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CHAPTER XIV.

FRENCH WAR OF 1756-63.

THE treaty of Aix la Chapelle, concluded in 1748, between England and France, restored tranquillity to America. At this period, the number of inhabitants in the thirteen colonies was about one million one hundred thousand. The English settlements had not advanced far into the wilderness, but extended along the ocean from Newfoundland to Florida. Those of the French, at the north, reached from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to Montreal; and they had built forts and trading houses on lake Ontario. At the south, they had planted New Orleans, and having discovered the river Missisippi, they claimed the fertile and delightful valley through which it runs, and the whole country watered by its tributary streams.

They at length determined to connect their northern and southern settlements by a chain of posts extending along the frontiers of the English, from lake Ontario to the Ohio, and down that river and the Missisippi to New Orleans. While they were intent on this project, a company of English traders, having obtained from the king a grant of land, established trading houses on the banks of the Ohio.

The French seized some of these traders, and conveyed them prisoners to Canada. The company complained to Governor Dinwiddie, of Virginia. The land having been granted as a part of

that colony, he determined to send a messenger to the commander of the French forces on the Ohio, and require him to withdraw his troops. For this mission he selected George Washington, who was then twenty-one years of age, and who afterwards became illustrious in the annals of his country.

To the letter of Dinwiddie, the French commander replied, that he had taken possession of the country in pursuance of directions from his general, then in Canada, to whom he would transmit the letter, and whose orders he should implicitly obey. This reply not being satisfactory to the governor, preparations were made in Virginia to maintain by force the rights of the British crown. Troops, constituting a regiment, were raised, the command of whom, on the death of the colonel first appointed, was given to Mr. Washington.

At the head of about four hundred men, he advanced, early in the spring, into the territory in dispute. On his route, he met, attacked, and defeated, a French party under the command of one Dijonville, who approached him in a manner indicating hostile intentions. He proceeded towards fort Du Quesne, situated at the junction of the Alleghany and Monongahela. From this fort, De Villier, at the head of nine hundred men, marched out to attack him.

Hearing of the approach of this party, Colonel Washington halted, and hastily erected some imperfect works, by means of which he hoped to prolong his defence until the arrival of reinforcements. He was closely besieged by De Villier, but

making an obstinate defence, was offered the most honourable terms of capitulation. These he accepted, and returned with his regiment to Virginia.

In this year, delegates from seven of the colonies met at Albany, for the purpose of holding a conference with the Six Nations of Indians. This business being finished, a confederation of the colonies was proposed by the delegates from Massachusetts. A "Plan of Union" was agreed upon to be submitted to the colonial legislatures, and to parliament, for their adoption.

crown.

This plan provided that delegates to a General Council should be chosen by the representatives of the people, in the colonial assemblies, and that a president-general should be appointed by the This council was to possess the controul of the military force of the confederacy, and the power to concert all measures for the common protection and safety. The president-general was to have a negative upon the proceedings of the delegates.

This plan was rejected by parliament, because the delegates were to be chosen by the representatives of the people. It was rejected by the colonies, because it placed too much power in the hands of the king. In England, apprehensions were already entertained of the growing importance of the colonial assemblies. In America, the people began, perhaps unconsciously, to be actuated by the spirit of independence.

The conduct of the French, on the Ohio, convinced the cabinet of London that their claim to the country through which that river flows must

be relinquished, or maintained by the sword. They did not hesitate which alternative to choose. Early in the spring of 1755, they despatched General Braddock to America, with a respectable force to expel the French, and keep possession of the territory. And preparations having been made by France to despatch a reinforcement to her armies in Canada, Admiral Boscawen was ordered to endeavour to intercept the French fleet before it should enter the gulf of St. Lawrence.

In April, General Braddock met the governors of the several provinces, to confer upon the plan of the ensuing campaign. Three expeditions were resolved upon: one against Du Quesne, to be commanded by General Braddock; one against forts Niagara and Frontinac, to be commanded by Governor Shirley; and one against Crown Point, to be commanded by General Johnston. This last originated with Massachusetts, and was to be executed by colonial troops, raised in New England and New York.

While preparations were making for these expeditions, another, which had been previously concerted, was carried on against the French forces in Nova Scotia. This province was settled by the French, but was ceded to the English by the treaty of Utrecht. Its boundaries not having been defined, the French continued to occupy a portion of the territory claimed by the English, and had built forts for their defence. To gain possession of these was the object of the expedition.

About two thousand militia, commanded by Colonel Winslow, embarked at Boston; and

being joined on their passage by three hundred regulars, arrived, in April, at the place of destination. The forts were invested; the resistance made was trifling and ineffectual; and in a short time the English gained entire possession of the province according to their own definition of its boundaries. Three only of their men were killed.

The preparations of General Braddock in Virginia had proceeded slowly. It had been found extremely difficult to procure horses, waggons, and provisions. Impatient of delay, he determined to set out with twelve hundred men, selected from the different corps, and proceeded as rapidly as possible towards fort Du Quesne. The residue of the army and the heavy baggage were left under the command of Col. Dunbar, who was directed to follow as soon as the preparations were completed.

Braddock had been educated in the English army; and in the science of war, as then taught in Europe, he deserved and enjoyed the reputation of more than ordinary skill. Of this reputa

tion he was vain, and disdained to consider that his skill was totally inapplicable to the mode of warfare practised in the forests of America. Before he left England, he was repeatedly admonished to beware of a surprise; and on his march through the wilderness, the provincial officers frequently entreated him to scour the surrounding thickets. But he held these officers and the enemy in too much contempt to listen to this salutary counsel.

On approaching fort Du Quesne, Col. Washington, who accompanied him as his aid, made a

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