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 9
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Braddock had expected to spend only a few days at Fort Cumberland, in preparing for his march to the West, but he was unavoidably delayed, by the non-arrival of the wagons and stores promised, which were anxiously looked for day after day.
He was by this time out of all patience, in conse- quence of the delay he was subjected to, on account of the failure to secure the transportation and stores he deemed necessary. He made no allowance for the difficulties in the way, and expected to obtain
128
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND
[1755.
everything in this new country with the same facility as at home. He denounced the contractors as swindlers and frauds, and in his anger applied the harshest epithets to all the officials of the Colonies, and the inhabitants generally. Washington had a clearer conception of the difficulties to be overcome, and he defended his countrymen against the attacks of the General, often becoming quite vehement in his defense. Notwithstanding these affairs of the moment, the warm friendship between them remained unbroken, and Washington felt himself warranted in urging Braddock to abandon the idea of taking with him a long train of wagons, which he said would render their march slow and tedious, and involve the loss of much precious time. He advised the transfer of stores from wagons to the backs of horses, which he thought could be more readily obtained, and would relieve them of much incon- venience in traveling over the rugged mountains, and roughly-built roads, which lay between Fort Cumberland and Fort Duquesne. Braddock, however, could not be brought to accept the suggestions thus made, and persisted in his scheme of transporting the stores in wagons. He had the utmost confidence in his own judgment, and in the invincibility of his officers and men.
This fact, together with his refusal to consult the chiefs who had come to the Fort, in all matters pertaining to the campaign, was doubtless the cause of the departure of most of the warriors. They felt hurt, and indignant that they should be regarded of so little importance in the councils, and to Croghan
129
1755.] AFFAIRS AT FORT CUMBERLAND.
they had protested loudly. Washington and Croghan had both solicited more consideration for them at the hands of the General, but he could never be brought to yield to their entreaties. Both were discouraged, and knowing their cause of grievance, were not surprised when the chiefs found a convenient excuse for taking their departure. Braddock's Secretary, William Shirley, was impressed by his conduct to to such an extent that he wrote to Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, in very uncomplimentary terms, saying: "We have a General most judiciously chosen for being disqualified for the service he is employed in, in almost every respect. I am not greatly acquainted myself with Indian Affairs, tho' enough to see that better measures with regard to 'em might and ought to have been taken, at least to the Southwd. Upon our arrival at this Fort, we found Indian Affairs so ignorantly conducted by Colonel Innes, to whom they were committed, that, Novices as we were, we have taken 'em into our management." Alluding to Braddock's officers he said: "As to them I don't think we have much to boast. Some are insolent and ignorant; others capable, but rather aiming at showing their own abilities than making a proper use of them."
The impatience of the General over the delay in furnishing supplies led him, on the 10th of May, to send Captain Leslie, Sir John St. Clair's assistant, into Pennsylvania to purchase forage. On the 20th eighty wagons arrived at the Fort, to be used in the expedition, and eleven wagons loaded with supplies for the officers. He had now about two hundred 17
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
wagons and six hundred pack-horses, and made preparations for an early start.
In the Seaman's Journal it is stated that "there were one hundred carpenters employed, under the carpenter of the 'Sea-Horse,' in building a Magazine, completing a Flatt, and squaring timber to build a bridge over Will's Creek; the Smiths in making tools; the Bakers baking biscuits; and Com- missaries getting the provisions ready for marching." This magazine was built in the North-west corner of the Fort, but the bridge over Will's Creek was never erected, or, if it was, no record or trace of it has been left. There was a ford just under the Fort and directly East of it, which was passable at all times except during high water.
Two companies of Sir Peter Halket's regiment, under command of Major Chapman, and a troop of light horse, arrived from Winchester on the 21st, and went into camp.
In addition to the wagons and horses received, the supply of provisions on hand and on their way to camp was sufficient for the entire campaign, and this once more restored Braddock's good humor. On the 22d he wrote to Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, the following letter, which is amongst the MSS. in the Maryland Historical Society :
"FORT CUMBERLAND, May 22d, 1755.
" SIR :
" As I propose soon to begin my march for Fort Duquesne, I am desirous of adjusting every future contingency in such a manner to avoid any mistake or misunderstanding. If I take ye Fort in its present condition I shall make additions to it as I shall judge necessary, and shall leave the Guns, Ammunition & stores belonging to ye Fort with a Garrison of Virginia and Maryland forces. But should they, as I have
131
AFFAIRS AT FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
reason to apprehend they should, abandon & destroy ye Fortification with its Guns, &c., I will repair or construct some place of defence & leave a Garrison as before. But as to the Artillery, ammunition, stores, provisions, &c., they must be immediately supply'd by ye Governments of Virginia, Maryland & Pennsylvania, separately or jointly according to ye agreement made at Alexandria. And that I may not by delays in yours or the other Governments be detained so long as to frustrate any other designs for this year I must beg that you will have all these things in readiness to be forwarded to ye Fort, escorted by your militia. A proper quantity of Flower & Meal should be preparing as these in every situation must be regarded & if care is not taken to send these convoys the men must starve & his Majesty's arms be dishonored (should they prove success- ful) & the expences & Trouble which his regard for the colonies have engaged him in rendered useless. Some Indians lately arrived here from the French fort, mention a bravado of the French and their Indians that they propose when the troops are far advanc'd to fall upon this back country and destroy the inhabitants. Make what use or give credit to this intelligence as you please. However, it may not be amiss to take all possible precautions.
" As I find impracticable to take my chariot with me, if you will send for it and ye Harness for the six Horses I shall be much obliged to you & you will make use of it till I want it. I shall be still more as I am sure it will be less damaged by good usage than by lying still ; it will also save you the trouble of sending for another to England, as it shall be at your service at your own price when I leave this part of ye world ; let your serv'ts take care of ye harness, and have it oiled if you don't use it. I shall leave directions to Col. Innes to deliver chariot, Harness, spare axle-trees and pole to your order.
"I am Sir, your most obedient and " Most Humble Servant
" E. BRADDOCK."
On the 27th the commissaries, one of whom was Colonel Cresap, engaged in loading one hundred wagons with provisions, in readiness for the march, and a guard, under command of a Captain, was sent back to Winchester to escort the rations then on their way to the Fort. A number of Delaware Indians came to the camp on this day, and wanted an interview with the General, but they were put off until the morrow, as the Indians of that tribe were
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
looked upon by the officers with suspicion. Next day they went to the General's tent, and told him they had come to join him and to make war against the French, and asked him what he intended to do. He told them he would march in a few days to attack Fort Duquesne, and thanked them for coming to join him. These warriors got out of camp at the first opportunity, and doubtless returned to the French.
On the 29th Major Chapman marched towards Fort Duquesne, with 500 men, two pieces of artillery, . and a provision train of fifty wagons. Sir John St. Clair, with Mr. Spendelow, two engineers, six soldiers and two Indians, accompanied them, the men to be employed in repairing the road.
On the 30th Captain Dobbs, with a company from North Carolina, arrived. Washington also returned to camp from Winchester, having in charge £4,000 in money for use of the army, which Braddock had - sent him for. In speaking of this matter, Washington wrote, a week later, to Mr. William Fairfax, as follows :
" CAMP AT WILL'S CREEK, 7 June, 1755.
"STR: I arrived with my charge safe in camp on the 30th of last month, after wasting a day and part of another in Winchester, expecting the cavalry to escort me up ; in which being disappointed I was obliged to make use of a small guard of the militia of Frederick county. The General, from frequent breaches of contract, has lost all patience ; and for want of that temper and moderation which should be used by a man of sense upon these occasions, will, I fear, represent us in a light we little deserve; for, instead of blaming the individual, as he ought, he charges all his disappointments to public supineness, and looks upon the country, I believe, as void of honor and honesty. We have frequent disputes on this head, which are maintained with warmth on both sides, especially on his, as he is incapable of arguing without it, or giving up any point he asserts, be it ever so incompatible with reason or common sense.
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AFFAIRS AT FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
" A line of communication is to be opened from Pennsylvania to the French fort Duquesne, along which, after a little time we are to receive all our convoys of people, who ought rather to be chastised for their insensibility to danger, and disregard of their sovereign's expecta- tions. They, it seems, are to be the favored people, because they have furnished what their absolute interest alone induced them to do, that is one hundred and fifty wagons and an equivalent number of horses.
"Major Chapman, with a detachment of five hundred men, and the quarter master General, marched two or three days before I arrived here, to open the road, and lay in a deposite of provision at a small fort which they are to erect at the Little Meadows.
" To morrow Sir Peter Halket, with the first brigade, is to begin his march, and on Monday, the General, with the second, is to follow. One hospital is filled with sick, and the numbers increase daily with the bloody flux, which has not yet proved mortal to many.
" I am sir " Your most obdt servt
"GEO. WASHINGTON."
The discipline of the camp was made more stringent every day, and the punishment of soldiers for violating orders was both frequent and severe. Strict orders were issued against gaming, and drunkenness, each of these offences being punishable with two hundred lashes, without so much as a trial. Several soldiers were severely dealt with for theft and desertion, and the terror of an unyielding military law was relied upon to keep up the morale of the army. The Sabbath day was also observed, and religious services held regularly on Sunday mornings by the Chaplains of the regiments. Braddock's adherence to his ideas of thorough discipline, and his contempt for the Indians as warriors, not only resulted in the loss of the services of those who had been brought him by Croghan, but also of a valuable ally in the person of Captain Jack, who was a well known scout, and who
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
followed the Indian mode of warfare. Captain Jack commanded a company of daring men like himself, who were familiar with the woods, and with all the stratagems of the savages, to whom they had long been deadly foes. His family had been murdered and his cabin burned by a party of Indians, some time before, and he had devoted himself to avenging his murdered wife and children. His deeds of prowess had rendered him the terror of the Indians. He was clad in their garb, slept in the open air, was always alert, swift and certain in his fatal visits to their haunts, constantly paying the debt which he owed them, and which he had vowed should only be cancelled when his life should end. His home was on the Juniata, and he was known as the "Black Hunter." The alliance of this powerful trapper-chief, and his men, would have been of incalculable importance to Braddock, and their services were freely offered, but they were not willing to submit to the regular discipline of the army. For this reason their offer was rejected, and they took their departure.
When everything had been made ready for the march from Fort Cumberland, the General seemed to regret somewhat the rough speeches he had made, regarding the country and the people generally, under the influence of his disappointments, though he persisted still in being much dissatisfied with the contractors, whom he declared had no patriotic impulses, and no thought other than to put money in their purses.
Towards Franklin he entertained the most com- plimentary opinions, and before leaving he wrote to
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AFFAIRS AT FORT CUMBERLAND.
1755.]
the Secretary of State the following flattering letter regarding that eminent man:
" WILL'S CREEK, June 5, 1755. " SIR :
" Before I left Williamsburg the Quarter Master General told me that I might depend upon twenty five hundred horses and two hundred wagons from Virginia and Maryland ; but I had great reason to doubt it, having experienced the false dealings of all in this country with whom I had been concerned. Hence, before my departure from Frederick, I agreed with Mr. Benjamin Franklin, Postmaster in Pennsylvania, who has great credit in that Province, to send here one hundred and fifty wagons and the necessary number of horses. This he accomplished with promptitude and fidelity, and it is almost the only instance of address and integrity which I have seen in all these provinces."
Everything being ready for the advance, the army was divided into three divisions. On the 7th of June the first division, under Sir Peter Halket, left the camp at Fort Cumberland; on the 8th the second division, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Gage, of the 44th Regiment, marched. There was left in camp then only a small number of troops besides the garrison of the Fort. An order had been issued by the General, on the 2d, appointing Colonel Innes Governor of the Fort, and he was to remain with enough of the colonial volunteers to hold the Fort and protect the country about it from the enemy. The large number of women in camp, wives of soldiers, who could be of no service on the march, and would tend to impede the advance as well as to consume the stores, he determined to get rid of, and therefore sent twenty-four of them back to Philadelphia, with the following letter and pass:
" FORT CUMBERLAND, June 9th, 1755.
" Sir :
" I have found it necessary to discharge a number of women who are wives to soldiers belonging to the forces under my command, and must
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND.
[1755.
beg of you to give orders that they be subsisted in your government ; their names are contained in the Passes I have given 'em for their Protection, and I have taken care to order stoppages to be made of one-third Part of their Husbands' Pay to defray the expense of their maintenance.
"I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
" E. BRADDOCK."
[L. S.]
"By his Excellency Edward Braddock, Esq, General and commander in chief of all His Majesty's Forces in North America.
"I do hereby certify that the Bearers, Mary Welch, Elizabeth Webster, Mary Walker, Mary Crab, Dorkey Moreton, Margaret Wray, Margaret Gates, Catharine McFarland, Jane Campbell, Catharine Watson, Annie Manning, Susanna Duncan, Annie McDonald, Mary Ryo, Margaret Doggett, Elizabeth Rickerby, Annie Anderson, Jean Anderson, Mary Scott, Annie Totle, Christiana Fergason, Mary Dimond, Eleanor Lemmon & Sara Lord are wives to soldiers belonging to forces under my command ; And all persons whatsoever are hereby required to suffer 'em to pass without hindrance or molestation.
"Given at the Camp at Fort Cumberland, the 9th day of June, 1755. " E. BRADDOCK.
" By His Excellency's Command, "W. SHIRLEY."
Major Chapman had marched with his command, by the route marked out by Colonel Cresap and the Indian guide, Nemacolin. This route crossed Will's Mountain, as heretofore described, by way of Sandy Gap. Lieutenant Spendelow, of the Seamen, who accompanied Major Chapman on his first day's march, to aid in clearing the road, returned to the camp, impressed with the importance of discovering a less difficult route, and taking one of his officers and a squad of men, spent several days in examining the country. He finally concluded that a much more desirable road could be constructed along the East bank of Will's Creek, through the "Narrows," whereby he would be enabled to strike the old road,
137
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
a few miles beyond, the distance being increased less than two miles. His advice as to this matter was accepted, and a road was built at once, the labor not being severe, whereby the heavy grades were entirely avoided, to the great relief of the transportation department. The troops that left the Fort after Major Chapman's departure took the new route, which was used altogether in the movements of the army afterwards. This route is shown on the map here given, as well as the original road, which was located by Mr. T. C. Atkinson, an engineer of great ability and the nicest accuracy, who was employed in the survey of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway, and who spent considerable time in the examination of Braddock's route, and the traces still left in 1850 in the forests. The map as pre- pared by Mr. Middleton showed only the route over the mountain west of Will's Creek. The author has added thereto a line showing the new road opened by Lieutenant Spendelow through the "Narrows," and joining the other, five miles north of Fort Cumberland. The map as now given may be confidently accepted as perfectly accurate, in every respect. The route through the "Narrows" was eventually adopted by United States engineers in locating the great National Road, which, however, was made to cross Will's Creek at the entrance to the "Narrows," and to skirt the mountain on the west side of the gorge instead of the east. Lieutenant Spendelow's road skirted the margin of Will's Creek, along the eastern base of the cliffs of the "Narrows" until this wonderful gorge was passed; it then crossed the creek just above the 18
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
mouth of Braddock's Run, and followed the course of the Run, crossing it at times, and in some instances taking the bed of the stream. It joined the other road near the Everstine place, five miles west of the Fort. Braddock's Run received its name from this circumstance, and still retains it.
The task of building Lieutenant Spendelow's new road was begun on the 3d of June, when an engineer and 120 men went to work on it, and completed about one mile a day, until the 7th, at which time Sir Peter Halket's division marched; on the 8th Gage's division followed, and on the 10th Dunbar's division left the Fort, bringing up the rear. Braddock accompanied Dunbar's command, and Fort Cumber- land was left with a small detachment of able men, under Colonel Innes. Quite a number of men were left in the hospitals here, besides several officers, amongst them Commodore Keppel, the commander of the British fleet. Most of them were suffering from the bloody flux, which disease proved fatal to several soldiers, after only a short illness.
The difficulties of the march soon brought the General to appreciate the apprehensions of Washington; the steep mountains, rocky roads, and ugly ravines, incident to this new country were all beyond his anticipations. It became necessary to double up the teams in order to pull the wagons up the rough grades; in some instances even this was impracticable, the seamen being obliged to draw them up by means of ropes and pulleys. Not more than three or four miles a day could be made, and in order to avoid a further delay, where already weeks
139
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
of precious time had been lost, Braddock eventually yielded to Washington's advice, and sent back many of his wagons, taking the animals for pack horses, and transporting his stores in the only practicable manner. The artillery was a source of great trouble; although the guns were of small calibre, yet they could not be left, and the army struggled on, day after day, making only short marches.
Braddock's route has been discussed and speculated upon to an extraordinary extent, and was for many years not very clearly defined. In "The Olden Time," an interesting collection of papers relative to the history of the settlement and improvement of the country about the headwaters of the Ohio, is a very satisfactory description of this route, written from Cumberland, by Mr. T. C. Atkinson, in 1847, which is undoubtedly more correct than any other ever published, and this document is given here in full: BRADDOCK'S ROUTE TO THE BATTLE OF THE MONONGAHELA.
"The interest with which the routes of celebrated expeditions are regarded, and the confusion which attends them after the lapse of years, is well exemplified in the case of Hannibal, whose march towards Rome, in order to divert their army from the siege of Capua, was totally lost in the course of a few centuries. The constant blunders of Livy in copying first from one writer, and then from another who made him take a different path, justify a recent English historian who went to Italy to see the ground for himself, in saying that the Punic war was almost as hard in the writing as the fighting.
"As the time is coming when the road by which
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HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND. [1755.
the unfortunate Braddock marched to his disastrous field, will be invested with antiquarian interest, akin to that attending Hannibal's route, or rather the via scelerata, by which the Fabian family marched out of Rome, I have thought it time not idly spent to attempt to pursue its scattered traces as far as it is in my power, among more pressing occupations. In this sketch I do not design to pursue it to its extent, but only to identify it in those parts where it has been convenient for me to visit it, and in others to shadow out its general direction. Where it is obscure I hope to have opportunities to examine it at a future day.
"Of the well conducted expedition of Col. Boquet, and its precise path, the publications of Mr. Hutchins, the geographer, who was one of the engineers, leaves us very well informed. It is presumable that similar details would be found of the march of 1755, if it had had a successful termination. The three engineers who were in the field were wounded; and it is probable their papers fell into the hands of the enemy, or were lost in the fight.
"General Braddock landed at Alexandria on the 20th of February, 1755. The selection of this port for the debarcation of the troops was censured at the time, though it is probable it had the approval of Washington. The two Regiments he brought with him were very defective in numbers, having but about 500 men each, and it was expected their ranks would be recruited in America. It is shown by the repeated requests on this point made by the General at Cumberland, that this expectation was
Allegheny R
PITTSBURG
Peters
X Battle field.
MonongahelaR
Nº Keesport
Long.R ....
Turtle Crock
U Sampsaru Mill
Crooked Run
Yougiogheny R
Robus Town
Sewichtly C
National Road
Brownsville
Stuarts Crossings
Union T
: Connel .ville
Chesnut Ridge
Dinoar
Camp
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Ft Nece
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. M!
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Allegheny Mi
Meadow
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Savage P.
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Great Savage'
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L. Allegheny
Potomacker
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Evitts Ma
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Old Tra
Porgmac
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Nonitmore Tumpike
MARYLAND
Little Cocttpon R
Sideling Hill
VIRGINIA
Great Cacapon R
Braddock's Route
Braddock's Road. .......***
Will. H . Lowdermilk
A.D. 1755.
Castlemans R
Cox's C
Scale of miles
andicorrected by
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PENNSYLVANIA
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141
BRADDOCK'S ROUTE.
1755.]
vain. After numerous delays, and a conference with the Royal Governors, we find General Braddock en route on the 24th of April, when he had reached Fredericktown in Maryland. Passing thence through Winchester, Va., he reached Fort Cumberland about the 9th of May. Sir John St. Clair, Deputy Quarter- master General, had preceded him to this point about two weeks.
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