Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-08-09
For the Intsiligeneer
Monument of Fort Necessity

Monument of Fort Necessity.
EDlToRs INTELLioEScER:
The recent celebration Of The centennial ami.
Versory OF WAstlSnroN's memorable campaign on
the Allegheny 'mountsins, the proceedings Of
which rs published in your paper, reached me a
day or two since, was mos; happily conceived aud
CARR out. The memory Of WAsHlNoroN's early
struggle, the character Of that conflict, the gene.
raj associations OF The spot well deserve 10 be
cofnmemoTated in the manner now proposed. Not
that The nome and fame Of the iluSlrous comnnn-
def require to he rerpetuated in marble or iron,
but that tie remembrance of lis early achieves
ments,-lhose proud acts which marked the man
as one born 10 no ordinary destiny, and served to
prepare him for thUse greet and gloriously events
which so brilliantly crowned his after life, may be
kept IN some enduring form, Lelore The eyes oil
coming generations in Older that they may be pro-
perly understood and justly appreciated.
mankind delight 10 honor the great and good;
and from The earliest period OF recorded history,
have sougbtto emUody In some visible and en-
during form tier high appreciation of exalted
worth.
What more could command the admiration OF a
pnttioiic people tlian the early achievements OF
WAsniNoToN1 Attic early age Of twenty.one lie
periIIed all in delence OF his eountTy's rights
Lhot country which from traCkleSs wilderness lie
was destined 10 elevate into q refined, populOuS,
prosperous community VI States
The history Of WAsIIINoroN's first eSsayat war
paTtakes more of The character OF romance than oil
sober fact Who can read The fearful perils Of lis
midnight mountain march over Cragsed rocks,
through dangerous GefIes. cropping amid the in.
tense darkness winch regned around, and above
nil to mike his way 10 tile camp Of The enemy by
llle occasional flash VI lle lightning OF Heaven !!
WHO can contemplate he danger OF hi3 position
aud not shudder at the imminent petl uf life so
valuable WAsniNuroN's life, always eyenlfuI
and often full Of danger was perhaps never more
80 than during his perlous campaign Of l76S-'6i.
lis lille affair with JUAoNvILLE, through the g.
norance Of pretended interpreter, or worse mo.
i've, involved him in an almost inexirlcable dill.
guilty. The tnisconceplion OF mistTanslalioi Of a
'lngIe word was made thu ground OF perhaps the
most violent aud malignant warfare that any mall
ever suffered from so slight onuse. Coarse, VIC
lent troLucllOn, lnetrIcnl liatnbes wiLhoutnumbeT
and fierce documentary iUyeciyes from the pull.
pit the lotnm, and academic tos,rum, continued
10 be hurled lor the greater part OF century
against The fair fame Of our glorious W ashington,
1.-The untarn;shed reputation Of Pdtsr. Patri0.
In The terms Of ccpiulatiOn as read 10 VAST
lNoroN, the alIait with KNOXVILLE was simply re.
lenetl 10 as his death, which Washington Of course
not taking any exception to, unheSitatngly signed
Bntln The articles was very differently expressed,
~ assdssinat du sieur da JImOnuilIe," being the
Language. i."
THIS document going enthusiastically the ao-
acknowledgement OF tile conflict Of May IS, as muir
detous ASSAULT subjected Washington 10 the re-.
pronch Of all who readit. The mistake was one
Of The most unfortunate Of Westinghouse life. II
was difficult Of explanation, and there are no
doubt, at this day, many persons in Europe, who
censure his conduct in this particular transactions
iMr. George Peabody at his next ANNIVERSARY dinner
may possibly getup speech from some sapentno
oleman Of John Bulls realm on this particular sub
jtct) The events ~ hich Immediately followed
this occurrence, although resulting in cupilula-
ton, were justly regarded with favor by The Colo.
ington Out, andwsre responsible for The results Of
The campaign. Wien lhe House OF Burgesses met
in August, theyTequestel the Governor 10 lay be.
fore them copy Of lie capitulaiion, and under
consideration Of tlle subject, passed vote Of
thanks TO Col. Washington and his officers, "for
their gallant aud brave Behavior in defence OF
their county" The names of all the officers
were mentioned except that Of Ii. Dol. Muse,
who was charged with cowardce, and Of Capt.
Van Braan, for his supposed treachery III tue
transaction of terms OF capitulalion.
Thus, all the proceedings Of the campaign are
not only approved but appIuuled, by the Assem-.
bed representatives, and by The people generally.
The Capitulation Of Fort Necessity was al once
successful, honorable, and humane. The little
band Of half famslled men sloUd an entire day, in
mud aud water un 10 their knees, resisting by their
bravery and energy tile approach OF we'll discip-
lined force Of three times their own number. Ri
naIly at 8 O'Clock in the evening, parlsy was
ordered by the French commander, but Washing
ton, suspicious Of trtacbety al frst refused. AL
second application was made, De YiLLIsR pledg
Ing his honor that no harm should befall any off.
ersent out with power to treat. Exhausted by
fatigue and hunger with but little to eat, and
nothing 10 hope for what could The brave Virgin.
ian expect to accomplish by holding oulR 10
hesitate mighthsye been fatal, to decline, mad.
ness, andtheEefore, yielding TO the renewed offer,
Washington sent out Capt. Van Braam. 10
,hott time he returned with the articles Of capit-
plation, which were teSd 10 Washington amidst
f,llingtainj and blythe faint glare of a camp FIRE,
They were hhriedly sgpedBy himSelfand ospt,
Aiaekey. On the following morning, July 4th,the
colonial foTeee marched out with. drum and iifs,