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 6
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Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, had been commis- sioned, in July, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Army, and urged enlistments by every means in his power, but with little success. About the 1st of December he visited Will's Creek, and inspected the forces here. On his return to Annapolis, he wrote to Governor Dinwiddie as follows :*
ANNAPOLIS, December 10, 1754.
"SIR: I returned last Thursday from Will's Creek, where I found the Independents preparing for themselves barracks, having already completed the
*Governor Sharpe's MSS. letters, Maryland Historical Library.
-
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
small stoccade fort, about which you were advised they had been employed, but as the fort they have finished is exceedingly small, its exterior side not exceeding 120 feet, I conceived it requisite or rather absolutely necessary to have another much larger raised on an adjacent and more elevated piece of ground, which I have ordered the Md. Co., to proceed on, and I hope they will be able to finish it this winter. The eminence on which it will be situated gives it an entire command of that already compleated, and will defend a Face of that small Fort to which an enemy might at present approach without being much annoyed, or hardly seen from within. However, that on which the troops have been employed may be useful at present, and will serve to enclose Store Houses or a Magazine after the other is completed, which, I think, by an advanced outwork or two will be easily defended against a considerable number of troops that may presume to attack it with only a light train. At my arrival at the camp I was much surprised and concerned to find there was no more provision in the Fort than would suffice the troops for one Day, which I earnestly hope will not be the case again, lest the enemy should get intelligence thereof, and by posting themselves in different parties on the adjacent Hills, prevent the arrival of supplies, whereby the Garrison and all the Troops, notwithstanding their advantageous situation must be reduced to the necessity of retiring and destroying or relinquishing the Fort, their other work, and perhaps the baggage to the enemy. That nothing will be wanting on your part to avert such an
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FORT MOUNT PLEASANT.
1754.]
accident, I am well persuaded, but conceive the troops will never be well supplied with Provision unless a very different scheme from that hitherto followed be pursued.
I have enclosed you a calculation of the Expence of Supplying 3000 Men, with Provisions for 8 months, which quantity I apprehend it will be necessary to lay into the Magazine at Will's Creek, immediately, by reason I conceive it will be very difficult if not impossible to procure Beaves or Hogs fit for the slaughter after this month and next, till July or the August following. My estimate is made in Maryland currency, which is at this time with sterling at about 65 p. Ct. Discount."
The Governor was surprised to find the camp entirely destitute of salt, and immediately sent a courier back, with orders to bring up a supply on horseback without the least delay. He also ordered a number of barrels in which to pack meat as fast as it should be cured for future consumption. Being destitute of salt, the cattle on hand could not be killed, and were therefore pastured in the valleys and on the hill sides in the neighborhood, wherever grass could be found, until an ample supply of salt was received, after which the cattle were killed and packed. Amongst the men at Fort Mount Pleasant, was Andrew Montour, an Indian interpreter, who had rendered very considerable service to Colonel Innes a short time before, at a treaty which had been held at the Fort with some of the Chiefs of the Six Nations. Governor Sharpe conceived a great friend- ship for Montour, and strongly recommended him to
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
Governor Dinwiddie as a very useful person; and his good opinion was amply justified.
Governor Sharpe exerted himself to make everything at the Fort satisfactory; he secured a number of teams for transporting supplies from the east, and for service in hauling logs for the new fort and buildings to be constructed. These teams were paid for at the rate of £35 for a wagon, harness, and four horses. The farmers who furnished them were evidently determined to make all they could out of the necessities of the government, as they at first demanded £70 each for their teams; this sum having been refused them, they finally agreed to accept one-half the amount originally asked. Mr. Gist was the purchasing agent for the Virginia soldiers, and Colonel Cresap for the Maryland company. Cresap had purchased 29,130 pounds pork, and 13,197 pounds beef already cured, enough to supply the Maryland company for twelve months. The former gentleman was severely criticised by Governor Sharpe, who charged him with having withheld money and supplies, with a view to private speculation. Flour was sold at the fort at 12s. per cwt., and vegetables were scarcely to be had at any price.
Governor Dinwiddie was asked to send a few ship carpenters to the Fort, as their services were needed in the work of building; also some cartridge paper, moulds for musket and swan shot, wire for screws, and prickers, flints and some wampum, the supply of the latter having been almost entirely exhausted.
The New York companies having been supplied with blankets and match coats, and the South
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FORT MOUNT PLEASANT.
1754.]
Carolina company having neither of these articles, there was some confusion in camp for awhile, as the latter company demanded that it should be supplied with these articles; but the matter was finally arranged, and Governor Sharpe ordered Colonel Innes to divide £12 between the private soldiers of the three independent companies, as extraordinary pay for the labor they had undergone in building their barracks.
There were at this time at Fort Mount Pleasant three Captains, eight Lieutenants, one Ensign, twelve sergeants, thirteen corporals, seven drummers and two hundred and ninety-five private soldiers, all under command of Colonel Innes. The supply of artillery was limited to a few small guns of 3,7 inches bore.
After the affair at the Great Meadows, the Half- King took his family and went to Aughquick, in Pennsylvania, where he was maintained at the expense of the government. He was thoroughly disgusted with the conduct of the campaign, and declared that the white men knew nothing about war. He said that the French were cowards, and the English fools, and that while Washington was a very good man, he was totally lacking in experience, and too fond of his own notions to accept the advice offered him by the Indians. A short time after his removal to Aughquick, the Half-King was taken sick, and in October, 1754, he died. Upon news of his death being received at Will's Creek, Colonel Innes called together all the Indians in front of the Fort. He announced the death of the warrior,
1
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1754.
and George Croghan, who was an intimate friend of Tanacharisson, and a trader at Aughquick, made a condolence speech, and gave them a present of goods to cover the grave of the Red man whom they had so highly esteemed. There was great lamenta- tion amongst the Indians, who attributed the death of the Half-King to the French, whom their medicine man declared had bewitched him, and they threatened to be revenged upon their white enemies for this calamity.
Shortly after the completion of the barracks at Fort Mount Pleasant, Governor Dinwiddie received from the King instructions to proceed at once to the erection of a fort at Will's Creek, which should be of such dimensions and character of construction as the importance of the position seemed to require, in view of more extensive military operations in the direction of Fort Duquesne. Governor Dinwiddie at once transmitted these instructions to Colonel Innes, who was directed to comply with the orders without delay. General Braddock, who had been designated by the Duke of Cumberland as the Commander-in- Chief of the new expedition, and who had been privately instructed by the Duke as to his wishes, also requested Governor Dinwiddie to have the Fort put in condition to accommodate two hundred men, and announced that it should be named "Fort Cumberland," in honor of the Captain-General of the British army, who had honored him with so important a mission.
FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755-1787.
The orders of the King were obeyed with alacrity by Colonel Innes, and under his supervision Fort Cumberland was erected and garrisoned, during the winter of 1754-55. The citizens of our city have for generations past pointed out the spot upon which this Fort was located, but they had no information or conception of the size, shape, and character of the work, or its surroundings. Fortunately, a sketch of the Fort was found by the author amongst the King's Manuscripts, in the Library of the British Museum, in London. A photographic copy of this sketch was secured, and an engraving of the same is here given. It was drawn by one of the officers in the Fort, at the time of General Braddock's arrival. The fortifications were drawn to a scale, but the proportions were not preserved in mapping out the river, creek, and sur- rounding grounds. This fact made it somewhat difficult to establish the exact lines of the work, and compelled a resort to the memory of our oldest inhab- itants. Mr. Jesse Korns has a distinct recollection of climbing over the remaining earthworks when a boy,
12
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
and he fixes the Easterly line of the Fort, that portion of it which runs to a point nearest Will's Creek, some forty feet east of Emmanuel Church. The conformation of the ground at that spot is strongly confirmatory of his opinion, as well as other circum- stances, which fix the Western line near the boundary of Prospect street. The greater portion of Fort Cumberland was a pallisado work-all of it, in fact, except the small bastioned work on the Western end. The pallisades were logs cut to a length of eighteen feet, and planted in the earth to a depth of six feet, forming a close wooden wall twelve feet in height. These logs were spiked together, with strips and pins on the inner side, and the wall was pierced with openings for musketry along its entire face. Two water gates are shown in the plat, and from each of these a trench was excavated leading to the creek, so that the men might secure therefrom a supply of water, without being exposed to the fire of the enemy. In 1756, after Braddock's defeat, the Indians became so numerous and so bold as to approach near enough to shoot those who ventured to the water's edge, and in consequence thereof a well was sunk inside of the pallisade near the main gate on the South side. This well was in use not many years since, and is still in existence on the property of Hon. Hopewell Hebb. It was about eighty feet in depth, and within the memory of the writer was furnished with an immense wheel and two buckets by which excellent cold water was drawn from it. About the year 1799, this well was first cleaned out, after the abandonment of the Fort, and the father of Mr. John B. Widener was
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FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
present when part of a gun carriage, a wheel, and a large quantity of cannon balls, musket balls, &c., were taken therefrom.
Inside the stockade, were built barracks sufficient to furnish quarters for two hundred men, and the company officers. Besides, there was a parade or drill ground for the companies.
At the west end of the stockade was built a fort, with bastions, parapets and ditches, where sixteen guns were mounted, which commanded all the ground north, west and south, as well as the north and south lines of the stockade. These guns were of different calibre, four of them being 12-pounders, and twelve 4-pounders. Besides these, there were several swivels. A part of this armament was ships' guns, brought from Admiral Keppel's fleet. On the west face was a sally port, and inside the fort were the houses used as quarters for the commanding officer, for storing provisions, and for the guard details while on duty.
The entire work was 400 feet in length, and 160 in width, extending from the point indicated below Emmanuel Church to within a short distance of Prospect street, the northern line extending along nearly the centre of Washington street. The Fort proper occupied almost the identical spot on which now stands the residence of Mr. James A. Millholland, known as the "Hoye House."
This fortification was of considerable strength, and commanded the approaches from the North, East and South. The ground to the North-west was somewhat higher, but a small earthwork of a
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
temporary character was constructed on the crest, on the site of the residence of the late James W. Jones, Esq. The ground on the South side of the river, opposite the Fort, was high enough to overlook the work, and somewhat interfered with its efficiency. The company parade and drill ground was inside the pallisades, but the dress parades were held on the ground now occupied by the Court House and Academy. Quite a number of log houses for barracks were built near the crest, and as far back as Smallwood street, but these were made use of only when there was present a greater force than could be accommodated in the Fort, and the barracks imme- diately adjoining.
At the present day the site of old Fort Cumberland is one of the most attractive spots in the State of Maryland. On the bluff rising from the creek stands in bold outline Emmanuel Episcopal Church, a handsome Gothic structure. of native brown stone, embowered in masses of ivy, and relieved by grassy slopes, attracting and arresting the attention at once. The remainder of the ground is occupied by the handsome residences of R. Chew Jones, Esq., Hon. Hopewell Hebb, and James A. Millholland, Esq. Scores of relics of the days of Washington and Braddock were gathered from the soil while these improvements were being made. Cannon balls, musket balls, bayonets, flints, musket barrels, &c., were amongst the trophies recovered.
In the campaign of 1755, generally 'known as "Braddock's Expedition," Fort Cumberland was the most prominent point occupied on the line of march,
A Plan of the Fort and Barracks ut Mount Pleasant in Maryland References
A. The Commanding Officers House
B Store Houses for Provisions 15 feet by 24 Each.
C Centinets Guard Room Teach 23 feet by 9-
D Officers guard Room Se
F, Magazine .. -13 feet by ty
F Sally Port.
G Companys Parade
H Officers Quarters.
I Mens Barracks
K Compulsary's House
L Hospital.
M Places of Defence for small arms
N Fort Parade 32 lect by ho
O Fort Gate 9 feet
PPP Grand Parade
2 nº Gale
R Sº Gate
M
ST Water Gates
Will's Creek.
₿
B
K
B
B
P
PLAN OF FORT 1
FROM THE KING'S MSS. LIB
HE
M
H
Frit Cumberland
M
Wall's Creek
il
M
M
SH
M
H
Branch of the River Potomrack
Province of Virginia
B
L
The N.
Ma New Store
B
A Scale of Feet 10
20 50 40 50 00 70 80 ,90 100
BERLAND, 1755.
BRITISH MUSEUM,
Province of Maryland
R
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FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
and was the scene of important military preparations. It had been chosen as the rallying point for all the troops in the operations against the French on the Ohio River, its location being naturally advantageous for this purpose, although as a post of defense for the frontier settlers further East it was practically of little value. Situated, as it was, upon the very outskirts of civilization; surrounded by only a few hardy pioneers, and trappers, it was a favorite place of resort for those friendly Indians who had peltries to barter for the baubles, cloths, ammunition, &c., which they found at the Ohio Company's new store- house, and was at the same time well adapted as a place of rendezvous for such forces as might be designed for operations further west. It was located in the very heart of the wilderness, with virgin forests all about it, and roads of the most inferior character reaching back to the settlements, nearly eighty miles away, while the single road leading to the West was scarcely worthy being called such. In the organization of Braddock's forces, the supplying of his men and animals, and the events that followed until the close of the contest with the French, the scenes and incidents that transpired here rendered historic every foot of ground about the place, and invested it with an interest which should lead to their careful preservation for the information and pleasure of future generations. Here the Father of our Country, the great Washington, obtained his earliest lessons in the art of war, and for the first time beheld a body of regular troops systematically encamped; here he spent many weeks in the
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
education of the camp and the drill, and familiarized himself with those duties which were to become so prominent a part of his future life, in the struggle his country was destined to embark in to preserve its freedom and integrity. The minutiæe of the preparations, and contests which arose, as shown by the letters and documents to be found in future pages of this work, are exceedingly interesting, and worthy of preservation in every library in the country. Throughout the pages of history frequent reference is made to Fort Cumberland, in connection with the progress of the plans and operations to which so much importance was at that time attached, but in no single work has there been recorded any con- tinuous and intelligent narrative which could satisfy the desires of those who feel an interest in our beautiful city, or gratify their thirst for accurate knowledge as to the discovery, settlement, fortification, improvement, cultivation, growth and progress of a section of country so richly endowed by nature with wealth and picturesque loveliness. This history has been gathered from rare volumes and precious manu- scripts, both in this country and England, as well as from oral traditions and family records, and while much has been thus fortunately preserved, many facts of great interest have doubtless been lost in oblivion, never to be recovered.
The campaign which had terminated so unfortu- nately at Fort Necessity, served to bring Fort Cumberland into great prominence, and the English authorities regarded it thenceforth as their base of operations. Intelligence of the disaster above men-
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THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
tioned was received in London in August, 1754, and caused much excitement in the cabinet. The ministry could not ignore the importance of immediate action, and as the colonies seemed to be fatally slow in providing the necessary means of defense, it became apparent that the Crown must furnish both troops and supplies. The Duke of Cumberland was sum- moned to the councils of the King, and his keen perceptions,, and energetic nature, speedily led to preparations for a decisive stroke, the nature of which, however, was kept secret from the public.
In September the Ministry determined to send to · America two regiments of infantry, the Forty-fourth, Colonel Sir Peter Halkett, and the Forty-eighth, Colonel Thomas Dunbar, each 500 strong. These were to be recruited to 700 after their arrival in Virginia. Two other regiments, of 1,000 men each, were also to be raised at the King's cost in America, one to be commanded by Governor William Shirley, of the province of Massachusetts, and the other by Sir William Pepperell. Sir John St. Clair, Lieutenant- Colonel of Offarrall's regiment, had been appointed Deputy Quartermaster-General for all the troops in the colonies, with the rank of Colonel, and before the close of the year he sailed for Virginia, with a view to informing himself as to the country and the necessities of the campaign. In November large supplies of clothing, tents, marquees, arms, accoutre- ments, ammunition, wagons, &c., were made ready for use, and £10,000 in cash were sent to Virginia, together with authority to draw for as much more should it become necessary to do so. Every prepa-
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
ration was made with a view to rendering certain the success of a simultaneous movement upon Forts Duquesne, Crown Point and Niagara; and it was thought that at least twelve thousand men could be secured for service, counting the Royal troops, the Militia, and the Indians whom the colonial Governors had been instructed to secure.
The Duke of Cumberland took the deepest interest in the preparations for this campaign, and his orders were closely followed throughout. He chose for commander of the troops to be sent to Virginia, and as Generalissimo of all His Majesty's forces on the North American Continent, Major-General Edward Braddock. Shortly afterward Parliament voted the following sums to pay the expenses of the expedition :
For two regiments of foot to be raised for North America, £40,350 15s For defraying the charges of the officers appointed to go
with the forces commanded by General Braddock - - £7,338 2s 6d For defraying the charges of the officers appointed to attend the hospital for the expedition commenced by General Braddock £1,779 7s 6d
£49,468 5s
General Edward Braddock was the son of Edward Braddock, a Major General in the British army, who served for thirty years as an officer in the Coldstream Guards, and who was esteemed as an "honest, brave old gentleman." The date of the birth of the last General Edward Braddock is not known, but is supposed to have been about 1695, as it is recorded that he entered the army on the 11th of October, 1710, with the rank of Ensign in the Coldstream Guards, in which corps his father had served so long. He was promoted on the 1st of August, 1716, to a
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GENERAL EDWARD BRADDOCK.
1755.]
Lieutenancy; on the 30th of October, 1734, to a Captain-Lieutenancy; on the 10th of February, 1736, to a Captaincy in the Second Regiment of Foot Guards; on the 2d of April, 1743, to Lieutenant- Colonel of the line, and also to be second Major of the Coldstreams; on the 27th of May, 1745, to be first Major, and on the 21st of November following to be Lieutenant-Colonel. Braddock won several of these promotions by his bravery and gallantry in hard fought and bloody battles, in several of which the Duke of Cumberland was in command. The Coldstreams was a regiment of model soldiers; in courage and discipline they were unsurpassed by any troops in the world; its recruiting standard was extraordinarily high; and no Papist, no Scot, no Irishman, no "vagabond" was under any consideration permitted to become even a private in the ranks of this body whose every member seemed to feel that the honor and pride of the regiment was in his keeping. They looked upon all other troops as mere apprentices in the art of war, and carried their contempt for them to such an extent that it became necessary to issue an order forbidding them to laugh at or make game of other troops while they were on parade. The regiment was originally formed of the elite of Fenwick's and Hesilrige's Parliamentary regiments, and was universally regarded as the embodiment of all that was valiant, heroic and soldierly. Commissions were held in highest esteem in this body, and in 1720 the King fixed the price of a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the Coldstreams at £5,000; a Major's commission at £3,600; a Captain's at ££2,400; a 13
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
Captain-Lieutenant's at £1,500; Lieutenant's £900; an Ensign's £450; and in 1766 these rates were doubled. The payment of these sums, however, was not alone sufficient; the purchaser was required to be of irreproachable character, and to pass an examination to prove his competency.
For nearly fifty years had Braddock served in such a regiment, when he was chosen by the Duke of Cumberland as the commander of the expedition, which was intended to put an end to all French pretensions in North America.
A closely disciplined military education, of a life-time's duration, necessarily made Braddock a martinet; and with discipline and courage he was, of course, a soldier, no matter what may have been his other characteristics. That he was dissipated to a certain extent is undeniable; and it cannot be maintained that he was possessed of such high personal qualifications as to make his character one to be admired. He was fond of high living, convivial, and prone to the laxity of morals that usually follows excess in those particulars. The gaming table had its fascinations for him, and he was arrogant, unfor- giving, and intemperate. He was haughty, severe, reserved, and full of self-importance, which qualities served on many occasions to make him greatly disliked. There was little of refinement in his nature, and he was brutal in his treatment of those who invoked his resentment or dislike. When he had heard something of the nature of the business upon which he was to embark in America, and of the enemy he was to meet, he evinced a fatal lack
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