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 7
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GENERAL EDWARD BRADDOCK.
of appreciation of their strength and disposition, and boasted that he would sweep them before him, like chaff before the wind. His reputation was somewhat damaged by one or two affairs which indicated really low instincts-made still lower by strong drink, disreputable associates, and licentiousness. For these he was lampooned by satirists, and sneeringly discussed in the coffee-houses. His brother officers, however, evidently knew all the good and the bad in him, and weighed his vices and virtues; the result was that he was accepted as "one of them," and associated with upon terms of equality. His faults were condoned, because of his good qualities, and for his valor and soldierly acquirements, at least, he was esteemed. He had fought two duels, one with Colonel Gumley, and another with Colonel Waller, in the former of which he was disarmed, but had too much pride to ask his life. Braddock was in possession of moderate means upon the death of his father, but his manner of life would soon have dissipated a fortune less slender, and his straightened finances frequently made him uncomfortable and morose.
The most reckless display of heartlessness that was at any time developed in his speech, was on the occasion of the death of his sister, Fanny Braddock. This young lady was beautiful, talented, witty, and lavishly generous. In the fullness of her friendship she sacrificed her fortune to pay the debts of a gentleman of whom she was very fond, and he repaid the imprudent act with such ingratitude as must have well nigh broken her heart. She was
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
greatly addicted to gambling, the only vice ever attributed to her. Her loss of fortune, and the falling away of friends, so preyed upon her mind, that in a fit of desperation she hanged herself, with a silken scarf, on the night of the 8th of September, 1731, at Bath. When Braddock was informed of this he said: "Poor Fanny, I always thought she would play until she would be forced to tuck herself up."
General Braddock had been chosen by the Duke of Cumberland because his "courage and military discipline had recommended him as of ability for so great a trust." The Duke had been an eye-witness to his courage on more than one occasion, and was undoubtedly convinced of the wisdom of giving him this command.
Early in November both the Duke and Braddock arrived in London, where they had frequent inter- views and conversations relating to the conduct of the expedition about to be undertaken. The Captain- General gave Braddock minute instructions as to the course he was to pursue; the organization of his forces; the supplies to be provided; posts to be established, &c. Amongst other verbal instructions, he directed Braddock to see that Fort Cumberland was strengthened, and made to accommodate a gar- rison of two hundred men. He advised the greatest care in dealing with the Indians, who would be found a foe different in every way from the regular troops of civilized nations, and practiced in woodcraft. To the latter suggestions Braddock gave little heed, expecting to make short work of the savages with his
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Lith. by A.Hoen & Co. Baltimore.
LOWDERMILK'S HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND .
MAJOR GENERAL EDWARD BRADDOCK ..
101
GENERAL BRADDOCK'S FLEET.
1755.]
splendid regular troops. After two weeks spent in London, Braddock went to Cork, to hasten prepara- tions for the sailing of the transports, but many weeks elapsed before everything was in readiness, and it was not until the 14th of January, 1755, that the fleet was under sail. The delay was so irksome to the General that he embarked on board the Norwich, Captain the Honorable Samuel Barrington, and sailed on the 21st of December, accompanied by the Centurion, the flag ship of Commodore Keppel, and the Syren, Captain Proby. The fleet, which sailed on the 14th of January, consisted of the following vessels:
TRANSPORTS.
Anna, Captain Nevin ; Terrible, Captain Wright ;
Halifax, Captain Terry ;
Fame, Captain Judd ;
Osgood, Captain Crookshanks ;
Concord, Captain Boynton ;
London, Captain Brown ;
Prince Frederick, Captain Burton ;
Industry, Captain Niller ;
Fishburn, Captain Wm. Tipple ;
Isabel and Mary, Captain Hall ; Molly, Captain John Curling ;
Severn, Captain Jehosa Rawlings.
ORDNANCE SHIPS.
Whiting, Captain Johnson ; Newall, Captain Montgomery. Nelly.
These were under convoy of two men-of-war, the Seahorse and Nightingale, and in addition to the stores there were on board £14,000 in specie.
Meantime Governor Dinwiddie, in Virginia, was exerting himself to make the provincial troops effective, and the House of Burgesses had voted £20,000 for the public service. He enlarged the army to ten companies of one hundred men each, and put all upon the establishment of independent com- panies, whereby the regimental organization was wholly destroyed, and the highest office possible was that of Captain, and all officers holding King's
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
commissions were superior to officers of similar grade in the Virginia regiments. The result of this destruction of regimental organization, was to reduce Colonel Washington to the rank of Captain, and to put over him officers whom he had commanded. Naturally, and justly, he regarded this as a degrada- tion, and immediately he resigned his commission, and retired to his farm at Mount Vernon. Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, was familiar with Washington's career, and knew his value, and importuned him to take up the sword again, assuring him of a commission equal to that he before held. He declined, however, to accept the invitation, and expressed his surprise that such a proposition should be made him. He replied, "if you think me capable of holding a commission that has neither rank nor emolument annexed to it, you must entertain a very contemptible opinion of my weakness, and believe me to be more empty than the commission itself." He concluded by saying, "I shall have the consolation of knowing that I have opened the way, when the smallness of our numbers exposed us to the attacks of a superior enemy, and that I have had the thanks of my country for the services I have rendered." Notwithstanding he declined to enter the army upon the terms offered him, he had a desire to engage again in the profession of arms, and thought much upon the subject during the winter, which he passed in almost perfect retirement .*
*There had. as hereto fore stated, been a conflict as to rank between Washington and Captain Mackaye at Fort Necessity. Washington expressed his belief that the action which resulted in throwing out the higher officers, holding Colonial commissions, Was "generated and hatched at Will's Creek," and was chargeable to Governor Dinwiddie. He assured Governor Sharpe that while his self-respect forbade him to serve under such circumstances, his feelings were "strongly bent to arms." These orders, were, however, reiterated during the winter by the government, and officers of the royal troops were given rank over those of the same grade holding Colonial commissions of older date, while provincial field officers were allowed no rank whatever when serving with general and field officers commissioned by the Crown.
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1755.] GOVERNOR SHARPE AT FORT CUMBERLAND.
Affairs at Fort Cumberland were very quiet at this time, so far as the enemy was concerned. About the Ist of January, 1755, a party of Indians, numbering fifteen, arrived at the Fort, and said they had been with the French. They asked a great many questions as to the intentions of the British, and asserted that the Indians had resolved to remain in the position of neutrals, and not to take any part in the war. The conduct of these visitors was so singular as to excite distrust, and they were permitted to leave the camp, without obtaining any information other than such as they could acquire by close observation.
On the 20th of January, Governor Sharpe again visited Fort Cumberland, and on the 26th Sir John St. Clair arrived. They made an examination of the works, the supplies, and the arms ; and two days were spent in inspection and consultation as to the additions that were necessary to the stores, and the best method of getting them to the camp. About the 28th these gentlemen stepped into a small boat, at Fort Cumberland, and descended the Potomac to Alex- andria. They inspected the river the entire distance traversed, with a view to determining the feasibility of sending supplies to Fort Cumberland by water, and Sir John St. Clair was of opinion that such a project was entirely practicable, could the rocks in the channel at Great Falls be removed. This he thought could be accomplished by means of gunpowder, to an extent sufficient to permit the passage of flat bottomed boats. The experiment, however, was never tried, and the bulk of supplies was afterwards sent over the rough mountain roads in wagons.
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
While at Fort Cumberland, Governor Sharpe found military affairs in a very unsatisfactory condition; the Virginia companies were unruly, discontented and mutinous, while the Maryland company was of little value, because of its limited numbers and lack of discipline. The officers of the Colonial companies and those holding King's commissions, were at daggers' points, because of the dispute as to rank; and this of itself, was extremely demoralizing in its effects. Sir John St. Clair inspected the soldiers at the Fort, and discharged no less than twenty from Captain Rutherford's company, because of their unfitness for service.
On the 20th of February, the Norwich, having on board General Braddock, Captain Orme, one of his aides-de-camp, and Mr. William Shirley, his Secretary, entered Hampton Roads. This arrival had been looked forward to with the utmost interest by the people of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, who were very solicitous for the defeat and punishment of the French, but felt both unable and unwilling to bear the expense of the necessary troops and supplies. Two of the transports, the Osgood and Fishburn, arrived on the 2d of March, and a fortnight later the entire fleet had arrived and proceeded to Alexandria, where the troops were temporarily quartered.
General Braddock had not awaited the arrival of the fleet, but had gone to Williamsburg, where he consulted with Governor Dinwiddie, and at once invited the Governors of the various colonies to meet him at Annapolis. On the 14th of April Governors Shirley, of Massachusetts; Dinwiddie, of Virginia;
105
ORGANIZING THE CAMPAIGN.
1755.]
Delancy, of New York; Sharpe, of Maryland; Morris, of Pennsylvania; and Dobbs, of North Carolina, assembled with him, in convention, at Alexandria, and after a lengthy discussion made articles covering arrangements for the prosecution of a comprehensive campaign. In addition to these gentlemen, Admiral Keppel, commander of the fleet, was present. The plan adopted embraced three different movements, viz: One against Fort Duquesne, by Braddock; one against Niagara and Frontenac, (Kingston,) under command of Governor Shirley, and one against Crown Point, on Lake Champlain, by General William Johnson, who was then a resident, and an influential man, amongst the Indians of the Mohawk nation. The time fixed upon for the inauguration of active operations was the end of June, and it was thought that an easy victory would be accomplished in every quarter.
General Braddock evidently had very crude ideas regarding the colonies and the inhabitants thereof, and expected all the orders of the Ministry to be carried into effect as concisely as was the custom at home. He therefore anticipated the prompt supply of the four hundred men who were to recruit the ranks of the 44th and 48th regiments, and which were to come from Pennsylvania. These were not forthcoming, and he wrote frequent letters to Governor Morris, entreating him to use every effort to secure the men, and offered a bounty of £3 for each recruit. His persistent appeals, however, were fruitless, from which cause he gave expression to his disgust and anger in most violent language. It may readily be 14
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
imagined that the General's temper was not afterwards improved, when he found that his movements were to be seriously retarded by a lack of means of trans- portation, as well as by scarcity of supplies. Sir John St. Clair had bargained with two Dutch settlers at the foot of the Blue Ridge, for two hundred wagons and fifteen hundred pack-horses, to be furnished early in May, at Fort Cumberland; and Governor Sharpe had agreed to furnish a hundred wagons to be used in transporting stores, on the Maryland side of the Potomac, towards Fort Cumber- land. Neither of these contracts was fully carried into effect. The Dutch settlers neglected the matter entirely, and Governor Sharpe experienced the greatest difficulty in getting together even a few teams.
In considering the difficulties of this campaign, some of which began to be apparent to him, Braddock remembered Washington, with whose course he was well acquainted, and he deemed it for the good of the country's service to call him again to the field. He appreciated fully the dignity of the young Virginian's action in resigning his commission, and was pleased with the spirit he had shown. Washington was already under the influence of a fever of military zeal, which was fanned to a greater heat day after day by the preparations he saw being made for war, and he was a frequent visitor to the camp at Alexandria. A number of prominent personages represented to General Braddock the value of Washington's services, he having experience and a thorough knowledge of the country, and the result
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1755.] WASHINGTON AN AID-DE-CAMP.
was that Captain Orme wrote, by Braddock's orders, the following cordial letter, addressed to Major Washington :
"WILLIAMSBURG, 2 March, 1755.
"SIR :- The General having been informed that you expressed some desire to make the campaign, but that you declined it upon some disagreeableness that you thought might arise from the regulations of command, has ordered me to acquaint you that he will be very glad of your company in his family, by which all inconveniences of that kind will be obviated.
" I shall think myself very happy to form an acquaintance with a person so universally esteemed, and shall use every opportunity of assuring you how much I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
"ROBERT ORME, Aid-de-camp."
Washington was highly gratified by the compliment so gracefully tendered, and hastened to accept a position so agreeable to his tastes and inclinations. His position as aid-de-camp on Braddock's staff gave him no emoluments, and in fact could not be other- wise than expensive, yet he was freed thereby from the annoyance of questions as to rank, and was satisfied to accept as compensation the glory he might win, and the experience he might gain. His private affairs prevented him from at once entering upon his duties, and Captain Orme wrote him: "The General orders me to give you his compliments, and to assure you his wishes are to make it agreeable to yourself and consistent with your affairs ; and, therefore, he desires you will so settle your business at home as to join him at Will's Creek, if more convenient to you; and whenever you find it necessary to return, he begs you will look upon yourself as entirely master, and judge what is necessary to be done."
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
While Braddock was getting ready for his march from Alexandria, Sir John St. Clair had returned to Fort Cumberland, where he set everybody by the ears, and startled the commissioners who had been sent by Pennsylvania to attend the construction of the road required by the government. Nothing whatever had been done towards building this road, and Sir John was in a furious passion, hurling his strong language at Croghan and the other commis- sioners, and declaring that the want of the road would retard the expedition, and might cost them a disgraceful defeat, from the large number of additional troops the French would send into the country. He threatened to march an army into Cumberland county, to cut the roads, press horses, wagons, and forage, and that he would not permit his soldiers to handle an ax, but by fire and sword oblige the inhabitants to do the work, and that he would wreak general destruction. In case the French should defeat them he threatened to march through the province with drawn sword, and treat all inhabitants as a parcel of traitors, and much more to the same effect. These harsh threats, while they called forth a reprimand from Braddock, as being "officiously violent," had the effect of stimulating the Penn- sylvanians to activity. Governor Morris exerted himself to the utmost, and manifested an earnest desire to do all in his power to forward the construction of the road, and in the latter part of April sent Mr. Thomas Walker to Fort Cumberland, with instructions to see such persons as were necessary, and to endeavor to have them give their
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1755.] GOVERNOR MORRIS'S EFFORTS.
aid to the work. Mr. Walker wrote to Governor Morris as follows :
" FORT CUMBERLAND, March ye 7th, 1755. " HONOURED SIR :
"I waited on Mr. James Wright and John Smith, on my way here. They both expressed the greatest desire of Complying with the Instructions sent them by the Honourable Isaac Norris and the other commissioners in Philadelphia. I could not wait on Mr. Armstrong, without great loss of time, which occationed me to write to him only.
"I don't doubt but your Honour has had the agreeable news of the arrival of the English Forces, which will make the greatest despatch necessary in the Gentlemen who are to purchase the Wheat. Just now a party men commanded by Mr. Lowmain Brought Joseph Nelson to the camp with two other men, and one Woman, who the Men had by force taken from her Father's House ; one man of Capt. Rutherford's was shot through the arm. I am
"Your Honours Most Humble Servant in Hast
" THOMAS WALKER.
" To the Hon'ble Robert Hunter Morris
" Governor of Pensilvania."
Governor Morris undertook also to organize a band of Indians for the expedition, and he wrote to George Croghan, at his place at Aughquick, to get together as many warriors as possible who were friendly, and to distribute among them a number of wampum belts, engaging them to meet General Braddock at Fort Cumberland, and to take up the hatchet against the French. Croghan undertook this service, and agreed furthermore to furnish a company of hardy, resolute woodsmen, who knew every trail in the forests, and who were under command of Captain Jack, one of the most daring characters that could be found in the wilderness, and a terror to the Indians.
The following letter was received by Governor Morris from Governor Dinwiddie, under date of March 10th :
110
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
" WILLIAMSBURG, March 10, 1755. " SIR :
" Your favor of the 26th ult. I recieved Yesterday-I am very glad you prevailed with Your Committee for the Flour of 14,000 bushels of wheat, to be delivered at Conogacheek : this is a very Seasonable Supply, as that quantity with what I have purchased, I hope will answer the Breadkind, & I hope I have Salt Provisions sufficient, but must entreat You to direct the delivery of the Flour with all imaginable Expedition : as the Transports are mostly arrived, I hope the General will take the Field soon & I would gladly hope that no Delay should be on account of Provisions.
" I hope you will see it necessary to call ye Assembly immediately now the Forces from Britain have arrived, to endeavor with them to raise a considerable Sum of Money : for if it please God to give the General success in taking the Fort on the Ohio, it will be necessary that a Garrison of 250 men be left in it (at the charge of different Colonies) not to prevent his further Designs & this charge I think should be bore by the Colonies, otherway his taking the Fort & leaving it without a Garrison, will encourage the French next Year to retake it & in course, keep the Colonies in continual war : whereas strengthening ourselves on the Ohio as above, I am in hopes may prevent any further attempts from the French and protect our Frontiers-and as a great deal of money will be wanted for that Service, I have called on our Assembly to meet the first of May, in hopes to prevail with them for a further supply, for 100,000 now will be of more Service than a million some Years hence.
"The General goes for Alexandria the Beginning of next Week, and expects Gov : Shirley to meet him at Annapolis, & I propose to wait upon him at that place.
"I remain with very great respect, "Sir Your most obdt h'ble Servt,
" DINWIDDIE."
Captain John Rutherford, who was at Fort Cumberland during the inspection by Sir John St. Clair, wrote to Governor Morris as follows:
"FORT CUMBERLAND, March 22, 1755.
" SIR :
"I write your honor a few lines, tho' I shan't think I have anything material to say until the two Regiments from Cork arrive. Our review by Sir John St. Clair is over, & after what he has discharged, I think what remains here will be fit for any service : I shall want twenty recruits to compleat my company, in room of those he has discharged & those I had discharged before, which I have a promise of getting from Maryland immediately.
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THE MARCH FROM ALEXANDRIA.
1755.]
" Col. Innes remains here to take care of stores and Indian affairs, & Sir John, by Genl Braddock's orders, has left under my command my own Company, Capt. Demere's & two companies of Virginia Rangers, fifty men each, under Capt. Waggoner and Capt. Perronee ; Capt. Clark's, as unfit for service, is sent off to recruit, and Capt. Dagworthy's to be drafted for compleating the British Regimts. The greatest plague I find in my command proceeds from Whiskey, which had always prevailed, in spite of many expedients since the arrival of troops here. I must get the better of it if possible, & have punished several soldiers & staved some whiskey, but great complaints are made by the owners for want of proper warning, so I must beg your Honor would please order the enclosed Advertisement to be published in your newspapers for three weeks.
* *
" Sir, your Honor's " most obedient & most humble serv't "JOHN RUTHERFORD."
General Braddock, although disappointed in the matter of recruits, as well as of transportation, left Alexandria on his march to Fort Duquesne on the 20th of April.
On the 26th of April the command arrived at Fredericktown, in Maryland, where Washington then joined it. It became apparent to Braddock, here, that the selection of Virginia as the landing place for the troops was a great mistake, since neither provisions, forage nor transportation were there to be had, and that had they landed in Pennsylvania the march would have been shortened several weeks, and a saving of at least _40,000 sterling effected. He had relied upon the promises made that three hundred horses and two hundred wagons and teams would be supplied him; besides an abundance of forage and provisions. Instead, however, he found at Fredericktown barely fifteen wagons, and less than one hundred horses, which number was totally inadequate to his necessities. In addition to this, it
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
was found upon unloading the wagons that the provisions were spoiled, and stunk so intolerably that they were taken out of camp and buried. These facts aroused all of the General's bad temper, and he cursed the army contractors roundly, as well as Americans generally, denouncing the whole people as irresponsible and totally untrustworthy. Most of the officers shared in the harsh opinions entertained by their leader, which both Washington and Benjamin Franklin, the Postmaster-General, undertook to combat, the latter stating that Pennsylvania had voted £5,000 to the support of the King's troops, and was even then engaged in the construction of a road, at great expense. He furthermore expressed his regret that the expedition had not landed in Pennsyl- vania, as there every farmer had his wagon, and there would have been no difficulty in securing all the transportation that might be required. Braddock took hope from this statement, and asked Franklin if he could not yet secure such wagons as were required for the success of his army. Franklin thought he could, and at once undertook the task of satisfying the General's wants in this respect. He had observed that the dress of Sir John St. Clair was that of a Hussar, or nearly approached it in some respects, and taking advantage of this, he published a letter, as follows:
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTIES OF LANCASTER, YORK AND CUMBERLAND.
"Friends and Countrymen :
" Being occasionally at the camp at Frederick a few days since, I found the General and officers of the Army extremely exasperated on account of their not being supplied with Horses and Carriages, which had been expected from this Province, as most able to furnish them; but
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