III. 1755. CHAPTER receive them, in a tone not more decided than ungracious.* Had a scouting party of a dozen Indians preceded the army after it crossed the Monongahela, they would have detected the enemy in the ravines, and reversed the fortunes of the day. Character of Braddock. General Braddock was a brave man and an experienced officer; but, arrogant and obstinate, he had the weakness, at all times a folly and in his case an infatuation, to despise his enemy. Ignorant of the country, of the mode of warfare in which he was engaged, and of the force opposed to him, he refused counsel, neglected precautions, and thus lost his life.t * This was told to me by William Butler, a very old man, who had been a soldier in the action of the Monongahela, and who said he was standing as sentinel at the door of the General's tent, and heard the conversation. Seventy-five years after the battle, there were at least two men living in Pennsylvania, who were engaged in it. A report has long been current in Pennsylvania, that Braddock was shot by one of his own men, founded on the declaration of a provincial soldier, who was in the action. There is another tradition, also, worthy of notice, which rests on the authority of Dr. Craik, the intimate friend of Washington from his boyhood to his death, and who was with him at the battle of the Monongahela. Fifteen years after that event, they travelled together on an expedition to the western country, with a party of woodsmen, for the purpose of exploring wild lands. While near the junction of the Great Kenhawa and Ohio Rivers, a company of Indians came to them with an interpreter, at the head of whom was an aged and venerable chief. This personage made known to them by the interpreter, that, hearing Colonel Washington was in that region, he had come a long way to visit him, adding, that, during the battle of the Monongahela, he had singled him out as a conspicuous object, fired his rifle at him many times, and directed his young warriors to do the same, but to his utter astonishment none of their balls took effect. He was then persuaded, that the youthful hero was under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, and immediately ceased to fire at him. He was now come to pay homage to the man, who was the particular favorite of Heaven, and who could never die in battle. CHAPTER IV. Colonel Washington appointed Commander-in-chief of the Virginia Forces. Distresses of the Frontier Inhabitants. — Reforms in the Arrangement and Discipline of the Army. - Difficulties with an Officer holding a King's Commission concerning Rank. — Washington visits General Shirley at Boston upon this Subject. His Claim confirmed. Returns and repairs to his Head-quarters at Winchester. - Embarrassments of his Situation. Testimonies of Confidence in his Character and Ability. - Occurrences of the Campaign. Incursions of the Savages. Plan of Fortifications for the Interior. - Fort Cumberland. Memorial presented by Colonel Washington to the Earl of Loudoun on the State of Military Affairs in Virginia. IV. 1755. Retires to non. Mount Ver ALTHOUGH Colonel Washington retired to a private sta- CHAPTER tion at Mount Vernon, he did not neglect his duties to the public. Still holding the office of adjutant-general of the militia, he circulated orders for them to assemble at certain times and places to be exercised and reviewed. So much were the inhabitants alarmed at the recent successes of the enemy, that their martial spirit received a new impulse, and volunteer companies began to be organized. Their ardor was stimulated from the pulpit, and it was in a sermon to one of these companies, that the accomplished and eloquent Samuel Davies pronounced the celebrated encomium in a single sentence, which has often been quoted as prophetic. After praising the zeal and courage, which had been shown by the Virginia troops, the preacher added; "As a remarkable instance of this, Prediction I may point out to the public that heroic youth, Colonel career. Washington, whom I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preserved in so signal a manner for some important service to his country." This was but the echo of the general voice, and it is a proof of the high estimation in which the character of Washington was at this time held by his countrymen, and of the hopes it had raised. Another and more substantial proof soon followed. The Virginia legislature voted forty thousand pounds for the ginia legis of his future Rewarded by the Vir lature. IV. 1755. CHAPTER public service, and enlarged their regiment to sixteen companies. Three hundred pounds were likewise granted to Colonel Washington, and proportional sums to the other officers and privates, "for their gallant behavior and losses" at the battle of the Monongahela. His friends press him to continue in the public service. While the bill was pending, his friends in the Assembly wrote to him, urging his attendance at Williamsburg, and expressing their wishes, that he might be appointed to the command of the army under its new organization. Interest was made for another person, which was known to be countenanced by the governor's predilections. To these August 2. letters, and particularly to one from his elder brother, then a member of the Assembly, he replied in language worthy of himself, dignified, disinterested, firm. He said that he had served two campaigns, besides performing a perilous journey, had suffered much in his health and affairs, had been deprived of his commission in a way to wound his feelings, had gone out and fought as a volunteer, and that the result of the whole was vexation and disappointment. He added, however, "I am always willing and ready to render my country any services that I am capable of, but never upon the terms I have done.” He did not absolutely refuse to accept the command, if it should be offered, but said he would not seek what he did not covet, nor be thought to solicit what he would receive only as voluntarily bestowed by his countrymen. Standing on this high ground, he prescribed several conditions as essential; among others, a voice in choosing his officers, a better system of military regulations, more promptness in paying the troops, and a thorough reform, inducing activity and method, in all the departments for procuring supplies. Accepts the command of troops. August 14. No one, probably, was more surprised than himself, the Virginia that all his requisitions should be complied with. The appointment was confirmed in the fullest latitude of his demands, with the additional privilege of an aid-de-camp and secretary. He had been at home but four weeks, when he was called to Williamsburg to receive his in structions and make arrangements for organizing the new army. Public opinion had subdued the governor's partiality for another candidate, and he acquiesced with apparent satisfaction. In a letter to the ministry, he spoke of Colonel Washington as "a man of great merit and resolution," adding, "I am convinced, if General Braddock had survived, he would have recommended him to the royal favor, which I beg your interest in recommending." How far the minister's interest was effectual is uncertain; but no royal favor to Washington ever crossed the Atlantic. CHAPTER IV. 1755. quarters at tour of in Being now established in a command of high responsi- Headbility, he applied himself to the discharge of its duties Winchester. with his accustomed energy and circumspection. Lieutenant-Colonel Adam Stephen and Major Andrew Lewis were the field-officers next in rank. His head-quarters were fixed at Winchester. After putting affairs in train, sending out recruiting officers, and reporting to the governor the state of the old regiment and estimates for the new, he performed a tour of inspection among the moun- Performs a tains, visiting all the outposts along the frontier from Fort spection. Cumberland to Fort Dinwiddie on Jackson's River, giving September. the necessary orders, and obtaining, from personal observation, a knowledge of every thing within the compass of his command. Scarcely was this service completed, when an express overtook him, on his way to Williamsburg, bringing intelligence that the Indians had broken into the back settlements, committed ravages and murders, and spread terror on every side. He hastened back to headquarters, called in the recruits, summoned the militia to assemble, and ordered out such a force as he could muster to repel the ruthless invaders. The check was timely and effectual, but not such as to quiet the fears of the inhabitants, who flocked in families from their homes; and so great was the panic, that many of them continued their flight till they had crossed the Blue Ridge. On this occasion the patience and sensibility of the commander, as well as his discretion and address, were put to a severe trial. On one hand, he witnessed with Called back by an ex press. Defects of the militia system. IV. 1755. CHAPTER an aching heart the dangers, wants, and distresses of the inhabitants; on the other, he experienced all the evils of insubordination among the troops, perverseness in the militia, inactivity in the officers, disregard of orders, and reluctance in the civil authorities to render a proper support. And what added to his mortification was, that the laws gave him no power to correct these evils, either by enforcing discipline, or compelling the indolent and refractory to do their duty. The army regulations had been reformed, but they were still deficient in the essential articles for preventing desertions, punishing offences, and securing obedience. The militia system was suited only to times of peace. It provided for calling out men to repel invasion; but the powers granted for effecting it were so limited, as to be almost inoperative. These defects repre governor. These defects, and their fatal consequences, were resented to the presented in strong language by Colonel Washington, in his official communications to the governor and to the Speaker of the Assembly. All ears seemed dull to his remonstrances and closed to his counsels; such, to use his own words, was the fear of displeasing the people, who were แ so tenacious of their liberty, as not to invest a power where interest and policy so unanswerably demanded it." By dint of perseverance, however, by attending in person at the seat of government and conversing with individual members, by persuasion and argument, by force of truth and reason, he at last prevailed. A bill was carried through the House, in which were included all the articles required, providing for the punishment of mutiny, desertion, and disobedience, for holding courtsmartial, and for maintaining order and discipline. This success relieved him from a weight, which had hung heavily upon his thoughts. It was also a gratifying testimony of the respect entertained for his opinions and judgment. He returned to his station with a renovated spirit. It was too late in the season to meditate a campaign, or offensive operations. To fill up the army, reduce it to method, train the men, strengthen and secure A new law providing a remedy. |