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 5
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"The 29th .- Dispatched Ensign Latour to the Half-King, with about twenty-five men, and almost as many horses; and as I expected some French parties would continually follow that which we had defeated, I sent an express to Colonel Fry, for a reinforcement.
" After this the French prisoners desired to speak with me, and asked me in what manner I looked upon them, whether as the attendants of an Embas- sador, or as prisoners of war; I answered them that it was in quality of the latter, and gave them my reasons for it, as above.
*From the pains which Washington has taken to justify this attack, on the pages of his journal, it must be concluded that he anticipated a severe criticism of his action when the facts should become known in England and France, He doubtless felt that there was at least a possibility that de Jumonville was on an errand which did not anticipate bloodshed, and that the French would do all in their power to convince the world that his death was an "assassination," and had been effected through the positive orders of the British ministry to the effect that Washington's command should attack the French wherever they were found, notwithstanding there had been no declaration of war. The candid reader of the history of this affair can hardly resist the conclusion that the French have the best of the argument, and that the death of de Jumonville and nine of his followers, was an unfortunate blunder.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1754.
"The 30th .- Detached Lieutenant West, and Mr. Spindorph, to take the prisoners to Winchester, with a guard of twenty men. Began to raise a fort with small pallisadoes, fearing that when the French should hear the news of that defeat, we might be attacked by considerable forces.
"June the 1st .- Arrived here an Indian trader with the Half-King; they said that when M. de Jumonville was sent here, another party had been detached towards the lower part of the river, in order to take and kill all the English they should meet .* "We are finishing our fort.
"Towards night arrived Ensign Towers, with the Half-King, Queen Alquipat and about twenty-five or thirty families, making in all about eighty or one hundred persons, including women and children. The old King being invited to come into our tents, told me that he had sent Monakatoocha to Log's town, with wampum and four French scalps, which were to be sent to the Six Nations, Wiandots, &c., to inform them that they had fallen upon the French and to demand their assistance. He also told me that he had something to say to the council, but would stay till the arrival of the Shawanese, whom we expected next morning.
"The 2d .- Arrived two or three of the families of the Shawanese; we had prayers in the fort.
"The 3d .- The Half-King assembled the council, and informed me that he had received a speech from Grand- Chaudiere, in answer to the one he had sent him.
*This was undoubtedly a falsehood on the part of the traders.
¡An Indian squaw, whom the English had given the title of " Queen."
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WASHINGTON'S JOURNAL.
1754.]
"The 5th .- Arrived an Indian from the Ohio, who had lately been at the French fort; this Indian confirms the news of two traders being taken by the French, and sent to Canada; he saith they have set up their pallisadoes, and enclosed their fort with exceeding large trees.
"There are eight Indian traders on this side the river, coming to join us. He met a French man who had made his escape in the time of M. de Jumonville's action; he was without either shoes or stockings, and scarce able to walk; however, he let him pass, not knowing we had fallen upon them.
"The 6th .- Mr. Gist is returned, and acquaints me of the safe arrival of the prisoners at Winchester, and of the death of poor Colonel Fry .*
"It gave the Governor great satisfaction to see the French prisoners safely arrived at Winchester.
"I am also informed that M. Montourt is coming with a commission to command two hundred Indians. "Mr. Gist met a French deserter, who assured him that they were only five hundred men when they took Mr. Wart's fort, that they were now less, having sent fifteen men to Canada, to acquaint the
*Colonel Joshua Fry wasthe officer in command of the entire expedition, and was on his way to join Washington with a force of about one hundred and fifty men. While on the road to Will's Creek his horse stumbled and threw him to the ground with great force, whereby he sustained fatal injuries. The wounded officer was conveyed as tenderly as possible to Will's Creek, where he was made as comfortable as his condition would permit. Dr. James Craik, the surgeon of the regiment, a Seotehman by birth, was with him, and attended him faithfully, but all to no purpose, and on the 31st of May, only a few days after the accident, Colonel Fry died, and his remains were buried on the side of the hill. In the dispute as to the boundary line between Maryland and Virginia, in 1745, he was appointed one of the commissioners on the part of the crown to fix the lines, his associates being Colonel Lunsford Lomax and Major Peter Hedgeman. The death of Colonel Fry left Washington in full command, and the force at Will's Creek marched forward to Great Meadows at once.
¡Montour was a Frenchman who had deserted and joined the English.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1754.
Governor of their success; that there were yet two hundred soldiers who only waited for a favorable opportunity to come and join us.
"The 9th .- Arrived the last body of the Virginia Regiment, under the command of Colonel Must,* and we learnt that the independent company of Carolina was arrived at Will's Creek.
"The 10th .- I received the regiment, and at night had notice that some French were advancing towards us; whereupon I sent a party of Indians upon the scout towards Gist's, in order to discover them, and to know their number. Just before night we had an alarm, but it proved false."
The journal recites that on the 12th nine deserters came in and stated that one hundred more were desirous of coming; that Fort Duquesne was completed and supplied with eight small cannon; also that the Delawares and Shawanese had taken up the hatchet against the English. Washington then sent messen- gers and wampum to these two Nations asking them to come to a council at Mr. Gist's, hoping to win them over. From the 13th to the 18th nothing of interest is recorded. On the latter date a party of eight Mingoes came into camp, and said they had a commission, and wanted a council at once. The Half-King was sent for, and a council was held, there being present some forty Indians of the Six Nations, Loups and Shawanese. This council lasted several days, and the Indians after great professions of friendship took their departure. Washington then
*This should be Muse, that officer having taken charge of the troops at Will's Creek, on the death of Colonel Fry, on the 31st of May, and brought them to Washington.
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FORT NECESSITY.
1754.]
pursued his way to the mouth of Redstone, where he expected to be joined by Monacatootha, and a number of other Indian warriors.
Washington had already made the fort at Great Meadows as strong as circumstances would allow, and because of the exigencies of his fortunes and the scantiness of his supplies, he called it "Fort Necessity." His force had now been increased to about four hundred men, by the arrival of Captain Mackaye's company of independent South Carolinians; but Captain Mackaye held a King's commission, and he seemed likely to do about as much harm as good, since he claimed that his royal commission gave him rank above that of any and every provincial officer, and would not acknowledge Washington's authority. While this position was maintained by the Captain he was courteously friendly with Washington, who had referred the matter to Governor Dinwiddie, after which he had marched for Redstone Creek, leaving Captain Mackaye, with his company, in command of Fort Necessity. Before reaching Redstone, however, and while near Gist's, it was learned that the French had received reinforcements at Fort Duquesne, and that they purposed to send out a heavy force at once to attack the English.
On receiving this intelligence, Washington sent back for Captain Mackaye, who at once joined him. A council of war was held, and a retreat was determined upon. The weather was sultry and oppressive, the roads were rugged and broken, the men were worn and hungry, the horses broken down and jaded; yet, despite all, the march to the rear 10
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1754.
was begun, and, while the Carolinians refused to perform any labor, Washington's forces dragged the artillery and wagons, and bore heavy loads of baggage on their shoulders, toiling on laboriously day after day, until on the Ist of July they arrived at Fort Necessity. It had not been contemplated that a halt should be made here, but, the Virginians declared they would drag the artillery and carry the baggage no further. Washington was compelled to do the best he could, therefore, and he at once set about making the fort still more capable of defense. He found but few provisions there, and fully believing that more troops were at Will's Creek, he sent several expresses back to that point, with instructions that all soldiers there should at once join him, and that a full supply of provisions should be hurried forward to him at once.
The retreat from Gist's was not made any too soon, for a short time after Captain de Villiers, a brother- in-law of de Jumonville, burning to revenge the death of that officer, had come up, with at least five hundred French from Fort Duquesne, and made an attack upon Gist's place. Finding it was deserted, he concluded that his enemies had fled to the settle- ments, and was about to return to the fort, when a deserter arrived, who told him that Washington was in camp at Fort Necessity, and could get no farther, as his men were in a starving condition. Hearing this, de Villiers determined to push on to the Great Meadows at once.
From Sparks' "Writings of Washington," is taken the following:
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FORT NECESSITY.
1754.]
"Fort Necessity was situate in a level meadow, about two hundred and fifty yards broad and covered with long grass and low bushes. The foot of the nearest hills came within one hundred yards of the fort, and at one place within sixty yards. The space between the fort and the hills was open and smooth, the bushes having been cleared away. The fort itself was an irregular square, each side measuring thirty-five yards, with a trench partly finished on two sides. The entrances were guarded by three bastions.
"On the 3d of July, early in the morning, an alarm was received from a sentinel, who had been wounded by the enemy, and at nine o'clock intelli- gence came, that the whole body of the enemy, amounting, as was reported, to nine hundred men, was only four miles off. At eleven o'clock they approached the fort, and began to fire, at the distance of six hundred yards, but without effect. Colonel Washington had drawn up his men on the open and level ground outside the trenches, waiting for the attack, which he presumed would be made as soon as the enemy's forces emerged from the woods; and he ordered his men to reserve their fire, till they should be near enough to do execution. The distant firing was supposed to be a stratagem to draw Washington's men into the woods, and thus to take them at a disadvantage. He suspected the design, and maintained his post till he found the French did not incline to leave the woods, and attack the fort by an assault, as he supposed they would, considering their superiority of numbers. He then drew his
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1754.
men back within the trenches, and gave them orders to fire according to their discretion, as suitable opportunities might present themselves. The French and Indians remained on the side of the rising ground, which was nearest to the fort, and, sheltered by the trees, kept up a brisk fire of musketry, but never appeared in the open plain below. The rain fell heavily through the day, the trenches were filled with water, and many of the arms of Colonel Washington's men were out of order and used with difficulty.
"In this way the battle continued from eleven o'clock in the morning until eight at night, when the French called and requested a parley. Suspecting this to be a feint to procure the admission of an officer into the fort, that he might discover their condition, Colonel Washington at first declined listening to the proposal, but when the call was repeated, with the additional request that an officer might be sent to them, engaging at the same time their parole for his safety, he sent out Captain Vanbraam, the only person under his command that could speak French, except the Chevalier de Peyrouney, an ensign in the Virginia regiment, who was dangerously wounded, and disabled from render- ing any service on this occasion. Vanbraam returned and brought with him from M. de Villiers, the French commander, proposed articles of capitulation. These he read and pretended to interpret, and, some changes having been made by mutual agreement, both parties signed them about midnight."
The articles subscribed to were written in French, and were as follows:
Lunes A. B. N. 25 w .7 Perches .B.C . S 59 'GE. 10.3 C.A. S. 80 w. 6 Perches. Including the Lines D. E . F. G. contain in all about 50 perches of Land. High Land about 10 Rodts from the Fort and a long which the National Road now 1855 passes.
Lines D.E . F.G at each Dock to admit Water into the Fort.
Pressent Channel ap Great Meadow R ..
Med dow land
Low bottom
K.
Meddows To Wills Creek_ Route by wich Washington and Dumbar retreated
to the great Rocks and to Gists plantation.
called the great
Smal'drain to the Run.
High land covered with a dence grove white Oak Timber, where the Indians took shelter and mounted the trees to fire into the Fort at 50 to 60 Rods. distance.
1 The embankment was in October 1816 near 3 feet high and the ditch along the same near 2 feet below the level land. It was then covered with bushes & c. but is now 1855 cleared of and cultivated as a meddow. It was said that the embankment AB.C. made by sinking pickets or past into the ground and throwing up earth on both sides of it .
FORT NECESSITY.
From D. Shriver Stewart.
SURVEY MADE BY FREEMAN LEWIS, 1816.
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This is a rout by which the French k Indians made their appearance, and commenced firing at the Fort when at near 100 Rods distance .
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ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION.
1754.]
Capitulation granted by M. de Villiers, Captain and commander of His Majesty's troops, to those English troops actually in Fort Necessity :
July the 3d, 1754, at 8 o'clock at night.
As our intentions have never been to trouble the peace and good harmony subsisting between the two Princes in amity, but only to revenge the assassina- tion committed on one of our officers, bearer of a summon, as also on his escort, and to hinder any establishment on the lands of the dominions of the King, my master; upon these considerations, we are willing to show favor to all the English who are in the said fort, on the following conditions.
ARTICLE I.
We grant leave to the English commander to retire with all his garrison, and to return peaceably into his own country; and promise to hinder his receiving any insult from us French; and to restrain, as much as shall be in our power, the Indians that are with us. ART. II.
It shall be permitted him to go out, and carry with him all that belongs to them, except the artillery, which we reserve.
ART. III.
That we will allow them the honors of war, that they march out with drums beating, and one swivel gun, being willing thereby to convince them, that we treat them as friends.
ART. IV.
That as soon as the articles are signed by both parties, the English colors shall be struck.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
ART. V.
That to-morrow, at break of day, a detachment of French shall go and make the garrison file off, and take possession of the fort.
ART. VI.
As the English have but few oxen or horses left, they are at liberty to hide their effects, and to come again and search for them, when they have a number of horses sufficient to carry them off, and that for this end they may have what guards they please; on condition that they give their word of honor, to work no more on any buildings in this place, or any part on this side of the mountains.
ART. VII.
And as the English have in their power, one officer, two cadets, and most of the prisoners made at their assassination of M. de Jumonville, and promise to send them back, with a safeguard to Fort Duquesne, situate on the Ohio; for surety of their performing this article as well as this treaty, M. Jacob Vanbraam and Robert Stobo, both Captains, shall be delivered to us as hostages, till the arrival of our French and Canadians above mentioned. We oblige ourselves on our side, to give an escorte to return these two officers in safety; and expect to have our French in two months and a half at furthest.
A duplicate of this being fixed upon one of the posts of our blockade, the day and year above mentioned.
Signed, Messrs. JAMES MACKAYE, G. WASHINGTON, COULON VILLIERS.
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THE CAPITULATION.
1754.]
These articles were written in French, and the purport of them read to Colonel Washington by Vanbraam, who was a Dutchman, and at best knew but little of English, and was a very poor French scholar. Besides, the falling rain rendered it impos- sible, on that miserable night, that a strictly accurate interpretation of the language used should be made, in consequence of which the word "assassination" was given by Vanbraam as "the killing of," and thus Washington was led to sign a document which made him acknowledge that his command had "assassinated" de Jumonville, and this fact was afterwards made use of by the French in their con- demnation of that act and the author of it. Several authors have assumed that Vanbraam purposely deceived his commander and misinterpreted the word wilfully; but that is doubtless untrue, the greater probability being that the error was occasioned by carelessness or ignorance. In September, somewhat more than two months after the capitulation, Captain Mackaye wrote to Washington from Will's Creek, stating that he had recently returned from Phila- delphia, and adding, "I had several disputes about our capitulation, but I satisfied every person that mentioned the subject as to the articles in question, that they were owing to a bad interpreter, and contrary to the translation as made to us when we signed them." M. de Villiers' assumption that his brother-in-law's death was an "assassination," was based upon an honest belief, on his part, of the story told him concerning the matter, by the Canadian who had effected his escape.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
Early on the morning of the fourth of July, the day following the signing of the articles, Washington marched out of the fort, with his command, his regimental colors borne in front, and the men carrying upon their backs their wounded comrades, and such of their baggage as they were able to convey in this way. Scarcely had they commenced their march, when a fresh body of Indians came up as reinforcements to the French, and these at once commenced to plunder the baggage and stores that were left, and they could scarcely be restrained by the French. Seeing this, Washington had his men destroy all that could not be taken away, including his ammunition, military stores, and the one swivel that was left him. By ten o'clock he was clear of the neighborhood of the fort, but finding that three wounded men had been left behind, he sent back for them and had them brought up. When night came on he was barely three miles from Fort Necessity, and there the command encamped.
The French demolished Fort Necessity, broke the cannon that were left, carried off a few tents, and then marched back to Fort Duquesne. They lost in the engagement two soldiers and one Indian killed, and fifteen soldiers and two Indians wounded, besides several who had wounds so slight as not to unfit them for duty. This is according to a statement made by M. de Villiers, though Washington computed their losses to be much heavier. The English lost twelve killed and forty-three wounded in the Virginia regiment; the casualties in Captain Mackaye's company have never been stated.
81
RETURN TO WILL'S CREEK.
1754.]
After several days of painful and laborious march- ing, encumbered by the wounded, men, who suffered greatly, the passage over the mountains was effected, and with feelings of great relief the little army made its entry into the camp at Will's Creek. Here they found an ample store of provisions in the magazines, from which their wants were quickly supplied. The. men were clothed and fed, and the wounded put into buildings set apart as hospitals, where they received medical attention, and compassionate care.
Washington tarried at Will's Creek but a short time. When he saw that his men had been provided for, he set out with Captain Mackaye, for Williams- burg, where he made a full and complete report of his campaign to Governor Dinwiddie. This report was submitted to the House of Burgesses, and that body passed a vote of thanks to Washington and his officers, for their "bravery and gallant defense of their country." The names of Captains Stobo and Vanbraam were omitted from this vote of thanks, the House asserting that the former was guilty of cowardice, and the latter of treachery, both of which charges were unjust .*
The Governor refused to carry into effect that part of the capitulation referring to the French prisoners, although Washington urged it as an imperative necessity, and felt that his honor was involved. Dinwiddie said in a letter to the Board of Trade, in explanation of his conduct: "The French, after the
*Stobo, while held as a hostage at Fort Duquesne, made a perfect map of that defense, explaining all its points, stated the strength of the garrison, how it should be attacked, &c., and urged that it should be taken as early as possible, no matter if his life was lost thereby. He urged that only the good of the expedition should be considered, without regard to himself. It seems impossible from the fearlessness so often displayed by him, that he could have been guilty at any time of cowardice.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
capitulation entered into with Colonel Washington, took eight of our people and exposed them to sale, and, missing thereof, sent them prisoners to Canada. On hearing of this I detained the seventeen prisoners, the officers and two cadets, as I am of opinion, after they were in my custody, Washington could not engage for their being returned. I have ordered a flag of truce to be sent to the French, offering the return of their officer and the two cadets, for the two hostages they have of ours." The hostages were not returned, but were sent to Canada, and thence to England. The French prisoners were also sent to England, except La Force, who escaped, but was afterwards retaken and closely confined.
Mr. Gist, who was with Washington, at Great Meadows, presented an account to the Governor of Virginia, claiming pay for a supply of powder, lead, bear skins, &c., and for "1 horse killed, helping in, the Indians by Col: Washington's order, £5. 0. 0," which was ordered to be paid.
After Washington's return to Williamsburg Colonel James Innes marched to Will's Creek, and on the 1st of September took command of that post, which was principally garrisoned by Rutherford's and Clark's independent companies from New York, which had been sent forward to join Washington, but got no further than Winchester. Colonel Innes was a Scotchman by birth, and at the time he was com- missioned was a resident of North Carolina. His appointment was not at all popular, and was said to have been made because he was an old friend and countryman of the Governor, who was himself a
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BUILDING THE FORT.
1754.]
Scotchman. On his arrival at Will's Creek, he set about building a fortification, and chose for that purpose the hill lying between the Potomac River and the creek, near the mouth of the latter. When Washington returned from Great Meadows, he left Mackaye's independent company of South Carolinians, about ninety men, and the remnant of the North Carolina companies, at Will's Creek, to assist in building the fortifications, which were commenced on the 12th of September, and completed about the middle of October. Colonel Innes named this fort, which was built of stoccadoes, "Fort Mount Pleasant." Upon finishing that work he set his men about building barracks for themselves, which were greatly needed, as the weather was already quite cold, and a severe winter followed, with much snow and icy winds. By Christmas they had succeeded in erecting a sufficient number of log houses to accommodate the entire force, and that day was celebrated by such festivities as were possible under the circumstances.
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