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

ui0u W'ee Ways ettcr' Sir refer HdcKCt
was killed in the field, where died many
other brave officers. luckily esc.ped
without wound, though had four b.. cts
through my coat, and two horses shot un.
der me. Captains Orme and Morris, two
cfthe generals aids-de.camp, were wound
ed early in the engagement, which render
ed the duty hard upon me, as was the on
~ person then left to distribute the gene.
RAILS orders, which / was scarcely able to
do, as was not half recovered from vio-
lent spell Of sickness that confined me to
my bed and Wagon for above ten days
am still in weak and feeble condition
which induces me to halt he two or three
days,in hopes ofrecovering little strengt
to enable me to proceed homewards
whence fear shall not be able to stir un.
til towards September"
1t may be be matter of curiosity and
some utility to contrast and compare this
account of Braddock's defeat, given by the
late general Washington, who was present
with that of the historians who have under.
taken to relate. the particulars of it.
Betsham, in his History of Great Britain
vol. q, p. 1852, says, that early in the
year I755, general Braddock had sailed
from Cork with a considerable body Of re.
gular troops, and, on his arrival in. Virgi.
ma, took upon him the command of the
forces destined to act against the French
on the Ohio.-This officer was man Of
approved bravery, completely versed in all
points Of military discipline, but opiniated
and positive in his temper, and in his de.
pertinent austere and imperious. Wholly
unacquainted with the country in which he
was appointed to the chief command, and
entertaining sovereign contempt for the
colonial militia, Of whom his army was in
a great measure composed, he heard with
silent disdain all that information which
the provincial officers were DESTROYS to of
fer respecting the mode of conducting an
American expedition through woods, de-
serts, and morasses, and the precautions
which were necessary to guard against
surprize, particularly as the Indian natl
ons were for the most part in alliance with
France.--Haviug advanced with the most
fearless security to less than ten miles of
for Du Quesne, and without condescend-
ing, though earnestly pressed, to employ
the irregulars in the service as an advanc-
ed guard, or to send out any parties to re-
connoitre the country, about noon on the
ninth Of July, in his march through path
less swamp, entsngled amid brakes and
rushes, he was on the sudden saluted with
the horrid sound of the Indian war-whoop,
accompanied by general fire both on his
front and flank from concealed and invi-
sible enemy. The vanguard Immediately
fell back, and terror and confusion soon
spread throughout all ranks of the army.
The general, far from making any efforts
to discover and disperse this dangerous
ambuscade, exerted himself only to reform
and rally his troops, as if engaged with a
regular army in an open plain. But the
exactest discipline was, in this situation, of
little avail I; though no enemy appeared,
the havoc and slaughter till continued, and
general himself being at length killed by
a musket shot, the regular troops fed the
field with the utmost precipitation, the pro-
vincials, so much despised, forming in the
rear, and covering their retreat major
Washington, their commander, acquiring
on this occasion, admist ruin aud defeat,
the honors and laurels of victory. All the
artillery, ammunition and baggage of the
army we're left in the hands Of the enemy,
and even the generals own cabinet, with
all his letters and Instructions"
Bissett, in his continuation, vol. l, D.
l25, ct seq. says
IS But the most important object Of the
campaign was, to drive the French from
their posts on and near the Ohio. The
strongest fort for securing their settle
ments was Du Quesne, against which an
expedition was projected, to consist of
British and provincial troops, under gene
raj Braddock. This commander arrived
in Virginia with two regiments in the
month Of February. When he was ready
to take the field, he found that the contrac-
tors had provided neither a sufficient
quantity OF provisions for light troops, nor
the requisite numberofcarriages for the de-
ficieDcy; as however, might have been fore
seen, proper enquiries had been made into
the state of that plaotation. The Virgini-
ans attending little to any produce but to-
bacc0, did not raise corn enough for their
own subsistence and being most commo-
diously situated for water carriage, they
had very few, very few vehicles of any
other Kind. Pennsylvania, on the other
hand, abounded in corn, in carts, wagons
aud horses that, therefore, would have
been the filter colony for forwarding mill
tary operations. Besides, it would have
afforded a shorter route, by equally prac-
ticable roads. to the destined place. The
choice of Virginia considerably delayed
the expedition. From Pennsylvania the
commander was at length supplied, and
enabled to march but fatal obstacle to
success still remained in the character Of
the general. Braddock, bred in the En-
glish guards, was we'll versed in evOlutions.
OF narrow understanding, though suffici-
emily expert in customary details, he never
lscended to the principles of military SCI
nee. Rigid in matters of discipline, but
lilly as often for the display Of command.