving a valuable estate, his executors being Honorable William Fairfax, George William Fairfax, Augustine Washington, George Wash- ington, Majr John Carlyle and Nathaniel Chapman. After the estate had been divided, Colonel Carlyle wrote to Colonel George Washington the following letter in reference to some quit rents. "Alexr June 28, 1760. To Colo. Washington, at Mount Vernon. Sir. Coll. Fairfax Calling upon Me for the Settle the Qt Rents due on Y'r Brother's Lands, when I had the Estate In my hands & acquainting me that Mr. John Washington Said I had Credit for the Sum In the Estate's Acct, I have Inclosed you a Copy of my Supposed Acct When the Estate was Divided, by which you'l See the Estate would have been L32, in my debt had I paid the Qt Rents. In the Acct I Settled With the Court I take Credit for L62.6.9. pd. Lord Fairfax, but that is for a Protested bill of Exchange which I took in for the Qt Rents before the Death of your brother. If you'l gett your acct from Your overseer & fix a time any time I am ready to furnish the whole amt. I have paid several Debts Since the Settlement & am ready to finish the whole when you Will get an acct of the Frederick affairs. If you'l Settle in the meantime with Coll. Fairfax the Exact Sum of Qt Rents & Draw an order on us, for the Estate, We Will pay it as I believe We have Sixty or Seventy pds In our hands & am Yr Obedt Hble Ser't JOHN CARLYLE. Page 15. (Endorsed) "Colo Carlyle's Lettr, 28th June 1760, relat'g to my dec'd Br. Law's Estate". The endorsement is in the handwriting of General Washington. Colonel Carlyle's wife Sarah, the second daughter of Honorable William Fairfax, died on the 22nd of January 1761, "A lady of a most amiable Character, endowed with excellent qualities and her death is (was) universally lamented by all who had the pleasure of her Acquaintance". Sixteen months before she had mourned the loss of her young brother, William Henry Fairfax, born in Virginia, of the 28th British Regulars, who fell with Wolfe on the Plains of Abraham the 13th of September 1759, in the memorable battle which decided the fate of Canada. Colonel Carlyle and his family were on the most intimate terms with the Washingtons and were frequent visitors at Mount Vernon, and at the "Carlyle House" George Washington, from early manhood, was a constant and honored guest. In his diary mention is often made of his having "Lodgd at Colo Carlyle's" or "Dined at Colo Carlyle's". He died in October 1780, leaving a daughter by his first wife and an only son by his second wife, George William Carlyle born in 1765, who joined the army in February 1781, as a cadet in "Lee's Legion", an independent partisan corps which constantly hung on the flank of the British Army and in South Carolina "covered the rear of General Greene's Army, giving occasional opportunity for Tarleton's Dragoon's to measure swords with the Virginians". He was killed at the battle of Eutaw Springs, where "the corps rendered distinguished services". on the 8th of September 1781, in the seventeenth year of his age. General Henry Lee (Light Horse Harry) father of General Robert E. Lee, in his "Memoirs of the war in the Southern Department of the United States", says, "The gallant young Carlyle of Alexandria, a cadet in the Regiment, was killed and half the corps destroyed". Such a death was a fitting end for the scion of a warlike race, which had fought gallantly in the fierce and romantic Page 16. conflicts of Border warfare in Scotland, had followed their native leaders to the Crusades under Richard Coeur de Lion and had served under Marshal Hepburn in the army of Gustavus Adolphus. "At Eutaw Springs the valiant died; Their limbs with dust are covered o'er. - Weep on, ye Springs, your tearful tide; How many heroes are no more! If, in this wreck of ruin, they Can yet be thought to claim the tear, Oh, smite your gentle breast, and say, The friends of freedom slumber here! * * * * * * * * * * Now rest in peace, our patriot band; Though far from Nature's limits thrown, We trust they find a happier land, A brighter sunshine of their own." These lines by Philip Freneau, the Revolutionary War poet, were pronounced by Sir Walter Scott "as fine a thing as there is of the kind in the English language". Young Carlyle who thus lost his life in the closing years of the Revolutionary War, fighting for the liberty of his country, was left a handsome estate by his father, a part of which, a fine summer residence near Alexandria, went at his death to his young nephew Carlyle Fairfax Whiting. This place was originally named "Torthorwald", after the fourteenth century Castle of that name near Dumfries, Scotland, long the seat of the Carlyles, but it was afterwards changed to "Morven", on account of the negroes in the neighbourhood calling it "Totherworld". To his daughter Sarah, wife of William Herbert, whose daughter Margaret about 1800 became the wife of her cousin Thomas, 9th Lord Fairfax, he left the "Carlyle House", with all its memories and traditions. Here the Commander in Chief of the Revolutionary Army often came and went an ever welcome guest, and here may Page 17. be said to have been the place where the Revolution was born, for from within its walls, ten years before the Stamp Act, first came the demand from a body of officials representing the British Government, for taxation of the colonies by Act of parliament, which, when finally carried out, resulted in its resistance, the independence of the colonies, and the formation of the United States of America. "There is given Unto the things of earth, which Time hath bent, A spirit's feeling, and where he hath leant His hand, but broke his scythe, there is a power And magic in the ruined battlement; For which the palace of the present hour Must yield its pomp, and wiat till ages are its dower".