116

WILLIAM PITT.

[CHAP. II.

so long as the French were permitted to hold their position at the head of the Ohio.

Notwithstanding the terrible defeat sustained by the British arms in America, no open declaration of war was made until May, 1756. During the early part of that year, however, both nations had been busy in forming alliances-France with Austria, Russia and Sweden; and England with Frederick the Great. Now commenced that long and bloody struggle known as the Seven Years' War, wherein most of Europe, North America, the East and West Indies partook and suffered.

Notwithstanding the warlike attitude of England, nothing was done to annoy the French or to check the depredations of the savages, until a change of ministry; and the mastermind of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, assumed control of the government. Endowed with a high order of intellect― eloquent, profound and patriotic-it seemed as though the "Heavens began to brighten and the storm to lose its power" the moment his mighty hand laid hold of the helm of state. He seemed to possess in an eminent degree the full confidence of the nation, and the command of all its resources.

His plans of operation were grand, his policy bold, liberal and enlightened, all which seemed greatly to animate the colonists and inspire them with renewed hopes. They resolved to make every effort and sacrifice which the occasion might require. A circular from the premier assured the colonial governments that he was determined to repair past losses, and would immediately send to America a force sufficient to accomplish the purpose. He called upon the different governments to raise as many men as possible, promising to send over all the necessary munitions of war, and pledging himself to pay liberally all soldiers who enlisted.

Virginia equipped sixteen hundred men and sent them into the field under Col. Washington. Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, &c., also contributed large quotas. Three expeditions were determined upon, and the

1757.]

EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT DU QUESNE.

117

most active measures taken to bring them to the field. The first was to be against Louisbourg, the second against Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the third against Fort Du Quesne.

The first of these, consisting of 14,000 men, twenty ships of the line, and eighteen frigates, succeeded; the second, embracing 16,000 men, utterly failed; and of the third, we will now speak more in detail.

The western expedition was placed under the command of General John Forbes, an officer of great skill, energy and resolution. His army consisted of nearly nine thousand men, embracing British regulars and provincials from Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the lower counties of Delaware. The Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland troops were ordered to rendezvous at Winchester, Col. Bouquet with the Pennsylvanians assembled at Raystown, now Bedford, while the commander-in-chief, with the British regulars, marched from Philadelphia to effect a junction with the Pennsylvania troops at Raystown. In consequence, however, of severe indisposition, Gen. Forbes did not get farther than Carlisle, when he was compelled to stop. He marched to Bedford about the middle of September,' (1758,) where he

In the narrative of John Ormsby, a private in this expedition, it is stated that Genl. Forbes was so ill during the march, that "he was carried on a litter the whole distance from Philadelphia (to Fort Du Quesne), and back." This is most extraordinary, and proves him to have been not only a man with a "head of iron," as his soldiers called him, but with nerves of steel! Whilst upon this subject, we may as well give an anecdote, told of some Indian chiefs, who came to the army on an embassy, and who, observing from this close litter came all commands, asked the reason. The British officers, thinking the savages would despise their general, if told he was sick, were at first puzzled to know what answer to make; but in a moment one of them spoke out, that in that litter was their general, who was so fierce and strong, that he felt it necessary to bind himself hand and foot, and lie still until he came to the enemy's country, lest he should do the ambassadors or even his own men, a mischief. The Red men gave their accustomed grunt, and placed some miles of forest between themselves and this fierce chieftain, with as little delay as possible. General Forbes died in Philadelphia, a short time after the return of his expedition.

118

GRANT'S DEFEAT.

[CHAP. II. met the provincial troops under Col. Washington. A controversy here arose between Washington and his commander as to the route they had better pursue. Washington maintained that the road cut by Braddock was the proper one as opposing less obstacles, and passing through an abundance of forage. Bouquet and the Pennsylvania officers contended for a new road direct from Raystown, and with the latter agreed Gen. Forbes.

Without farther parley, the road was cut to Loyal-hanna, a distance of forty-five miles, where Col. Bouquet built a fort. From this point, Major Grant, with a select body of eight hundred men, was sent forward to ascertain the situation of affairs at the forks, and to gain information as to the best mode of attack. During the night of the 20th of [SEPT. 20.] September, he reached the hill near the junction of the two rivers, now known by his name, and at early dawn, on the 21st, marched toward the fort, breaking the stillness of that autumnal morning with the spirit-stirring reveillé. At the first drum-tap the gates flew open, and outrushed the French and Indians in great numbers. The air was rent with the savage war-whoop, and ere the commander had time to press his men to the conflict, or even before they could bring their guns to bear, the foe were upon them, dealing death at every blow. The savages were perfectly furious, and but for the French, who interposed to save the prisoners, not one perhaps of that ill-fated party would have escaped.

Major Andrew Lewis, who had been detached with a rear guard, hearing the sound of battle, rushed to the relief of the sufferers, leaving a guard of fifty Virginians under Captain Bullitt to protect the baggage. But this accession of strength was insufficient to check the headlong rush of the enemy. Both Majors Lewis and Grant were taken prisoners.1 Capt.

1 An incident is related of these officers while on parole at Fort Du Quesne, which is so characteristic of the chivalrous Virginian, that we cannot resist giving it. Grant, in his despatches, endeavored to throw all the censure on Lewis, who, in fact, deserved all the credit. The messenger who had been

1758.]

DESTRUCTION OF FORT DU QUESNE.

119

Bullitt, seeing the men flying before their bloody pursuers, and knowing all was lost, resorted to an expedient which, although condemned by some, was the means of saving the remnant of the party. Ordering his men to lower their arms, Captain Bullitt waited until the savages, who believing the party about to surrender, approached within a few steps, when giving the signal, a galling and deadly fire was poured upon the foe, followed up by a rush with the bayonet, so suddenly and vigorously, that the enemy gave way, and retreated in the utmost dismay and confusion. This rusé, so happily conceived and so well executed, was much admired, and the Virginians publicly complimented by the commander-in-chief.1

Collecting what remained of the party he retreated to the camp of Col. Bouquet.2

On the 1st of November, Gen. Forbes reached Loyalhanna, and with as little delay as possible pushed on toward Fort Du Quesne. When within a few miles of the fort, the General was chagrined to learn that the French, becoming alarmed at the augmented force of the English, and having lost most of their Indian allies, determined to abandon their position at the forks. Unwilling, however, to leave to their successors any thing to rejoice over, they fired all the buildings and placed a slow match to their magazine. The whole party then descended the Ohio by water. About midnight, as the army of Forbes' lay at Turtle creek, "a tremendous

sent with the papers to Col. Bouquet, was captured, and the despatches fell into the hands of the French commandant. Lewis being present when they were opened, beheld with surprise and indignation their contents; and without uttering a word, started in pursuit of Grant, whom he soon found, and charging him with the infamous calumny, drew his sword, and called upon G. to defend himself. Grant sneeringly refused, when Lewis cursed him as a poltroon and a liar, and in the presence of two French officers spit in his face.

1 Marshall's Washington, ii. 66. Sparks' do., ii. 313.

2 As Major Lewis was advancing with his 200 provincials, he met one of the Highlanders under Grant, in full flight, and on inquiring of him how the battle was going, replied, We're a' beaten, for I ha' seen Donald Macdonald up to his hunkers in mud, and a' the skeen af his head."

66

120

OVERTHROW OF FRENCH POWER.

[CHAP. II. explosion was heard from the westward, upon which the old general swore that the French magazine was blown up, either by accident or design." On the 25th of Novem[Nov. 25.] ber, the army took peaceable possession of the

place the blackened walls and charred outposts, alone remaining of that once proud fortress. On its ruins rose Fort Pitt; which has long since given way to the leveling hand of civilization. Often have we stood upon the few remaining stones of these two celebrated structures, and wondered at the mutability of man's boasted greatness,2-the utter littleness of all that constitutes the "pride and pomp and circumstance of glorious war."

The beautiful Fleur-de-lis here once opened its folds to the admiring gaze of the simple-hearted native; then came the rampant Lion of old England to overawe and subdue ;-himself in turn, to be subdued by the never-sleeping eye of the American Eagle!

With the fall of Fort Du Quesne, terminated the struggle between France and England, in the valley of the Ohio. The posts on French creek still remained; but it was deemed unnecessary to proceed against them, as the character of the war in the north left very little doubt that the contest would soon cease, by the complete overthrow of the French.

In 1759, Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Niagara and Quebec, yielded to the British arms, and on the 8th [1760, SEPT. 8.] of September of the following year, Montreal, Detroit, and all of Canada were surrendered by the French governor. The treaty of Fontainbleau, in November 1762, put an end to the war.

'Ormsby's Narrative.

2 It was vauntingly proclaimed at the time Fort Pitt was finished, that it was strong enough to secure the British power on the Ohio, to the latest posterity.-Am. Magazine, Sept. 24, 1789.