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 16
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227
A FALSE ALARM.
1757.]
French officers, whose names were Lasosais and St. Oure.
A few days after Washington's departure six Cherokee Indians, who had been as far West as the Ohio River, returned to the Fort, and stated to Captain Dagworthy, who had arrived and taken command, that they had seen a large force of French and Indians near Fort Duquesne; that they were armed with big guns, and had plenty of wagons and horses, and were marching to attack Fort Cumberland. Captain Dagworthy, who questioned them very closely, was so strongly impressed with their story that he at once sent an express towards Winchester to overtake Washington, and to notify the people throughout the country. Colonel Stanwix, with his regulars and the militia from the forts on the Branch, was at once marched to Fort Cumberland, and every preparation possible made for its defense. Washing- ton had long feared a movement of this kind, and was convinced that it could not be successfully resisted. He said the road from Fort Duquesne to Fort Cumberland was the only one over which it would be possible for the French to bring their artillery, unless they should build a new road, which would involve a great deal of expense and months of labor. To ascertain the exact strength and the intentions of the enemy, he had spies sent out to watch their movements. He wrote: "We have received nothing new from Fort Cumberland since the 16th. The Indians who brought the first news, imagine that some of Spotswood's party are yet watching the enemy. On the contrary, I apprehend
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228
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1757.
they are all cut off ;* for a man who left Fort Cumberland on the 16th says the woods appear to be quite alive with hostile Indians, who show them- selves openly in the day. This is unusual with them unless they are strong." Fortunately the rumor as to the approach of the French was untrue, and none of them made their appearance. But Washington was constantly apprehensive of an attack by the Indians on Fort Loudon, and observed the strictest caution.
At the close of the month of June, Captain Beale, who was commanding at Fort Frederick, endeavored to persuade Colonel Stanwix to order Washington to reinforce Fort Cumberland again. Colonel Stanwix, who was then at Carlisle, was commander-in-chief of the Middle and Southern provinces, at the time, and he concluded to give that matter into Governor Sharpe's hands to act according to his own judgment. Washington said he did not deem it advisable to send any of his troops to Fort Cumberland, as it was not in imminent peril, and as Virginia was under the necessity of looking after her own frontier, which was constantly threatened. Colonel Stanwix wrote to Governor Sharpe as follows:
CAMP NEAR CARLISLE, July 4, 1757.
SIR :
I did imagine that on receipt of an account of our First Alarm being contradicted that you would send home your militia, and I am at the same time glad to hear that you can depend upon the 500 men when any real occasion requires it ; as you apprehend it is for his Majesty's service that an officer & Detachment from the new companies be sent to reinforce Fort Cumberland you will please to order it to be done in such proportion as you who must be the best judge think necessary.
*Captain Spotswood and his party were actually cut off by the Indians and every one of them killed.
229
ADDRESS AS TO FORT CUMBERLAND.
1757.]
A careful inspection of all the provisions in the Fort was made in August, and Mr. Kennedy, in whose charge they had been placed, had all the meats repacked and pickled, for use in the future. A considerable portion of the stores was spoiled, and Colonel Stanwix sent fresh supplies to replace them.
The condition of Fort Cumberland was taken up for consideration in the Maryland Assembly at the session of 1757, and the following address was read in the House of Delegates on the 15th of December:
"Fort Cumberland we are informed, was first begun by some gentle- men of the Ohio Company, as a storehouse of their goods designed for the Ohio Indian trade, and never was garrisoned by troops stationed there by the direction of any law of this province, but commonly by Virginia forces. That fort, we have too much reason to believe, from an extract from your Excellency to the Secretary of State, laid before the lower House in September session, 1756, in which are the following words : " There are no works in this province that deserve the name of fortifica- tions ; just behind, and among our Western settlements, are some small stoccado or pallisadoed forts, built by the inhabitants for the protection of their wives and children; and besides these, there is one larger, though, in my opinion, not much more capable of defense, on Potowmack, about 56 miles beyond our settlements. It has been distinguished by the appellation of Fort Cumberland, and is at present garrisoned by three hundred men from Virginia. It is made with stoccados only, and commanded on almost every side by circumjacent hills ; a considerable quantity of military stores, that was left by Gen. Braddock, still remain there, and two of the carriages that his Majesty was pleased to order to Virginia two years ago, are mounted therein;" is not tenable even against a trifling force, should they come with any cannon ; and therefore humbly submit it, whether it might not be a prudent measure to remove his Majesty's artillery and stores (though indeed the provisions we are told are chiefly spoiled) from thence to a place of security.
" Though Fort Cumberland may be constructed, for anything we know, near a place proper for the stationing a garrison at, for his Majesty's service in general, yet being, as we have been informed, between eighty and ninety miles from the settlements of the Westernmost inhab- itants of this province, and in the truth of that information, are confirmed by your excellency's message of the 11th of this instant, wherein you say 'the distance from fort Frederick to fort Cumberland, by the wagon
230
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1757.
road, is 75 miles, and consequently the carriage of provisions thither very expensive ; we humbly conceive it cannot be reasonably desired, that the people of this province should be burthened with the great expense of garrisoning that fort, which, if it contributes immediately to the security of any of his majesty's frontier subjects, it must be those of Virginia or Pennsylvania, who do not at present contribute anything towards the support of it, that we know of.
" We understand the most common track of the Indians, in making their incursions into Virginia (which have been lately very frequent) is through the wild desert country lying between fort Cumberland and fort Frederick, and yet we cannot learn that the forces at fort Cumberland (though most of these that are in our pay, the summer past, have been stationed there, contrary, we humbly conceive, to the law that raised them) have very rarely, if ever, molested those savages in those their incursions ; from whence we would willingly presume their passage is below the Ranges, which troops stationed at Fort Cumberland, can with safety to that fort, extend themselves to; and consequently, that any security arising from those troops, even to the Virginians who are most in the way of being protected by them, must be very remote, and to us much more so.
" When from the incursions and horrid depredations of the savage enemy in the neighboring colonies, an opinion prevailed, that a force was necessary for the defense and security of the western frontier of this province, it was thought most likely to be conducive to those ends, to have it placed some where near the place fort Frederick is now constructed ; because from thence, the troops that might be judged proper to be kept on foot for the security of the frontier inhabitants might have it in their power to range constantly in such manner as to protect them against small parties ; and in case any considerable body of the enemy should appear, or the fort should be attacked, the troops might at very short warning be assisted by the inhabitants.
"Near the sum of £6,000 has been expended, in purchasing the ground belonging to, and constructing fort Frederick, and though we have not any exact information what sum may still be wanting to com- plete it, (if ever it should be thought proper to be done) yet we are afraid the sum requisite for that purpose, must be considerable ; and we are apprehensive that fort is so large, that in case of attack, it cannot be defended without a number of men larger than the province can support, purely to maintain a fortification."
After his retirement to Mount Vernon, Washington was attacked by a fever which prostrated him, and rendered him unfit for duty during the next four
231
A GRATIFYING CHANGE.
1758.]
months. On the Ist of March, 1758, he resumed his command at Fort Loudon. A great many changes for the better took place in these four months. Governor Dinwiddie turned over the government to Mr. John Blair, President of the council, and sailed for England in January. Mr. Blair had charge of the government then until the arrival of Mr. Francis Fauquier, who had been appointed as Dinwiddie's successor. A still more important change was found in the addition of William Pitt to the British min- istry, he having a fuller comprehension of affairs in America than was displayed by any other members of the cabinet. Pitt determined upon retrieving the misfortunes and disgraces of Braddock's campaign, and at once a combined expedition westward was mapped out, with a view to putting an end to the power of the French on the Ohio. Lord Loudon returned to England, and the command fell upon Major-General Abercrombie. The forces were divided into three bodies; the first, under Major- General Amherst, was to attempt the reduction of Louisburg and Cape Breton, and was to be aided by the fleet under Boscawen; the second under General Abercrombie, was to march against Crown Point; and the third, under General Forbes, was to proceed to Fort Duquesne, and capture it. Many distracting questions were peremptorily disposed of before the troops marched. First, the colonial troops were put upon the same footing as the regulars, except that the colonies were to clothe and feed them; and finally the questions as to rank were settled; the provincial officers of rank no higher than Colonel were to be
232
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1758.
equal in command with those who held royal commissions. Thus Washington found everything, under the new administration, much pleasanter, as well as more encouraging. Virginia augmented its forces to two thousand men, who were divided into two regiments, one of which was placed under Washington (who still retained his position of commander-in-chief of all the Virginia troops), and the other under Colonel Burd. As General Forbes was detained at Philadelphia, Colonel Bouquet* was sent on to Raystown, now Bedford, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, with the advance of the regular troops, where the final preparations for the march upon Fort Duquesne were to be made, and where the troops were to be concentrated while the roads were being opened and prepared.
Meantime the Maryland Assembly, on the 26th of February, had passed an order for the enlistment of four hundred men to range the frontiers, and protect the settlements. The sum of £10,000 was appro- priated to pay for their equipment and support.
The construction of roads to insure easy communi- cation with all necessary points first attracted Colonel Bouquet's attention, in order that there should be no delay in forwarding either supplies or reinforcements. He regarded Fort Cumberland as a post not to be neglected in the perfection of his plans, and wrote as follows to Governor Sharpe:
CONIGOGEGH, 13th of June, 1758.
SIR : As it will be the greatest benefit to his Majesty's Service to have a Road of communication open from each of the Provinces to Fort
*Henry Bouquet was of French descent ; he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the British army in 1756. He was appointed a Brigadier in 1765, and died at Pensacola, Florida, in 1766.
1758.] WASHINGTON'S RETURN TO FORT CUMBERLAND. 233
Cumberland, I am under the necessity of requesting of you to have the straightest Road reconnoitered leading from Fort Frederick to Fort Cumberland. Recommending to those you appoint to mark it out, to report the time that 500 men will take to cut it. Any Expense you may be at shall be paid by Sir John St. Clair, as he will be the nearest to you. Please to send him the Report of it, that if found practicable he may send troops to work at it.
I am with the highest Regard Sir, your most obdt
and most humble serv't
To the Honble Gov. SHARPE.
HENRY BOUQUET.
The Virginia troops were ordered to join Colonel Bouquet's forces, and Washington marched for Fort Cumberland on the 24th of June, arriving here on the 2d of July. The march was made in detach- ments, Washington being with the advance, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen taking six companies direct to Raystown by another route. Upon his arrival at Fort Cumberland, Washington addressed the following letter to Colonel Bouquet :
CAMP NEAR FORT CUMBERLAND, 3 July, 1758. To Colonel Henry Bouquet,
Commanding at Raystown :
SIR: According to orders I marched from Winchester on the 24th ultimo, and arrived at this place yesterday, with five companies of the first Virginia regiment, and a company of artificers from the second, as you may observe by the enclosed returns. My march, in consequence of bad teams, and bad roads, notwithstanding I had sent forward the artifi- cers and a covering party three days before, was much delayed. As I cannot suppose you intended to send any part of my men upon the roads, till joined at this place by Colonel Byrd, I shall decline sending any on that service till he arrives, which I presume will be to morrow.
There came twenty-eight wagons with me to this place, and I believe, if they were wanted, ten more might be had upon the South Branch, strong and good, but carrying horses are certainly more eligible for the service to which they are destined. I have received a very scanty allow- ance of tents for the five companies, namely, sixty-nine only. Out of these most of the officers must either be supplied or lie uncovered. They will readily pay for what they receive if required. No bell tents were sent to us.
30
234
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1758.
My men are bare of regimental clothing, and I have no prospect of a supply. So far from regretting this want during the present campaign, if I were left to pursue my own inclinations, I would not only order the men to adopt the Indian dress, but cause the officers to do it also, and be the first to set the example myself. Nothing but the uncertainty of obtaining the general approbation causes me to hesitate a moment to leave my regimentals at this place, and proceed as light as any Indian in the woods. It is an unbecoming dress, I own, for an officer ; but conve- nience, rather than show, I think, should be consulted. The reduction of bat-horses alone would be sufficient to recommend it, for nothing is more certain than that less baggage would be required, and the public benefitted in proportion.
It appears that within a short time after writing the above letter Washington actually did put his men in Indian dress, as the fact is referred to in a letter written him by Colonel Bouquet, from Rays- town, in July, in which he commends the costume, and declares it should be a pattern for the dress of the soldiers in the expedition then going on.
Several hundred Indians had joined Washington, . and many of them were with him still, at Fort Cumberland. These proved useful on frequent occa- sions. The construction of a passable road between the fort at Raystown and Fort Cumberland was absolutely necessary, and had been commenced, but numerous parties of hostile Indians being about the forts, as well as along the line of the road, rendered the work exceedingly dangerous. The couriers going forth and back were constantly fired upon, and a wagoner was shot down one day within five hundred yards of Will's Creek, and in sight of the fort. Washington sent out several parties of Cherokees to attack these prowling bands, but Colonel Bouquet rather checked their efficiency by ordering that an officer and several soldiers should accompany the
235
A LETTER FROM THE FORT.
1758.]
Indians. The largest party sent out consisted of eighteen Cherokees, and they succeeded in driving off the enemy.
On the 6th of July Robert Munford wrote the following letter, from Fort Cumberland, to his uncle, Colonel Theodoric Bland, of Prince George's County : Hond Sir,
Had opportunities offered, as frequently as Inclination would have induced me to write to you, you might have read a Letter from every encampment. After being delayed at Winchester, five or six weeks longer than Expected (in which Time I was ordered Express to Williams- burgh & allowed but a day after my return to prepare) we pushed off into the wide Ocean. I was permitted to walk every step of the Way to this humble Fort, to eat little, to lay hard, over Mountain, thro' Mud and Water, yet as merry & hearty as ever. Our Flankers & Sentrys pretend they saw the Enemy daily, but they never approached us. A De- tachment is ordered off this moment to clear a Road thirty miles, and our Companies to cover the Working Party. We are in fine scalping ground I assure you, the guns pop about us, & you may see the fellows prick up their Ears like a Deer every moment. Our Colonel* is an Example of Fortitude, in either Danger or Hardship, and by his easy, polite Behaviour, has gained not only the Regard but affection, of both officers and soldiers. He has kindly invited me to his Table, for the Campaign, offered me any sum of money, I may have occasion for, without charging either Principal or Interest, and signified his appro- bation of my conduct hitherto, in such a manner, as is to my advantage. In passing my recruiting Acct : I was allowed 18f pr : man, you may judge how much I was Looser when several. officers had 40s. Col. Charles Carter, junr, has a horse of mine in keeping 'till my Return : where he may remain if you think proper. The Batt : money and Forage money allow'd me amounts to £66. In everything possible, I shall be upon the frugal scheme. You may depend upon hearing by all opportu- nities from Dr Sir, yr truly Affect: & ever obliged nephew ROBT. MUNFORD.
Camp near Fort Cumberland, July 6th, 1758. To MRS. BLAND : Hond Madam :
Tho' I've hardly a moment at my own Disposal, I can't omit sending
*This refers to Colonel Wm. Burd, of the 2d Virginia Regiment and not to Washington, as stated in a foot note to the Bland Papers.
236
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1758.
a few words to my dear aunt, Employed from Sun to Sun, yet from Light to Night, I am mindful of my dear distant Friends. That you and yours may enjoy Every Blessing that Heaven can bestow, is the tribute of a Heart sincerely yrs ROBT. MUNFORD.
P. S. My love to the Lasses.
To COL THEO BLAND, in Prince George.
About this time Colonel Bouquet proposed an expedition, with a force of regulars, into the enemy's country, but Washington opposed the movement, as he said it could only be made with a cumbersome train of supplies, and must prove futile. He wanted to move at the earliest possible moment, with a force large enough to take Fort Duquesne, and thus by a brilliant stroke close the campaign. He wrote another letter then, as follows, to Colonel Bouquet:
CAMP NEAR FORT CUMBERLAND, 19 July, 1758.
SIR :
Your obliging favor of this date I just now had the pleasure of receiving. You flatter me much by coinciding with me in opinion relative to the proposed expedition.
Captain Dagworthy returned hither yesterday in consequence of orders from Sir John St. Clair, forwarded by the commanding officer at Fort Frederick. I will send out a party on Braddock's Road which I shall be able to reinforce when Col. Mercer returns .*
I am exceedingly obliged by the handsome and polite manner in which you are pleased to give me leave to attend the election at Win- chester. Although my being there under any other circumstances would be very agreeable to me, yet I can hardly persuade myself to think of being absent from my more immediate duty, even for a few days. I will not, however, come to any absolute determination till I receive answers to some letters on that subject, which I expect this night or to-morrow.t
Just before going to Fort Cumberland, Washington had met, courted, and become engaged to Mrs.
*Colonel Mercer was then engaged in making the road between Fort Cumberland and Rays- town.
+Washington having resolved to quit the army at the close of this campaign, had proposed himself as a candidate for the House of Burgesses, and his friends wanted him to be present at the election, as he had three active competitors, who were at work in person to defeat him. He, however, declined to attend, and remained at Fort Cumberland, where he shortly after- wards received intelligence of his election by a handsome majority. A Virginia election in those days was rather peculiar in some respects, and the participators must have had a "good old time," as Washington was called on to foot a bill of £39 s6. Items : a hogshead and a barrel ef punch ; 35 gallons of wine, 43 gallons strong beer and cider, and dinner for his friends.
237
ANOTHER ROAD TO THE OHIO.
1758.]
Martha Custis, a charming young widow, and he wrote from this place a volume of ardent love letters to that lady. These, however, have not been made public, and the curiosity of the world as to this love affair must remain ungratified so far as this corres- pondence is concerned.
On the 21st a letter from Washington to Colonel Bouquet apprised him that Colonel Burd was in want of a supply of vermillion for the Indians, who needed it in putting on the war paint, and preparing for battle. He says:
" The bridge is finished at this place,* and to morrow Major Peachey, with three hundred men, will proceed to open Gen. Braddock's road. I shall direct them to go to George's Creek, ten miles in advance. By that time I may possibly hear from you. If they go farther it may be requisite to reinforce the party. But this matter, I suppose, will be ordered according to the route determined on by the General, for it will be needless to open a road, of which no use will be made afterwards.
"Colonel Stephen gives me some room to apprehend that a body of light troops may soon move on. I pray your interest most sincerely with the General to get my regiment and myself included in the num- ber. If any argument is needed to obtain this favor, I hope without vanity I may be allowed to say, that, from long intimacy with these woods, and frequent scouting in them, my men are at least as well acquainted with all the passes and difficulties as any troops that will be employed."
Washington had supposed that the advance upon Fort Duquesne would be made over the old road which Braddock had used. He was greatly surprised, therefore, to learn that Colonel Bouquet had declared his intention of constructing a new road from Rays- town to the Ohio River, and marching a part of his force by that route, the other part to take Braddock's
*Nowhere has any record been found as to the location of this bridge. Braddock's men had prepared the timbers for a bridge, over Wills' Creek, in 1755, but there is no history of its erection. The probability is that it was found necescary to put up a bridge for use during the spring and fall freshets, as at such times the creek was too much swollen to permit of wagons passing the ford.
238
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1758.
Road, and the two bodies to unite on the Mononga- hela. The accounts which Braddock had given of his road, in his dispatches, were of such a character as to lead the commander of the present expedition to believe the road well nigh impassable, and Bouquet's project of a new road through Pennsylvania was encouraged by interested parties in that State, who assured him it could be easily built, and that the grades would be light. Washington strongly opposed the idea; he assured Colonel Bouquet that it would cost the army a fatal loss of time, and result in a barren victory, at best, in the end. He wrote as follows to Colonel Bouquet:
CAMP NEAR FORT CUMBERLAND, 25 July, 1758. DEAR SIR :
I do not incline to propose anything that may seem officious, but would it not facilitate the operations of the campaign, if the Virginia troops were ordered to proceed as far as the Great Crossing, and con- struct forts at the most advantageous situations as they advance, opening the road at the same time ? In such a case I should be glad to be joined by that part of my regiment at Raystown. Major Peachy, who commands the working party on Braddock's road, writes me that he finds few repairs wanting. To-night I shall order him to proceed as far as Savage River, and then return, as his party is too weak to adventure further.
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