Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-07-31


The two militia regiments, met at Winchester;
and joined the regulars at Cana cochigue--they
overlook the vanguard under George Washington,
oid dc camp, at the big meadows, on the north fork
of Gawiagany river. At the place where Draddocks
army crossed the Aonongahala, there is tract of
about two. acres of bottom land the west side;
bounded by the river on the east, and by ledge of
high Gifts on the west; there Is ravine cut through
the cliffs by small rvulet 0i top of the cliffs
Ia wide prospect opens, to the west, of country
whose base is level. but the surface varied by undu-
lations The French, and their Idan allies, lay con-
ccaIed IN the prairie grass and timber, overlooking
the river and within gun shot of it. In this po-
siion, the enemy, by living fiat on the ground, and
raising their heads little, just peep
the serge OF the cliffs; fred down, upon Braddock's
men IN aS perfect security * from belHid breast
work; while no return shot, from below could pcnc
tratc the summit Of the Gifts, to touch them
therefore most OF the enemy vino we're killed i'll the
first part OF the action, SHOT by expert mars-
men III the head as they raised TO peep over the
brink OF the cliffs To shoot down.
/ Iews's AMI Grants comnanies, or Fry's reni-
men were among the first that crossed the river
as fast rs they landed, they formed on the bottom
SIX men deep, ana proceeded up the ravinc. y
fhe vanguard had marched through the detie, and
arrived upon the plain, beyond the head of the livu
let berrc they noticed the concealed enemies they
had passed hetwean whenever the rear had crnssc,i
the river, the enemy raised terrific veil and let on
Il general fire, from the top OF The cliffs, behind
whose SUBMITS they concealed, with iynpunity:
The iITe was necessarily repeated, nearly every shot
DID havock; there was no possibility OF returning il
efcentlv-the best veterans in the world could only
stand there, and be shot with impunitv; death was,
IN front the river in the rear the cliffs on each side
Braddocks whole line, after va;nly forming, and re-
forming, was thrown into confusion and dsmay.--
braddock brave officer, ke was msrtay wound
Ell. aud taken from the field against his consent and
conveyed back the river he had previously
gwen orders, for the whole line to wheel and coun
termarch, and form Phalanx the botton so as
to cover their retreat the river; his aid d..
tina IN
execute tiGS order; he succeeded in wheeling most
q! the alignment and forming them on the bottom,
while his comrades were falling, in his front; and in
MS rear, in the very midst of the fire, and bullets
mined at him passing him i'll every dircc-
lon: and 10 utter astOnishmcn.. not n hair of his
head was touched G2) When the main column was
wheeled, Lcwis's and Grants companies were so
lar In advance, bong foremost that n large body OF
the enemy rushed down from both Sides of the ra-
vine and intercepted them; dreadful slaughter on
sued; those companies, opposed in close fight by bay
onet. 'omahawk, and scaping knife, fought their
way or rather CIT their way down to the mcutf, of
the ravine This part the fight the more cies
peratH as those of the enemy who int ercepted them
were borne down the ravinc to destruction; almost
inc only loss the enemy sustained; to pass down tho
detle, they were going in the midst Of the main
body OF Braddncks army, the sides of the ravine
were too steep aid rocky to admit OF escspe that
way their only hope was, to cut down those two
companies, ana pass ont at the head of the ravne.-
Not moro than iUf Of Grants liz cd to .emch the
liver bank, and large nlmler of I.ewia's wcr- k :
ed and wounded; amongst the wounded were, Can
tain Samuel Lewis George Mathews Amdlev Max
well, Robert Rcnyx, Alexander Blame, and William
Lewis. (l3l
lien Braddock was not 50 popular as Col
puhh;r; is 'sSortot and bce we'd by some that he
was shot by OF his own men Jrba ran,n.nt oi
Ihe army fecfossed the river partly by swimming and
DarsV on rats; aud went without mich order ia
t where Braddock died: there halt was made and
those who rcndezvoused there, were conducted back
to Dunbar's camp, by aid de camp WASHINGTON. Col
| sick. nd had Io ,,,;.b,
his regiment at the Big Meadows; many of the ,ncr
escaped to Dunbars camp, rs straerlers witbou,
much ORDER each going his way, and at lis own
speed; amongst these latter were Cant Poul nf IN,
regulars, and Alexander Blame of Lewis. comma
ny; ga they walked hand in hand, both wounded
rom me battle groung to Dunhars camp three DAYS
ahd nights, without one item Of victuals 20 cat
! Col. Dunbar marched the regulars back to phiIa.
dephia and the OF the VIRGINIA troeps ,ypre
conducted to Winchester, by Georpe WASHINGTON
during ihIs tcHr Mr. Washington became personally
acquainted with most OF the Virginia troops; whom
he always afterwards spoke OF in terms of tho
est friendship and respect; many of them aferward.
ned Important Offices under him, during Tic reyo,u
iionaTy war, and subsequently,. Such was one nj
me early adventures of George WnshiagtOn the ma
VINO was subsequently destined by Providcnce to b..
he scorge ofyrnnnv and the saviour of his count,v
| for of him it may Justly be said.
ME dark clouds of war DER the HORIZON lower'd
/ ana bF'a'ns loud ,huniefs temp ,s!uously rav'd;
onf tIunpihng banner resplcnuen,y wav'd
g. '-' '''7 io'H lIle eIcaiis OF ms sword.
son OF CORNSTALK
no~dAS History OF Tour en- America vol. ,, page g.
! T2ee Chzars Journal published in Fans, 1852.
page 800. ' "iTeHu'A
/ ~ see ons Journal of tower in Amerique 1921
~ See Don Louis lie emcpins journal Of travels and reu
~ america; published IN SPAIN in 1873 and trans
id' g. mo 'isilsh III volumes in 1884: by Casim
| ~ have felt much astonishulcn that the yablc and
interesting journals OF tennepn, and La Saie (Which cons,i
ue Inc oasis OF tne old European clam Louisiana nov he'll
by US, as assignee OF France have no, been rnr
o'sed ana CIRCULATED in elinp acni,a,
W ron OidIio 10 Arkansav, have viii, one one cor,
iie"'ePhrs Journal and that in the library of
gentleman who brought it iun Eugope ' "
D see extracts from this journal in Monroe and Pipkney
OF .7oneyic0a ShaIe Foyers. ''' ''4''''
~ see oeilcal volnre, Published in 1919: ,y Charles
'IIh; en'lued 'hsssppaD Scenery Mole go 1ane 81
~ see voiG"e' eni;lcd "HsioTy Of Uncd State;
a2|e "e i'eV"'uiion; published by Haynes, ~ Y 1920
% 10 We found 81 die - rn,lre of ..LLu.u.