USA > Maryland > Allegany County > Cumberland > History of Cumberland, (Maryland) from the time of the Indian town, Caiuctucuc, in 1728, up to the present day : embracing an account of Washington's first campaign, and battle of Fort Necessity, together with a history of Braddock's expedition > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
"The army struck the Little Cacapehon (though pronounced Cacapon, I have used for the occasion the spelling of Washington, and various old docu- ments,) 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 to have been 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 deviation of route at the mouth of the South Branch, to the village of Old Town, known at that time as the Shawnee Old Town, modern use having dropped the most characteristic part of the name. This place, distant about eight miles from the Ferry Fields, was known at that early day as 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 passes the Narrows of Will's Mountain,* when it struck out on a shorter
*This is an error, as Will's Mountain is beyond the site of Fort Cumberland, and the mountain referred to must have been Evitt's Mountain, which is South East of Cumberland, and had to be passed by Braddock before reaching Will's Creek.
142
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
line coincident with the present county road, and lying between the railroad and the mountain, to Fort Cumberland.
"From the Little Cacapehon to this point the ground was comparatively easy, and the road had been generally judiciously chosen. Thenceforward the character of the ground was altered, not so much in the general 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 at the Great Meadows, by Colonel Innes, who had with him two independent companies of New York and South Carolina. It mounted ten four pounders, besides swivels, and was favorably situated to keep the hostile Indians in check.
"The army now consisted of 1000 regulars, 30 sailors, and 1200 provincials, besides a train of artillery. The provincials were from New York and Virginia; one company from the former colony was commanded by Captain Gates, afterwards the hero of Saratoga. On the 8th of June, Braddock having, through the interest and exertions of Dr. Franklin, principally, got 150 wagons and 2000 horses from Pennsylvania, was ready to march.
"Scarooyadi, successor to the Half.King of the Senecas, and Monacatootha, whose acquaintance Washington had made on the Ohio, on his mission to Le Boeuf, with about 150 Indians, Senecas and Delawares, accompanied him. George Croghan, the
.
143
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
Indian Agent of Pennsylvania, and a friendly Indian of great value, called Susquehanna Jack, were also with him .*
"The first brigade under Sir Peter Halket led the way on the 8th, and on the 9th the main body followed.+ Some idea of the difficulties they encountered, may be had when we perceive 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 National Road, is marked by a copious spring bearing Braddock's name.
"For reasons not easy to divine, the route across Will's Mountain, first adopted for the National Road was selected, instead of the more favorable 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 ascent. The traces are very distinct on the East and West 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 now stands, 9 miles from Cumberland, when it turned to the left, in order to reach a point on the ridge 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 accomplishes the ascent of the Great Savage Mountain, did not strike the attention of the
*Mr. Atkinson is in error in this. The Indians, as before stated in this work, had nearly all left Braddock, and "Susquehanna Jack" is doubtless the celebrated "Captain Jack" or the "Black Hunter," who was not an Indian at all, but a white man with probably some baser blood in his, veins, and who commanded a party of wild trappers like himself, whose services were rejected by Braddock because they wanted too much liberty to suit his views.
These dates are incorrect, as will be seen by comparing them with those given in previous pages of this book.
144
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
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 Govern- ments for their failure to assist him more effectively in the transportation department.
" Passing then a mile to the South of Frostburg, the road approaches the East foot of Savage Mountain, which it crosses about one mile South of the National Road, and thence by very favorable ground through the dense forests of white pine peculiar to this region, it got to the North of the National Road, near the gloomy tract called the 'Shades of Death.' This was the 15th of June, when the dense gloom of the summer woods, and the favorable shelter which these enormous pines would give an Indian enemy, must have made a most sensible impression on all minds, of the insecurity of their mode of advance.
"This doubtless had a share in causing the council of war held at the Little Meadows next day. To this place, distant only about twenty miles from Cumberland, Sir John St. Clair and Major 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 line 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 obscurity which enters into many narratives of these early events, from confusing the names of the 'Little Meadows' and 'Great Meadows,' 'Little Crossings'
*This should read, the 30th of May.
1755.]
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE. 145
and 'Great Crossings,' which are all distinct localities.
"The 'Little Meadows' have been described as at the foot of Meadow Mountain; it is well to note that the 'Great Meadows' are about 31 miles further west, and near the east foot of Laurel Hill.
"By the 'Little Crossings' is meant the Ford of Casselman's River, a tributary of the Youghiogheny; and by the 'Great Crossings' the passage of the Youghiogheny itself. The Little Crossing is two miles west of the Little Meadows, and the Great Crossing 17 miles further west.
"The conclusion of the council was to push on with a picked force of 1200 men, and 12 pieces of cannon, and the line of march, now more compact, was resumed on the 19th. Passing over ground to the South of the Little Crossings, and of the village of Grantsville, which 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 Great Crossings, which it reached on the 23d. The route thence to the Great Meadows, or Fort Necessity, was well chosen, though over a mountainous tract, conforming very nearly to the ground now occupied by the National Road, and keeping on the dividing ridge between the waters flowing into the Youghiogheny on the one hand, and the Cheat River on the other. Having crossed the Youghiogheny, we are now on the classic ground of Washington's early career, where the skirmish with Jumonville and Fort Necessity, indicate the country laid open for them in the previous year. About one mile west of the Great Meadows, and near the spot
19
146
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
now marked as Braddock's Grave, the road struck off more to the North-west, in order to reach a pass through Laurel Hill, that would enable them to strike the Youghiogheny, at a point afterwards known as Stewart's Crossing, and about half a mile below the present town of Connellsville. This part of the route is marked by the farm known as Mount Braddock. The second crossing of the Youghiogheny was effected on the 30th of June. The high grounds intervening between the river and its next tributary, Jacob's Creek, though trivial in comparison with what they had already passed, it may be supposed, presented serious obstacles to the troops, worn out with previous exertions. On the 3d of July a council of war was held at Jacob's Creek to consider the propriety of bringing forward Colonel Dunbar, with the reserve, and although urged by Sir John St. Clair with, as one may suppose, his characteristic vehemence, the measure was rejected on sufficient grounds. From the crossing of Jacob's Creek, which was at the point where Welchhanse's mill now stands, about one and half miles below Mount Pleasant, the route stretched off to the north, crossing the Mount Pleasant turnpike near the village of the same name, and thence by a more westerly course, passing the Great Sewickley near Painter's Salt Works, thence South and West of the Post-office of Madison and Jacksonville, it reached the Brush Fork of Turtle Creek. It must strike those who examine the map, that the route for some distance, in the rear and ahead of Mount Pleasant, is out of the proper direction for Fort Duquesne, and accordingly we find
147
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
on the 7th of July, General 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 Fort Duquesne.
"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 Stewartsville, passing by the place now known as Sampson's Mill, the army made one of the best marches of the campaign, and halted for the night at a favorable 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 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 Run to its mouth, where the point of fording is still manifest, from a deep notch in the west bank, though rendered somewhat obscure by the improved navigation of the river. The advance, under Colonel Gage, crossed about 8 o'clock, and continued by the foot of the hill bordering the broad river bottom to the second fording, which he had effected nearly as soon as the rear had got through the first.
"The second and last fording, at the mouth of Turtle Creek, was in full view of the enemy's position, and about one mile distant. By 1 o'clock
148
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
the whole army had gained the right 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 Le 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."
The delays to which the army was subjected on this march were largely attributable to the officers themselves, including the General. They had been accustomed to a rather luxurious mode of life, in comfortable quarters, and on this occasion seemed unable to divest themselves of the baggage and appurtenances which such soldiers as Washington looked upon with contempt, and which would have caused the dismissal of an officer who would have presumed to thus overburden the quartermaster- department in our late war, when the Colonel of a regiment was frequently required to be satisfied with a blanket and a single change of linen. The march to Little Meadows occupied seven days, and the distance was barely twenty miles. The General determined to get rid of further incumbrances if possible, whereupon Washington advised him to send back more wagons and reduce the officers' baggage; then to push on with all possible speed with 1200 of the best troops, who should travel as light as possible, the remainder to follow with the wagons. Braddock endeavored to follow this very good advice, and sent forward 1200 men, with some artillery, the pro-
149
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
visions being put upon pack horses. The officers, however, reduced their baggage very little, and Washington was the only one of the number who dispensed with everything else than necessities.
On the 19th the command left Little Meadows, and the Indians were sent forward as scouts. Scarooyadi and his son, who were on the flank, were taken prisoners by a party of French and Indians who were in the woods, but the latter effected his escape and brought intelligence of the matter to the other warriors, who instantly started in hot pursuit. In a short time they found the sachem bound to a tree and unharmed. The French were desirous of killing him when he was taken, but to this the Indians would not consent. They knew Scarooyadi and held him in considerable esteem, otherwise they would not have intervened to save him.
Washington had been for some time feeling unwell, and every day he grew worse, notwithstanding the attentions of the surgeon. . He was burning with fever, which was accompanied with severe pains in the head, and he had to abandon his horse for the almost intolerable discomforts of a wagon without springs. Finally the jolting he was subjected to rendered it impossible for him to go further, and he was reluctantly compelled to allow the army to proceed without him; not until the General had faithfully promised, however, that he should be kept well informed of their movements, and brought up in time to participate in the expected engagement. He stopped at the Youghiogheny, remaining there several days, until Dunbar came up, by which time
150
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
he was able to resume the saddle, and soon after- wards joined the General a few miles distant from the scene of the battle which followed.
From the time of leaving Little Meadows hostile bands of Indians hung about the flanks of the army, on one occasion killing and scalping three men. They stole the horses at night, carved upon the bark of the trees insulting messages, and watched their every movement. The inscriptions were in French, showing that the Indians were accompanied by whites. The difficulties of the march seemed to multiply, as the men were worn down with fatigue, and harrassed by an unseen enemy, against whom they had constantly to be on guard.
Bands of savages made their way back towards the settlements, where they created great consternation by their acts of inhumanity, in consequence of which the aid of the Maryland Assembly was invoked. On the 1st of July Governor Sharpe sent the following address to that body :
"GENTLEMEN OF THE LOWER HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY :
"I have just received Letters from Colonel Innes at Fort Cumber- land, and from the Back Inhabitants of Frederick County, advising me, that a Party of French Indians, last Monday Morning, fell on the Inhabitants of this Province, and killed two Men and one Woman (who have been since found dead); eight other Persons they have taken Prisoners, and carried off. The Names of the Persons who were murdered and left, are John Williams, his Wife, and Grandson; and with their Bodies was also found that of a French Indian. The Persons carried off, are Richard Williams (a Son of John who was murdered), with two Children, one Dawson's Wife, and four Children. Richard Williams's Wife, and two Brothers of the young Man that is killed, have made their Escape. This Accident, I find, has so terrified the distant Inhabitants, that many of them are retiring, and forsaking their Planta- tions.
" Another Letter from Winchester in Virginia informs me, that a
151
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
Party of Indians have also attacked the Back Inhabitants of that Province, of whom they have killed eleven, and carried away many Captives.
"Apprehending the French would proceed in this Manner, as soon as General Braddock, and the Troops under his Command, should have passed the Mountains, and being confirmed in my Opinion by an Intimation in the General's Letter, I issued a Proclamation near a Month since, cautioning the distant and other Inhabitants of this Province, to be on their Guard, and unite for their common Defence and Safety; at the same Time, I sent peremptory orders and instructions to the officers of the Militia of Frederick County, frequently to Muster and discipline their several Troops and Companies once a Fortnight at least; and in case of an Alarm that the Enemy was approaching, or had fallen on the Inhabitants, to march out and act either offensively or defensively, and use all Means to protect and defend the Inhabitants from the Devasta- tions of the French, or their Indians : However, I find neither the Proc- lamation or Instructions will be effectual unless the Militia can be assured that they shall receive Satisfaction and Pay for the Time that they shall be out on Duty. I should think it highly proper for us to have about a Hundred, or at least a Company of Sixty Men, posted, or constantly ranging, for some Time on the Frontiers, for our Protection : In this I desire your Advice, and that you will enable me to support such a number.
"Gentlemen, At the General's Request, and that I might receive early Intelligence at this Time from the Camp and the Back Inhabitants, I have engaged several Persons between this Place and Will's Creek, to receive, and speedily convey any Letters that shall come to them directed for the General or myself; I doubt not you will be convinced of the Necessity of such a Measure, and provide for the Expence thereof. " HORO. SHARPE."
The Assembly, recognizing the importance of prompt action, at once considered the address, and adopted the suggestions therein contained, as is shown by the reply made to the Governor on the same date:
" To his Excellency, Horatio Sharpe, Esq ; Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland. The humble Address of the House of Delegates.
"May it please your Excellency, This House having taken into Consideration your Excellency's Message of this Day, have thereupon come to the following Resolves :
152
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
" Resolved, That this House will make suitable Provision for the paying and maintaining Eighty Men, including Officers, for four months (if Occasion) for ranging on the Frontiers of this Province, to protect the same against the Incursions and Depredations that may be attempted or made by the French, or their Indian allies.
" Resolved further, That this House will defray the reasonable Expence of conveying Intelligence from Wills's Creek to Annapolis and back thither, for four Months."
"H. HOOPER, Speaker."
On the 2d of July the sum of £2,000 was appropriated to carry into effect an "Act for securing the Western frontier of this Province against the depredations of the French and their Indian allies, and also for paying and maintaining couriers from Will's Creek to Annapolis and back to Will's Creek." A company of militia was quickly formed and sent to Fort Cumberland, from which point it made frequent descents upon the enemy, and ranged the forests along the borders, and materially aided the settlers.
Meantime Braddock was still advancing, and on the 4th of July two Indians went on towards Fort Duquesne to ascertain the condition of the Fort, and the number of men there. Gist set out the same day for the same purpose, and they returned on the 6th, with intelligence to the effect that the works had not been increased; there were very few boats near the Fort; the number of soldiers to be seen was inconsiderable; the passes were all clear, and the enemy seemed to have very few reconnoitering parties out. Gist narrowly escaped capture by two Indians who had discovered and pursued him. Irving says in his life of Washington that "on the same day, during the march, three or four men loitering in the rear of the grenadiers were killed and
1755.]
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE. 153
scalped. Several of the grenadiers set off to take
revenge. They came upon a party of Indians, who held up boughs and grounded their arms, the concerted sign of amity. Not perceiving or under- standing it, the grenadiers fired upon them, and one fell. It proved to be the son of Scarooyadi. Aware too late of their error, the grenadiers brought the body to the camp. The conduct of Braddock was admirable on this occasion. He sent for the father and the other Indians, and condoled with them on the lamentable occurrence; making them the custom- ary presents of expiation. But what was more to the point, he caused the youth to be buried with the honors of war; at his request the officers attended the funeral, and a volley was fired over the grave. The honors thus shown the deceased warrior gratified the pride of the old chief, and proved a balm to him in his affliction. It excited a feeling of deeper friend- ship toward his white allies, who had thus shown the most genuine sorrow for him in the calamity which had so unfortunately befallen him.
For two days Braddock halted at Thicketty Run, and on the 7th marched with a view to crossing Turtle Creek, but, dreading the labor of making his way over the ridges about that stream, and the delay of bridging it, he changed his route, on the 8th, marching almost due west towards the Monongahela, along the valley of Long Run, and encamped that night some two miles from the river. The "Narrows," a gorge through which the river passed, near the point of encampment, was not passable for artillery, and besides presented many advantages to the French,
20
154
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
should they resort to ambush; for this reason Braddock determined to cross the Monongahela at a ford near by and to recross it by a second ford a short distance below, near the mouth of Turtle Creek, thus avoiding the "Narrows," and securing easy marches.
The condition of the army was not of the most flattering character, at this time, and the remark made some time earlier, to the effect that its com- mander was most "judiciously chosen for being disqualified for the service he is employed in, in almost every respect," was felt to be painfully true by at least several of the prudent and thinking men who served under his orders. Braddock was irritable, arrogant, and intemperate in his hot-headed denun- ciation of every officer and man who incurred his displeasure; he would not so much as speak to the two principal officers under his command, or notice them in anyway, except when required to do so by the necessity of sending them directions; Shirley, the General's Secretary, was disgusted and indignant because of the delays as well as the blunders of the march; Washington, while he retained his self- command, inwardly chafed over the bigotry which closed the General's eyes to the most commonplace necessities in dealing with a foe he would not understand; Sir Peter Halket was low spirited and depressed; he comprehended the importance of meeting the wily red skins with their own tactics, and while he urged the General to beat the bushes over every foot of ground from the camp to the Fort, he had little hope of seeing his advice put into
155
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE.
1755.7
effect; when he wrapped his mantle about him that night as he lay upon his soldier's bed his soul was filled with the darkest forebodings for the morrow, which he felt would close his own career as well as that of many another gallant soldier, a presentiment which was sadly realized. Not only was there dissatisfaction, want of confidence, and unfriendliness amongst the officers, but the men were spiritless, broken down by the fatigues of the march, poorly fed, and harrassed by the great time consumed in travelling so short a distance. On this night, preceding the day of battle, the men were early encamped and sleeping about their fires, to gather strength for the march, and whatever else the morrow might bring forth. With Braddock, however, there were no doubts or fears; he had unbounded con- fidence in himself, and firm reliance in his veterans; as well as thorough contempt for the French and Indians. To him the morrow was gilded with the glory of victory, and where others feared disaster and disgrace he anticipated a success which should bring him new honors and coveted favors at the hands of his Sovereign. Braddock did not anticipate the slightest difficulty in putting to flight the enemy he was to encounter; and could he have met that enemy upon an open field his anticipations would doubtless have been verified. He only feared that he might have some difficulty in crossing the river at the fords. But in any event he had determined to reach the Fort and attack it before the day should close. At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 9th he sent a picked body of men under Lieutenant-Colonel Gage to take
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.