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.. . -■ i"

WASHINGTON'S FIRST CAlirAIGN,

•DEATH OF JUMONVILLE,

AND THE

. :, l»

TAJaNG OF FORT NECESSFrr;

ALSO,

BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT;

THE MARCH OF THE UNIORTUNATK UKNERAL KXPT.AINED BV A

niSTINOUISHED HISTORIAN, TRACED O'N THE GROUND BY

A CIVIL ENGINEER, AND EXHIBITED ON A NEAT

AND ACCURATE M^ 1*, PREPARED

UNDER HIS DIRECTION.

THE WHOLE ARRANCiED M

NEVILLE B CRAia.

• PITTSBURGH:

^"iciNTED By WRIGHT ifefelARETON, S. E. CORNER tit THE DlAMUiSt>.

1848.

WASHINGTON'S FIRST CAMPAIGN,

AND

BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

There is in the wliole history of the valley of the Missisippi, no event
which stands out so prominently, or which possesses a deeper interest

to Americans than the rout of the British and American colonial troops
on the banks of the Monongehala river, on the 9th of July, 1755. It is
interesting in the first place on account of its influence on the colonies
at the tine. Chief Justice Marshal in Iiis Life of Washington says,
" The whole frontier of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia was left
exposed to the incursions of the savages, the back settlements were gen-
erally broken up and the inhabitants driven into the interior country.
So excessive was the alarm, that even the lower parts of those colonies
entertained apprehensions for their safety, and persons were not wanting,
who supposed that the seaboard itself was insecure."

It is interesting, because on that fatal day Washington and many
other Americans* took their first lessons in that art, which twenty years
after they were called on to exert in defence of the liberty of the country.
It is interesting, also, because it was the first battle near the Ohio, in
that war which arose out of the conflicting claims of Franco and Great
Britain to this beautiful valley, and because it resulted in the trinn:j:h
of the former and in the temporary expulsion of every British pubjert
from this region.

More attention has recently been attracted to it, becausf the recent
improvement of the Monongahela river by locks and dams, has made it
the great thoroughfare between the East and the West, and thus caused

» Among others Gpn. Gates, Gen. Morgan, Col. Crawford, Col. Jno. Neville. Sec.

1 1

many thousand passengers niontlily lo puss williia viow of ilial (iuld
which was so abundantly watered with the blood of the most gallant of
Britain's sons. This circumstance has excited curiosity and caused
much inquiry as to the events of that day and those which preceded it.
ft has, in conse([r mce, more than once been sug'^estcd to the writer of
these remarks, that a pamphlet on the subject of the transactions in this
and adjoining counties in the years 1751 and 1755 would be acceptable
to very many of those travelers who daily and hourly pass by Braddock's

Field.

In compliance with this suggestion the following compilation is made,
consisting mainly of extracts from contemporaneous publicatims and
authentic histories, with a few explanatory remarks interposed where
necessary to the continuousness of the narrative.

CAPTURE OF " THE FORKS" IN 1754.

In the summer of 175:1, French troops sent from Canada were in
possession of Presque Isle, where Erie now stands, of Le Bo^uf near
Waterford, and of Fort Venango now Fianklin. The Governor of
Viro-inia, beiu"- alarmed by these movements, in November, 1754 dis-
patched George Washington on a mission to the French commandant
at Le Bceuf. The information communicated bv Washington on his
return only increased the fears of Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia, and
he determined immediately to send a small fr to occupy and fortify
this place.

In April, Captain Trent's company was at wiis i)lace, under IJnsign
Ward, erecting a fort, Captain Trent himself was still at Cumberland,
and Lieut. Eraser at his residence on Turtle Creek. On the lOth of
April, 1754, Monsieur Contrecomr descended the Allegheny with a con-
siderable force of French and Indians, and summoned Ward to surrender
his unfinished work.

Ward afterwards reported the number of French to be one thousand,
with eighteen pieces of cannon, in about sixty batteaux, and three hun-
dred canoes. This number has been said to be an exao-n-erati( n, but
when it is recollected that during Washington's stay at fort Le Bo'uf lu"
jiad the cano.es counted, and found that there were at that place on the
13tb .of December, "fifty birch bark, and one hundred and seventy pine
canofcs ; bedsides many others which were blocked out, ready to be made,"
we may n^adily believe that the number, in April, might reach three
hundred. The batteaux could be built there and at fort ^'enango, or
they might be drawn on sledges IVum Presque Isle. AUogelher, we think,
the statement of Ward may not have been very wide of the trutii.

Jlesistance, by about tbrty men, even with the aid of an unfinished
stockade, to several liundrc'd French with several pieces of cannon, was,
^of course, out of the ([uesti«)n. Ward had no brother ofiicer to consult

I or ihal (iokl
nost giillant of
ty and caused
,h preceded it.
;o the writer of
sactions in this
1 be acceptable
by Braddock's

Illation is made,
iiblicatims and
Lerposed where

54.

Canada were m

with ; but Tanacharison, tlie Ilair-iviiio- of the Six Nations of Indians, a
zealous friend of the En«^Iisli, was present and advised him to inform
the French that he was not an officer of rank, nor was lie invented with
authority to answer their demands, ;uul to rc([nest them to await the ar-
rival of the chief coniinaiider. Hi; went accordingly with his reply to
the French camp, 'J'uiiiiclmrison ucconipanyini,'' him; ('ontreca-ur, how-
ever, refused to wait, and demanded an immediate surrender, declarinjr
that he would, otherwise, take possession by force. An immediate cap-
itulation, of course, followed. On the subsecpient day, Ensign Ward,
with his men, ascended the Alonomrahela to the mouth of Red Stone
creek. A full narrative of the \vliole alliiir was i^iven under oath by
Ensin^n Ward to Governor Dinwiddie, who transmitted it to the British
Government. Mr. Si)urks, in Jiis odiiion of the A\'ritinsi:s of Washinjrton,
states that the orii^inal was in the Plantation odice in Jilnoland, where he
examined it and prej)ared his account of the iiKiltL-r, which we Ib'low.
In his narrative, Ward states that (Jtjntrecouii- invited him to supper the
■ Le Bd^nf near \ ^venirifr of the cai)itulation and treated him very politely. Poor Ward,
he Governor of | probably, had but little appetite, and had his host foreseen all the con-
jinber, 1754 dis- I secjuence of the doinn;s of that day, his happiness vrould, no doubt, have

been much clouded.

This atTair has always been considered as the commencement of that
memorable war which was terminated by the treaty of Paris ; by which
France renounced all claim to Nova Scotia, and ceded to Great Britain
Canada and all the territory east vi the Mississii)pi, except the Isle of
Orleans; and Spain ceded to the same power all Florida. Monsieur Con-
trecceur proceeded, inmiediately, to complete the work begun by Ward,
and callea it Fort Duqiiesne, after the then Governor of Canada.

Washington reached Will's creek with three companies on the 20th
of April, and two days after. Ensign Ward arrived with the intelligence
of his ca})ture. Washington immediately s(mt expresses to the Govern-
ors of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, asking for reinforcements,
and then after a consultation with his brother otficers, resob^ed to advance,
and, if possible, to reach the Monon;;ahela, near where Brownsville now
' stands, and there erect a fortihcation. On the 9tli of May he Avas at the
that place on the i Little Meadows, and there received information that Contrecceur had been
and seventy pine I reinforced with eight hundred men. On the 18th he was encamped on
L'ady to be made," ihe Youghiogheny, near where Smithfield, in Fayette county, now stands.
uicT-ht reach three From that point he with Lieutenant AVest, three soldiers and an Indian,
fort A'^enango, or 'descended the river about thirty miles, hoping to find it navigable so that
to<'"ether, we think, Jie could transport his cannon in canoes, but was disappointed. He had
jf the truth. ..scarcely returned to his troops, when a messenger from his old friend

1 of an unfinished franacharison arrived, with information that the French were marching
;l'S of cannon, was, lowards hiin, with a determination to attack him. The same day he re-
'r ofiiv'er to consult ieived further information, tliat the enemy were at the crossings of the

ich commandant
ishington on his ,
of Virginia, and
cupy and fortify

e, under Ensign
at Cumberland,
On the 10th of
heny with a con-

V'ard to surrender

be one thousand,
, and three hun-
exa"'gerati( n, but
fort Le Bd'uf he

'.^

Vonphioglieny, iieur wlicroC'onnelsville now sIiukIs, about ei!;j;hleeii miles
i'rom his own enraiiipinent. Ifn ilwri liurriod to tho (iroat Meadows,
where he maih' ;iii iiitrenohiiciil. and by dearinir avvuy the bushes pre-
pared a fine liehl (i»r an t iic junter." iNext day M. Gist, his old pilot who
resided near lh(! ('ros.sintrs, arrived with the nous that a French detaeh-
ment (if fifty men had been at his place the day before.

That same ni'j-ht, (May '^S'li,) ybdif nine i.'clnel:, an express arrived
from Tanacharison, who was tlien eneainped with some of his warriors
about six n»iles otr, with inforniaiion th.it the Fremdi wore near his en-
caniinnent. Col. AVashin<rtoii, says Sjiarks, innnediatcly started with forty
men to join the [jalf-lviiio-. The niirht was dark, the rain fell in torrents,
the woods were iatrieate, the soldiers often lost their way ;Tro])ing in the
bushes and clambering over rocks and lojrrs, but at lentrth they arrived at
the Indian camp just before sunrisi', (May 2St;:.) A Council with Tana-
charison was imuietliately iield, and joint operations ajrainst the French
were determined on. 'I'wo Indian spies diseevcred the t'nemy's position
in an obscure place, surrounded by rocks, and a half mile from the road.
Washinston was to advance on the ritdit, 'i'anacharison on the left. Thus
they approached in sinjrlc file, until they were discovered by the French
who immediately seized their arms and prepared for action. The action
commenced by a brisk firincf on both sides, which was kept up for a
quarter of an hour, when the French ceased to reoist. Monsieur .Tumon-
ville, the commandant, and ten of his men were killed, and twenty-two
were taken prisoners, one of whom was wounded. A Canadian escaped
during the action. Wasliinirlon had one man killed and two wounded.
No harm happened the Indian^'. Tiie prisoners were sent to Governor
Dinwiddle.

The Canadian who escaped at the time of Jumonville's death would, of
course, carry the news of that affair to F(n-t Duquesne, and Washing'ton,
anlicipating that a larger force would bo sent against iiun,scthis troops to
work to enlarge and strengthen tlie work he had prepared at the Great
Meadows, and called it Fort Necessity.

The Indians began to flock in around him, Tanacharison and his follow-
ers, (i^'ou Aliquippa and her sons, and others to the; number of forty or fifty
famili; s. Captain Mackay, with an independent company of one hundred
men from South Carolina, also joined him. That oliiccr had a. royal com-
mission, which he thought placed him over Washington. He however,
was a prudent man, and no disagreement occurred. On the lOih of June,
nine deserters from the French arrived at Washing ton's camp, and con-
firmed intelligence previously received by a messenger sent from Logs-
town to Tanacharison, tliat the Shawnese and Delawares had agreed to
take np the hatchet against tlie English. These deserters also stated tliat
the Fort .at the Forks was completed. They stated that there were not

nor
brei
It

in il
fore
pen(
pres
was
<(

• ■ *

eighteen miles
roat Meadows,
ho bushes pre-
is old pilot who
I'Vench detuch-

exprosa arrived
of his warriors
ere near his e/i-
ilarted wilhCorty
11 fell in torrents,
ly (rrojjing in the

I ihny arrived at
iincil with Tana-
ainst the French
enemy's position
l(> from the rwad.

II the left. Thus
^d by the French
,ion. The action
IS kept up for a
Monsieur Jumon-
, and twenty-two

Janadiau escaped

id two wounded.

sent to Governor

above five hundrfd men in the Fort when they left, but suppo-ad ihal
two hundred^ had. since arrived. Tlie-e same deserters also stated as
Washinglon^said in his letter, that Juinonville'a party were sent out as
spies.

On the nth of Juno, Washinfrton, leavinir Captain Mackay at Fort
Necessity, marclied witli his ir.iops, intcnd-d to advance to Redstone.
After two weeks of toil he reached Cist's hum, only liiirtocn miles from
Fort Necessity. Here inlormaliou was received that reinf.»rcoments had
arrived ai Fort Diiquesne from Canada, and 'that a large detachment
would soon be sent ayainst the Enirlish.

vwvwwvv»-v\-wvwvwvv'v

s death would, of

and Washinsjion,

n, set his troops to

ared at the Great

on and his follow-
iber of forty or fifty
my of one hundred
r had a royal com-
)n. He however,
n the lOlhof June,
I's camp, and con-
!r sent from Logs-
ares had agreed to
ters also stated tliat
that there Averenotj

(CAPTURE OF FORT NECESSITY.

" Preparations for a retreat commenced immediately. The horsea
were few, and Colonel Washington set a noble example to thcoHicers, by
lading hia own horse with ammuuiiiou and otiier public stores, leaving
his baggage behind, and giving the snldiers four pistoles to carry it for-
ward. Tlie other ollieers followed his example. There were nine
swivels, which were drawn by the soldiers of the V-'-ginia regiment over
a very broken road, unassisted by the men belonging to tlie Independent
Company^ who refused to perform any service of this kind. Nor would
they act a» pioneers, nor aid in transporting the public stores, considering
this a duty not incumbent upon them as King's soldiers This conduct
had a discouraging ellect upon the soldiers of tlie Virginia regiment, by
dampening their ardor, and making them more dissatisfied with their "x-
treme fatigue ; but the whole party reached the Great Meadows on the
1st of July.

" It was not the intention of Col. Washington, at first, to halt at this
place, but his men had become so much fatigued from great labor, and a
deficiency of provisions, that they could draw the swivels no further,
nor carry baggage on their backs. They had been eight days without
bread, and at the Great Meadows they found only a few bags of flour.
It was thought advisable to M'ait liere, therefore, and fortify tlicmselves
in the best manner they could, till they should receive supplies and rein-
forcements. They had heard of the arrival at Alexandria of two Inde-
pendent Companies from New York, twenty d'ays before, and it was
presumed they must by this time have reached WilTs Creek. An express
was sent to hasten them on with as much dispatch as possible.

" Meantime Col. Washington set his men to felling trees, and carrying
logs to the fort, with a view to raise a breastwork, and enlarge and
strengthen the fortification in the best manner that circumstances would
permit. The space of ground called the Great Meadows, is a level hot-

•I

tOhl, llirotipl) which pnsscs a siiinll crtckt and it snrroundrd hy hills of
a inodornU- iiiul gradual aacciit. 'I'liis hottom or {jladp, is enUrely level,
covTrrd with loni^ grass and small hushes, and varies in width. At the
point where the fort stood it is alxmt two hundred and lifty yards wide,
from the hase of one hill to that of tiie opposite. The position of the fort
was well chosen, heing ahont one hundred yards from the u|)hind or
wooded ground on one side, and out; hundred and fifty on the other, and
so situated on the margin of the creek as to afford an easy access to
water. At one point the high ground comes within sixty yards of fho
fort, and this was the nearest di.^lancc to which an enemy could approacii
under tho shelter of trees. Tlu; outlines of the fort were still visihlo,
when the spot was visiti-d hy the writer in 18,'U), occupying an irregular
scjuare, the diiih-nsiotis oi" which were ahout cue hundred leet on each
side. One of the angles was prolont;ed further than tlu; others for the
purpose of reaching the wa<er in the creek. On the west side, next to
the nearest wood, were three entrances, protected by short I)re>.stworkfl
or bastions. The remains of a ditch, stretching round the south and west
sides, were also distinctly seen. 'I'he site of this fort, named Fort Ne-
cessity from the circumstances attending its erection and original use, is
three or four hundred yards south of what is now called the National
Road, four miles from the foot of Laurel Hill, and fifty miles from Cum-
berland at Will's Creek.

On the 3d of July, early in the morning, an alarm was received from a
sentinel who had been wounded by the enemy ; and at nine X)'clock in-
telligence came that the wiiole body of the enemy, amounting, as was re-
ported, to nine hundred men, was only four miles oft*. At eleven o'clock
they approached the fort and began to fire at the distance of six hundred
yards but without effect. Col. Washington had drawn up his men, on the
open and level ground outside ol the trenches, waiting for the attack,
which he presumed would be made as soon as the enemy's forces emerged
from the woods; and ordered his men to reserve their fire till they should
be near enough to do execution. The distant firing was supposed to be a
stratagem to draw Washington's men into the woods, and thus to take
ihem at a disadvantage. He suspected the design, and maintained his *oayj
post till he found the French did not incline to leavathc woods and attack ^P<*"
the fort by an assault, as he supposed they would considering their sup- l'"^^''^
eriorty of numbers. He then drew his men back" within the trenches r^^^

' •»« A'*\

and gave them orders to fire according to their discretion, as suitable op- """'^
portunities might present themselves. The French and Indians remain- f ''j
ed on the side of the rising ground, which was nearest to the fort, and, f^^^*^
sheltered by the trees, kept up a brisk fire of musketry, but never appear- «^^®
cd in the open plain below. The rain fell heavily through the day the k*®*
trenches were filled with water and many of the arms of Col. Washing- ^ ®
ton's men were out of order, and used with difficulty. '' WentsI

ed liy liills of
entirely lcv«'l,
M(Uh. At the
y y:irilH wi<le,
tiou()ltl»<^ foi^t
tiic upliiiul or
tho oilier, and
easy access to
ly yarils of the
could approach
ere still visible,
injr an irrcfvular
i-d lect on each
;o otliers lor the
3st side, next to
lort brc.stworka
south and west
named Fort Nc-
d original use, is
led the National
luilcs from Cum-

rcceived from a

nineV clock in-

nting, as was re-

At eleven o'clock

a of six hundred

p his men, on the

ns for the attack,

forces emerged

re till they should

•• In this way the battle continued from eleven o'clock in the morning till
eight at nijjht when the French calleil :ind requested a parley. Suspceting
this to bo a feint to procure the admission of an officer into the fort, that
he might discover their condition, C(d. Washington at first declined listening
to the proposal, but when the call wbs repeated with the additional recju est
that an officer might sent to them, engaging at the same time their parole
for his safety, he sent mit Capt. Vanbraam, the only person under his
command that could speak French, except the CJievalicr de Peyrouny, an
ensign in the Virginia regiment, who was dangerously wounded and disa-
bled from rendering any serviec on this occasion. Vanbraam ictiirned,
and brought with him from M. de Villiers, the French commander, pro-
posed articles of capitulation. These he read and pretended to interpret,
and some changes having been made by mutual agreement, both parties
signed them about midnight.

"By the terms of the capitulation, the whole garrison was to retire, and
teturp without molestation to the inhabited parts of the country, and the
Frdtlch commander promised, that no embarrassment should be interpo-
sed, either by his own men or the savages. The English were to take
away every thing in their possession, except their artillery, and to march
out of the fort the next morning with the honors of "ar, their drums beat-
ing and colors flying. As the French had killed all the horses and cattle.
Colonel Washington had no means of transporting his heavy baggage and
stores ; and it was conceded to him that his men might conceal their
effects, and that a guard might be left to protect them till horses could
be sent ap to take them away. Colonel Washington agreed to restore
the prisoners who had been taken at the skirmish with Jumonville ; and
as a surety for this article two hostages. Captains Vanbraam and Stobo,
were delivered up to the French, and were retained till the prisoners should
return. It was moreover agreed that the party capitulating should not
attempt to build any more establishments at that place, or beyond the
mountains, for the space of a year.

Early the next morning Colonel Washington began to march from the

ssupposeu Ifort'in good order, but he had proceeded only a short distance when a

, and thus fcody of one hundred Indians, being a reinforcement to the French came

^"* , lipon him, and could hardly be restrained from attacking his men. They

^ fiilfered the baffgage and did other mischief. He marched forward, how-

sidering w i liver, with as much speed as possible, in the weakened and encumbered

ithin the tien condition of his army, there being no other mode of conveying the woun-
•ded men and baggage than on the soldiers' backs. As the provisions were

ion, as

suitable op

nd Indians remain ^^^^.j^ gxhautited, no time was to be lost ; and leaving much of the bag-

5st to the fort, an , t ^^^.^^^^ j^^ hastened to Will's Creek, where all the necessary sup-

r, but never appear- g.^^ ^^^^ .^ ^^^^^^ Thence Col. Washington and Capt Mackay proceed-

Ihrough the day ® gl to Willianasburg, and communicated in person to the Cover nor the

I of Col. Washing- 1^^^ ^^^^^ campaign."

I-

5'^

ill I

From this time nothing of importance happened in this quarter until
Braddock's Expedition in the ensuing year. Of his march we find the
fullest and most satisfactory accounts ever published, in the Olden TiriUy
a historical magazine issued monthly m Pittsburgh.

•'BRADDOCK'S MARCH."

The first item is a letter from Jared Sparks, a gentleman who was-
selected to arrange the letters and ofticial papers of Washington, and'
who has devoted much time and labor, not only in this cbuntry, but in
France and England to tiie elucidation of our early history. His letter-
is as follows :

Salem, Mass., Feb. 18 1847:

Dear Sir :— There is a copy of the " Memorial," which I believ6 you'
mentioned, in the Libary of Harvard College, which I believe is complete.
I sha^l obtain it soon, and will have the missing pages copied, and forward
to you the manuscript. I suppose you wish it to be sefftby mail. I once
compared this translation with the original, and found it clmnsily^ execu-
ted, but the substance is probably retained.

Having heretofore examined with care the details of Braddock's expe-
dition, I am persu^aded that the following, as far as it goes is a correct ac-
count of his march from Gist's plantation. • ; : .

On the 30th of June the army forded the You^hiogheny at Stewart's*
Crossings, and then passed a rough road over a mountain. A few miles
onward they came to a great swamp, which detained them part of a day
in clearing a rOad. They next advanced to Salt Lick Creek, now called*
Jacob's Creek, where a councd of war was held, on the 3d of July, to
consider a suggestion of Sir John St. Clair, that Col. Dunbar's detach-
ment should be ordered to join the main body. This proposal was re-
jected, on the ground that Dunbar could not join them in less than thirteen
d-rys; that this would cause such a consumption of provisions as to render
it necessary to bring forward another convoy from Fort Cumberland; and
that in the mean time the French might be strengthened by a reinforcement
which was daily expected at Fort Duquesne — and moreover; th« two di-
visions could not move together after their junction. ■' "'

On the 4th the army again marched, and advanced to Turtle Creek, ^^^
about twelve miles from its mouth, where they arrived on the 7th itist. i ^^^^
suppose th' r to have been the eastern branch, or what is now called Brusli ^"^
Creek, and that the place at which they encamped was a short distance ^'^^
northerly from the present village of Stewartsville. It was Gen. Brad- "^'J^
docks intention to cross Turtlie Creek, and approach Fort Duquesne on not I
the other side; but thebahks were so precipitous, and presented sucii tencatl
obstacles to crossing with his artillery and heavy baggage, that he hesita- ^ sl
ted, and Sir John St. Clair went out with a party to reconnoitre. On his '^^ *^
return before night, he reportetl that he had found the ridge which led tcf^^"

Til

quarter until
1 we find Uie
Otden Timer

lan who was
ishington, antV
country' but in
ry. His letter-

'EB. 18 1847:
•h I believ6 you'
eve is complete,
icd, and forward
by mail. I once
cltrmsily- exeeu-

iraddock's expe-
Bs is' a correct ac-

eny at Stewart's'
in. A few miles
lem part of a day
J reek, now called'
Ihe 3d of July, to
Dunbar's dcthch-
proposal was re-
n less than thirteen
isions as to render
t Cumberland; and
by a reinforcement
(reover; iH« two di-

to Turtle Creek,
onthe 7th itist. 1
is now called Brush
iras a short distance
It was Gen. Brad-
Fort Duquesne on
and presented such
•gage, that he hesita-
econnoitre. On his
,e ridge which led t(

Fort Diiquesne, but that considerable work would be necessary to prepare
a road for prossing Turtle Creek. This route was finally abandoned rnfl
on the 8th the army marched eight miles and encamped not far from the
Mnnongahela, west of the Youghiogheny, and near what is called in an
old map, "Sugar Run." When Braddock reached tiiis. place, it was his
besign to pass through the narrows, but he was informed by the guides,
who had been sent out to explore, that the passage was very difficult,
about two miles in length, with a river on the left and a high mountain on
the right, and that much work must be done to make it passable for car-
riages. At the same time he was told that (Iicre were two good fords
across the Monongahela, where the water was shallow and the banks not
steep. "With these views of the case, he determined to cross the fords the
next morning. The order of march was given out, and all the arrange-
ments were made for an early movement.

About eight o'clock, on the morning of the 9th, the advanced division
under (j|ol. Gage crossed the ford and pushed forward. After the whole
army had crossed and 'marched about a mile, Braddock received a note
from Col. Gage, giving notice that he had passed tjie second ford without
difricuhy. A little before two o'clock the whole army had crossed this
ford, and was arranged in the order of march on the plain near Frazier's
house. Gage with the advanced parly was then ordered to march, and
while main body was yet standifig on the plain, the action began near the
river. Not a single man of the enemy had before been seen.

The distance, by the line of march, from Stevvart's Crossing to Turtle
Creek, or Brush Creek was about thirty miles. At this point the route
was changed almost to a right angle in marching to the Monongaiiela.
The encampment was probably two or three miles from the bank of the
river, for Colonel Gage marched at the break of day, and did not cross
the ford till eight o'clock. During the whole march from the Great
Meadows, the pickets and sentinels were frequently assailed by scouting
parties of French and Indians, and several men were killed. Mr. Gist
acted as the General's guide. < ; i

On the 4th of .July two Indians went out to reconnoitre the country
towards Fort Duquesne ; and Mr. Gist also on the same day, in a different
direction. They were gone two days, and all came ni sight of the fort,
but brought back no important intelligence. The Indians -contrived to
kill and scalp a French officer, whom they found shooting within half a
mile of the fort.

The army seldom marcljed more than six miles a day, and commonly
not so much. From Stewart's Crossing to Turtle Creek, there were six
,encampments. During one day the army halted.

I shall be much pleased to see Mr. Atkinson's map. His knowledge
'Of the gronnd wili enable him to delineate Braddock's route much moie
iiaccurately than it can be don6 from any sources now attainable.

» oi- ^f ii__ T 1 r>i.^rk c<n A

I am. Sir, respectfully yours,
Neville B. Craig» Esq., Pittsburgh.

JARKD SPARKS,

j^csa^

c^l

fii;

The next article is from the pen of Mr. Thos. C. Atkinson* a ge«lle-.
man lately employed as Chief Engineer of the Pittsburgh and Connelsville
Rail Road Company along the Youighiogheny river. His home is at
Cumberland, and his duties on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, had
previously afforded him opportunities of indulging an enthusiastic taste
for our early history, in tracing the march of Braddock in Maryland and
Virginia. His recent emplojrment along the Yonghiogheny enabled him
to complete his task in pursuing the rout of Braddock to its fatal termi-
nation on the Monongahela river. His article is a valuable and interest-
ing addition to onr early history, and is the more reliable because all his
conclusions had been arrived at from obseiVcttions on the ground, l),efare
he had seen Mr. Sparks' letter, which fully sustains them :

BRADDOCK'S ROUTE TO THE BATTLE OF THE MONON-
GAHELA.

The interest with which the routes of celebrated expeditions are re-
garded, and the confusion which attends them after the lapse o§ years,
is well exemplified in the case of Hannibal, whose march towards Rome,
in order to divert their army from the seige of Capua, was totally lost in
the course of a few centuries. The constant blunders of Livy in copying
first from one writer, and then from another who made him take a differ-
ent path, justify a recent English historian who went to Italy to see the
ground for himsslf, in saying that the Pdnic War was almost as hard in
the writing as the fighting.

As the time is coming when the ro ad by which the unfortunate Brad-
dock marched to his discstrous field, vmU be mvested with antiquarian
interest, akin to that attending Hannibal f> route, or rather the via scelerata,
by which the Fabian family marched out of Rome. I have thought it
time not idly spent to attempt to pursue its scattered traces as fur as it is
in ray power, among more pressing occupations. In this sketch, I do
not design to pursue it to its extent, but only to identify it in those parts,
where it has been convenient for mo to visit it, and in others to shadow
out its general direction. Where it is obscure, I hope to have opportu-
nities to examine it at a future day.

Of the well conducted expedition of Col. Bouquet, and its precise path,
the publications of Mr. Hutchins, thrt geographer, who was one of the
engineers, leaves us very well informed. It is presumable that similar
details would be found of the march of 1755 if it had had a successful
termination. The three engineers who were in the field were wounded ;
and it is probable their papers fell into the hands of the enemy, or were
lost in the flight.

General Braddock landed at Al xandria on the 20th February, 1755.
The selection of this port for the debarkation of the troops, was censured
at the time, thmigb it is probrjble it had the approval of Washington.

son* a gefttle-
L Connelsville
8 home is at
,ail Road, had
husiastic taste
Mai-yland and
jr enabled him
Its faUl termi-
e and interest-
because all h>9
ground, ij^fare

IE MONON-

leditions are re-
. lapse o§ years,
1 towards Rome,
as totally lost in
Livy in copying
im take a differ-
Italy to see the
Imost as hard in

infortunate Brad-
with antiquarian
|the via scelerata,
have thought it
Ices as far as it is
|this sketch, I do
it in those parts,
jthers to shadow
to have opportu-

|d its precise path,
]o was one of the

lable that similar

had a successful

|ld were wounded ;

^e enemy, or were

February, 1755.
)ops, was censured
ll of Washington.

The two rcgimeiats he brought with bim were very defective in numbers,
having but about 500 men each, and it was expected their ranks would
be recruited in America. It is shown by the repeated requests on this
point made by the General at Cumberland, that this expectation was
vain. After numerous delays, and a conference with the Royal Govern-
ors, we find Gen. Braddock en route on the 34th of April, when he had
reached Fredericktown, in Maryland. Passing thence through Win-
chester, Va., he reached Fort Cumberland about the 9th of May. Sir
John Sinclair, Deputy Quarter Ma$iei General had preceded him to this
point about two weeks.*

The army struck the Little Cacapehon, (though pronounced Cacapon,
I have used for the occasion the spelling of Washington, and various old
documents,) about six miles above its mouth, and following the stream,
encamped on the Virginia side of the Potomac, preparatory to crossing
into Maryland. The water is supposed tohavebeen high at the time, as
the spot is known as the Ferry-fields, from the army having been ferried
over. This was about the 4th or 5th of May.

The army thence pursued the banks of the river, with a slight devia-
tion of route at the mouth of the South Bianch, to the village of Old
Town, known at that time as the Shawnee Old Town, modern use hav-
ing dropped the most characteristic part of the name. This place, distan-
ced about eight miles from the Ferry-fields, was known at thatearly day at
the residence of Col. Thomas Cresap, an English settler, and the father
of the hero of Logan's speech. The road proceeded thence parallel with
the river and at the foot of the hills, till it passed the narrows of Will's
Mountain, whence it struck out a shorter line coincident with the present
county road, and lying between the rail road and the mountain, to Fort
Cumberland.

From the Little Cacapehon to this point the ground was comparative-
ly easy, and the road had been generally judiciously chosen. Thence-
forward the character of the ground was altered, not so much in the gen-
eral aspect of the country, as that the march was about to abandon the
valleys, and now the real difficulties of the expedition may be said to

commence.
The fort had been commenced the previous year, after the surrender

•Many misstatements are prevalent in the country adjacent to the line of march
especially east of Cumberland, the traditionary name of Braddock's route being often
applied to routes we know he did not pursue. It is probable the ground of the appli-
cation consists in their having been used by the Quarter Master's men in bringing
on those Pennsylvania wagons and pack horses procured by Dr. Franklin, with so much
trouble «n,d at so great expense of truth. Sir John Sinclair wore a Hussar's cap, and
Franklin made use of the circumstance to terrify the German settlers with the belief
that he was a Hussar who would administer to them the tyrannical treatment they had
experienced in their own country, if they did not comply with his wishes. It is singu-
lar that a small brook and an obscure country road in Berkley County, Va., bear the
name of Sir John's Run, and Sir John's Road, supposed to be taken from the name of this
officer.

(■>

i.i

'■I
II,

•0

at the Great Meadows, by Col. Inncs,' who had with him the two inde-
pendent companies of New York and South Csrolina. It mounted ten
four pounders; besides swivels, and was Tivorably situated to keep the
hostile Indians in chock.*

The armv now consisted of 1000 regulars, 30 sadors, and 1200 pro-
vincials, besides a train of artillery. The provincial? were from New
York and Virginia; one company from the former colony was command-
ed -by Cap, Gates, afterwards the hero of Saratoga. On the 8th of June,
Braddock having, through t!ie interest and exertions of Dr. Franklin, prin-
cipally, got 150 wagons and 2000 horses from Pennsyi/ania, was ready
to march. < -

Scarooclaya, successor to the Half-King of the Senecas, and Monaca-
tootha, whose acquaintance Washington had made on the Ohio, on his
mission to Le Bccuf, with about 150 Indians, vSenecas and Dclawares, ac-
companied him. Gcorrre ('roghan, the Indian Agent of Pennsylvania,
and a friendly Indian of great value, called Susquehanna Jack, were also
with him.

The first brigade under Sir Peter Halkct, led the way on the 8th, and
on the 9lh tiie main body followed. Some idea of the difficulties they
encountered, may be had when we pi rceive they spent the third night
only five miles from the first. The place of encampment, .which is about
one third of a mile from the toll-gate on the Nalioiial Road, is marked by
a, copious spring bearing Brarldock's name.

For reasons not easy to divine, the route across Will's Mountain firgt
adopted for the National Road was selected,, instead of the more lavorable
one through the narrows of Will's Creek, to which the road has been
changed within a few years, for the purpose of avoiding that formidable
ascejiit. The traces are very distinct on the east and w;est slopes, the
modern road crossing it frequently. From the western foot, the route
continued up Braddock's Run to the forks^ of the stream,, where Clary's
tavern |(iow stands, 9 miles from Cumberland, when it tu,rned to the left,
in order to reach a point on the ridgt. favorable to an easy descent into
the valley of George's Creek. It is surprising that having reached, this
high ground, the favorable spur by which the National Road accomplish-
es the ascent of the Great Savage Mountain, did not strike the attention
of the engineers, as the labor requisite to surmount the barrier from the
deep valley of George's Creek, must have contributed greatly to those
bitter complaints which Braddock made against the Colonial Governments
for their failure to assist him more elTectively in the transportation de-
parUnent. ^ - • .

•The original name of Ciimbeiland was Ciicucbetiic, and from its favorable position
on the Potomac, it was most probably the site of a bhawnee village, like Old-tow n;
moreover, it was marked by an Indian name, a rare occurrence in this vicinity, if any
judgment may be drawn from the few ;hat ha\ o been preserved.

th(
the
nol

was

hen

blat

info

villff

and

plac

the two inde-
It momUed ten
;ed to keep the

and 1200 pro-
?re from New
was command-
he 8th of June,
Franklin, prin-
ania, was ready

isi and ATonaca-
he Ohio, on his
1 Ddawares, ac-
)f Pennsylvania,
I Jack, were also

r on the 8th, and
difficulties they
nt the third night
it, which is about
)ad, is marked by

s Mountain first
e more lavorable

he road has been

tf that formidable
vvest slopes, the
n foot, the route

n,. .where Clary',8
turned to the left,
easv descent into
ving reached jthis
Road aecomplish-
Lrike the attention
3 barrier from the
id greatly to those
inial Governments
transportation de-
its favorable position
iage, like Old^town;
n this vicinity, if any

Passing then a mile to the south of Frostburg, the road approaches Ihs
eaat foot of tSavago Mountain, wliich it crosses about one mi!e south of
the National road, and thence oy very favorable ground through the
dense forests of white pine peculiar to this region, it got to the norh of
the National Roadi near the gloonvy tract called the Shades of Death.
This was the JStli of June, when (he dense gloom of the summer woods,
and the favorable shelter which these enormous pines would give an In-
dian enemy, u»usihave made a most sensible impression on all minds, of
the insecurity of their mode of advance.

This doubtless had its share in causing the council of war held at the
Little Meadows* the next day. To this place, distant only about twenty
miles from Cumberland, Sir John Sinclair and Miij. Chapman had been
dispatched on the 27th of May, to build a fort; the army having been 7
days in reaching it, it follows as the lino of march was upwards of
three miles long, the rear was just getting under way when the advance
were lighting their evening fires. .- . . ,.

Here it may be well enough to clear up an obscurtty which, enters-
into many narratives of these early events, from conlusiniif the names of
the Little Meadows and Great Meadows, Little Crossings and Great
Crossings, which are all distinct localities.

The Little Meadows have been described as at the foot of Meadovv^
Mountain ; it is well to note that .he Great Afradows are about 31 miles
further west, and near the cast foot of Laurel Hill. • ,

By the Little Crossings is meant the Ford of Casselrrmn's Hirer, a'
tributary of the Youghiogheny ; and by the Great Crossings, thepassagc'
of the Ybughiogheny itself. The Little Crossing is 2 miles west of the-
Little Meadows, and the Great Crossing 17 rnih^s further west.

The conchision of the council was to push on with a picked force of
1200 men ; and 12 pieces of cannon, and (he line of march, now more'
compact, was resumed on the I9tli. Passing over ground to the south of'
the Little Crossings, and of the village of Grantsville, whrch it skirted,
the army spent the night of the 21st at the Bear Camp, a locality I have'
not been able to identify, but suppose it to be about midway to the Grealr'

* This interesiin;^ locality lies tu the west foot of the Meadow Mountain, which is one-
of the most important of the Allegheny Ridses. in Pennsylvania especially; where it con ■
siilutes the dividing ridge between the eastern and western waters. A nuie entrench-
ment, about half a mile north of the Inn on the National Road kept by 3!r. Huddleson,-
marks the site ot this fort. This is most probably the field oi' a skirmish spoken of iir
frontier history, between a Mr. Paris, with a scoutinn party from Foit Cumberland, nncV
the Sieur Donville, commanding sonie Fiench and Indians, in which the French oliicei'
was slain. The tradition is distinctly preserved in t! e vicinity, with a misappre-
hension of Washington's participation in it, arising probably from the partial res^em^'
biance between the names of Donville and Jumonvillo. Fiom the posiliveness ofthft-
inforrhation, in regar'. to the battle ground, conflicting with what we know of Jumou-
ville'8 death, it seems probable enough that this was the scene of this Indian skirmish ;.'
and as such, it possesses a classic interest, valuable in piojmriion to the scarcity ol sucV-
places. For a notice of Moii. Uonville's death, sec \ui. I, p,ii;e J'), Ol'lcii Time.

Drossings, wliicli it reached on the '23d. The route thence to the Great
Meadows or Fort Necessity, was well chosen, though over a mountain-
VU3 tract, conforming very nearly to the ground now occupied by the Na-
tional Road, and keeping on the dividing ridge between the waters flow-
ing into the Youghiogheny on the one hand, and the Cheat River on the
other. Having crossed ihe Youghiogheny, we ate now on the classic
ground of Washington's early career, where the skirmish with Jumon-
ville, and Fort Necessity, indicate the country laid open for them in the
previous yeat. About one mile west of the Great Meadows, and near
the «pot now marked as Braddock's Grave, the road struck off more to
the nbrtli-weist, in order to reach a pass through Laurel Hill, that wo\ild
'€nabl^them to strike the Youghiogheny, at a point afterwards known as
Stewart's Crossing, and about half a mile below the present town of Con*
nellsville. This part of the route is marked by the farm known as
Mount Braddock. This second crossing of the Youghitigheny was ef-
fected On the 30th of Jfune. The high gtounds intervening between th6
river and its next tributary, Jacob's Creek, though trivial in comparison
with what they had already passed, it may be supposed, presented serious
obstacle^ to the troops, worn out with previous exeHions. On the 3d of
July a council of war was held at Jacob's Creek, to consider the proprie-
ty of bringing forward Col. DuVibar with the reserve, and although urged
by Sir John Sinclair with, as one may suppose, his characteristic vehei-
mence, the measure was rejected on sufficient grounds. From the cross-"
ing of Jacob's Creek, which was at the point where Welchhanse's Mill
now stands, about I5 miles below Mount Pleasant, the route stretched off
to the horth> crossing the Mount Pleasant turnpike near the village of the
Bame name, and thence by a more westerly course, passing the Great
Sewickley near i*ainter's Salt Works, thence south and west of the Post
Office of Madison and Jacksonville, it reached the Brush Fork of Turtle
Oreek. It must strike those who exr^mine the map, that the route for
some distance, in the rear and ahead of Mount Pi^sant, is out of the
proper direction for Fort Dnquesne, and accordingly we find on the tth
y)f July, Gen. Braddock in doubt as to his proper way of proceeding!,—
The crossing of Brush Creek which he had now reached, appeared to be
attended with so much hazard, that parties were sent to reconnoitre, some
of whom advanced so far as to kill a French officer within half a mile of
FortDuquesnj.

Their examinations induced a great divergence to the left-, and availing
"himself of the valley of Long Run, which he turned into, as is supposed
at Stewarts ville, passing by the place now known as Samson's Mill, the
army made One of the best marches of the campaign, and halted for the
night at a favoirable depression between that stream and Crooked Run,
and about two miles from the Monongahela. At this spot, about four
miles from the battle ground, which is yet well known as Braddock's

I
I

* *In

^o per

cates

whose

a rarit

Com pi

iitn w

Mr. Ji

dential

^qsectal

Jy mar

I to the Greal
r a mountain"
ied by the Na-
B waters floW'^
t River on the
on the classic
with Jomon-
or them in the
ows, and near
jck oflF more to
ill, that wolild
rards known as
nt town of Con*
arm known as
igheny was ef-
ing between th6
al in comparison
resented serious
i. On the 3d of
ider the propvi6-
[1 although urged
iracteristic vehe*-
From the cross-
elchhanse's Mill
3ute stretched off
Lhe village of the
ssing the Great
west of the Post
Fork of Turtle
hat the route fot
,, is out of the
e find on the ^th
)f jiroceedingii—
d, appeared to be
econnoitre, some
lin half a mile of

left, and availing
I, as is supposed,
amson's Mill, the
md halted for the
nd Crooked Run,
spot, about four
n as Braddock'fl

Spring, he was rejoined by Washington on the morning of the 9th of
July.

The approach to the river was now down the valley of Crooked Ran
to its mouth, wbero the point of fording is still manifest, from a deep
notch in the west bank, though rendered somewhat obscure by the impro-
ved navigation of the river. The advance, under Col. Gage, crossed
about 8 o'clock, and continued by the foot of the hill borderinjr the broad
river bottom to the second fording, which he had effected nearly as soon
as the rear had got through the first. ?

The sejond and last fording nearthe mouth of Turtle Creek, was in full
view of the enemy's position, and about one mile distant. , By 1 o'clock
the whole army had gained the risrht bank, and was drawn up on the
bottom land, near Frazier's house, (spoken of by Washington, as his
stopping place, on his mission to Lo Boeuf,) and about three fourths of a
mile distant from the ambuscade.

The advance was now about to march, and while a part of the army
was yet standing on the plain, the firing was heard. Not an enemy had
yet been seen.

As I have now traced the expedition to the scene of the disaster, I re-
fer those who are interested in the particulars of the battle, to the previous
numbers of the Olden Time.* A.

'W\'VV\'W\>W\'V«A'W\'V%/\'W\

Having now conducted Braddock and his arn y to the field of their
destruction, it only remains ihat we should give full accounts of that
affair.

"THE DEFEAT."
We give first a letter from Captain Orme, one of the General's aids :
" Dear Sir. I am extremely ill in bed with the wound I have received
in my thigh, so that I am under the necessity of employing my friend, Capt.
Dobson, 10 write for me. I conclude you have had some account of ihe
action near the banks of the Monongahela. about seven miles from the
French fort. As the reports spread are v(;ry imperfect, what you have
heard must consequently be so too. Yor, should have he«rd more early

*In reviewing the roads used by the pioneers over the Alleghenies, it is surprising
to perceive how correctly the Indians had selected the most i'avoruble passes, and indi-
cates an extensive acquaintance with that nigged region. The Rev. Mr. Jacobs,
whose little boo': in delience of Col. Cresap, against the charge of Mr. Jefferson, is quite
a rarity, states as a fact that an Indian named Nemacolin was employed by the Ohio
Company to mark out the best road across the mountains, and that the path shown by
nim was afterwards widened by the Company, and still further improved by Braddock.
Mr. Jacobs having married the widow of Col. Cresap, and having also been his confi-
dential clerk from his boyhood, his statements have an authenticity apart from his re*
vpectable character. Nemacolin was a Delaware, and his son lived in the Cresap fami-
ly many years.

accounts of it, but every officer whose buisness it was (o have informed
you was either killed or wounded, and our distressful situation put it our
of our power to attend to it so much as we would otherwise have done.
The 9th inst. wc passed and re-passed the Mononifaliela by advancing first
a party of three hundred men, which was immediately followed by another
ot two hundred. The General with the column of artillery, baggafre, and
main body of the army, passed the river the last time about one o'clock.
As soon as the whole had got on the fort side ot the Monongahela we heard
a very heavy and quick fire in our front. We immediately advanced in
ord^r to sustain them, but the detachments of two hundred and three hund-
red men gave way and fell back upon us, which caused such confusion and
struck so great panic among our men, that afterwards no military expedi-
ent could be made use of that had any effect upon them. The men were
so extremely deaf to the exhortation of the General and the officers, that
they fired away in the most irregular manner all their ammunition, and
then ran ofT, leaving to the enemy the artillery, ammunition, provisions and
baggage ; nor could they be persuaded to stop till they got as far as Gist's
plantation, nor there, only in part ; many of them proceeded as far as
Col. Dunbar's party, who lay six miles on this side. The oflficers were
absolutely sacrificed by their unparalleled good behaviour, advancing
sometimes in bodies and sometimes separately; hoping by such example to
engage the soldiers to follow them, but to no purpose. The General
had five horses killed under him, and at last received a wound through
the right arm, into the lungs, of which he died on the 13lh inst. Poor
Shirley was shot through the head ; Captain Morris wounded. Mr.
Washington had two horses shot under him, and his clothes shot through
in several places, behaving the whole time with the greatest courage and
resolution. Sir Peter Halket was killed upon the spot ; Col. Burton
and Sir John St. Clair wounded, and enclosed I have sent you a list of
killed and wounded, according to as exact an account as we are yet able
to get. Upon our proceeding with the whole convoy to the Little
Meadows it was found impracticable to advance in that manner. The
General, therefore, advanced with twelve hundred men, with the necessary
artillery, ammunition and provisions, leaving the main body of the convoy
under the comipand of Col. Dunbar, with orders to join him as soon as
possible. In this manner ^e proceeded with safety and expedition, till
the fatal day I have just related ; and happy it was that this disposition
was made, otherwise the whole must either have starved or fallen into the
hands of the enemy, as numbers would have been of no service to us, and
our provisions v/ere all lost. As our horses were so much reduced, and
tbo»e extremely weak, and many carrages being wanted for the wounded
men, occasioned our destroying the ammunition and superfluous part of
the provisions left in Colonel Dunbar's convoy, to prevent its falling into

Gen

mou

the

havii

rem a

built

batte

great

<3ene

lave informed
ion put it our
se have done,
idvancing first
zed by another
•, b!vggnse,and
jt one o'clock,
ahela we heard
ly advanced in
ind three hund-
i confusion and
iditary expedi-
The men were
he officers, that
mmunition, and
\, provisions and
t as far as Gist's
needed as far as
'he officers were
viour, advancing
^suciiexanipleto
.. The General
wound through
13ih inst. Poor
wounded. Mr.
ithes shot through
latest courage and
,ot; Col. Burton
sent you a list of
s we are yet able
roy to the Little
it manner. The
Ivith the necessary
lody of the convoy
In him as soon as
nd expedition, till
at this disposition
|d or fallen into the
^ service to us, and
nuch reduced, and
id for the wounded
.perfluous part of
■ent its falling into

the hands ©f the enemy; as the whole of the artillery is lost, and tlie troops
are ao extremely weakened by deaiiis, wounds and sickness it was judged
impossible to make any further attempts; therefore, Col. Dunbar is return-
ing to Fort Cumberland with every thing he is able bring up with him; I
propose remaining here till my wound will suller me to remove to Philadel-
phia from thence I shall proceed to England; wiiatever commands you
may have for ine you will do im; the honor to direct to me liere. By the
particular disposition of the Frencli and Indians it was impossible to judge
the number they had that day in the field. Killed — General Bradduck,
Win. Shirley, Sec'y, Col. llalkctt. Wounded, Roger Morris and Robert
Orme,Aid-de-Camps; Sir John St. (Jlair, Deputy Quarter Master General;
Matthew Leslie, Assistant ; Lieut. Col. Gage; between six and seven
hundred officers and soldiers killed and wounded."

>WX'W1'X/V\<W\<W\'VW'W« iV**

The next article which we shall give in relation to that action, is the
notice of it in the Gentleman^ s Magazine, published in London, August
1755, a few weeks after the defeat took place. This is a contemporaneous
account; it exhibits the feeling then existing, and gives the fullest list of the
killed and wounded officers whieli we have seen. It will be seen, too, that
even at that day there were rumors that officers killed some of the flying
soldiers, and were in return shot down by them, thus giving some counten-
ance to the story that Gen. Braddock was shot by Favvcet. Our readers
will scarcely fail to notice, that although the Virginia troops received full
credit for the gallantry they displayed, the name of Washington is not
mentioned.

"Of the expeditions set on foot against the French in America, mention-
ed in our last, the issue of one only was then known, the capture of the fort
Beausejour, by Gen. Monkton, who commanded the expedition to Fundy.
We have received the following account of General Braddock, who was
de!^tined to the Ohio.

"It was said by letters from Virginia, dated June 22d, that on the 12th
Gen. Braddock, with 2,000 regular troops, had passed the Allegheny
mountains, and was within 5 days' march of Duquesne, a French fort on
the Monongahela river, which runs into the Ohio. Sir John St. Clair
having advanced nearenough to view it, and consider the adjacent ground,
remarked a small eminence that was within cannon shot; and the fort being
built of wood, and garrisoned with 1,000 men, it was proposed to erect a
battery on this eminence, and set fire to the place, by throwing into it a
great number of red hot balls.

"Letters from Philadelphia, dated June 25, gave an account, that the
(general had been long detained at Will's Creek, and greatly distressed for.

■f'

'20

wont offoraj^e and provisic.ns. liandiiifr the troops at Virfriuiii is eaid to
have boon a most unfortunate error, as neither t'oraj^e, provisions, nor car-
riages were there to bo had, ^nd that il' they liad hmded in Poinisylvania it
would have saved .)L'10,0(M> Hterlinjr, and shdrti'ncd the march six wtuiks.
Ho was, however, promised 150 wagons, iinil HOO horses, with a hirgo
quantity of forage and provisions, to be furnisiicd from the back scttlo-
inents of Pennsylvania; but after tedious and anxious expectation of these
succors, he received, instead ot 150 wagon ', only 15; and insteati of 300
horses only 100. This disappointment, hownver great, v/af much ag-
gravated when the wagons were unloack d, for the provisi'- ink so in-
tolerably, that he must have suffered very greatly from hui. ,jr, who could
eat it. While he was in this distress he received an unoxi)ected supply
of £5000, in provisions and wine (rom Philadel[)hia, which was sent by
the hands of Mr. Franklin. The General accepted this present with
great joy, and urged Mr. Franklin to use his interest to procure further
assistance. Mr. Franklin observed that Gen. St. Clair's dress was of the
Hussar kind, and this gave him a hint which he immediately improved.
He caused a report to be propagated among the Germans, that except
150 wagons could be got ready, and sent to the Gen'iral within i certain
time, St. Clair, who was a Hussar, would come among them and take away
what he found by force. The Germans liaviug formerly lived under des-
potic power, knew the Hussars to.) well to doubt their serving themselves,
and believing that General St. Clair was indeed a Hussar, they provided
instead of 150, 200 wagons, and sent them within the time Mr. Franklin
had limited.

♦' The Pennsylvanians also advanced a further sum above the King's
bounty, and sent him 190 wagons more, laden each with a ton of corn
and oats, four wagons with provisions and wine for the officers, and GO
head of fine cattle for the army.

» The General, as soon as he had received these supplies, pursued his
march, having received from time to time various and contradictory ac-
counts of the strength and motions of the enemy. Fort Duquesne was
sometimes said to be garrisoned by its full complement, 1000 men ;
sometimes he was assured by French deserters that the garrison
did not consist of more than 200, and that there were but 500 at Venan-
go and Piesque Isle, on the banks of the Lake Erie, distant from Duquesne
about 90 miles. He received also frequent intelligence of French parlies
in motion, particularly of a considerable number that were seen in bat-
teaux, on the Lake Ontario, as we supposed on their way to the Ohio
and of 600 that had passed the lake in 120 canoes and batteaux, and were
going to Niagara. It was expected that the next advices would give an
account of the siege, if not of the capture of Fort Duquesne, as, every one
had been taught to believe, that our force in that part of the world was
.40 much superior to the French, that to march and take possession was

Maji
Robl
ItoA

W.lf
Sir

Mat!

Sir
'/^ienl

iuiiv is said to
ions, nor car-
.tiiisylvaiiia it
i;h six weeks.
I, Willi a largo
back setUo-
Uition ol" iliese
instead of 300
v/nH much a;j;-
mk so in-
, jf, who could
xpecled supply
ich was sent by
18 present with
procure further
cUtss was of the
ately improved,
ans, that except
within a certain
m and take away
lived under des-
rving themselves,
u', they provided
me Mr. Franklin

above the King's
ilh a ton of corn
olHcers, and GO

plies, pursued his
contradictory ac-
irt Duqucsne was
nent, 1000 men ;
that the garrison
but 500 at Venan-
.nt from Duquesne

of French parties
were seen in bat-
way to the Ohio,
batteaux, and were
ces would give an
esne, as, every one

of the world was
ike possession was

the Bainp thing; but in the midst of this impaticnro and confidence wo
\, ere ahirmcd with ihf report that < u'licral Ihaihlock hud been d'jt'catcd,
and soon al'UM-, the foliouin",' article ai)peaieil in th(! (Jazette:

" WiiiTKHArr., August li'J, n'yry.

♦•By his Majesty's ship the Spa-dor.so, from Virginia, advice; has been
receivrtl, that Major General liiadihicU, havin-j: advanced with 2,000 men,
and all the stores and provisions to the liiille Meadows, (ahout twenty
miles beyond I'ort ( 'utn!)(";Ian(l at Will's (Jrcok) found it necessary to
leave tho !>realest part of the waioiis. <t(\, at that place, niidiT the com-
mand of ('ol. Dunbar, with a detaehmeiit of hOO men, orderini^ him to fol-
low as fast as the nature of the servieo would admit, 'riie General having
by this means lessoned his line of march, proceeded with gn-at expeilition,
his corps then consisted of about l'.iOO men, and 12 pieces of artillery to-
gether with the necessary ammunition, stores and ])rovisions. Ou the
8th of July, ho encamped with ten miles of Fort l)n(iuesne; and on the
9th, on liis march thronjrh the woods towards that Fort, was attacked by
a body of French and Indians, who made .i sudden fire from the woods,
which put the troojis into great confusion, and occasioned their retiring
with great precipitation, notwithstanding all the endeavors of the General
and the olhcers, many of whom were killed wiiilst tiiey were using all
possible means to rally the men. The General v/ho exerted himself as
much as -any man could do, after having live horses killed under him,
was shot ttirougii the arm and the lungs, of which he died the fourth day.
Sir Peter llalket was killed on the si)ot. Two of the General's aw ^-de
cimp, (Captain Orme and (>aptain Morris,) were wounded. His Secre-
tary, (son to Governor Shirley,) was killed. Sir John St. Clair, Quarter
Master General and his assistant, Mr. Leslie, both wounded. It is reck-
oned tliere were about 200 killed, and 400 wounded, the latter are mostly
collected at Will's Creek to which place Colonel Dunbar, with the re-
mainaer o( the troops, was retired, irom wiiom a more particular account
is expected.

"The following list has been received of the officers killed and wound-
ed on this occasion:

STAFF.

Major General Braddock,

Robert Orme, Ksq., <^ * i i r' .,,.. ?
■u 1%/r • T7« -s Ai(ls-de-tamp, >

Koger Morris, Esq., I *^

Wdliam Shirley, Esq., Secretary,

Sir John St. Clair, Deputy Quarter xMaster General,

Matthew Leslie, Gent., his Assistant,

LATE SIR PETER HALKET's REGIMENT.

died of liis wounds,
wounded.

Sir F^. Halket, (Colonel, killed,

./jient. Col. Gage, wounded.

Captain Tatton,
Captain Gethins,

killed,
wounded.

killed.
(I

22.

•Liciitennnt liiltlclor,
" Dunbar,

»« lliilkelt,

•♦ Troi'by,

♦• Allen,

*' Simpson,

HUHAI.TFKNH.

wounded.

kilUMl.

woiuided.

killed.

wounded.

Lieutenant liOck,
•» Disney,

'« Kennedy,

" Townseiid,

" Narllow,

•' Pennington,

wounded.

killed.
tt

wounded.

COLONKL DUNDAR S RIUilMKNT.

Tiiruf. Col. Burton,
Major Sparkes,
Captain Cholmlcy,

wounded.

('aptain Kowyer,
Captain Koas,

woundtid.
It

SIIHAI.TERNS.

IJarhut,

Wal.fhhm,

Crirnble,

wounded,
killed.

Hrereton,
Hart,

Montreseur,

killed,
ti

wounded.

Widenmn,
Hanl'ord,
Gladwin,
Ednieston,

it
wounded.

Macmullen,
('row.

Sterling,

<«
It

ARTILLERY.

Lieutenant Smith,
«« . Buchanan,

killed,
wounded.

Lieutenant M'Cloud,
M'CuUer,

wounded.
tt

ENGINEERS.

Peter McKeller, Esq.,
Robert Gordon, Esq.,

wounded.

Williamson, Esq., wounded.

tt(
a

S'
ni

a }

thi

hai

roil

ofi

rrtr

.sup

\\0(

tl
wii

DETACHMliXT OF SAILORS.

Lieutenant Spendelow,
Mr. Talbot, Midshipman,
Captain Stone, of General Lascelle's Regiment,
" Floyer, of General Warburlon's Regiment,

INDEPENDENT COMPANIES OF NEW YORK.

Captain Gates,
Lieutenant Sumain,

Capt?iin Stevens,
" Poulson,

wounded,
killed.

Lieutenant Howarlh,
" Gray,

killed.

wounded.

wounded.
t(

VIRGINIA TROOPS.

wounded. Captain Peronie,
killed.

SUBALTERNS.

Hamilton,

Wright,

Splitdorff,

killed,
it

Stuart,
Wagoner,

men

othe

Was

Hear

This

Vhod

flank

killed. CP^g
being

then

behin

wounded, iy an(

killed, jjhe e,

•itraos

wounilcil.
It
It

,d, killed.

ion, wound 0(1.

weiindiid.
<t

killed.

won

nded.
ti
It
tt

nul, wounded.
Her,

, Esq., wounded.

killed.

wounded.

larlh, wounded.
(I

killed.

wounded,
killed.

Scvoi-fil other arcnunts of this aeiioii, and II.hIm of ihn doud and wound-
ed have ap|)oaro(l in the papers, niid arc said to bo taken from privato
letters. \\y the Ciazetto account, (General Hrathiock eeetns to have been
attacked by an aml)usca(h' of French and Indians, dii hJH march thronj^h
the woods, I)efore he came within siirht of the enemy ; by th»' other nc-
pountH, he sf-enicd to have reached an advanced party of l-'rcnch, before
the action I)eL;an. 'I'hcy are to tliis cH't-'ct:

•'The French who were post'-d at Fort Diiqnesno, and on the Ohio,
consisted of l„l(M) r('<,Milar, and (K)0 irreiridar troups, who had with them
a considerable number of Iiuhans in th(!ir intiMcst. I'liese forcres, havinir
gained very particular intejliifonco of (Jeneral Hraddock's desiirn, of the
number ami condition of his forces, and tlie route they wore to take, no
sooner found that he was advancim;, alter havini^ received his last supply
of provisions, than they also advanced towards him, and having chosen
a very advantageous piece of grouiul, ahont six miles south of their Fort,
they formed a camp and intre ichcd themselves in a masterly manner,
having a thick wood on each side of them, which extended along the
route the General was to take. When he was come within three miles
of their intrenchments, they drew out of their lines, plaeinir their 000 ir-
regulars in front, as a forlorn hope, and their 1,.500 regulars behind to
support them ; they also stationed a great number of their Indians in the
A\oods, on each side, who efi'ectually concealed themselves behind trees
and bushes.

" Soon after this fatal disposition was made, Gen. Braddock appeared
with his troops in th(! lbllowin<^r order:

Colonel (i;(ge and Burton, of llalket's regiment.

The General, with Dunl);ir's llcgimcnt.

The troops from Virginia, INlaryland, and Carolina.

" As soon as t'le whole army was got between the ambuscades, the
men were alarmed by the Indians, who fired singly at the General and
other particular ofTiccrs; upon this they pushed forward, as the enemy
was in sight though not within musket-shot, and as soon as they came
iiear enough, the attack AVas besun by the Colonels' Gage and Burton.
This was a signal to the Indians in ambusli, who immediately gave the war
Vhoop, and rising from the thickets, discovered themselves on both sides,
flanking our men in voUeys, whicli did incredible execution. The advan-
ced guard, being now between three fires, immediately gave away ; but
being rallied with much difficulty by tlie ofucers, they gave one fire, and
then retreated in the utmost confusion, and Dnnbar's regiment which was
behind them in the same disorder. They were with unspeakable difficul-
iy and trouble once more rallied by their oflicers, and stood one fire from
^e enemy, but then without returning it, both the regiments fled with the
•Imost terror and precipitation,descrtingtheiroflicers, who, though alone.

•■ i

kept Iher ground until, of sixty, only tive reiiiaiued that were not eitlier
killed or wounded. The Vinrinians who formed the rear still stood un-
broken, and continued the en^Tagement on very unequal terms near three
hours, but were the compelled to retire. Tliese letters give the same
account of the Gennral as tliat in the Gazette, but add that all the baggage,
provisions, and even military chests, had fallen into the enemy's hands.
Other letters, however, coatrndici th's particular, and say that the artil-
lery, baggage and uiilitary chests arc sale, being two days behind the
army. ,

«' There is indeed, some ror.'=on to hope that this is true, from the ac-
count published by aut::ority, for it is there said that the General left the
baggage, &;c., behind him twenty miles, tint ho might march with the
greater expedition ; the very reat^on of his leaving them behind seems to
prove, that he went fi.rwarJ without hailing, and that it was impossible
the^men with the baggage should keep near him ; so that, as they must
have been considerably behind him when the action liappened, it is pro-
bable the broken troops joined them in their retreat, and proceeded safely
with the baggage to AViU's Creek.

" The European troop", whose cowardice thus has injured the country,
are the same that run away so shamefully at Preston-Pans. To pre"ent
however, any unjust nat.onal reflections, it must be remarked, that though
they are called Irish regiments, they are not regiments of Irishmen, but
regiments on the Irish establishment, consisting of Enirlish, Irish and
Scots, as other regiments do. It is, however, said that the slaughter efTej
among our officers was not made by the enemy, but that as they ran sev- niu
eral fugitives through the body to intimidate the rest, when they were gov
attempting in vain to rally them, some others, who expected the same fate, disl
discliarged their pieces at them, which, though loaded, they could not be whii
brought to level at the French. On the other hand, it is alleged, that the mo
defeat is owing more to presumption and want of conduct in the officers, Ion
than to cowardice in the private men ; that a retreat ought to have been col
resolved upon the moment they found themselves surprised by an am- den
buscade; and that they were told by the men, Avhen they refused to return Gat
to the charge, that if they could see their enemy they would fight them, liaii
but that they would not waste their ammunition against trees and bushes, torn
nor stand exposed to invisible assailants, the French and Indian Rangers, • "
who are excellent marksmen, and in such a situation would inevitably hav
destroy any number of the best troops in the world." lin r

Mr. Sparks in a note to the second volunn^ of his edition of thc^^n
Life and Writings of Washington, gives a very lucid accountof this afTaii ^"'^
we here introduce : , • ,. **tJ

" The defeat of General Braddock, on the banks of the Monongahela^"^!
^»< one of the most remarkable events in American history, (ireat prc^""[

wi
for
dec
joir
Thi
wet
Cr(

were not either
r still stood un-
terms near three
3 give the same

piirations had been made for the expedition under that experienced oflicer,
and there was the most sanguine anticipation, both in England and A.mer-
pa, of its entire success. Such was the confidence in the prowess of
Kraddock's army, according to Dr. Franklin, that, while he was on his
march to Fort Duquesne, a subscription paper was handed about in PhiN
adelphia to raise money to celebrate his victory by bonfires and illumina-
tions, as soon as the intelligence should arrive. When, therefore, the
news of his total defeat and overthrow went abroad, the eflect produced
on the public mind was like the shock of an earihquake, unexpected and
astoundmg. Of the possibility of such an issue no one had dreamed, and
the expressions of surprise, as well aii of disappointment, were loud and
universal. The consequences were alarming to the middle colonies, as
their frontiers were left exposed to the ravages of the French and Indians,
in which situation they continued till Fort Duquesne was taken by Gen.
Forbes, more than three years afterwards.

" General Braddock landed in Virginia on the 20th of Febuary, 1755,
with two regiments of the British army from Ireland, the forty-fourth and
forty-eighth, each consisting of five hundred men, one of them comman-
ded by Sir Peter Halket, and the other by Col. Dunbar, To these was
joined a suitable train of artillery, with military supplies and provisions.
The General's first head-quarters were at Alexandria, and the troops
were stationed in that place and its vicinity, till they marched for Will's
Creek, where they arrived about middle of May. It took four weeks to
effect that march. In letters written at Will's Creek, Gen. Braddock with
much severity of censure complained of the lukewarmnessof the colonial
when they were governments, and tardiness of the people in facilitating his enterprise, the
' ted the same fate, dishonesty of agents, and the faithlessness of contractors. The forces
\ il ov could not be which he brought to Will's Creek, however, amounted to somewhat
'■- Ucffed that the more than two thousand effective men, of whom abcnt one thousand be-
1 t in'the officers, longed to the royal regiments, and the remainder were furnished by the
(Tht to have been colonies. In this number were embraced the fragments of two Indepen-
.*imnl bv an am- dent Companies from New York, one of which was commanded by Capt.
k1 - refused to return Gates, afterwards a major-general in the Revolutionary war. Thirty
•ould tight them, bailors had also been granted for the expediiion by Admiral Keppel who
fees and bushes, (Jommanded the squadron that brought over the two regiments.
1 Tf^dia^ Rano-ers, • " At tiiis post the army was detained three weeks, nor could it then
vould inevitably have moved, had it not been for the energetic personal services of Frank-
, lin among the Pennsylvania farmers, in procuring horses and wagons to

,. . c j^j^f transport the artillery, provisions, and baggage. The details of the march
^ ^ fibs affair*^ ^^^^^ described in Col. Washington's letter^•. The army was separa-

^ "^^ ltd into two divisions. Tiie advanced di\ ision, under Gen. Braddock,

.consisted of twelve hundred men, besides oflicers. The otiier, under Col.

of the Mono g %inbar, was left in the rear, to proceed bv slower marches. On the
history, t^r^^atprc^ ^ ' •

t all the baggage,
enemy's hands,
ay that the artil-
days behind the

rue, from the ac-
e General left the
marcii with the
1 behind seems to
h was impossible
hat, as they must
ippened, it is pro-
1 proceeded safely

njured the country,
Pans. To prevent
narked, that though
ts of Irishmen, but
En-lish, Irisli and
that the slaughter
lat as they ran sev

•26

11' I'

* ir

« I'- 1

8Ui of July the General arrived with his divifeion, all m excellent health
and spirits, near the junction of the Youghiogeny and Monongahela rivers.
At this place Col. Washington joined the advanced division, being but par-
tially recovered from a severe attack of fever, which had been the cause of
his remaining behind. The officers and soldiers were now in higher
spirits, and firm in the conviction that they should, within a few hours,
victoriously enter the walls of Fort Duquesne.

♦« The steep and rugged grounds on the north side of the Monongahela
prevented the army from marcliing in that direction, and it was necessary,
in approaching the fort, now about fifteen miles distant, to ford the river
twice, and march a part of the way on the south side. Early on the
morning of the 9th all things were in readiness, and the whole train pass-
ed through the river a little below the mouth of the Youghiogeny, and
proceeded in perfect order along the southern margin of the Monongahela.
Washington was often heard to say during his lifetime, that the most beau-
tiful spectacle he had ever beheld, was the beautiful display of the British
troops on this eventful morning. Every man was beautifully dressed in
full uniform ; the soldiers were arranged in columns, and marched in exact
order; the sun gleamed from their burnished arms, the river flowed trail"
quilly on the right, and the deep forest overshadowed them with solemn
grandeur on their left. Officers and men were equally inspirited with
cheering hopes and confident expectations.

" In this manner they marched forward till about noon, when they ar-
rived at the second croossing-pUce, ten miles from Fort Duquesne. —
They halted but a little time, and then began to ford the river and regain
its northern bank. As soon as they had crossed, they came upon a level
plain, elevated but a few feet above the surface of the river, and extending
northward nearly half a mile from its margin. Then commenced a grad-
ual ascent at an angle of about three degrees, which terminated in hills of
a considerable height, at no great distance beyond. The road trom the
fording-place to Fort Duquesne led across the plain and up this ascent,
and thence proceeded through an uneven country, at that time covered

with woods.

" By the order of march, a body of three hundred men under Colonel
Gage, made the advanced party, which v/as immediately followed by
another of two hundred. Next came the General with the columns of ar-
tillery, the main body of the army, and the baggage. At one o'clock the
whole had crossed the river, and almost at this moment a sharp firing
was heard upon the advanced parties, who were now ascending the hill.
and had got forward about a hundred yards from the termination of the
plair. A heavy discharge of musketry was poured jn upon their front
which was the first intelligence they had of the proximity of an enemy
and this was suddenly followed by another on the right flank. They
were filled with greater consternation, as no enemy was in sight, and th*

eiL-ellent heallli
longahela rivers^
n, being but par-
)een the cause of
now in higher
^in a few hours,

the Monongabela
it was necessary <

to ford the river
;. Early on the
whole train pass-
im oughiogeny, and
the Monongahela.
hat the most beau-
play of the British
itifuUy dressed in
d marched in exact
. river flowed tran"

iheni with solemn
dly inspirited with

oon, when they ar-
Fort Duquesne. —
Ihe river and- regain
f came upon a level
river, and extending
commenced a grad-
er m in ated in hills of
The road troni the
and up this ascent,
iit that time covered

\ men under Colonel

ediately followed by

th the columns of ar-

At one o'clock the

jment a sharp firing

)W ascending the hill

le termination of the

id in tipon their front

roximity of an enemv

le right flank. They

was in sight, and the

firing seemed to proceed from an invisible loe. Tliey tired in their turn
however, but cyuite at random and obviously without eflect, as the enemy
kept up a discharg-e in quick and continued succession.

"The General advanced speedily to the relief of these detachments;
but before he could reach the spot which they occupied, they gave way and
fell back upon the artillery and the otiier columns of the army, causing
extreme confusion and striking the whole mass with such a panic, that no
order could afterwards be restored. The General and the officers behav-
ed with the utmost courage, and used every eff'ort to rally the men, and
bring them to order, but all in vain. In this state they contmued nearly
three hours, huddling together in confused bodies, firing irregularly
shooting down their own officers and men, and doing no perceptible harm
to the enemy. The Virginia provincials were the only troops who seemed
to retain their senses, and they behaved with a bravery and resolution
worthy a better fate. They adopted the Indians mode, and fought each
Mian for himself behind a tree. This was prohibited by the General, who
•endeavored to form his men into platoons and columns, as if they had been
manffiuvring on the plains of Flanders. Meantime the French and Indians
concealed in the ravines and behind trees, kept up a deadly and unceasing
discharge of musketry, singling out their objects, taking deliberate aim,
and producing a carnage almost unparalleled in the annals modern warfare.
More than half of the whole army, which had crossed the river in so proud
an array only three hours before, were killed or wounded ; the General
himself had received a mortal wound, and many of his best officers had
fallen by his side.

" In describing the action a few days afterwards. Colonel Orme, wrote
<o the Governor of Pennsylvania : ' The men were so extremely deaf to
the exhortation of the General and the officers, that they fired away in
the most irregular manner all their ammunition, and then ran oflf, leav-
ing to the enemy the artillery, ammunition, provision, and baggage ;
nor could they be persuaded to stop till they got as far as Gist's
plantation, nor there only in part, many of them proceeding as far as
Col. Dunbar's party who lay six miles on this side. The officers were
absolutely sacrificed by their good behavior, sometimes advancing in bodies,
sometimes separately hoping by such example to engage the soldiers lo
follow them, but to no purpose. The Generd had five horses shot
under him, and at last received a wound through his right arm in'o his
lungs, of which he died on the 13th inst. Secretary Shirley was shot
through the head ; Capt. Morris, wounded. Col. Washington had two
horses shot under him and his clothes shot through in several places be-
having the whole time with the greatest courage and resolution. Sir
Peter Halket was killed upon the spot. Col. Burton and Sir John St.
Clair were wounded. In addition to these, the other field officers wound-
ed were Lieutenant Colonel Gage (afterwards so well known as the com-

•28

mander of the British loroes in Boston, at the bejrinningof the Revolulion,)
Col. Orme, Maj. Sparks, nnd Brigade-Major Halket Ten captains were
killed, and five wounded; fifteen lieutenants killed, and twenty-two wound-
ed; the whole number of ofhcers in the engagement was eighty-six,of whom
twenty-six were "villed, and thirty-seven wounded. The killed and
wounded of the privates amounted to seven hundred and fourteen. Of
these at least one half were supposed to be killed. Their bodies, left on
the field of action, were stripped and scalped by the Indians. All the
artillery, ammunition, provisions, and baggage, every thing in the train of
the army, fell into the enemy's hands, and were given up to be pillaged by
the savages. General Braddock's papers were also taken, among which
were his instructions and corespondence with the ministry after his arri-
val in Virginia. The same fate befel the papers of Col. Washington,
a private journal and his omcial correspondenoo during his campaign of
the preceeding year.

" No circumstantial account of this afTair has ever been published by
the French, nor has it hitherto been known from any awdientic source
what numbers were engaged on their side. Washington conjectured, as
stated in his letteics, that there were no more than three hundred, and
Dr. Franklin, in his account of the battle, considers them at most as not
exceeding four hundred. The truth is, there was no accurate informa-
tion on ihe subject, and writers have been obliged to rely on conjecture.

"In the archives of the War Department, at Paris, I found three sep-
arate narratives of this event written at the time, all brief and imperfect,
but one of them apparently drawn up 'iy a person on the spot. From
these I have collected the following particulars.

" M. de Contrecffiur, the commandant of Fort Duquesne, received earlv
intelligence of the arrival of General Braddock and the British regiments
in Virgmia. After his remove from Will's Creek, French and Indian
scouts were constanUy abroad, who watched his motions, reported the
progress of his march, and the route he was pursuing. His army was
represented to consist of three thousand men. iM. de Contrecaur was
hesitating what measures to take, believing his small force wholly in-
adequate to encounter so formidable an army, when jM. de Beaujeu, a cap-
tain in the French service, proposed to head a detachment of French and
Indians, and meet the enemy in their march. The consent of the In-
dians was first to be obtained. A large body of them w^as then en-
camped in the vicinity of the fort, and M. de Beaujeu ope led to them
his plan, and requested their aid. This they at first defined, ;ziving as
a reason the superior force of the enemy, and the impossibility of suc-
cess. But at the pressing solicitation of M. de Beaujeu. they j.greed to
hold a council on the subject, and to talk with him again the next morn-
ing. They still adhered to their first decision, and when M. de Beaujeu
went out among them tp inquire the result of their deliberation, they

? Revolution,)
captains were
y-two wound-
t^-six,of whom
{Q killed and
fourteen. Of
)odles, left on
ans. All the
in the train of
be pillaged by
among which
after his arri-
. Washingion,
s campaign of

1 published by
ahentic source
conjectured, as

hundred, and
at most as not
urate informa-

on conjecture,
^und tliree sep-

■cind imperfect,
e spot. From

received early
tish regunents
ch and Indian
, reported the
His army was
oiitreccEur was
rce wholly in-
Beaujeu,a cap-
t of French and
ent of the In-
was ihen pn-
le.ied to them
ined, giving as
sihility of suc-
they jjgreed to
the next morn-
M. de Beaujeu
iberatioii, they

told him a second time Ih-tt tliey could not g(», 'I'his was a severe dis-
appointment to M. do lidaujeu, who had set his jieart upon the r-nter.
prize, and was resolved to prosecute it. Being a man of great good na-
ture, affability, and ardor, and much beloved by the savane.s', \w said to
th(;in : « I am determined to go out aiul meet tiie enemy. What! will
you suffer your fatlicr to go out alone? 1 am sure we shall conquer.'
With this spirited harangue, delivered in a manner that pleased the In-
dians, and won upon their conruJencc, he subdued their unwilliii<rness.
and they agreed to accompany him.

'« It was now the 7lh of July, and news came that the English were
within six leagues of the fort. This day and the next were spent in
making preparations, and reconuoitreing the ground for attack. Two
other Captains, Dmr.as and Lignery, were joined with \I. de Beaujeu,
and also four lieutenants, six ensigns, and two cadets. On the morning
of the 9th they were. all in readiness, and began their march at an early
hour. It seems to have been their first intention to make a stand at the
ford, and annoy the English while crossing tiie river, and then retreat to
the ambuscade on the side of the hill where the contest actually com-
menced. The trees on the bank of the river afforded a good opportu-
nity to affect this nianreuvre, in the Indian mode of warfare, since the
artillery could be of little avail agiinst an enemy, vhere every man was
protected by a tree, and at the same time the English would be exposed
to a point-blank musket-shot in fording the river. As it happened, how-
ever, M. de Beaujeu and his party did not arrive in time to execute this
part of the plan.

The English were preparing to cross the river, wlien the French and
Indians reached the deliles on the rising ground, where they posted them-
selves, and waited till Braddock's advanced columns came up. This
was a signal for the attack, which was made at first in front, and re-
pelled by so heavy a discharge I'rom the British, that the Indians be-
lieved it proceeded from artillery, and showed symptoms of wavering
and retreat. At this moment M. de Beaujeu was killed, and the com-
mand devolving on M. Dumas, he showed great presence of mind in rally-
ing the Indians, and ordered his officers to lead them to the wings and
attack the enemy in flank, while he with the French troops would main-
tain the attack in front. 'J'he order was promptly ol)e)ed, and the at-
tack became general. The action was warm and severely contested for
a short time ; but the English fouirht in tiie European method, tiring
at random, which had little effect in the woods, while the Indians fired
from concealed places, took aim, and almost every shot brought down a
man. The English columns soon got into confusion; the yell of the
savages, with which the woods resounded, struck terror into the hearts
of the soldiers, till at length they took to ffight, and resisted all the en-
deavois of their officers to restore any degree of order in their escape

' 1

) , I

1 1

Jilt.

The rout was compl('te, and the (ield of biittl wms left, covered with the

dead and wounded, and all the artillery, aif. Munition, provisions and
baggage of the Ent^lish army. The Indians V'-ive themselves up to
pillage, wiiich prevented them from pursuing the English in their
flight.

" Such is the substance of the acj;ount.s written at the time by the
French officers, and sent home to their government. In regard to the
numbers cn<ra<>-ed, there are some slirrht variations in the three state,
inents. The largest number reported is two hundred and fifty French
and Canadians, and six hundred and forty-one Indians ; and the small-
est, two hundred and thirty-three French and Canadians, and six bun"
dred Indians. If we take a medium, it will make the whole number led
out by iVi. de Beaujeu at least eight hundred and fifty. In an imperfect
return, three officers were stated to be killed, and four wounded; about
thirty soldiers and Indians killed, and as many wounded.

" When these facts are taken into view, the result of the action will
appear much less wonderful than has generally been supposed. And
this wonder will be still diminisiied when another circumstance is re-
curred to, worthy of particular consideration, and that is, the shape of
the ground on which the battle was fought. This part of the descrip-
tion, so essential to the understanding of military operations, and above
all in tlie present instance, has never been touched upon, it is believed,
by any writer. We have seen that Braddock's advanced columns, after
crossing the valley extending for nearly half a mile from the margin of
the river, began to move up a hill, so uniform in its ascent, that it was lit-
tle else than an inclined plane of a somewhat crownintj form. Down this
inclined surface extended two ravines, beginning near together, at about
one hundred and fifty yards from the bottom of the hill, and proceeding in
different directions till they terminated in the valley below. In these ra-
viuvjs the French and Indians were concealed and protected. At this day
they are from eight to ten feet deep, and sufficient to contain at least a
thousand men. At the time of the battl» the ground was covered with
trees and long grass, so that the ravines were entirely hidden from view
till they approached with in a few feet. Indeed, at the present day, al- j
though the place is cleared from trees, and converted into pasture, they
are perceptible only at a very short distance. By this knowledge of local
pecularities of the battle ground, the mystery, that the British conceived
themselves to be contending with an invisible foe, is solved. Such was
literally the fact. They were so paraded between the ravines that their
whole front and flank were exposed to the incessant fire of the enemy,
who discharged their muskets over the edge of the ravines concealed during
that operation by the grass and bushes, and protected by an invincible
barrier below the surface of the earth. William Butler, a veteran soldier
still living (1832), who was in this action, and afterwards attiie Plains of

ered with the
rovisions and
iselves up to
•lish in their

t^.i^

time by the
rejiard to the
e three state,
J fifty French
md the small-
and six hun*
ile number led
I an imperfect
)unded ; about

le action will
ipposed. And
mstance is re-
3, the shape of
[)t the descrip-
3ns, and above
it is believed,
columns, after
1 the margin of
, that it was lit-
m. Down this
irether, at about
d proceeding in
7. In these ra-
d. At this day
ontain at least a
iS covered with
dden from view
present day, al-
io pasture, they
owledg.:- of local
ritish conceived
;ed. Such was
avines that their
3 of the enemy,
concealed during
by an invincible
a veteran soldier
s at tiie Plains of

]■(

(

^.^^^ocfs i

OiUrspie St: l'llty<^

Abraham, said to iiie : ' Wc coultl only lell \\ here the enemies wer" l»r
the smoke of their muskets.' A few scruteriiijr Indians were behind trees,
and Hom-J were killed in vcntnrinjj out to lake scalps, but much the larger
portion fouc;ht wholly in the ravines.

"It is not probable that cither General Hraddock or any one of his of-
ficers suspected the actual .situation of the enemy, durinfr the whole bloody
contest. It was a fault in the (4aneral, for which no apology can be offer-
rd, that he did not kcej) scouts and laniards in advance, and on th(> wings
of his army, who would have made all proper discoveries, Ijcfore the
whole had been bronght into a snare. This neglect was the primary
cause of his defeat which might have been avoidcil. ll;id he charged
with the bayonet, the ravines would have been cleared instantly ; or had
lie brought his artillery to the points where thf ravines terminated in the
Valley, and scoured them with grape-shot, the same consequence would
have followed. But the total insubordinations of his troops would have
prevented both these movements, even if he had become acciuaintml with
the ground, in the early part of the action. The disasters of this day, and
the fate of the commander, brave and resolute as he undoulnedly was, are
to be ascribed to his contempt of Indian warfare ; his overweening con-
fidence in the prowess of veteran troops ; his obstinate self-complacency;
his disregard of prudent counsel ; and his negligence in leaving his army
exposed to a surprise on the march. lie freely consulted Col. Washington,
whose experience and judgment, notwithstanding his youth, claimed the
higi:est respect for his opinions; but the (Jeneral gave liltte hoed to his
advice.

While on his inarch, George Croghp.n, the Indian interpreter, joined
him with one hundred frientUy Indians, who olfered their services. —
These were accepted in so cold a manner, and tbe Indians themselves
treated with so much neglect that they deserted him one after another.
Washington press-^d upon him the importance of these men, and the ne-
cessity of conciliating and retaining them, but without ed'ect.

" A report has long been current in Pennsylvania, that Braddock was
shot by one of his own men, founded on the declaration of a provincial
soldier, who was in the action. There is another tradition, also worthy
of notice, which rests on the authority of Dr. Craik, the intimate friend
of Washington from his boyhood to his death, and who was with him at
the battle of the Monongahela. Fifteen years after that event, they trav-
elled together on an expedition to the western country, with a party of
woodsmen, for the purpose of exploring wild lands. While near the
junction of the Great Kenhawa and Ohio Rivers, a company of Indians
came to them with an interpreter, at the head of whom was an aged ven-
erable chief. This personage made known to them by the interpreter,
that, hearing ('oloncl Washington was in that region, he had come a Itnu

way to visit him, addinjr ihat (liiriiii; tlin hattlo of Moiionjfaliela, he had
Hinphd him out an'a coiispifuous ohjccl ; lirecl his rirtu at him many
timofl, atui dircrtod ins youu^r warriors to do iho samn, but to his uttor
uHloMJ.shiiioMl iioiu! oC thcir I). ills look clUict. He was then pcrHuaded
that the youthful hero was uud(!r the special ijfuardianwhip of the (Jreat
Spirit, niul ceased to lire at him any loiijrcr. He was now come to pay
liomaji^e to tho man who waH the particular favorite of heaven, and who
eould never die in hattlo. Mr. Custis of Arlington, to whom these in-
cidents were related by Dr. Craik, has dramatized them in a piece called
The, Indian Prophccfj.

When the battle was over, and the remnant of IJraddock's army had
gained, in their flight, the opposite bank of the river, Col. Washington
was despatched by the ( reneral to meet Coi. Dunbar, and order forward
wagons for the wounded, wi'.h all possible speed. Ihit it was !u)t till
the lull, after they had reached Ciist's plantation, with great didiculty and
much suflering from hunger, that any arrived. The (n'lieral was at first
brought oil* in a tumbril ; ho was next put on horseback, but, being una-
ble to ride, was obliged to be carried by the soldiers. They all reached
Dunbar's camp, to which the panic had already extended, and a day was
passed i;i the greatest confusion. The artillery was destroyed, and the
public stores and heavy baggage were burnt, by whose order was never
known. Thfty moved forward on the I3ih, and that night Gen. Braddock
died, and was buried in the road, for the purpose of concealing his body
from the Indians. The spot is pointed out; within a few yards of the
present National Road, and about a mile west of the site of Fort Neces-
.sity at the Great Meadows. Captain Stewart, of the Virginia lorces, had
particular charge of him from the time he was W(/unded until his death.
On the 17th the sick and wounded arrived at Fort Cumberland, and were
soon after joined by Colonel Dunbar with the remaining fragments of the
army. The French sent out a party as far as Dunbar's camp> and destroy-
ed every thing that was left. Colonel Washington being i. ""jry feeble
health, proceeded in a few days to Mount Vernon,

I \

i-t

I, ■ »:V.

■If , , : \ ^_

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