Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-31


Rockbi ridge and Doictourt.
The militia regiments, met at Winchester;
and joined the regulars at Cana cochigue-they
overlook the vanguard under George Washington,
aid de camp at the big meadows ON The north fork
of Gawhagany river. AT the place where Braddock's
army crossed the Monongahaa, there is tract OF
about two acres OF bottom land the west side;
bounded by the river the east aud by ledge of
high cliffs the west; there Is ravine cut through
the cliffs, by small r'vuet( 10Y on top of the cliffs,
IA WIDE prospect opens, to the west, Of n country
Whose base is level but the surface varied by undu
ations. The French, and their ldian allies, lay
ceaed IN the prairie grass and timber overlooking
the river and within gun shot of IL. In this po
snion, the enemy, by lying fiat the ground, md
raising their heads little, Just peep over
the rcrSe cfthc Gifts; fred down, upon Bradducks
men IN as perfect security Us from behind brcos.
work; while no return shut, ifom below could penc
trate the summit of the cliffs so as TO touch them
therefore most OF the enemy who were killed IN che
first part of the action, shot by expert marks
men IN the head, rs they raised TO peep over the
brink OF the cliffs to shoot down.
lewiss ana Grants companies, of Fry's reg-
ment, were among the first that crossed the river
as fast as they landed, they formed the bottom
six inen deep, and proceeded up the ravinc. D.
The vanguard had marched through the defe, aud
arrived upon the plain. beyond the head OF the rivu
let, before they noticed the concealed enemies they
mad passed between; whenever the rear had crossed
the river the enemy raised terrific VEIL and let on
a general fire, from the top of the cliffs, behind
whose submits they We're concerted, with impunity
tHe ie was ICeSsdHtiy repeated, ncnrly every shot
dld avock there was no possibility of returning it
etcientyhe best veterans the world, could only
stand there, and be shot with impuni;y; death was
IN 'front.' the river IN tire rear; the cliffs each side
BraddockS whole line, after vainy forming, and re-
forming, was thrown into confusion and dismay.-
BIaddock was brave officer, he mortally wound
ed, andtaken from the field, against his consent and
conveyed back across the river; he had previously
given orders, for the whole line to wheel and
tcrnnrch, and form "a Phaanx on the bottom. so as
to cover their retreat across the river; his ad-dc-
camp, George Washington, rode up the ravic, to
execute this order; he succeeded in Wheeling most
of the alignment and forming them On the bottom,
while his comrades were falling, i'll his front; and in
his rear, IN the very midst of the fire, aud bullets
AIMED at HIM were passing him in every direc-
ton; and To utter astonishment not n hair of his
head was touched (12.) When the main column was
wheeled, Lcwiss and Srant's companies were SO
lar IN advance being foremost that large body of
the enemy rushed down from both sides of the ra-
vine, and intercepted Them dreadful slaughter en-
sued; those companies, opposed in close fight by bay
onot, toTiahawk and scalping knife, fought their
way or rather rat their way, down to the mouth of
theravinc This part of the fi@ht the more DIES
peratc, as those of the enemy who ntercCptc them
were borne down the rapinc 10 destruction; almost
the only loss the enemy sustained; TO pass down the
dene, they were going Ill the midst of the main
BODY OF Draddocks army, the sides OF the ravne
were too steep and rocky To admit OF escape that
way, their only hope was, To cut down those two
companies, and pass out the head OF the ravinc-
Not more than half Of Grants men lvcd to reach the
cd and wounded; amongst the wounded were Can
tam Samuel Lewis, George Mathews, Audlev Max
well, Robert Renyx, Alexander Blame, and William
Lewis. tl3)
Gen. Braddock not near SO popular as Col
Dunbar; 1t is asserted and believed bv some that he
was shot by one of his own men. The remnant of
Ihe army rccrossed the river partly by swimming and
partly on RATS; and went without much order to
~here Braddock died; there u halt was made and
those who rendeZvoused there were conducted hncL
to Dunbar's camp, by abide camp Washington; Col
Dunbar was lying sick, and had been left with par of
his regiment at the Big Meadows; many of the men
escaped TO Dunbar's camp, as strarglcrs without
much order; each going his own wav and NJ his own
speed amongst these latter were Cant Paul of tho
regulars, and Alexander Blame of Lewis. comma
nv ~ ihey walked hand in hand, both wounded
from thc battle ground, to Dunbars camp three da
and nights without one item of victuals TO cat
Coi. Dunbar marched the regulars back to Phi,a-
dephla and the remnant of the Virginia roeps were
conducted to Winchester by George Washinr,on.
during this tour MIR. Washington became persona Nv
acquainted with most OF the Virginia troops; whom
he always afterwards spoke of i'm terms oftho warm
est friendship and respects many of them afterwards
held important Offices under him durino Tho ,oy
tiIohaIy war, and subsequently,. Such was one of
inc early adventures of George Jnsbingtoa tho nan
wa" was subsequently destined by Providence =, ho
the scourge oftyranny and the saviour of ~ c,,
/ for oi INN, 1t may Justly be said
! Our country he won,-our country he sav'd.-
And R aa,S cIas OF war DER the horizon lowerd.
IN The light that was she'd from CLEANS OF his sword,
SON OF CORNSTALK
snowdes History Of Tour Ell America vol , pacc a
! I, 'eG Nf9zats Journals published in Pans 1892.
! page 500 e WI '' appendix
| (2 see Ion'rs Journal Of tower in Amcrique 1891
Io) see Don Louis De ennepins journal Of travels and non
cHvenss, ~ America published IN Spain in 1874 and -
id'ea mo rnglsI, IN volumes in 1884; by CasnL
T. ~ nave et much asonishmcnt that the valuable an,
interesting journals OF Hennepin, and La Sae (which cons,;
"- me bass OF tire old European clam Louisiana no c
as assignee OF FTance) have been more general,
published, and circulated amongst in travelling acnIai
ace' from ontario TO Arkansaw have with only one cor,
oi DE Hcnnepu's Journal aud thai one in the Ib,, ..
gentleman who brought it from Europe "
~ see extracts from this journal in Monroe and Pnknev'
neBuauon WIN Baron de Iaglc published in Tie l2th volume
OF .4nCricaH State Papers
20 see Ioetical volume, published 1919; by Charlie
Mead entitled 'Nlissssippan Scencry"-Nnte p pare 81
~ see volume, entitled "tlistory Of Unilcd State
og"t inc Kevoutioni" published by Haynes n. Y 1920
90 robe found IN the 1T volume Of "Totnes american
.nas ana ~ the Iond Mag 1863; page l49 See Jehar
o see History Of Louisiana, by Barbo MArbois; part I'd