Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-22


written his instructions with his own
hand, and both IN word and writing
cautioned him strongly against am
buscade. The self.conceit Of his con-
tracted mind suffered him neither to re-
gard the c's,nsels, nor to consult any un-
der his command respecting American
warfare: The Indians, If well disposed,
would, from their knowledge of the coun-
try, and their couutrymen, have rendered
essential service. Disguised, however, by
his overbearing behaviour most of them for
sock his army. On the 9th Vt June he set
off from Fort Cumberland, and marched
with great expedition through the woods !;
but, though entreated by his officers, ne
elected to explore the country. On the
LIST Of July he arrived within ten miles of
Du Quesne, still utterly regardless of the
| situation or disposition of the enemy. The
following day, about noon, as he was pass
ing swamp between a lane of trees, he
was suddenly attacked on both tanks by
bodies of French and indians, concealed
| in the wood. The general, in his dispose
tons for resistance, showed persever-
| ance of his obstinacy. He was advised
! to scour the thickets with grape shot, or
/ with Indians OF other light troops; but he
commanded his forces to form in regular
order, as if they had heen advancing a
gainst an enemy in an open country. His
soldiers, perceiving themselves led into an
ambuscade, were seized with a panic and
thrown into confusion which was in
creased by the fall Of most of their officers,
at whom the dextrous Indian marksmen
had chiefly aimed. The general fought
valiantly but receiving shot was carri-
ed off the field, & expired in few hour {;
an awful instance, how little mere courage
and forms Of tactics, without Judgment
and prudence, can avail commander in
chief when he is employed on an impor-
tant service. The provincial troops, adj
vancing from the rear, and engaging the
enemy, gave the regulars time to recover
their spirits and ranks, and thus preserv-
ed them from total destruction. Notwith-
stand this support, more than half the
troops were cut to pieces. The remains
OF the army made mastery retreat to
Virginia, under colonel Washington, to
whose skill and conduct il was chiefly ow-
ing that they were not overtaken and des.
troyed but they thus necessarily left the
western frontier exposed to the French
and Indians"
Smollett, (after describing the character
and conduct of general Braddock and the
difhculties-he had to encounter by the Sc
lection of Virginia for the commencement
OF hls operations, so nearly in the language
OF Bissett as certainly to show that one Of
these authors THE latter we believe is the
latest writer must have copied from the
otherl-says:
Under these disadvantages IA total
disregard of the advice of Others, and the
dispersion of his Indian allies1 he began
his march from Fort Cumberland on the
10th OF June atthe head of about 2, 300 men
Tor the Meadows, where colonel Washing
ton was defeated the year before. Upon
his arrival there, he was informed that the
French fort at du Quesne. which had late
ly been built on the same river, near its
confluence with the Monongahela, expect.
ed reinforcement of Ave hundred troops :
therefore, that he might march with the
greatest despatch he left Dunbar, with
500 men, to bringup the provisions, stores,
and heavy baggage, as fast as the nature of
the service would permit and with the |
other 1900 together with 10 pieces of can.
non, & the necessary ammunition and pro-
visions, he marched on with so much expe. |
dition, that he seldom took any time to re- ]
connoitre the woods or thickets he was tn
pass through as if the nearer he approach
ed the enemy, the farther he was removed
from danger.
" On the 9th of July, he encamped with. |
in ten miles effort dp Quesne. Though
colonel Dunbar was then near forty miles |
behind him, and his officers particularly
Dir Peter Hacket, earnestly entreated him
to proceed with caution, and to employ the |
friendly indians who were with him. by |
way OF an advanced guard, in case of am
buscades; yet he resumed his march the |
next day, without so much as endeayorine
to obtain any intelligence of the situation |
or disposition Oft enemy, or even send |
ing out any scouts to visit the woods and |
thickets on both sides Of him, as well as in |
front. With this carelessDess, was he adj |
vancIng' when about noon, he was saluted |
with general flre upon his front, and all |
along his lett bank, from an enemy so art.
iuliy concealed behind the trees and BUSH !
es, that not man of them could be seen. |
The vanguard Immediately fell back upon |
the main body, and in an instant the panic |
ndconfuslon became general $50 that most |
OF the troops fled with great precipitation,
n0twi hstanding all that their officers, some
OF whom behaved very calamity, could do
to stop their career. AS to Braddock |
himself, instead Of securing the thiekets |
and bushes from whence the ipe came with |
grape shot from the ten pieces of cannon
ne had with him, or ordering Ranking par.
ties OF his Indians to advance against the
enemy, ne obstinately remained upon the |
spot where he was, and gave orders for the |
lew brave officers AID men who staid with |
him, to form regularly and advance.--l
Meanwhile his men fell thick about him.
and almost all his ofFicera xyara s;,,.II -