then at Winchester, and last at Alexandria, where they resided when General Braddock arrived. It was then deemed improper for them to go at large, observing the motions of the general's army, and the Governor applied to Commodore Keppel to take them on board of his ship; but he declined, on the ground that he had no instructions about prisoners. By the advice of General Braddock, the privates were put on board the transports, and sent to England. Mr. Drouillon and the cadets went passengers in another ship at the charge of the colony. La Force, having been only a volunteer in the skirmish, and not in a military capacity, and having previously committed acts of depredation on the frontiers, was kept in prison at Williamsburg. Being a person of ready resources and an enterprising spirit, he broke from prison and made his way several miles into the country, where his foreign accent betrayed him, and he was taken up, and remanded to close confinement." (1)

The conduct and courage of Col. Washington, in his supprize and capture of the French detachment under Jumonville, and in the battle of the Great Meadows, were greatly applauded, and the Assembly of Virginia voted thanks to him and his officers. He retreated to Will's creek, and the French retired to their position at the junction of the Mononga hela and Allegheny. (2)

After the battle of the Great Meadows, Colonel Innes was ordered to Will's creek to construct a fort, which would serve as a rallying point to the remaining forces, and a guard to the frontiers. This was afterwards called Fort Cumberland. It was chiefly built by the three independent companies: one from South Carolina, under Captain Mackay, and two others from New York, which were on their march from Alexandria to join Washington, at the time of the action at the Great Meadows. Ten four pounders, besides swivels, were mounted in the Fort. (3)

The remains of the army were collected here, together with a company from Maryland; but in consequence of the funds being exhausted and no pledge of future payment, the troops returned home, and left the frontiers without defence.

The necessity for taking bolder measures to contend with the combined forces of the French and Indians, was now evident to the English. The Assembly of Virginia met in October, and granted twenty thousand pounds for the public exigences, and the Governor received from Eng

(1) Spark's Washington, Vol. 11. p. 456–68.

(2) Gordon's History of Penn'a, p. 283.-Sparks, Vol. II. p.

464

land ten thousand pounds sterling in specie, with the promise of ten thousand more, and two thousand stand of arms. Upon this he resolved to enlarge the army to ten companies of one hundred men each, and to reduce them all to independent companies, by which there would be no officer in the Virginia regiment above the rank of a captain. This expedient he supposed would remedy the difficulty about rank, and the right to command, which had heretofore been the cause of much contention between the Colonial and British troops. Washington accordingly resigned, as he would not accept a lower commission than the one he held, and under which he had exhibited a rare example of bravery and good conduct, that had gained him the applause of the country. (1)

In the mean time Governor Sharpe of Maryland, had received an appointment from the King of England, as Commander-in-chief of all the forces engaged against the French; and Col. Fitzhugh the second in command. Knowing the value of Col. Washington's experience and reputation, the Commander-in-chief endeavored to bring him back into the army; but Washington, although attached to the service, declined the degradation which had been planned by Governor Dinwiddie, probably in concert with other British officers. (2)

Thus ended the miliary operations of the year 1754. The English colonists had been driven east of the mountains, and the Fench were in actual possession of the whole west, watered by the Ohio and its tributaries.

(1) Spark's Washington, Vol. II. p. 64. (2) Spark's Washington, Vo. II. p. 67.

CHAPTER V.

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO CHECK THE ENCROACHMENTS OF THE FRENCH IN AMERICA.-THE ARRIVAL OF GEN. BRADDOCK IN VIRGINIA, WITH TWO REGIMENTS OF REGULAR TROOPS.-CALL UPON PENNSYLVANIA FOR MEN AND MONEY.-HER RESOURCES IN 1755.-CONVENTION OF COLONIAL GOVERNORS, AND PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN.-EXPEDITION OF GEN. BRADDOCK AGAINST FORT DU QUESNE.-THE APPOINTMENT OF WASHINGTON AS ONE OF HIS AIDS.-HIS DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING SUPPLIES.-THE MISSION OF DR. FRANKLIN AS AGENT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA.HIS EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES.-THE MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY FROM FORT CUMBERLAND TO THE LITTLE MEADOWS.-A COUNCIL OF WAR CALLED, AND THE PLAN ADOPTED TO ADVANCE WITH 1,200 CHOSEN MEN.-THE AMBUSCADE OF THE FRENCH AND INDIANS.-THE BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA AND TO. TAL DEFEAT OF THE ARMY.-THE RETREAT UNDER WASHINGTON OF THE SURVIVORS.-THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF GEN. BRADDOCK.-THE PANIC OF COL. DUNBAR AND HIS DESTRUCTION OF THE STORES AND ARTILLERY, AND RETREAT OVER THE MOUNTAINS.-A DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE FIELD.-THE CAUSES OF BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. THE BURIAL OF THE RELICS OF THE

SLAIN. CHARACTER OF GEN. BRADDOCK BY GRAHAME.

The British Government at last determined to oppose with energy the growing power of the French in America, and to regain possession of the territory upon the Ohio. Two regiments of foot from Ireland, under the command of Colonels Dunbar and Halket, were ordered to Virginia, to be there reinforced. In addition to this, Governor Shirley and Sir William Peperell were directed to raise two regiments of one thousand men each, in New England, to be commanded by themselves; and three thousand more were to be enlisted in Pennsylvania, and the whole to be placed at the disposal of a Commander-in-chief, who should be sent from England.

On the 14th of January, 1755, Major General Edward Braddock, who had been appointed Commander-in-chief of all the King's forces in America, sailed from Cork with the forty-fourth and forty-eighth regiments of Royal troops, each consisting of five hundred men, one of them commanded by Col. Dunbar and the other by Sir Peter Halket, and arrived at Alexandria, in Virginia, on the 20th of February. (1)

The place of debarkation of the troops was selected with that ignorance and want of judgment which then distinguished the British Ministry. (2) The country could furnish neither provisions nor carriages for the army; while Pennsylvania, rich in grain and well stocked with wagons, could readily have supplied food and the means to transport the army to any point. (3)

(1) Spark's Washington, Vol. 11. p. 468. (2) Gordon's History of Penn'a, p. 292.

Immediately on the arrival of the troops at Alexandria, the Quartermaster General, Sir John St. Clair, required of Governor Morris of Pennsylvania, a supply of provisions, and that a road should be cut across the mountains from fort Loudon, in Franklin county, to the Youghiogeny, to facilitate the transportation of troops and provisions from Pennsylvania. Gen. Braddock also demanded the establishment of a post between Philadelphia and Winchester, the Pennsylvania quota of men and her portion of the general fund directed to be raised for the public service. (1)

The Assembly was convened by the Governor on the seventeenth day of March, and immediately provided the necessary funds both for the establishment of the mail and the opening of the roads, and also voted to raise a portion of the general fund. No troops were raised, however, for this expedition in Pennsylvania.

The Colony of Pennsylvania then contained about 300,000 inhabitants. It had no debt; possessed a surplus revenue of fifteen thou sand pounds, in bank; and was able, besides supplying her own peopple, to afford subsistence to 100,000 men. This amount of surplus produce was annually exported from Philadelphia, which, with other commodities, employed more than five hundred vessels, mostly owned by the merchants of the city. (2)

Soon after General Braddock arrived in Virginia, he called upon the Governors of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, to meet him in convention at Annapolis in Maryland, to concert measures for future operations. The meeting took place, but was adjourned to meet at Alexandria. (3) On the 14th of April, 1755, a council was held at camp Alexandria, Virginia, in which measures were concerted for the united action of the middle and northern colonies.There were present at this council his Excellency Edward Braddock, Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in North America; Hon. Augustus Keppel, Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels in North America; Hon. William Shirley, Governor of Massachusetts; Hon. Robert Dinwiddie, Governor of Virginia; Hon. James Delancy, Governor of New York; Hon. Horatio Sharpe, Governor of Maryland; and Hon. Robert Hunter Morris, Governor of Pennsylvania. (4)

In this council three expeditions were resolved on.

(1) Gordon's History of Penn'a, p. 294.
(2) Gov. Morris' letter in Appendix, p. 59.
(3) Spark's Letters of Washington, Vol. 11. p. 71.

The first against

fort Du Quesne, under the command of General Braddock in person, with the British troops, with such aid as he could derive from Maryland and Virginia, and there were afterwards added two independent companies from New York; the second against Niagara and Frontignac, under General Shirley, with his own (1) and Pepperell's regiments; and the third against Crown Point, to be executed altogether with colonial troops from New England and New York, under Major General William Johnson. (2)

Gen. Braddock, with the forces destined to act against Fort Duquesne, left Alexandria on the 20th of April, two months after his arrival from England, and on the 24th, arrived at Fredericktown, in Maryland. After stopping some days at Fredericktown, he marched to Fort Cumberland on Will's creek, by the way of Winchester in Virginia, and arrived there about the 10th of May. Here he collected his forces, consisting of about one thousand regulars, thirty sailors from the fleet of Admiral Keppel, and twelve hundred provincial troops. Col. Washington having before resigned his commission in consequence of a royal order, reducing his rank, as well as all other colonial field officers, was inactive at Mount Vernon. But Gen. Braddock, knowing the importance of securing his services for the expedition, earnestly solicited him to form one of his staff. He accepted, and his appointment as Aid-de-camp to the Commander-in-chief, was proclaimed to the Army in general orders, on the 10th of May at Fort Cumberland. (3)

Gen. Braddock, when at Fort Cumberland, with much severity of censure, complained of the lukewarmness of the colonial governments, in facilitating his enterprise, the dishonesty of agents, and the faithlessness of contractors. The British ministry had furnished him with two regiments from the royal army and a train of artillery; but expected the colonies to supply a still larger number of men, to open and repair roads through the wilderness, to provide subsistence for the army, and to furnish horses and carriages, to transport the stores and munitions of war over the mountains, from the seaboard to the Ohio.(4) But Gen. Braddock for the want of that temper and moderation which distinguish a man of sense, (5) was illy fitted to win the respect of the colonies, or to command colonial troops. He had too much self confidence, too

(1) Gov. Morris' letter, p. 60, in Appendix, shows that Shirley's regiment was partly raised in Pennsylvani.

(2) Gordon's History of Penn'a, p. 267.

(3) Washington's Letters, Spark's Vol. II, p. 69-76.

(4) Braddock's letter in the Appendix, p. 58.