Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-19

hills in numbers.
The first however, was on the Island
thereafter called Shamokin, vicious Indiar
pronunciation of smoking where the French
Fort Augusta stood. This was taken, and
the provincials pushed on.
In the afternoon of the 9Th of July, 1855
the provncials fell in with General Brad.
dock, a few miles sbort of the place called
Braddock's Field, the battle ground: which
is about ten miles this side of the Fort
The whole of the provincial troops, about
$500, were then put under the immediate
command of Major Washington, of the Vir-
ginia line-a tall STRIPPING, who, it was said,
had already seen service.
General Forbes, who lived until the be-
ginning of the revolution, was second in
command under Braddock.
The army halted for the night, and the
provincials, under Washington, Immediately
set to work to clear the ground for its en-
campment, and to guard against ambush.
Soon, three parties of Indians, with an
interpreter, appeared, and were conducted
to the General. They came to offer their
services. Braddock, naturally irritable and
naughty, perhaps increased the inirmity of
his temper by the profuse use of Scotch
snuff, taken ever and anon, from his jacket
pocket. 81 have men enough" said he, Z" l
want no Indians to scour the woods" and
they returned. In short time another par
| ty came in. The General ordered Capt.
Green, of the artillery, to bring up two
pieces and charge them with grape and
langridge. They were fired, and the In
dians again dismissed.
Major Washington, whose marquee was
about quarter of mile from that of the
General, observing what was going forward,
manifested Impotence. He hurried-his
thumbs in the arm-holes Of his iacket-to
Braddock's quarters and demonstrated. cit
is pretty story" said the latter, " that
am to be told my duty by beardless boy.
To your quarters, Sir" Washington, with
modest manner, but with marks of strong
feeling, replied, " Tomorrow, General, you
will not know an Indian from green bush !;
but with submission | go: the blood of these
men is not on my head"
At 9, of the next morning, the army, the
provincials on the right, marched: Colonel
Fawcett commanded the advance. After
march of about six miles, to Braddock's
field, the attack was begun. The fire of the
French and Indians, from their ambuscade
in the surrounding forest, was hot and hea-
Wy. They were scarcely seen; but their
balls were shot with mortal aim, especial
ly at the officers. Fawcett was shot from
his horse. Braddock, who, whatever were
his deficiencies, showed no want of cour-
age, rode up and ordered brother of Faw-
cett to take the command of the advance.
He hesitated the General cut him down.
and on his turning, was himself shot down
by rifle ball from the gun of the youngest
Fawcett, who had stepped aside from his po-
sition. The slaughter was terrible-the
yells of the savages frightful. Braddock
already had five horses shot under him be-
fore he received his death wound, which
was between ten and eleven, in the morning.
Forbes Immediately took the command.
Major Washington asked what he would
have done. The troops were standing in
groupes-mere marks for the enemy. "Sr,"
said Forbes, 81 know little of this kind of
warfare, do as you think best.'
A retreat was beat, and the small remains
of the army, with the General on a litter,
made their retreat good until they met Gen.
eral Dunbar with the Highlanders. Here
the flight ceased. A council of war was
held. Some of the provincials were to re-
main; Dunbar, with the main army, con-
tinued his retreat
Braddock expired before it begun: he
was buried in the middle of the military
road, to prevent his body from falling into
the hands of the Indians
In 1853, Washington again commanded
the Provincial in second expedition against
Fort du Quesne. The entire command was
with General Grant, who was shot in the
fort after it was taken, by rifle ball fred
from the hill, since called Grants Hill.
Such is the history of the mortal combat
at Braddock's field, taken almost verbatim
from the lips of old Mr.. Butler. His nara
tive is clear and connected, his memory re
tentive, and his physical power considera-
BILE. Considering the lapse of time, it
would, nevertheless, be surprising if his re-
lation was entirely free from discrepancies.
1 He served also in the war of the Revolu-
ton: yet, in consequence of difficulty in
obtaining certain proofs required by law, he
was disappointed in his application for a
pension. Whether it has since been grant