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 11
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156
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
possession of the fords and secure the further shore of the second ford, so that no delay might ensue when the main body and the train should arrive. An hour later the Quatermaster-General took a party of men forward to make the necessary roads, while some four hundred of the troops were stationed on the hills near by, to protect the flanks. At 6 o'clock the main body moved, under the direct command of Braddock, who remained at the first ford until the crossing had been made. The General intended to take Fort Duquesne on this day, and in the taking of it he was disposed to make the victory both brilliant and imposing, with
" The spirit stirring drum, the ear piercing fife, The royal banner ; and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war."
When the columns were put in motion on this event- ful day the men were clad in their scarlet uniforms, and brilliantly equipped as if for dress parade; every article of apparel was in perfect condition; their burnished arms glistened in the sunlight, while the royal colors floated in the breeze; and as the perfectly formed ranks moved forward to the inspiring strains of the drum and fife, every soldier seemed to have lost the remembrance of his toil and privation; the bracing atmosphere of the early morning in the mountains; the shadowy groves along the banks of the tranquil river, in all their beauty; and the prospect of meeting the enemy, raised the spirits of the entire command. The eyes of the veterans sparkled, and they marched with buoyant step, over a soil that was soon, alas, to be consecrated with
157
ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
1755.]
their blood, and to be rendered forever memorable by an almost unparallelled sacrifice of brave spirits to bigoted incompetency.
The advance guard drove a number of Indians from cover early in the day, and others could be seen at intervals, on the hills near by, watching the army's movements. With a view to impress them with his great strength, Braddock, after crossing the first ford, and getting on a piece of bottom land almost clear of timber, put the troops through the various regimental manœuvres, in all of which they moved with the utmost coolness and precision, presenting such a sight as to command the highest degree of admiration and enthusiasm on the part of Washington, who gave expression to his delight in extravagant terms.
About noon the men were allowed to take their dinners, before crossing the second ford; and after crossing they were halted near the old site of Frazier's House, close by Turtle Creek, where the order of march was arranged. In the advance were placed the guides, with the engineers and six light horse- men, Lieutenant-Colonel Gage with his command immediately following; then came Sir John St. Clair, with two 6-pounder guns and the wagons and men of the working party. . The main body of the army, under command of Braddock, followed; the artillery and baggage in his rear, protected by infantry and cavalry on the flanks. The provincial troops formed the rear guard, and aided also in protecting the flanks.
The river at the point of crossing was quite shallow, and was easily fordable at any point for
158
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
more than half a mile below Turtle Creek; the banks were gently sloping, but required some cutting to enable the artillery and trains to descend and ascend without difficulty. The elevation of the banks was about twenty feet, and when the troops halted after crossing they were in the shade of a grove of walnut trees, which covered the rich bottom land stretching back from the river a distance of a quarter of a mile, the ground being free of undergrowth. Farther back the surface was gradually elevated, until it reached the base of a line of hills, with steep sides and heavily wooded. To avoid the soft and spongy ground along the river the British marched towards the hills, gaining the higher plateau at their base, and then turned to skirt them on their course down the river. The undergrowth of thickets and brambles was quite thick, and concealed entirely several ravines which stretched down to the river from the hill sides, the soft earth having been washed out by the waters of numerous springs, leaving almost perpendicular banks. These ravines were as perfectly adapted to the wants and purposes of the French as though prepared for the especial emergency which had now arisen. They were naturally formed rifle pits, so completely masked by foliage as to leave no suspicion of their existence. On the right of the unsuspecting army lay one of those ravines, broad and deep, grown full of heavy trees, and reaching to the very heart of the forest on the hill sides. As to the other, about two hundred yards from the ravine just mentioned, it commences right in the middle of the plain, or upper plateau, near the base of the hills,
159
1755.] BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA.
"a most singular ditch, with a depth and breadth of a few feet at its head, but increasing 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 wild Indian plum. Even to this day it can scarcely be perceived, or, at least, its full capacity cannot be appreciated, until one is right upon it, and then in it. It is a most peculiar ditch, and could not be better adapted, either for attack or defense, were engineers to devise and fashion it. It could easily conceal a thousand men." Between these ravines was a forest of trees, and bushes, and here the troops marched in a road newly cut, and barely twelve feet wide, their line of march being diagonal with the ravines, and within easy range of the enemy therein concealed.
The army was marching with its advance almost at the head of one of these ravines, with the least conceivable caution, when suddenly the whole com- mand was startled by a volley of rifle shots in front, and a terriffic yell, which announced the presence of a large body of savages. Lientenant-Colonel Burton hurried forward with eight hundred men to support Gage, leaving the baggage under Halket's care at the river. The woods seemed to be full of French and Indians, as they kept up a heavy fire of musketry, and made the air ring with their demon-like shouts; yet not one of them could be seen. They lay along the ravines, completely concealed from view, deliber- ately selecting their victims and shooting them down. Burton's troops formed in line of battle, ready to move forward and meet the enemy from the
160
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
undergrowth, when, unfortunately, Gage's men became panic-stricken, and retreated in the utmost confusion immediately upon Burton's command, breaking his lines and imparting some of their own demoralization to their freshly arrived comrades. The two regiments became inextricably mixed, the men lost their heads, and huddled together in the narrow road, utterly heedless of the commands of their officers. Braddock became terribly enraged and charged amongst the paralyzed soldiers with his horse, striking right and left, and endeavoring to get them into position. The provincial troops took to trees and opened fire upon the enemy, doing good service, and Washington urged Braddock to order the regulars to do the same, but he refused, and persisted in his endeavors to get his men formed in line. The colors of the two regiments were fixed as rallying points, and the men summoned to fall into line, but it was in vain. The officers then undertook to form them in platoons, but the terrible war whoops of the Indians and the hail of balls from foes they could not see had sent dismay to the hearts of the terrified men, and they were really worse than useless. Braddock cursed them bitterly; he cut down several soldiers whom he saw sheltering them- selves behind the trees, and others he struck with the flat of his sword. The officers labored with the utmost zeal to bring their men to some degree of reason, and to charge the enemy; they even dismounted from their horses, formed platoons and advanced in line, hoping by their example to encourage the soldiers to follow. Despite every
161
BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA.
1755.]
effort, confusion reigned supreme; the troops were, as before remarked, worse than useless, since they not only made no assaults upon the enemy, but added horror to the havoc by firing upon their own friends and shooting down the only men who were doing any service on the British side. Seeing the hopelessness of the situation, unless some decisive stroke could be quickly delivered, Captain Waggoner, who had command of the provincial troops of Virginia, determined to get, with his men, on the flank of the enemy, and drive him out. Some fallen timber on the brow of the hill was pointed out by him to Scarooyadi, and they with eighty men made their way to it, where they took shelter, and poured a galling fire into the painted imps along the ravine, causing them to beat a hasty retreat to better shelter. Waggoner's men with a shout started to follow up their advantage, when the demoralized mob behind them, made the final blunder by firing point blank into their ranks, killing two thirds of their number. Those that remained uninjured turned and fled for their lives, disgusted and distressed.
Braddock had already had five horses killed under him, and, utterly regardless of danger, was every- where, urging his men forward; Washington had had his clothing pierced, but had escaped injury; Captains Orme and Morris had both been wounded; Sir Peter Halket and his son shot dead, and nearly all the officers as well as hundreds of the men sacrificed. The French and Indians, seeing the confusion and dismay of the British, and witnessing the destruction of Waggoner's party, became more and more 21
162
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
emboldened. The savages frequently rushed from cover to scalp an officer or gather a trophy, and gradually they succeeded in almost surrounding the army. Between four and five o'clock, while Braddock was delivering an order, he was struck by a bullet, which passed through his right arm into his lungs. He fell from his horse to the ground, and lay there mortally wounded; defeated and abandoned, so far as his veteran soldiers were concerned. Captain Orme, himself wounded, begged some of the men to carry the General off the field, and offered them his purse containing sixty guineas as a reward; but not a man Captain would stay for love, respect or gold.
Stewart, of the Virginia troops, with another American officer and Braddock's servant, carried the fallen commander from the field in his silken sash, which they took from about his waist. When Braddock's fall became known, the panic-stricken soldiers threw down their arms and ammunition, and fled with the utmost precipitation. The teamsters and artillery men cut their horses loose, and mounting them rode off at full speed. Everything was abandoned, and the retreat became a thoroughly disgraceful rout, while the Indians added to the terror of the frightened wretches by rushing after them with the wildest yells, and occasionally tomahawking and scalping one of their number, before they reached the river. After crossing this stream, they continued their flight for more than a quarter of a mile. Here, the General, with several other wounded officers, halted, and they succeeded in getting about one hundred men to take a position near the road,
163
THE RETREAT.
1755.]
with a view to holding the place, until reinforcements should arrive from Dunbar. In less than an hour, however, the soldiers ran away, and the wounded officers, with a few faithful friends who remained with them, continued their retreat. The General sent Washington back to Colonel Dunbar, with instructions to send forward wagons for the wounded, and a supply of provisions and hospital stores, under the guard of the youngest two Grenadier companies, to meet him at Gist's plantation, or nearer if possible. Colonel Gage then joined Braddock with some eighty men, and continued with him. Braddock was so badly wounded that he could not sit his horse, and had to be carried in his sash, by soldiers. Dr. Craik dressed his wounds, but the old soldier seemed to think little of his bodily sufferings; he expressed his desire to die and be buried on the site of the great misfortune of his life; he was deeply distressed, and could scarcely comprehend the calamity which had so unexpectedly overtaken him in the hour in which he had looked for a brilliant victory, which was to be the crowning triumph of his military career and give him posthumous fame.
Few instances are recorded where so merciless a slaughter was accomplished upon a foe so largely outnumbering its assailants, Such scenes of carnage are fortunately not of frequent occurrence. Eighty nine commissioned officers went into the battle of the Monongahela; and of these twenty-six were killed and thirty-seven wounded; four hundred and thirty soldiers were slain outright, and three hundred and eighty-five wounded.
164
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
The following is a list of the officers who were present, and of those who were killed and wounded in this disastrous engagement, as reported in the Gentlemen's Magazine, in August, 1755:
STAFF.
Officers' Names.
Rank.
.Killed or Wounded.
Edward Braddock, Esq.
Gen'l and com. in chief
Robert Orme, Esq.,
Roger Morris, Esq.,
Aids de Camp.
George Washington, Esq.
William Shirley Esq.
Secretary.
Sir John St. Clair.
Dep'y Quar. Mas'r Gn'll.
Matthew Leslie, Gent ...
Gen'l Assist. do. Major Brigade.
FORTY-FOURTH REGIMENT .*
Officers' Names.
Rank.
Killed or Wounded.
Sir Peter Halkett.
Colonel.
Killed.
Gage, Esq.
Lieut. Colonel.
Wounded. Killed.
Tatton, ..
Captain.
Hobson.
Beckworth
Githius.
Killed.
Falconer
Lieutenant.
Sittler
. Wounded.
Bailey.
=
Dunbar
Wounded.
Pottenger
Halkett.
Killed.
Treby
Wounded.
Allen
Died of wounds.
Simpson
Wounded. Wounded.
Lock
"
Disney
Ensign
Kennedy.
Townsend.
Killed.
Preston
Clarke.
Nortlow.
Killed.
Pennington
*This list is inaccurate in some slight particulars, and was probably made up from memory.
"
Killed. Wounded.
Francis Halkett, Esq ....
Mortally wounded. Wounded.
1755.]
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
165
FORTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Officers' Names.
Rank.
Killed or Wounded.
Burton, Esq.
Lieut. Colonel.
Slightly wounded.
Sparks, Esq.
Major.
Dobson, Esq.
Captain.
Cholmondeley
Bowyer, Esq
Ross, Esq.
Lieutenant.
Walsham, Esq.
Crymble, Esq.
Widman, Esq ..
Hansard, Esq.
6
Wounded.
Hotham, Esq.
Edmonstone, Esq
Wounded.
Cope, Esq.
Brereton, Esq.
Killed.
Stuart, Esq.
Montresore.
Wounded.
Dunbar.
Harrison
Colebatt
Macmullen
Wounded.
Crowe.
=
Stirling
VIRGINIA OFFICERS.
Stevens
Captain.
Wounded.
Waggoner
=
Killed.
Peyronie
Stewart.
Hamilton.
Lieutenant.
Killed.
Woodward
Wright.
Killed.
Spiltdorph
Stewart.
=
Wounded. Killed.
Waggener
M'Neill.
*This was Henry Gladwin, who won many laurels afterwards, and became Deputy-Adjutant General in America.
Killed. Wounded.
Barbutt, Esq.
Killed.
Gladwin, Esq*
Ensign.
Polson
166
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
*INDEPENDENTS.
Officers' Names.
Rank.
Killed or Wounded.
Gates
Captain. Lieutenant.
Wounded.
Sumain.
Killed.
Miller
66
Haworth
66
Wounded.
Grey.
66
66
ARTILLERY.
Orde.
Captain,
Smith.
Buchanan
Capt. Lieut. Lieutenant. 60
Killed. Wounded.
M'Cloud.
66
McCuller.
ENGINEERS.
McKeller, Esq.
Major.
Wounded.
Gordon, Esq.
Captain.
Williamson, Esq
Capt. Lieutenant.
:
NAVAL OFFICERS.
Spendelowe.
Lieutenant.
Killed.
Haynes.
Midshipman.
Talbot.
Killed.
VOLUNTEERS.
Stone.
Captain,
Killed.
Hayer
Wounded.
Dunbar was still forty miles to the rear, having been so slow in his movements that he was therefor christened "Dunbar the Tardy." Had he been present at the battle, however, matters would have been worse, rather than better, since an accumulation of numbers would have proven of no avail where the
*Amongst the names entirely omitted in the lists here given is that of Gen. Evan Shelby, who was then a Captain of Rangers, and was especially knowu for his keen intellect, great courage, and iron constitution. He was a Welshman by birth, but came to Maryland when a small lad. After Braddock's defeat he remained in command of his rangers, and when Boquet's expedi- tion was organized, he joined it, and under Forbes distinguished himself by his valor and energy. He was the father of Isaac shelby, a gallant officer who won distinction in the Revolu- tionary war.
Drs. Hugh Mercer and James Craik, surgeons of the Virginia troops, were on the field, and the former was seriously wounded, When he fell. the troops were in full flight, and finding that he was unable to join in the retreat, he concealed himself behind a fallen tree, where the undergrowth was heavy, and there he lay until sunset, viewing the wild scene of pillage and bloody outrage that followed. He witnessed the slaughter of the wounded and the scalping of the dead. After nightfall he left his hiding place, and. taking the stars for his compass, slowly and painfully made his way back towards Fort Cumberland, which post he reached some six days later, half-starved, sick, and in inuch pain. Two years later, while serving as a Captain in Colonel Jolin Armstrong's expedition against the Indians at Kittanning, he was again wounded, and a second time made his way alone through the woods to Fort Cumberland. In 1777 Dr. Mercer was made a field officer in the Revolutionary army, and gave up his life at Princeton.
167
AFTER THE BATTLE.
1755.]
enemy could not be seen, and where the troops were demoralized by fear. His command would only have furnished more material for the murderous savages. "Nathaniel Gist, son of Christopher, with 'Gist's Indian,' were dispatched from the battle-field to Fort Cumberland, with tidings of the overthrow, but with instructions to avoid passing by, or disturbing the repose of Dunbar. They traveled a-foot, and through unfrequented paths, to avoid the Indians. While snatching some repose during the darkness of the first night of their journey, in a thicket of bushes and grape vine on Cove Run, within view of the camp fires of Dunbar, they mistook the noise of the move- ment of some bird or beast for Indians, and run with the heedlessness of alarm. They thus became separated. But each wended his way cautiously and alone. When nearing their destination, upon emerging from the bushes into the open road Gist saw a few rods ahead, his long lost Indian, who had also just taken the highway! Like two soothsayers, they had to laugh at each other for their causeless alarm and separation."*
Washington, though greatly fatigued by the events and exertions of the dreadful day through which he had just passed, and still weak from his sickness, hurried off to the rear to meet Dunbar, and deliver the orders heretofore referred to. He was accompanied by two orderlies, and the night was so dark that often they were compelled to dismount and search for the road. The entire night was spent
*This story was given the author of the papers entitled "The Monongahela of Old," by Henry Beeson, the founder of Uniontown, Pa,, who had it from the lips of Gist himself.
168
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
in the saddle, but at sunrise they reached Dunbar's camp. The distracted teamsters had arrived there ahead of Washington, and had spread dismay amongst Dunbar's troops by reporting that Braddock was killed, the army destroyed, and the Indians pur- suing the few who were left. The effect of such intelligence upon the camp was instantaneous, and it was only by the most stringent orders and threats of instant death to any man who should leave the ranks, that the soldiers were kept from an imme- diate stampede.
Washington returned to Gist's plantation the next day, taking with him the necessary supplies, and there met the wounded officers and their escort. They reached Dunbar's camp that night, where they remained two nights and one day. The wounded officers and men were then placed in the wagons, and as there were left no means by which to carry the store of provisions and ammunition, all these were destroyed by Braddock's order. The artillery had been left on the field of battle; and the military chest containing £25,000 in coin, as well as the General's desk and papers, were all lost. What remained to them now was nothing more than was necessary for the supply of their actual wants until they should reach Fort Cumberland. On the 13th they marched to the Great Meadows. During the entire day the dying General was in the greatest distress. His wounds caused him the most intense pain, yet of these he took little account. His spirit was broken, his pride humiliated, and his mind depressed by the disgrace of his terrible defeat. He
.
169
DEATH OF BRADDOCK.
1755.]
seldom spoke, and when he did it was only to give such orders as were necessary, or to briefly express his disappointment and regret. "Who would have thought it! Who would have thought it!" he re- peated. As the sun set on this quiet Sunday evening, it became apparent that the brave old veteran was about to close his eyes upon the earth, and his faithful friends stood around his couch, with sad hearts. He turned to Captain Orme, and in a thoughtful way, said, "We shall better know how to deal with them another time." A little later, his eyes closed, and the spirit of Braddock was with the Master. His life went out amidst the sombre shades of the forest, near the scene of Washington's reverse, the previous year, and his body was buried in silence and sorrow, at day-break next morning, the grave being made in the road, and the wagons being driven over it, that it might not be discovered and disturbed by the enemy. The services for the dead were read by Washington, the Chaplain having been wounded, and Washington being the only staff officer remaining fit for any duty whatever.
Various statements have been made regarding the destruction of stores at Dunbar's camp, and several writers have asserted that artillery, ammunition and money were buried near the camp, in consequence of which many searches have been made there for such articles. These rumors probably originated in a letter written by Colonel Burd to Governor Morris, dated at Fort Cumberland, July 25, 1755, in which the Colonel relates that Dunbar told him, in a con- versation at dinner, that he had destroyed all his 22
170
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
provisions except what he could carry as subsistence, as well as all the powder he had with him, nearly 50,000 pounds, but that his mortars and shells he had buried. Dunbar was evidently misunderstood in this matter, as he afterwards, on the 25th of August, wrote to Governor Shirley: "We must beg leave to undeceive you in what you are pleased to mention of "guns being buried" at the time General Braddock ordered the stores to be destroyed; for there was not a gun of any kind buried." Colonel Burd, in 1759, while on his way to make the road to Redstone, searched for the guns he supposed to be buried, and dug a great many holes, but found nothing.
Many relics have been gathered, however, by the persons living in the vicinity of the camp, and some of them have now in their possession, cannon balls, bullets, shells, &c. Amongst other articles are fragments of 9-inch shells, showing the size of the mortars used, and masses of lead formed by bullets melted and run together, the surface being roughened by the protuberance of the small leaden balls only half melted.
The part played by the French in the defeat of Braddock has been variously given, but there seems to be a lack of accuracy in most accounts. A recent volume of the "Historical Collections of Wisconsin" contains the Memoirs of Charles de Langlade, written by Joseph Tasse, Esq., of Ottawa, Canada, and trans- lated from the French by Mrs. Sarah Fairchild Dean. The history of the action of Langlade in the battle of the Monongahela, was gathered by Mr. Lyman C.
171 .
THE FRENCH AGAINST BRADDOCK.
1755.]
Draper, Corresponding Secretary of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, from the lips of Captain Augustin Grignon, who had obtained the statement from Langlade himself, and the truth and accuracy of the statements have been abundantly verified. The Langlade family came originally from France, in 1668. Charles was born at Mackinaw in 1729, and spent the days of his youth amongst the Ottawa Indians, who came to regard him as under the pro- tection of some powerful Manitou, in consequence of which he early gained a great influence over them, leading them in their wars with other tribes.
"While Charles de Langlade thus exhibited his courage in the obscure combats of tribe against tribe, events in Canada were becoming complicated, and threatened to take a serions turn. Grave difficulties had arisen between France and England in Acadia, and the valley of the Ohio, on the subject of the frontier boundaries; and although peace still existed, there had already been some bloody encounters in the wilderness, and it was evident that on either side the first occasion would be seized to come to blows. Thus, the killing of a French officer, M. de Jumonville, sent as an envoy to Washington, at the head of thirty soldiers, for the purpose of summoning the English to evacuate entrenchments raised by them near the Ohio, was the signal for that long and terrible seven years' war which kindted the fires of two Continents, and led to consequences so disastrous to France.
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