Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-12-18
GAZETTE
+. BRADDOCK's DEFEAT"

respondent OF tnat pdPe'' "a
November 10Th. 1t was bright braeing au-
tumnai morning as rode out OF Pittsourg, wiz" !,
a party of gentlemen, for .'bfaddoeks heu
Our route followed the course oil the riVe'' sun.
times keeping the rich bottom on us oVau.,''
aoa,o ascending hllly ridge which always CON-
xsndsd some varied view of that stream con.
dncted here by steep hills. whose shadows me-
as thew slept upon lis, quiet BOSOM ano eAPanu.'
inc there into small lake, apparently 50 co,h'
,,s,slv Iandlocked that it seems not part o. tue
S,;uht rnrrent vou can see flashing through those
.as,,,ws fur,her on. After catching more than
nns aI;mnse like this of the landscape behind US
,hoss sunnv fields con,rasted beautifully WIN
,ns dsnse smoke of Pi,,sburs ID the back grouhu'
.e s,rnck into a rayine cutting the roa" hi'ner'o
nn,sned at right angles Winding now through
a deep dingle where the pathsde was ies'ooh.o
with vines We crossed a small brook a"u 'ea1"
cd the shore of the Nonongaheia opPos''e u
broad alIuvial fiat, whose high CULTIVATION anI
sunny aspect con,rasted viviuiy VIII" ne; WI"
and secluded dell from the mouth OF "'icn VIC
b4held it. The road mex, led Tor some a's.a"oe
through wood on the immediate osoA VI ,"e "
yer. ana then gaining the more pao''c "'S""ay'
I'VE f,und ourselves, alter passing seyerai com
for,able farm houses, immediately in front OF the
battle ground,
II cut I'D now bv three or four enclosures
tho field upon which the fight was hottest lying
nearly in the centre, bounded Oh one SIDE oy tue
road. and having its opposite extremity aoou' .
uparler uf a mile from the river, with wooueu
fat intervening. Beyond this Hat Is the '"iu
over which Braddock passed. Inc g!ouhe'
about three hundred yards from the ford rises IN
=, Gradual slope for some two hundred yalos
more. and then swells suddenly into toleraoiy
stssn bill. the summit of which may De ha''
mile from the river. On the middle slope i.es 'ne
central field of action, to which nave aifeauy
alluded. II is scanned with two shallow rasihes'
which run parallel With each other towarus Tue
river, and are about gunshot apart.
In these ravines, concealed Oy the unusrwooo
and protected by the trunks OF trees ielieu 'or
the purpose, lay the French and Indian iorce.-
1t amounted, according 10 the best accounts ~
only 500 men, and was commanded by suoai-
tern officer, who suggested this amouscaue as
desperate expedlent to save Fort Du Qaeshe'
from the overwhelming force that was about to
invest it. The road Of Braddock lay Immediate
~ between these enhiadins parties.
Il was about midday when he passed his troops
over the river 10 detachments o' two huhureu
ard five hundred, followed by the column OF ar
tillery, the baggage, and the main BODY OF .ne
army commanded by himself IN person. Inc
latter had hardly time to form upon the nat oe-
low, when quick fire IN front told them that me
two detachments which had gained the hrst s'oPs
w.r. already engaged. Their comrades advanc-
ed in double quick step to sustain 'hem' oa'
the whole FIVE bundled gave way, ana ia'iog
bac K upon the advancing troops, struck panic ana
dislnay throughout the ranks IN moment Inc
confusion seemed for while irremediaoie.-
Some fired off their ammunition without ann o,
object, and others. deaf TO the commands ana
exhor,ations Of their officers, Hung away their
arm. aud gave themselves up at once TO despair
burning with the disgrace, and eager TO shame
their soldiers into better conduct, the British Of
fi,ers advanced sinsly and in squads among the
bullets of the enemy They we're slaughtered
indeed like sheep, but their men, whose retreat
had been partially cut of BY the river, rallied at
the calling sight. and, after the cool determlna.
ton of YOUNG Washington, who had already had
two horses shot under him, aud his clothes
MERGED with bullets. had impaired some stea-
diness to their feelings, they seemed reaoy
~ protract the fight To the best ad.antage.-
The madness of Braddock, however, whose weak
mind took fire at the idea OF receiving lesson
from provincial youth Of three and twenty, des-
troyed every remaining chance OF success. ne
insisted upon his men forming on the spot, anu
advancing in regular platoon against an enemy
which none OF them could see. Line alter line,
they would hardly attain pace between the ia
,sl rayines before they would be moved down
like grass Buttheir courage was now up, and,
though broken aud IN some disorder, they at.
tempted. WITH courageous pertinacity, to secure
each s,epthey gained by protecting themselves
behind the ffsss, aud returning the murderous fire
of the foe after his Own fashion. The military
coxcomb -~he commanded this Inflated band
would nothear Of this. He stamped, raved, and
swor. Called his men cowa ards. and struck them
with his sM ord. In the meantime, an evolution
was being executed, IN another part OF the he'd'
which might yet,hase turned the tate OF the day.
Capt. Wsygoaer, Of the Virginia forces. pushed
his fine corps, consisting OF 30 men, beyond tne
voice Of his beso,ted commander. TO the summit
of the hill with the loss Of only three men, IN run
ming the FEARFUL gauntlet he did TO attain that po
sition. 4 fallen tee here protected his orass
little force. add enabled him to rake the ravInes
which Law at right angles to his natural breastwork
to great advantage But the Virginians were
mistaken by their English friends below for ne"
enemy, and fired upon SO furiously that they
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