The legislature of that colony, impressed with a high sense of the bravery and good conduct of their troops, though compelled to surrender the fort, voted their thanks to colonel Washington and the officers under his command; and they also gave 300 pistoles to be distributed among the soldiers engaged in this action.

The controversy about the Ohio lands, which began in Virginia, was taken up very seriously by Great Britain, and two British regiments were sent to America to support the claims of his Britannic majesty. They arrived early in 1755, and were commanded 1755by general Braddock. That officer being informed of the talents of Washington, invited him to serve the campaign as a volunteer aid-de-camp. The invitation was cheerfully accepted, and Washington joined general Braddock near Alexandria, and proceeded with him to Wills creek, afterwards called fort Cumberland. Here the army was detained till the 12th of June, waiting for waggons, horses, and provisions.

Washington had early recommended the use of pack horses instead of waggons, for conveying the baggage of the army. The propriety of this advice soon became apparent, and a considerable change was made

covered waggon.

in conformity to it. The army had not advanced much more than ten miles from fort Cumberland, when Washington was seized with a violent fever, but nevertheless continued with the army, being conveyed in a waggon. He positively refused to stay behind, though so much exhausted as to be unable to ride on horseback. Washington, whose advice was frequently resorted to, recommended to the general, to leave his heavy artillery and baggage behind, and to advance rapidly to fort Duquesne, with a select body of troops, a few necessary stores, and some pieces of light artillery. Hopes were indulged, that by this expeditious movement, fort Duquesne might be reached, in its present weak state, with a force sufficient to reduce it before expected reinforcements should arrive. General Braddock approved the scheme, and submitted it to the consideration of a council of war, which recommended, that the commander in chief should advance as rapidly as possible, with 1200 select men, and that colonel Dunbar should stay behind with the remainder of the troops and the heavy baggage. This advanced corps commenced its march with only thirty carriages, but did not proceed with the rapidity that was expected. They frequently halted, to level

the

the road and to build bridges over inconsiderable brooks. They consumed four days in passing over the first nineteen miles from the Little Meadows. At this place the physician declared colonel Washington's life would be endangered by advancing with the army. He was therefore ordered by general Braddock to stay behind with a small guard, till Dunbar should arrive with the rear of the army. As soon as his strength would permit, he joined the advanced detachment, and immediately entered on the duties of his office. On the next day, July 9th, a dreadful scene took place.

When Braddock had crossed the Monongahela, and was only a few miles from fort Duquesne, pressing forward without any apprehension of danger, he was attacked, in an open wood, thickset with grass. An invisible enemy, composed of French and Indians, commenced a heavy and well directed fire on his uncovered troops. The van fell back on the main body, and the whole was thrown into disorder. Marskmen levelled their pieces particularly at officers and others on horseback.. In a short time, Washington was left alone, and the only aid-de-camp not wounded. On him, therefore, devolved the whole duty of carrying into execution the general's orders.

He

He was of course obliged to be constantly in motion, traversing the field of battle in all directions. He had two horses shot under him, and four bullets passed through his coat; but he escaped unhurt, though every other officer on horseback was either killed or wounded. Providence preserved him for farther and greater services. Throughout the whole of the carnage and confusion of this fatal day, Washington displayed the greatest coolness and the most perfect self possession. Braddock was undismayed amidst a shower of bullets, and, by his countenance and example, encouraged his men to stand their ground; but valor was useless, and discipline only offered surer marks to the destructive aim of unseen marksmen. Unacquainted with the Indian mode of fighting, Braddock neither advanced upon, nor retreated from the assailants, but very injudiciously endeavoured to form his broken troops on the ground where they were first attacked, and where they were exposed, uncovered, to the incessant galling fire of a sheltered enemy. He had been cautioned of the danger to which he was liable, and was advised to advance the provincials in front of his troops, to scour the woods and detect ambuscades; but he disregarded the salutary recommendation. The

action lasted near three hours; in the course of which the general had three horses shot under him, and finally received a wound, of which he died in a few days, in the camp of Dunbar, to which he had been brought by colonel Washington and others. On the fall of Braddock, his troops gave way in all directions, and could not be rallied, till they had crossed the Monongahela. The Indians, allured by plunder, did not pursue with vigor. The vanquished regulars soon fell back to Dunbar's camp, from which, after destroying such of their stores as could be spared, they retired to Philadelphia. The officers in the British regiments displayed the greatest bravery. Their whole number was eighty-five, and sixty-four of them were killed or wounded. The common soldiers were so disconcerted by the unusual mode of attack, that they soon broke, and could not be rallied. The three Virginian companies in the engagement, behaved very differently, and fought like men, till véry few were left alive. This reverse of fortune rather added to, than took from the reputation of Washington. His countrymen extolled his conduct, and generally said and believed, that if he had been commander, the disasters of the day would not have taken place. Intelligence of Braddock's defeat,

and