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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Commission to appoint James Innes as Commander in Chief of provincial forces in an expedition to the Ohio River
Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770
June 04, 1754
Volume 05, Page 125

[Reprinted from Dinwiddie Papers. Vol. 1. P. 194.]
Governor Dinwiddie's Commission to Colonel James Innes.

His Majesty George, the Second of G. B. F'r. and I. King, having been graciously pleas'd to Order and Com'd Me to raise Forces, build Fortresses on the river Ohio, and to protect his Lands on the s'd River; also to prevent any foreign Power whatsoever to settle on the s'd Lands, as His M'y has an undoubted right thereto, And I repos'g especial Trust and Confidence in the known Loyalty, Courage and Conduct in You, the s'd James Innes, have, by Virtue of the Power and authority given me by His s'd M'y constituted and appointed, And do hereby constitute and appoint You, the s'd Jas. Innes, to be Com'd'r in Chief of all the Forces already rais'd and destin'd, or that shall hereafter be rais'd, design'd and ordered on the Service of the s'd Expedit'n. You are therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the Duty of a Com'd'r in Chief agreeable to the Instruct's herewith given You; And I accordingly hereby Order and Com'd all the Officers and Soldiers to give due Obedience to such Orders and Direct's as from Time to Time You may think proper and necessary to direct and Com'd. And You are to follow all such further Instruct's and Orders as You may receive from me in discharge of the Duty of Y'r s'd Com'd, for all w'ch this shall be Y'r Warr't and Com'o. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Colony at Winchester this 4th day of June, 1754