USA > Massachusetts > Our western border : its life, combats, adventures, forays, massacres, captivities, scouts, red chiefs, pioneer women, one hundred years ago, containing the cream of all the rare old border chronicles > Part 7
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45
CHARACTER OF GEN. BRADDOCK AND HIS ARMY.
independent companies from New York, Virginia, Maryland, South and North Carolina. The trouble, expense and delay in getting the army supplied with wagons, provisions, horses, etc., was almost incredible and entirely disheartening, and it was not until about the 8th of June that the heterogeneous little command was ready to march from Cum- berland.
The whole force was divided into two brigades under Colonels Hal- ket and Dunbar, numbering about 2,150 effectives, not counting the usual train of non-militants-women, wagoners and hangers-on. The progress of this ill-sorted command was painfully slow, five miles being considered an excellent day's march, while most frequently it did not reach half that. Bridges had to be built, roads to be cut the whole way, deep and miry marshes to be traversed, and steep and rugged hills to be surmounted. The route chosen was by no means the shortest or the easiest one. The advice of Nemacolin, the Indian guide, was too closely followed. Frequently morasses had to be waded through and savage hills to be climbed, the heavy artillery being let down by the sailors with block and tackle. The number of wagons and pack-horses was strung out in a line of over four miles in length, which was con- stantly made the object of attack, though happily by small parties. In addition to the natural difficulties of the route, were superadded such as arose from crazy wagons, wretched and inadequate food, most miser- able horses, and a general sickness and discontent among the soldiers and officers. It is little wonder, then, that this army had been ten days in reaching the Little Meadows, but twenty-four miles from Cum- berland. This fatal tardiness would never do, and reductions of bag- gage were constantly occurring. Even the officers were compelled to give up their horses to the service, Washington, Braddock's aid-de-camp, offering his best charger, and reducing his luggage to one poor half- filled portmanteau.
At the Little Meadows a council of war was held, the result of which was that Washington's advice was taken, and the army was divided. It was daily more evident if Fort Duquesne was to be reached before it was reinforced and in time to allow of subsequent military operations, that a light fighting division must push forward more rapidly, and so about twelve hundred of the best and most reliable troops were sifted out, together with a select train of artillery and pack-horses for the pro- visions. Colonel Dunbar, with all the heavy wagons, useless artillery and other impedimenta, was left behind with the worst and most unre- liable troops, to make his way as best he might. Even with these aids to a more rapid progress, it was not until the 21st of June that Brad- dock entered Pennsylvania, and not until the 30th, that he crossed the
.
46
OUR WESTERN BORDER.
Yougli, near where Connellsville, Pa., now stands, and on the 7th of July, Turtle Creek yet remained to be passed.
Had the General waited here for Dunbar's army, as was strongly urged by Sir John St. Clair, the Quartermaster-General, it would prob- ably have been the middle of August before the fort, then but a few miles off, would have been reached, and the whole army would either have starved or fallen into the hands of the enemy, as numbers would have availed little. "Dunbar, the Tardy," as he was called, had lost so many of his wretched draught horses by sickness, by starvation, and by constant stealings, that he could only move half his wagons at a time. After one day's march, the miserable and worn-out old jades were sent back to bring up the remainder, and then two days more be- fore a fresh start could be made. Now, add to all this a bad state of feeling among the troops, caused by an insufficiency of provisions ; no allowance of spirits; nothing but water to drink, and that often bad and unwholesome, and a general disheartenment among the foreign troops. Disputes and jealousies were common, too, among the officers, and Braddock was not even on speaking terms with his two brigade commanders. Even the robust constitution of Major Washington had given away under this state of things, and he had been traveling for ten days in the rear in a covered wagon, and was but just now returning. He had exacted a promise from Braddock that on no account should a battle be fought without him being present.
Turtle Creek, at the point where the army first struck it, was soon found utterly impracticable for artillery and the wagon train, without constructing a very long and costly bridge, and it was decided to aban- don this line altogether, turn sharp about and make for the Mononga- ghela, where the Indian guides said there were two excellent fords. The night of July 8th was passed about two miles from the Mononga- hela. It had been decided that what was known as the river " Narrows" -it being impracticable for artillery and affording for several miles ad- mirable facilities for hostile ambush and attack-should be avoided by crossing the Monongahela at the first ford, and recrossing it at the sec- ond ford a few miles below. By eight o'clock on the memorable 9th of July the first passage of the river was made at a point opposite Crooked Run, and even to this day observable by a deep scar in the banks where they were graded down to make a road for the artillery. The army now found itself on a broad bottom, covered with a fine growth of maple, walnut and sycamore, and moved steadily forward in the road cut for them. By eleven o'clock the second ford was reached, nearly opposite the mouth of Turtle Creek, and but a quarter of a mile below what is known now as the " Second Dam."
47
THE DISASTROUS BATTLE OF BRADDOCKS FIELDS.
Here the bottom begins to narrow until it runs into the hills very near the margin of the river. On this grassy savanna, denuded of trees, Braddock, not doubting that the enemy from the opposite bluff were anxiously watching his every motion, resolved to impress them with the size and character of his command. Accordingly, while the banks were being graded down, on that as well as the other side, to al- low of the passage of the artillery, baggage wagons, cattle, etc., the troops were ordered to appear as for dress-parade. Now the astonished hills re-echo with the loud beat of drums and the swell of martial music. Every man was attired in his cleanest apparel. The flags and colors were unfurled, and the joyful and well-drilled troops, glittering in scar- let and gold, were rapidly marched and manœuvred and put through all their movements, which they executed with the precision of a piece of machinery.
This plateau, where, for over an hour, all this showy parade was go- ing on, was in full and uninterrupted view from the subsequent battle- field. The officers and soldiers viewed it with undisguised pride and delight. But one belief prevailed-the speedy occupation of the fort. No wonder that Washington, in after life, declared it to be the most beautiful and inspiring spectacle he had ever witnessed. All was now ready and after a brief repast the army had safely passed the river and reformed about one o'clock in a thick walnut grove, several hundred yards below the mouth of Turtle Creek, and hard by Frazier's cabin.
THE DISASTROUS BATTLE OF BRADDOCKS FIELDS.
(Taken from the Historical Novel of " Old Fort Duquesne.")
The death-shot hissing from afar ;
The shock, the shout, the groan of war,
Reverberate along that vale,
More suited to the shepherd's tale .- Byron's Giaour.
One effort-one-to break the circling host ;
They form-unite-charge-waver-all is lost !
Within a narrow ring compressed, beset,
Hopeless, not heartless, they strive and struggle yet.
Oh ! now they fight in firmest file no more;
Hemmed in-cut off-cleft down and trampled o'er .- Byron's Corsair
We quote from " Old Fort Duquesne," the subjoined account of the battle of " Braddocks Fields," not alone because unusual pains have been used to make it full and reliable, but because the dialogue form in which it is cast, serves to liven it up and break the monotony. Cap- tain Jack, the Scout, and Scarrooyaddy, the Oneida Chief, are both his- torical characters. We quote :-
It was now past one o'clock of a sultry afternoon. The rear guard had not entirely crossed the river, before the van had been pushed for-
48
OUR WESTERN BORDER.
ward towards the hills; Gage, with his three hundred videttes, engi. neers, light-horse and pioneers in front, followed at a little interval by Sir John St. Clair's working party, with its two brass six-pounders, and its tumbrels and tool carts. Their business it was to cut and prepare the road marked out for them by the engineers. The march was to continue until three, and then the last bivouac before resting in Fort Duquesne, or, at least, before encamping down about it. On either flank of the advance were thrown out squads of videttes, to guard against surprise.
. The distant sound of the ringing axe, and the crash of falling trees, could be distinctly heard as the pioneers rapidly advanced-first over the broad and gently-rising river bottom, and then up the slope which led to another gradually-ascending plain, which, in its turn, rested against a line of bold, wooded hills. This second alluvial slope was more heavily timbered than the flat below, while the undergrowth of vine, thicket, and tall wood grass became at every step more abundant and luxuriant.
Adown this second sloping plain-although at that time, and not until long after known to or even suspected by the British-ran several ravines nearly at right angles to the brow of the hill which the advance had just surmounted. From one on the left trickled a little stream, which as it debouched into the first bottom, lost all distinctive channel, and was so diffused as to cause a sort of marsh. It was to avoid the treacherous footing of this miry bog, and to pass the head of the ravine which gave it birth, that the army was mounting so far towards the hill-sides. The ravine on the extreme right, which sprang from the hills and traversed the whole second plain, was both broad and deep, its sides and bottom thickly covered with huge trees, and having an unusually rampant growth of vines and brambles, and sufficiently ample to conceal an army of ten thousand men.
About two hundred yards from the line of hill and the same distance from the broad ravine just mentioned, commences, right in the middle of the plain, and without any apparent raison d'etre, a most singular ditch, with a depth and breadth of a few feet at its head, but increas- ing soon to ten or twelve, and at that time overhung and completely concealed by a thick growth of vines and bushes; of grasses and trailers and the wild Indian plum. Even to this day it can scarcely be perceived, or, at least, its full capacity cannot be fully appreciated, until one is right upon and then in it. It is a most peculiar ditch, and could not be better adapted, either for attack or defence, were engineers to devise and fashion it. It could easily conceal a thousand men.
The main place of action was on the densely-wooded tract between
49
THE DISASTROUS BATTLE OF BRADDOCKS FIELDS.
these two ravines, with its fallen trunks, its coverts and thickets of vines and brush and grass. The course of the twelve-foot-wide road cut through these leafy coverts, was not parallel with either, but diagonal and turning the head of the last-described ravine at an angle of about forty-five degrees, the whole face and flanks of the passing army being exposed to a long line of the enemy's fire at an average distance of sixty or seventy yards.
This then was the spot so carefully reconnoitred and so admirably chosen by the six French officers and Indian chiefs, whose departure from the fort we described in our last. Here was the slaughter-pen they had so adroitly marked out for their foes. When, or if, beaten by their adversaries at the river crossing, it was to this refuge they would retire, and here would they prepare their ambush. Not a man or offi- cer of the British army ever dreamed of these ravines, and never saw them during the three hours of combat, and it was only long after the disastrous action, when reason resumed its sway, and the beaten, driven mob of fugitives considered how pitilessly they were pelted and mown down by a terrible but unseen feu d'enfer, that they concluded their wily foe must have fired from hidden ravines.
Pass over these quiet, peaceful "fields" now, as we have but lately done, part of them in grass and part staked out and soon to be occupied by the country seats of Pittsburgh business men, and then imagine them covered with a sombre and luxuriant forest, the ravines choked with vines and brush and undergrowth, and the long rows of deadly rifles resting on their edges and deliberately sighted by hundreds of naked savages, and then see the narrow road choked up with an unsheltered crowd of soldiers and mounted officers, and Braddock's defeat is easily accounted for. Had the French hunted for days, or had their engi- neers the privilege of selecting a ground for successful combat and arranging artificial ditches for attack and concealment, they could not have found or prepared any place better fitted for a dreadful and suc- cessful assault, or one which could so easily have protected the assail- ants.
As Braddock and his aide Washington-still weak and shattered from his fever and unable to sit on his horse without a pillow-were stand- ing on the river's bluff, trying to bring order out of confusion, and to separate the noisy mob of soldiers, wagoners, artillery and cattle, the clear ring of the distant axe was suddenly exchanged for the rapid and continuous discharge of firearms. The crack of rifle, followed by the roll of musketry, appeared to be incessant.
" My God, Major !" cried Braddock, as he leaped to his horse, whose bridle his servant Bishop was holding near him, "the advance is 4
50
OUR WESTERN BORDER.
attacked, and sharply, too ! What can it mean? Mount on the in stant, and bring me back a report of what's going on ! Tell St. Clair and Gage to throw well out their flankers ! and urge Burton, as you pass, to hurry forward with the vanguard, while I get the artillery in motion. Here ! you infernal scoundrels of wagoners and cattle-drivers, get you out of the road with your rubbish into the woods on either side, and let the troops and guns press on ! Quick step ! Don't dally ! "
Washington delayed not an instant, but springing upon his powerful roan, spurred along under the trees and by the side of the road now choked up with artillery and soldiers, all pressing forward with utmost speed and excitement. He soon reached the first slope ; a few strides and his horse was over its brow and on the plain beyond. The firing was now straight ahead of him. Officers and men stood huddled in groups in the road ; some few had taken to the trees on either side. The two brass pieces had just been unlimbered and the cannoneers were pre- paring to apply the match. The attack had evidently been sudden and unexpected, and Washington now saw Gage's advance doubled back upon St. Clair's working party, and for a brief space all was confusion. Nothing could be seen in front but the flashes of the enemy's guns and the shadowy forms here and there of French and Indians as they glided from tree to tree; nothing heard but the crack of rifles, the noise of muskets, the piercing yells and whoops of savages, who seemed to fill the woods and to be working around in a semicircle.
" Ho! Sir John," exclaimed Washington, as St. Clair, foaming with rage and mad with excitement, approached to form and urge on the men. " What's all this? The General bids you halt where you are ; throw your flankers well out, and hold your own-if hotly pressed-until Bur- ton comes up. What's the nature of the attack ?"
" Fierce as furnace fire and hot as d-n," answered the fiery Sir John. " Harry Gordon was in the very front marking out the road when, upon hearing a rushing noise ahead and looking through the trees, he saw a pack of French and Indians on the run, a gaily-dressed officer, with a silver gorget on his bosom, leading the way with long kangaroo leaps. Soon as they got within musket shot, the cursed Frencher stopped short in his tracks, and waving his plumed hat above his head and then stretching his arms to either side, his pack of red devils scattered to right and left, crouched down and slunk away behind trees, trunks, and what-not, until, by heavens, they had completely vanished-not a painted head or hide of one of them to be seen-the skulking cowards ! The first we knew, a pitiless hail of bullets rained upon us, amid the most horrible screeches and yells and infernal noises
51
THE DISASTROUS BATTLE OF BRADDOCKS FIELDS.
sure ever mortal heard. I'm blessed, Major, if I'm used to this kind of fighting-don't know what to make of it. Our flankers have all run in, and the carpenters, or what's left of them, are huddled down the road like so many sheep worried by wolves, and the troops are fairly appalled by these screeching demons. For God's sake, hurry old Brad- dock up! tell him we've got the whole French-Indian army in our front, and will have to fight our way to the fort step by step."
Washington, after a few more brief, rapid questions, took in the whole situation and turned his horse's head. He had gone but a few steps when he saw Jack and the Half King a few yards on one side of the road, each peering from behind his tree and trying to catch sight of something to shoot at.
"Halloo ! Jack and Scarrooyaddy. You there, my braves? Where are the other Indians? They must scatter in the woods and try and find out where those devils are hiding and what's their force. I'll have Braddock here in a flash." Just then a crack was heard and a bullet whizzed by, going through and through the lappel of Washington's coat.
" Aha ! Major," cried Jack, quick as thought, as he raised and fired his rifle, " that's just the chance I've been waiting for. I've watched that skulking Shawnee now for over a minute. I knew he wouldn't let you pass without a shot. That's their game, the cunning varmints. Pick off the mounted leaders, and the rest comes, of course. Don't stay to see where I hit him, Major. Old ' Black Rifle' is certain as death. Hurry up the troops ! we'll need 'em all, for the savages are in full feather in front ; if there's one, there's a thousand, twisting and creeping and gliding about among those trunks. Halloo ! there's Yaddy's rifle. Hit him again, by Jupiter ! and a Frencher, too! No bark without its bite is the plan we're acting on."
Washington had not far to go. Braddock, finding the uproar not only continuing but even increasing in front, had raged through the whole army like mad, and could not wait for his aid's report. Order- ing Burton to detach eight hundred men and hurry forward with all possible speed, he left Sir Peter Halket in the rear with full four hun- dred to protect the baggage. He then swore and stormed along the whole artillery line, and pushed the guns forward as fast as possible.
Washington met the General, his eyes fairly aflame and with spurs buried deep into his horse's flanks, right on the brow of the hill. Gage's cannon at that moment had just filled the woods with their resounding roar, which was followed with cheer after cheer from the British, who were standing in a confused crowd in the middle and on the sides of the road, loading and firing as fast as they could.
52
OUR WESTERN BORDER.
The terrible, leaden hail, which had been so steadily raining on the - English and shattering their columns, now slackened for a while. The British then advanced on the French in front, pouring in a hot fire, though very few of the enemy could be seen. As they drew near, another staggering discharge met them, appearing to come, as it were, right out of the ground.
The British rallied again, and opened a dreadful storm of grape and musketry, sweeping away everything living before them, but the grievous misfortune was, that about the only living things were the trees of the woods. Beaujeu, the chief leader of the foe, and several others, were seen to fall, while the Indians, unaccustomed to the appall- ing roar of artillery and the loud huzzas of the soldiery, appeared to waver, and for the moment gave way. A well-pushed bayonet charge just then would have put them to remediless flight. Observing, how- ever, that the French and Canadians still held their ground in the direct front ; much exasperated by the fall of their loved Beaujeu, and urged on to revenge by Dumas, Langlade and de Lignery, they took fresh heart, and returned to their trees and ravines, through and along which they extended more and more.
It was just at this critical moment that Braddock's horse leaped into the road, and, struck instantly by a bullet in front, fell on the very leap, throwing the General violently to the ground. The grim and infuriated old warrior staggered to his feet, sword in hand, and glared around like a lioness robbed of her whelps. His eyes fairly shot flames, and his face grew livid with rage as he saw his carefully-drilled veterans standing in groups and without order, all appearing to fire at random, while many were shooting into the trees above them, as if their foes were birds in the branches. To increase his disgustful rage, just at this moment Gage's advance gave way entirely. The unseen enemy had worked themselves along the ravines on both flanks, and, from behind the dense undergrowth and tall grass which fringed them, poured in a most galling fire, coolly and securely picking off officer after officer.
Colonel Burton's command had just come upon the ground, and were forming, as well as could be under such a murderous hail of lead and in such a narrow road, when crowding down upon them came Gage's and St. Clair's shattered columns trying to get into their rear, and mixing the two regiments in inextricable confusion.
Then it was that Braddock stormed around with a rage and an indig- nation which was almost sublime from its intensity. Turning sharply on Gage :
" How's this, craven sir ! would ye so basely dishonor your king and the duke ? God's wrath ! is this the way you've been taught to
53
THE DISASTROUS BATTLE OF BRADDOCKS FIELDS.
fight ! By the Eternal, but I'll break your disgraced sword where you sit in saddle ! Curses on you all for a set of white-livered cowards ! You look more like a flock of silly sheep set on by hounds than drilled soldiers. For shame! for shame! Fall in ranks, every mother's son of you, and come out from behind those trees ! By the great God above us, men, but I'll cut down with my sword the first soldier, British or American, who dare skulk behind a cover ! Out with you, cowards !" and suiting the action to the word, Braddock leaped to the road side and actually hit with the flat of his sword several whom he found behind the trees, while others he pushed into the road.
" General," sullenly expostulated Gage, "these insults are unde- served. We can't fight a deadly foe who surrounds us on three sides but whom we can't see. The officers are falling like leaves all about you. The men are plainly panic-stricken. If allowed to get behind whatever cover offers, they can pick up heart and reform when the enemy is found. If not, we'll all be killed, officers and men."
" Killed !" hoarsely roared Braddock, while mounting his second horse. "And why not? Better die with naked front to the foe than blink and skulk like hares in their 'forms.' Get behind trees ! Oh, that ever I'd live to hear a British officer and a nobleman's son, too, give voice to such dastard words ! Officers, I command you to sepa- rate yon frightened mob! Advance the regimental colors! Set up rallying points ! Tell the men off into platoons, and hunt up the enemy in that way ! Major Washington, bid the rest of the artillery advance and open with grape !"
The word had scarce left his lips before his second horse was laid low with a bullet, and Braddock was again on his feet in the road, which did not go far to improve his temper. Here Washington ven- tured to observe, quietly and in low tones : "General, since the ene- my's evidently in great strength ahead and on each flank, would it not be well to find out exactly where he is, and how he manages to so hide himself? If we could retire the troops a little out of fire, beat up these woods with the bayonet, and reform_"
" Retire ! retire out of fire ! and before a d-d dastardly foe who dare not uncover himself !" shouted Braddock. " Major Washington, you are my aid-de-camp to carry orders, not to give them ! Retire is a round, well-picked word ! It may suit your American militia, but, sir, it is a disgraceful word for an officer holding His Majesty's com- mission, either to speak or to hear ! It was by retiring, as you well call it, that Forts Duquesne and Necessity were given up by you last year to the French ! Damme, sir, it has been so much retiring that
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