The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-04-14
Braddock's Field


visi, the scene Of Gen. Braddock's de!
feat, by the! French and Indians, Eve
iry traveller to Pittsburgh, who has lei,
sure to viewits beautiful environs, so
unlike. what mightbe expected from
the smoky atmosphere et. the city its.
elf should ia ks q ride out TO "Braddock's
Field," where was fought one OF the
most memorable battles Of the last cen
tury, at least before the Revolution.
The, road which leads TO it, is an exten-
sion of Fourth street, and runs up the
valley OF the Monongahela, through a
highly cultivated, picturesque country,
adorned with numerous white cottages
and thestastcfui country seats ofretired
merchants and manufacturers OF the
Iron City. As you receds from the
smoke of the, city, you pass through
substantial farms and fields Of wheat,
extending as far as the eye can reach.
la about six miles, you leave the main
turnpike, and pass over quiet country
road, that winds through orchards and
fields, for aboutfour miles further, when
you reach ths spot where occurred the
defeat Of Gen. Braddock in 1855, one
Of the most remarkable events in Amer
lean history. aais.i el.,i.,
The battlefield lies on the northern
margin Of the Monongahela, about ten
miles from Pittsburgh. 1t is nearly a
level plain, extending back about half a
mile, with gradual ascent at an angle
Of eigh, orten degrees. AT the upper
part of the Field, stands a fine brick
mansion, formerly known as the "Edge-
worth Seminary,"for several years oc.
cupied as boarding school for young
ladies. 1t is now owned by a highly
inteiIigen, farmer, whose family take
pleasure in rambling over the fields, and
acting as guides to the numerous
visitors. 1rnl iiYeQ BSu ,ili sl ,ta4rt
The battle took place on the 9th OF
July, 1855; and although the storms Of
nearly one hundred years have washed
out the gorys,ains Of that eventfuI day,
the natural features OF the Battle field re-.
main unchanged. The copious springs
are still pointed out, at the foot Of the
plain, around which many of Brad
docks soldiers ate their last meal.
The stump oflhe tree is still to be seen,
under which Braddock received his
death wound--and the deep ravines can
be clearly traced, that were filled with
savages, during the fight; and although
the plain now groans with heavy crops
of waving grain. the very spot where
the battle commenced where the chic f
slaughter occurred-and where the ar
tillery and baggage were placed-can
still be identified. The rocky baracross
the MonongaheIa, or "riflle," as it is
called on all the western rivers, can
vet be seen, over which the whole of
Braddock's $ army, with the artillery and
baggage, passed, during the forenoon,
Jus, before the battle. ayfa "a
Washington was often heard to say,
during his lifetime, (says Sparks) that
the most beautiful spectacle he had ever
beheld, was the display Of the British
troo ps on that evenltul msrning. Eve
ry man was neatly dressed in full uni
form the soldiers were arranged in
columns, and marched in great order -
the sun cleaned from their FURNISHED
river flowed tranquility at
their right, and the deep forest over.
shadowed them on the left officers
and men were equally inspired with
hopes and confident anticipa-
tions. =" io' 4H9 -Hc4F '9s "a, sdl %
After fording the Monongahela, they
halted short time and took their din
ner, on the leyelsplain between the riv-
or and around the springs before men.
toned, at the foot Of the ascending
plain. Tradition says that while they
were eating some Of the dogs that had
followed the Indians came into the
camp, which at once excited the suspi- |
cions Of the keen.eyed Virginia troops,
hat their willy foe was near them. 1t
s also said tina. Washington rode up |
and down the banks Of the Monongar |
iela for mile or two, accommodating |
ind reported TO General Z Braddock his |
confident opinion, from many indica.
ions, that an Indian force was in the |
leighborhood, and that the army would |
probably fall into an ambuscades Brad |
lock, with the bulliheaded obstinacy Of J
veteran Of the old school, that only |
thew how to manGuvre and fight on
he plains or Flanders, scorned to RE-
.eive advice from q ray, provincial
]olonela e N ,iisl4 nav ,fqE0 moll |
I About n O'Clock the army began to
scend the plains then covered .tsIera-
ly thick with trees, and Gro wne edwith
entity elevated knobs andlhillocks.
7kl~ Glxsr,z ~ =, a - H., Il y : a,