History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 5

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
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But nevertheless the Ohio Company still contin- I ued their movementa in the West. They had built a block-house at Redstone, now Brownsville, and in the spring of 1754 made arrangements to take perma- nent possession of the country about the forks of the : Ohio. About the middle of February, Trent, Gist, I and several others arrived at this point, and there waited on more, to the number of seventy or eighty, to come down the river, the Monongahela, on which Redstone Old Fort was built. They began the forma- tion of a redoubt. Before their work was finished a French officer, Contrecœur, with a thousand French and Indians and eighteen pieces of cannon, arrived from Venango. They compelled Ensign Ward, com- mandant in the absence of Trent, to surrender. This was the first open act of a war which desolated the tinents, but which in the end resulted in favor of the English, and so shaped the destinies of these colonies that they in time equaled in dominion and in power either the empire of King George or the empire of King Louis.

The French, taking possession of this disputed point, built a fort, which they called Fort Duquesne, after the Governor of Canada. They expended much labor upon it and made it a strong fortification ; but it was never submitted to the ordeal of a siege. They made to themselves a stronger defense by the alliance of the natives, whom they drew to their interest by favorable treaties. They summoned all the neigh- boring tribes together and loaded them with presents, guns and ammunition, blankets and beads. And now occurring the treaty of 1754, the alienation of the In- dians was made complete. This treaty was held at Albany by order of the king. This had been recom- mended by the Lords of Trade and Plantations, that all the provinces might be comprised in one treaty. Thus we see how that the interests of all the prov- inces were affected, and how the subsequent war be- came one common to all.

The action of the Ohio Company in attempting to build a fort at the Forks of the Ohio River was under authority and assistance of the Virginia government. Governor Dinwiddie, representing the necessity of this procedure, issued a proclamation for recruits. To such as entered the service he gave a bounty of land, appropriating for this purpose two hundred thousand acres on the east side of the Ohio. Under these claims lands were held in the southwestern part of the State; but not all, for some were held by mili-

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THE FRENCH OCCUPANCY OF FORT DUQUESNE.

tary permit, and some under the land titles of the i paign three expeditions were organized. The first, colony of Virginia, but all under the belief that the jurisdiction of that colony covered this debatable ground.

under command of Gen. Edward Braddock, com- mander-in-chief, was to operate against Fort Du- quesne ; the second, under Gen. Shirley, against Fort Niagara and Frontenac; the third, under Gen. ican colonists to so easily give in to the demands of ; Johnson, against Crown Point.

But it was not in the nature of those English-Amer- an enemy, howsoever well or ill those demands might be founded. And the Governor of Virginia, determin- ing on securing the site so advantageously pointed out by Washington, had in the mean time sent out two companies subject to Washington's orders. Capt. Trent, with one company, had preceded Washington, who was at Wills Creek when he got information of the surrender of Ensign Ward. Washington knew that it was impossible that he could take the position lost, but he resolved to proceed to Redstone, and there fortify himself till the arrival of reinforcements. He hewed a road through the wilderness and over the mountains on an old Indian trail which crossed to the Potomac, and which was pointed out by a friendly Indian in his service called Nemacolin. At the Youghiogheny he was stopped for want of a bridge. This was about half the distance to the Redstone. He here found that the French were advancing to meet him. He therefore hastened on with the pur- pose of intercepting them at a place called the Great Meadows, which location he knew to be a favorable one for his security.1 At the dawning of the day on the 28th of May, 1754, they saw the French erecting their tents in a retired valley. A detachment was ordered to surround them ; both then fired upon the enemy at the same instant. Their leader was killed, and all, with the exception of one that escaped, were captured. A Stockade was here erected, the reinforce- ments came in in due time, and Washington, by the death of Col. Fry, the commander of the expedition, was left in sole command.

Washington was at this time but twenty-two years of age, but his nature was of a calm, calculating, and heroic kind. He learned from his Indian spies that reinforcements had arrived at Fort Duquesne. It was therefore impossible for him to take it. He retired to his stockade now called Fort Necessity, and there awaited the approach of the enemy. They had scarcely secured themselves when they were attacked by fifteen hundred French and Indians. Nearly all day in the heart of the wilderness the battle raged. So well did Washington defend his handful of men that they were accorded unwonted terms by a capitulation, and allowed to return to their homes, marching off in military order with their baggage.

England and France were now enemies, and the British government resolved on opposing the French in America by aggressive movements. Reinforce- ments of royal regulars were sent to the colonies. A plan of campaign was adopted, and in this cam-

The campaign of Gen. Braddock, and the particu- lars connected with it, are perhaps better known to us than any other incident in our historical annals. This local interest has been heightened by the national interest attached to it. In this campaign Washington first served with something more than ordinary distinction. The magnificent inception of this expedition, the first extensive campaign of reg- ular troops with modern artillery for a battle with the aborigines and their allies; the great expectations formed upon its success; the bloody conflict; the lamentable death of the veteran general flushed with military enthusiasm ; the mild, gentlemanly, and heroic behavior of the young Virginia colonel; the rout and retreat; the burying of the body of their commander at midnight, when, as some will roman- tically have it, the slender Washington, by the un- certain light of torches, read the office of the dead; the care taken by the army to hide his resting-place from the savages by making his grave in the road, that the army wagons driven over it would make it imperceptible, with many more incidents, have been often dwelt upon, and have become to us quite familiar. We will not, therefore, impose upon good nature by being tediously prolix, for we are unable at this day to develop any new facts worthy of notice.

The Province of Pennsylvania was blamed for not taking a more active part in Braddock's campaign.2 As the contingent of forces from the Province was not authorized to assist in this expedition, the blame seemed more reprehensible or more apparent. The troops from Pennsylvania were sent to Gen. Shirley, and nearly one whole regiment was recruited, mostly from the western counties. The colony raised a num- ber of horses and wagons, and opened a road from Fort Louden through Bedford to Fort Cumberland. This was the most westerly road in the Province. Three hundred men were ordered to be employed on this road. The Assembly also gave a full share of funds. The lack of more active measures was not so much due to the spirit of the colonists as to the un- willingness of the hereditary Governors.

2 Much undeserved opprobrium has been enst upon Pennsylvania for her backwardness in offering assistance to Braddock. The Governors, under instruction of the proprietaries, would not sanction or approve of any low to raise revenue which would tax the estates of the proprietaries. Hence the Assembly refused to appropriate funds or raise and equip troops so long as these unjust exceptions wero insisted upon. Common danger and the wild cries of the people after the defeat of Braddock, under the administration of a new Governor harmon'zed the einterests. Although this is a matter not of local interest. it is well to be known and not forgotten.

1 See Note 2, page 21.

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHAPTER III. BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION.

Braddock's Forces at Fort Cumberland-He comes up the Olky Com- jane's Risul, piloted by Washington-Opens the Road to the Younghiv- gheny, and through our part of Westmoreland to the Monongahela; after chasing which River the Army, In a DeBle on the South Bank above Turtle Creek, is Surprised by the French Canadiane and Tuliane from the Fort-The Number of the Enemy and their Leaders-The Virginians cover the Retient of the British-Washington carries of the Army-The Route, Courses, and Distances of the March-How the Trail may be found at this Day-Effect of Braddock's thefirst on the Pennsylvanm Colonists-The Battle-Ground visited by Sublieme under Forbes Three Years after the Battle-The Appearance of tie Field.

the red cross of St. George, and the blare of the trum- pets that echoed through the woods. He had with him about a thousand regulars, -myal troops, whose perfect movements had helped to make the reputation of that wonderful machine which had marched across the Peninsula,- thirty sailors from the fleet of Admiral Kepple, whose squadron had transported the royalists, and about twelve hundred provincials, mostly from Virginia and New York. In addition to these he was joined by about a hundred and fifty Indians and fron- tiersmen from the back regions of Pennsylvania, who were dressed like Indians, and who fought after the Indian fashion. These had been encouraged by the colonists to come, and had they been accepted would have been of good service an scouts. Of these forty to fifty were friendly Delawares from under the fa- mous Sca-roo-ya-da, a steadfast friend of Washington and the Americans. Crogan, the interpreter, and " Captain Jack,"" with his bordermen, were also of

THIS campaign may be briefly summed up.' Brad- dock, on the 20th of April, 1755, left his camp at Alexandria, on the Potomac, in Virginia, and took up his march towards Fort Duquesne. After stopping some days at Fredericktown, Md., he marched by way of Winchester, Va., to Fort Cumberland, on Wills Creek, where he arrived on the 10th of May. them ; but the offer of their services was rejected He was here delayed by reason of the neglect of tl:e with indignation, and they were rather despised than appreciated. Some of these, for the mere love of war or bound by promise, and full of hatred towards the Pennsylvania authorities in furnishing him the ne- cessary wagons and horses needful for the transporta- tion of his stores and munitions of war.' On the ' French and their allies, remained in the skirts of the day of their arrival, in general orders the appoint- army, and later on that day of disaster did service never to be forgotten, while the rest, with a mutual disgust at the regular gentry, retired to their moun- tain fastnesses, and remained inactive during the campaign.3 ment of Washington as aide-de-camp to the general was proclaimed to the army.' He here reviewed his army, and expressed confidence and pride in the scarlet coats, the bright buttons, the brilliant musket-barrels,

1 Orders were is-nol from the British ministry in 1754, to the Gov- ernors of the provinces, directing them to teroit to force to drive the French intruders from their atation on the Ohio.

On the 14th of January, 1753, Maj .- Gen. Sir Edward Braddock, who had won great distinction as an alle and brave oficer and a strict dimi- plinarian, and who had been appointed commander-in-chief of all the king's forces in America, Failed from Cork, Ireland, with two regiments " Between 17:0 and 1755 there figured a character of rome note ist Cum- berland County. Captain Jack, the . Blick Hunter,' the ' Blick Rifle,' of royal troops. Each regiment numbered five hundred men. One, the Forty- fourth, was under Col. Dunbar; the other, the Forty-eighth, | the ' Wild Hunter of the Juniata,' the . Blick Hunter of the Forest,' was was under Sir Peter Hulket. They arrived at Alexandria, Va., on the 20th of February, 1735.

At n council held at the camp at Alexandria, which was attended by the Governors of the middle and northern colonies, three expeditions were agreed upon,-the first against Fort Duquesne, uuder conimiand of Braddock in person : the second against Ningar and Frontenac, under Gen. Shirley (Governor of Massachusetts); the third against Crown Point, under Gen. William Johnson.

" The whole campaign was planned with want of foresight, not to sny in ignorance. Of ull places for a base of supplies for an aggressive cam- jeigu, Alexandria was the last to be considered. The country through which the army passed could furnish neither provisions nur carriage. In Pennsylvanin the conflict between the Executive and the Assembly was of such a nature and had reached such a height that the confidence of the inhabitants was so shinken as to overlook suy inducements held out by the Governors for them to contribute in the absence of leg sint- tive enactment; for, as we have said, the Governors were instructed by the proprietaries not to sanction auy bill for raising revenue or supplies unless their estates were exonerated. It is well known that Benjamin Franklin, on his individual responsibility, secured a supply of wagons and horses from York and Lancaster Counties, and the necessary drivers to more the army and the supplies. There were no Pennsylvania troops with Bowldock ; most of those from this Province in that war were with Gen. Shirley.

" Braddock had orders from the king, dated at St. James, Nov. 12, 1754, respecting the rauk of the colonial officers, by which he was to suffer no American field-officer to take command of even a battalion of colonial troops. Washington had resigned in consequence of this order. -Sparks, vol. ii. p. G8.

" This "Captain Jack" was one of the most peculiar ontgrowthe of hor- der times. There is a romantic interest attached to his name, especially in the Cumberland district of this State, where his name is localized. What follows here is on the authority of that eminent antiquary and most reliable local historian, Mr. I. D. Hupp, whose reputation for ac- curacy is of the highest. [History of Cumberland County]

a white man. He entered the words with a few enterprising compan- ions, built his cabin, cleared a little hutrd, and anmsed himself with the pleasures of fishing and hunting. He felt happy, for he lind not a care. But one evening, when he returned from a day of sport, he found his cabin burnt, and his wife and children murdered. From that moment he forsook civilized man, lived in caves, protected the frontier inhabit- units from the Indians, and se zed every opportunity for revenge that offered. Ile was n terror to the Indians, a protector to the whitee. On one occasion, near Juninta, in the middle of a dark night, a family was suddenly awakened by the report of a gun. They jumped from their hints, and by the glimmering light from their chimney saw an Indian fall to rise no more. The open door exposed to view the ' Wild Hunter.' ' I saved your lives,' he cried, then turned and was Inried in the gloom. Hle never shot without good cause. His look was as unerring as his ait. Hle formed an association to defend the settlers against savage aggression. On a given signal they would unite. Their exploits were heard of in 1756 on the Conocochengne and Juniata. He was sometimes called the ' Half-Indian;' and Col. Armstrong, in a letter to the Governor, myn, ' The company under the command of the Half-Indian having left the Great Cove, the Indians took advantage and minnlered many.' He also, throngh Col. Crogan, proffered his nid to Braddock. 'He will march with his hnuters,' says the colonel; 'they are dressed in hunting shirts, moccasins, etc., aro well armed, and are equally regardless of heat and cold. They require no shelter for the night ; they ask no pay.' What was the real name of this mysterious personage lins never been aacer- tained. It is supposed that he gave the name to 'Jack's Mountain,'-an euduring and appropriate monument."

" There appears to be a slight variation in the statements of various writers respecting the number of Indians engaged on Braddock's side

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BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION.

From here on the 27th of May were sent out five hundred men under Sir John St. Clair1 and Maj. Chapman to open the road to the Little Meadows, which road had previously been marked out by Wash- ington and his friendly Indian, Nemacolin, and after- wards used by the Ohio Company. The army was divided into two brigades; Halket commanded one, Dunbar the other. On the 8th of June the first bri- gade under Halket took up its march, and two days after the main body under Braddock followed. On the seventh day after he had started thence he reached the Little Meadows, at the foot of the Allegheny Mountains, on the western side, whither St. Clair had arrived. A small fort erected here was to be a new base of operations and a new station for supplies.2

Here was held a council; and here for the first time was the advice of the "Young Buckskin," as Braddock called, Washington, listened to. He had advised that the army dispense with the cumbrous wagons, which undoubtedly would retard their march, and proceed from Cumberland with pack-horses, as the route was mountainous and the way difficult. The march hither had shown the correctness of his obser- vations. They had found it difficult to get the wagons along at all, and the train being from three to four miles long took too many men to guard them, who in so doing were so separated that an attack at any one point would be dangerous to the entire army. He here renewed the advice that the heavy artillery and baggage remain with a portion of the army and fol- low with easy marches, but that the portion of the army effective for fighting, lightly equipped, with a few pieces of light cannon and such stores as were necessary, should press forward to the enemy's fort. The advice was agreed with, and the army was again · divided for safety and efficiency. Twelve hundred men with twelve pieces of artillery, selected from the different corps, under Braddock himself, with Halket and his veterans, preceded Dunbar and Chapman, who were to follow by slower and more easy marches with the residue of the two regiments, some independent companies, the heavy artillery and baggage.

Braddock then set forward from the Little Meadows on the 19th of June, taking with him their thirty car- riages, including those which were used for the am- munition, and a train of pack-horses, upon whose

during the war. There were without doubt some who did effective ser- vice, which is attested by Washington [see Sparks], and by the records of a council held at Philadelphia, Ang. 15, 1755, whereat Governor Morris said, " Brethren of the Six Nations, you that are now here, viz. : Scarrooyady [and five other chiefs named], fought under Gen. Braddo. k, and behaved with spirit and valor during the engagement."

1 Sir John St. Clair was quartermaster-general of the army.

" The Little Meadows were at the foot of Meadow Mountain. The Great Meadows were about thirty-one miles farther west, and near the eastern 1 foot of Laurel Hill. The Great Meadows mark the site of Fort Necessity, the early scene of Washington's youthful glory. This is the Fayette County region. By "Little Crossings" is meant the ford at Casselman's . mitted they were allowed to march on the danke, between the pickets and River, one of the three streams which form the Turkey Foot, now C'on- fluence, Somerset Co. The " Great Crossings" was the pas-age of the Yonghiogheny itself. The Little Crossings were two miles west of the Little Meadows, and the Great Crossings seventeen miles further west.

backs were borne the baggage and provisions. But they proceeded slowly. On the 23d, their fourth day out, they reached the Youghiogheny at the Great Crossings, only nineteen miles' distance. The route from here to the Great Meadows, or Fort Necessity, was not difficult: On the 30th of June they crossed the Youghiogheny the second time at about a mile or so below where Connellsville now stands. Now in the wilderness, and no road to go by, they appear to have lost their bearings.3 On the 3d of July a council was

3 The tortuous course of Braddock through Westmoreland cannot be necounted for. He seems to have wandered around like a lost man. For the cause of this we venture an explanation. Washington, more than any other man, was the ; ilot of that expedition. He knew the topography of this section of country better than any man of his day. For his pre-eminent fitness and special knowledge Braddock was in- duced to give him the appointment he did. Now at the Little Mendows Washington was taken down with a fever, and was left at Col. Dunbar's camp unable to proceed farther. He, led by the destiny that leads such men through the world, rejoined Braddock the day before the battle, in time only to save the army from total destruction. He says in a letter (Sparks, vol. ii. p. 85), "On the 8th of July I rejoined in n covered wngou the advance division of the army, under the immediate command of the General. On the 9th I attended bim on horseback, though very low and weak."

As the route of Braddock's army is a matter of such local interest, we are able at this day to follow him over the wheat-fields and among the orchards of Westmoreland.

The anny first kept on the dividing ridge between the Yongh and Cheat Rivers. About a mile west of the Great Meadows, and near the spot of Brad lock's grave, the rund diverged to the northeast to strike the pass through the Laurel Hill, and to cross the Youghiogheny at a crossing known afterward as Stewart's Crossing, about a mile below Connellsville. They were now off their direct route, which evidently lay along the river, and were in a wilderness. The rund next crossed Jacole Creek at the place known as Welshhanse's Mill (later Tinstminu's Mill), about a mile and a half below Mount Pleasant, in East Hunting- don township ; crossed over the Mount Pleasant and West Newton turn- pike below Mount Pleasant, leaving it on the right; thence in a direc- tion a little more westerly it crossed the Big Sewickley near Painter's Salt-Works, now marked by the line of the Southwest Railway, and the point probably between Painterville and Ruffsdale Stations; thence nearly due north, crossing and recrossing the Pittsburgh and Greens- burg turnpike between Greensburg and Irwin, leaving Malison and Jacksonville on the north and east till it reaches the Brush Creek fork of Turtle Creek.

It appears by tracing the route on the map that the course from Con- nellsville to a distance beyond Mount Pleasant is entirely out of the direction of Fort Duquesne from there. This became apparent to Brad- dock on the 7th of July, when he had doubts, and when, as before stated, after reflection and examination, he turned into the Long Run Valley near Stewartsville, passing by a mill-seat on that run known sinco that time as Sampson's Mill.

From the manuscript journal of a soldier who accompanied Braddock, which has been exhumed from the King's Library, London, where it was deposited, we quote the following, recorded while the army was within the limits of our county. The diary for a few days before and after the battle may be found at length in Craig's " Pittsburgh :"

"On July 4th they marched six miles to Thicketty Run. on the 6th they marched six miles to ' Monakatuca Camp,' called thus from the death of Monakatnea's son, who was shot and killed by a party of In- dians. The line of carrying-horses extended a great length, and it was almost impossible to keep them from ' insults,' so that the teamsters car- ried fire-locks. The disposition or arrangement of these horses varied almost every day, but the most common practice was to let them remain on the ground an hour after the march began under a guard of one hun- dred mon. By thus doing there was no confusion. When the roads per-

a line of soldiers ; but when it was rock , and they were close together, they were made to fall in the rear. T ere were parties on the flanks

7th they tried to pass Turtle

at all times and a guard behind. On ti. Creek about twelve miles from its mo to avoid ' The Narrows:' but

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HISTORY OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

held at Jacobs Creek to consider the propriety of bringing forward Col. Dunbar with. the reserves. Sir John St. Clair urged this, but it was rejected on what was regarded sufficient grounds. On the 7th of July Braddock was in doubt as to the proper way of pro- ceeding. The crossing of Brush Creek, which he had now reached, appeared to be attended with so much hazard that reconnoitring-parties were sent forward.' After an examination of the ground he diverged to the left, passed down the valley of Long Run, and after one of the best marches of the campaign camped for the night in a favorable depression between that stream and Crooked Run, about two miles from the Monongahela. This was about four miles from the battle-ground. Their camp-fires were here watched all night by their enemies hid in the bushes. In the morning they approached the Monongahela down the valley of the Crooked Run, and forded the river below the junction of the Youghiogheny, where now is Mc- Keesport. The advance, under Lieut .- Col. Gage, passed over the ford about eight o'clock on the morn- ing of the 9ch of July, and continued along by the foot of the hills bordering the broad river-bottom to the second fording of the Monongahela, which when crossed again to the north side left a direct route to the fort. Gage passed over this second ford at about the same time the rear of the main division had come out safely from the first. Many had given up all ex- pectation of meeting the enemy until they came to the fort, and they had some reason to feel elated in spirit. The most exact discipline was rigidly main- tained. Washington said afterward that the army marching along this bottom was one of the finest sights he ever saw. The soldiers were neatly dressed, they marched in columns, the musket-barrels reflected the summer morning's sun, the broad tranquil river on their right hand, the high hills, with green foliage to their tops, on their left hand.

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History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 5

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: George Dallas Albert, editor
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: