USA > Virginia > The history of Virginia, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 14
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Proceeding thence, on the main purpose of his mission, to Logstown, twenty miles below the forks of the Ohio, as the point of junction between the Monongahela and the Alleghany was at that time called, Washington held a conference with some of the neighbouring Indian chiefs, and re- quested a guard of friendly warriors to the near- est French post. The principal sachem, Tana- charison, and four other Indians, finally agreed to accompany him.
The head-quarters of the French commandant were one hundred and twenty miles distant, but at the nearer outpost of Venango, Washington
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WASHINGTON'S RETURN.
1753.]
was treated with civility by Captain Joncaire, and directed on his way, although many subtle efforts were made to detach the Indians from his . service.
At the end of forty-one days from the time of his leaving Williamsburg, Washington found himself in the presence of M. de St. Pierre, the French commandant, to whom he presented his commis- sion, and the letter of Governor Dinwiddie. The reply of the commandant was courteous but de- cided. . In all that he had done, he said, having acted under the instructions of the Marquis Du Quesne, Governor of Canada, the summons to retire could not be complied with.
His mission being thus fulfilled, Washington, sending his horses overland, embarked with the rest of his companions, in a canoe, and floated down French Creek, through drifting ice, to the outpost of Venango, a distance of one hundred and thirty miles, which was accomplished with difficulty in six days, they being at one time obliged to avoid the packed ice; by carrying the heavy canoe across a neck of land a quarter of a mile over.
The embarrassment of the journey, owing to the ruggedness of the way, and the inclemency of the wintry weather, at length determined Washington to proceed on foot, clad in an Indian walking dress, and bearing on his back a knap- sack containing his papers and food. Mr. Gist
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1753.
accompanied him, equipped in a similar manner. On the south-east fork of Beaver Creek, the travellers met with an Indian, who called Gist by his name, and who on being asked the nearest route to the forks of the Alleghany, consented to act as a guide. He relieved Major Washington of his knapsack, and for eight or ten miles travelled with them, when Washington, growing weary and foot-sore, desired to encamp. The Indian then offered to carry his gun, but this being prudently declined, he grew churlish, and advised them to keep on until they reached his cabin, as there were Ottowa Indians in the wood who would scalp them if they lay out.
With increasing distrust of their savage guide, the travellers proceeded two miles further, when Washington declared his determination to halt at the next water. As soon as they reached an open clearing, the Indian paused suddenly, turned about at a distance of fifteen paces, and fired. Fortunately, both Washington and his companion remained unharmed. Gist immedi- ately took the treacherous savage prisoner, and would have killed him, but for the humane inter- position of Washington, who kept him a close prisoner until nine o'clock that evening, and then set him free. . He had no sooner bounded fairly out of sight than the travellers set a com- pass, and having fixed their course, walked briskly
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PERIL OF WASHINGTON.
1753.]
all night to put themselves beyond reach of pursuit.
The next afternoon, at dusk, they reached the Alleghany, a little above Shannopins. From want of means to cross the river they were com- pelled to encamp on its banks, with no other covering but their blankets to protect them from the snow.
When the morning came, there was no way of getting over but on a raft ; which they set about constructing, with but one poor hatchet, and finished just after sunsetting. This was a whole day's work. Launching the raft at once, they stepped on board, and immediately pushed from the shore. They had scarcely reached the mid- dle of the river before they were jammed in the ice, in such a manner that they expected every moment the raft would sink. To save them- selves from this danger, Washington put out his setting pole, and attempted to stop the raft until the ice should pass by; but the rapidity of the stream threw the raft with so much violence against the pole, that he was jerked off into ten feet water. Fortunately, he saved himself by
catching hold of one of the raft logs. Notwith-
standing all their efforts, they could not reach either shore, but were compelled to desert their raft, and take refuge on an island in the river. On this desolate spot, chilled, helpless, and suffering dreadfully from frozen feet and hands,
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1754.
they passed the night. With the dawn of morn- ing the prospect of escape opened. The ice in the river had congealed sufficiently strong to bear their weight, and passing over without accident, they finally reached the trading post of a Mr. Frazier, on the Monongahela. After remaining there three days to recruit their strength, and procure horses, they recrossed the Alleghanies to Will's Creek. At this point Washington parted with Mr. Gist, and continued his journey alone to Williamsburg, where he arrived on the 16th of January, 1754, after an absence of eleven weeks.
Dinwiddie immediately convened the assembly. The report of Washington placing the intentions of the French beyond doubt, the burgesses granted ten thousand pounds towards the defence of the frontiers, but encroached upon the pre- rogative of the governor by appointing a com- mittee to supervise the expenditure of the money. Dinwiddie was excessively annoyed at the inde- pendent spirit displayed by the assembly on this occasion. Writing subsequently to the Earl of Holdernesse, he says, " I am sorry to find them very much in a republican way of thinking; and indeed they do not act in a proper constitutional way, but make encroachments on the prerogative of the crown, to which some former governors have submitted too much to them; and I fear, without a very particular instruction, it will be difficult to bring them to order."
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ADVANCE OF THE FRENCH.
1754.7
The military force of Virginia was speedily in- creased to six hundred men. Of this regiment, Joshua Fry was appointed colonel, and Washing- ton lieutenant-colonel. Three independent com- panies of colonial troops, in the pay of Great Britain, and commanded by officers holding com- missions from the crown, were ordered from New York and South Carolina, to assist in the opera- tions against the enemy ; while North Carolina voted twelve thousand pounds, and promised to send a body of troops as early as they could be enlisted.
During the early part of April, 1754, Wash- ington, whose head-quarters had been at Alex- andria, marched from that place with two compa- nies-subsequently reinforced on his route by a third-to Will's Creek, where he arrived on the 20th of the same month.
A party of forty-one men under Captain Trent, had already been thrown forward to the forks of the Ohio, where they commenced building the fort which Washington had previously recom- mended should be constructed at that place. The latter had scarcely reached Will's Creek, before he received intelligence that a body of French troops, to the number of one thousand men, had descended the river from Venango, with eighteen pieces of cannon, sixty batteaux, and three hun- dred canoes, under the command of Captain Con- trecœur ; had taken forcible possession of the
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1754.
unfinished fort, dismissed the Virginia troops at work upon it, and completing the works them- selves, had called them Fort Duquesne, in honour of the governor-general of Canada.
This was the first open act of hostility. After holding a council of war, Washington hastily pressed forward with his detachment, in the hope of being able to penetrate to the mouth of Red Stone Creek, on the Monongahela, where he designed erecting a fortification for the protection of his troops, until the reinforcements he had sent for should arrive.
At the passage of the Youghiogany, he was warned by his old friend Tanacharison of the ap- proach of a French detachment, the commander of which had expressed a determination to attack the first English they should meet. After throw- ing up an entrenchment at a place called the Great Meadows, Washington sent forward a party of soldiers, mounted on wagon horses, to recon- noitre; but they returned without having dis- covered traces of the enemy. Mr. Gist came in soon after, and reported the presence of fifty French soldiers at his settlement the day pre- vious. At nine o'clock the same night another express arrived from Tanacharison, stating that the French detachment was near his camp, a dis- tance of six miles from Great Meadows.
Taking with him forty men, Washington im- mediately marched to form a junction with his
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1754.] SKIRMISH AT GREAT MEADOWS. 245
Indian allies. After having been baffled for six hours by the narrowness of the trails, which were continually being lost amidst the heavy blinding rains and the darkness of the night, he reached the Indian encampment on the 28th of May, a little before sunrise. Upon consultation with Tana- charison and other chiefs, it was resolved to march against the French at once. Two Indians were accordingly sent forward to reconnoitre the position of the enemy, who reported them as en- gaged in pitching their tents, about half a mile from the road, in a valley surrounded by rocks. Arrangements were immediately made to attack them on all sides. It was accomplished most effectually. As soon as the Virginians were dis covered, the French seized their pieces and formed ; but when they found themselves exposed to a fire in front and rear, they threw down their arms. In this brief skirmish the French sustained a los of ten killed, one wounded, and twenty-one taken prisoners. Only a single man escaped. Among the killed was Jumonville, the commander of the detachment. The principal officers taken, were M. Drouillon and M. La Force, the latter of whom Washington speaks of in his despatch as " a bold, enterprising man, and a person of great subtlety and cunning."
The skirmish at Great Meadows, on account of its occurring before war was formally declared between England and France, created a great
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1754.
sensation, especially in the latter country. The conduct of Washington was strongly censured. The death of Jumonville was regarded at Paris in the light of a ferocious murder. He was there represented as a peaceful messenger, who had been suddenly waylaid and assassinated, in a manner contrary to all the rules of war established among civilized nations.
The reply of Washington to these denuncia- tions was brief, but pertinent. "Instead of coming in the public and open manner of ambas- sadors, the party of Jumonville came secretly ; they sought out the most hidden retreats, and remained concealed whole days within five miles of us. After sending out spies to reconnoitre our position, they retreated two miles, from whence they sent messengers to M. Contrecœur, with the results of their reconnoisance." The deserters who subsequently joined the force under Wash- ington, corroborated these statements. They asserted that Jumonville, though sent out osten- sibly as the bearer of a summons warning the English to retire beyond the Alleghanies, was in reality engaged in the duties of a spy, having orders to present his summons only in the event of falling in with a superior party.
Having forwarded his prisoners, and being strengthened by a reinforcement of troops, Wash- ington, now elevated to the chief command by the death of Colonel Fry, erected a stockade fort
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BRADDOCK.
1755.]
at Great Meadows, to which he gave the name of Fort Necessity. Leaving a garrison at this point under charge of Captain Mackay, he pushed on towards Fort Duquesne, but was soon obliged to fall back before a superior force of the enemy. He had scarcely returned to Fort Necessity be- fore the imperfect works were invested by fifteen hundred French and Indians, commanded by M. de Villier. After a brief but spirited defence, the fort was surrendered, on condition that the garrison should be permitted to retire with their arms and baggage. The following morning the Virginians marched out of the fort, and bearing the wounded on their backs, proceeded to Will's - Creek, where they assisted in building Fort Cum- berland.
Changes in the organization of the army hav- ing been subsequently introduced by Governor Dinwiddie, Washington resigned his commission, and retired to private life.
Early in the spring of 1755, General Braddock arrived in Virginia with two regiments of regu- lars, and encamped at Alexandria. This strong force, aided by the colonial militia, was supposed to be amply sufficient to drive the French across the Canadian frontiers. At the urgent request of Braddock, Colonel Washington consented to take part in the campaign as a member of his military family.
The army commenced its march soon after,
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1755.
reaching Winchester about the twentieth of April. From thence the troops marched by different routes to Fort Cumberland, the extreme frontier settlement. At this point they were reinforced by one thousand Virginians. The inability of the contractors to supply the necessary means of transporting the provisions and artillery across the mountains, occasioned great vexation to the commanding general, and delayed for some time the progress of the troops. These embarrass- ments were at length overcome by the energy and activity of Franklin, then postmaster-general for the colonies.
On the 10th of June, the vanguard of the army was once more in motion. Having now to encounter the steep rough ridges of the Allegha- nies, over which a road had to be cut with great labour for the wagons and artillery, the march was slow and difficult in the extreme. Three days were occupied in accomplishing but six of the fifty miles which lay between Fort Cumber- land and Redstone, on the Monongahela. Con- scious that if these delays continued, the season would be consumed in crossing the mountains, Braddock, acting upon the advice of Washington, separated the army into two divisions, and leaving Colonel Dunbar to bring up the heavy baggage, pushed forward, in advance, at the head of twelve hundred men lightly. equipped.
A sickness, brought on by fatigue of body and
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ATTACK ON FORT DUQUESNE.
1755.]
mind, confined Washington to the rear division for nearly two weeks. Anxious, however, to be at his post before the army reached Fort Du- quesne, he parted from the troops under Dunbar, and, borne by short stages across the mountains, overtook Braddock fifteen miles from Fort Du- quesne, the evening before the battle of Monon- gahela.
The British general had been repeatedly warned of the danger to which he was exposed from the wild and rugged character of the coun- try, and the peculiar method of savage warfare. It was suggested to him to employ the three com- panies of provincials, forming part of the first division, as rangers, to scour the country in ad- vance of the army ; but Braddock, wedded to a system of European tactics, and despising alike Frenchmen, provincials, and Indians, adhered to arrangements which, however suitable they might have been on the broad plains of Europe, were in the last degree pedantic and mischievous among the intricate forests of America. Early on the morning of the ninth of July, 1755, the army crossed the Monongahela, a little below the mouth of the Youghiogany, and after marching till about noon, forded the river a second time at a distance of about ten miles from Fort Duquesne. When they reached the northern bank of the Mononga- hela, three hundred men, commanded by Colonel Gage, were thrown forward, supported at a little
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. HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
[1755.
distance, by a party of two hundred, ordered to act as a reserve. These latter were followed by the main body, commanded by Braddock in per- son, which being encumbered with baggage and . artillery, moved but slowly. The whole army had scarcely left the bank of the river, before a sharp firing was heard in front and on the left flank, and the main body hastened up to the sup- port of their companions. But before they could succeed in doing this, the advanced parties fell back successively in great confusion, and break- ing through the main body, so thoroughly disor- ganized it, that no after efforts on the part of the general and his officers could restore them to order. In this state, huddled together in dense masses, firing panic stricken at the con- cealed enemy, and often shooting down their own officers and men, the regulars remained for three hours. It was in vain that Braddock exerted himself to form his men into platoons and co- lumns. The French and Indians, protected by ravines and high bushes on each side of the road, poured from their places of concealment a con- tinuous fire, by which sixty officers and nearly seven hundred men, or one-half of the whole force engaged, were either killed or wounded. Brad- dock himself had five horses shot under him, and fell soon after wounded mortally. His two aids had already been borne disabled from the field. The regulars now gave way on all sides, and the
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1755.]
BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. T
flight soon became a perfect rout. The Virginia troops alone, by taking to the trees and fighting after the Indian manner, behaved with a courage and coolness worthy of their old reputation. Washington, still feeble from his recent illness, placed himself at their head, and covered for a time the disorderly retreat of the. regulars. At length the brave provincials were cut to pieces. Of three companies which were in the action, ' only thirty men escaped. Washington, though always in the thickest of the fight, miraculously escaped unharmed, though he had two horses shot under him, and four bullets had pierced his clothes. 1
So thoroughly disorganized were the fugitive regulars, that it was found impossible to rally them until they reached the rear division under Dunbar. On the 13th of June, the brave, but arrogant, Braddock, expired of his wounds, and was buried on the road near Fort Necessity. The panic among the soldiers still continuing, Dunbar abandoned the expedition, and after de- stroying his artillery and stores, retreated across the mountains to Fort Cumberland, and from thence to Philadelphia.
The campaign being thus brought to a dis- astrous close, Colonel Washington, after resting a few days at the fort to recruit his strength, returned to Mount Vernon, an estate belonging to the orphan daughter of his deceased brother ,
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1755.
Lawrence, but which subsequently descended to . himself, as heir at law.
CHAPTER XXI.
Indian incursions-Activity of Washington-Dinwiddie con- venes the assembly-Increase of troops-Washington ap- pointed commander-in-chief-Hastens to Winchester-Dis- tressed condition of the settlers-His letter to the governor -His painful situation -- Fort Loudoun commenced-Eng- land declares war against France-Arrival of the Earl of Loudoun-Success of the French under Montcalm-Confer- ence at Philadelphia-Plan of the campaign-Failure of the expedition against Louisburg-Campaign of 1758-Energetic measures of Pitt-Expedition ordered against Fort Duquesne -Advance of Colonel Bouquet-The Virginia troops con- centrated at Fort Cumberland-A new road opened to Loyal Hanna-A detachment under Major Grant ordered to recon- noitre Fort Duquesne-Defeat of Grant-Arrival of General Forbes at Loyal Hanna-Council of war-Advance of the troops-The fort burned and deserted by the French-For Pitt erected on its site-Campaign of 1759-Treaty of Fon- tainbleau.
EMBOLDENED by their success in defeating the army under Braddock, the French Indians no longer confined their hostile incursions to the settlements on the frontiers. They crossed the mountains, and after spreading themselves over the country in the vicinity of Fort Cumberland, penetrated to within twenty miles of Winchester. Wherever they moved they committed the most horrible atrocities. Whole families of settlers
1755.] FRESH TROOPS RAISED. 253
were massacred, scouting parties were cut off, 1 and even the fortified stations attacked, with a boldness that was increased by the feebleness with which they were opposed.
Although he had resigned his commission of colonel in the service of Virginia, Washington still retained the office of adjutant-general of militia. Fully conscious that nothing but the most energetic measures could save the inhabi- tants of the frontiers from being utterly extirpa- ted by their savage and barbarous enemies, he called out the militia for exercise and review, and encouraged the formation of volunteer com- panies.
Equally impressed with the necessity of imme- diate action in a crisis already so imminent, Go- vernor Dinwiddie convened the assembly on the 4th of August. The session, which was brief, resulted in a vote of forty thousand pounds for the public service, and authority to increase the Virginia regiment to sixteen companies.
The organization of this body was entrusted to Washington, with the commission of com- mander-in-chief of all the forces raised, and to be raised, in Virginia, and the unusual privilege of naming his own field officers. He had scarcely set out on his journey to Williamsburg, for the purpose of conferring with the governor upon a plan of operations, when he was overtaken by an express announcing a new and more destructive.
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1755.
irruption of the French and Indians, and was compelled to hasten to Winchester.
His personal presence abated in some degree the terrors which the sanguinary excesses of the enemy had inspired. He collected and armed the men who had fled with their families from scenes of desolation and carnage, and directed the county lieutenants, and the officers engaged in enlisting volunteers, to concentrate their re- cruits and militia, as speedily as possible, at Winchester. Before these orders could be execu- ted, the enemy had recrossed the Alleghanies with their prisoners and plunder. No pursuit was made: The number of regular troops em- ployed in the service of Virginia was totally in- sufficient for the protection of so extensive a frontier, and effective service was found imprac- ticable from the militia.
Deeply affected by the distresses of the inhabit- ants, and the constant recurrence of barbarities on the part of the savages, for which he could afford no relief beyond uncertain promises, Washington wrote a most pathetic letter to the governor, urging the assembly to more vigorous measures. In this letter he says, " The sup- plicating tears of the women, and moving peti- tions of the men, melt me with such deadly sor- row, that I solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a willing sacrifice to
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1756.] STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
the butchering enemy, provided that would con tribute to the people's ease."
As the only remedy for disasters which threat- ened, otherwise, the inevitable destruction of all the forts, stations, and settlements, between the Ohio River and the Blue Ridge, Washington pro- posed a new organization of the militia, and an increase of the regular troops. His suggestions being only partially adopted by the assembly, he was reduced, to his great chagrin, to a system of defensive operations ; the duties of which were both harassing and inglorious, and the summer of 1756 was wasted in a series of petty skirmishes, entailing great loss of life upon the troops engaged in them, without being effectual in repressing the incursions of the enemy.
This unhappy state of things excited feelings of the most painful emotion in the breast of Washington, who was compelled, on the one hand, to listen to murmurs of discontent from his own soldiers, and on the other, to heart-rending ap- ' peals for protection from the distressed inhabit- ants. His situation was rendered still more un- enviable by the conduct of the governor, who, without possessing any military knowledge, un- dertook to regulate the principal operations. Whilst yielding obedience to orders that were found practicable, Washington protested warmly against being made responsible for military move- ments over which he had no control. His fine
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HISTORY OF VIRGINIA. [1756.
sense of honour was subject to a yet keener an- noyance in the rumours which were circulated at this period, by certain friends of the governor, to the disparagement of the army, charging the officers with gross irregularities and neglect of duty, and indirectly throwing the blame upon the commander. Justly indignant at being made the object of accusations as false as they were slanderous, his first impulse was to resign his commission and retire from the service ; but his half-formed purpose was speedily overruled by the remonstrances of his friends, the general voice of the people, and by his own high sense of the duty which he owed to his native province.
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