Campbell to Preston, 6 October 1774

Thwaites and Kellogg, 1905:230

Maj. Arthur Campbell to Col. William Preston. Drapers MDC:3QQ115

ROYAL-OAK Oct. 6, 1774 SIR—The Evening after Mr. Cummins left this, I Received your Letter of ye ist. Inst, sent out by Paddy Brown; who tho't proper, to carry the Letter past, and it was returned me this day open. I wish it was in my power to humour every Inhabitant, consistant with Justice to the Service ; but there is many of them so unreasonably selfish I dispair of succeeding in every case.

Paddy Brown is an Old Weaver Body, that lives with one of the Doughertys, he came here one day and applied for to get in for a Spy, I very flatly refused him ; he then went off in dudgeon.

Upon the alarm of Lammey being taken, Vances & Fowlers Wives with several other Families convened at Mr. Harrisons (58) which lyes upon the Main path to Clinch, in the Rich Valley, opposit to the Town-House, upon the request of several Inhabitants in both sides, I ordered Six Men to be Stationed there for ten Days; two of which was always to be out ranging. Heny. & Joso. Dougherty moved their Families to this side the mountain, disagreeing with ye. Majority of ye. Inhabitants, as to the place to build a Fort. Mr. John Campbells Wife has been in this side the mountain this two months past, and himself Has acted as Ensign to

(58) The Harrisons were a prominent family of western Virginia but whether connected with the Frederick County Harrisons, from whom the presidents descended, is uncertain although it is probable, for a Benjamin Harris on was killed on Holston in 1754. See Preston register, in Draper MSS IQQ83.-ED.