Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-06-21
Monument at Fort Necessity.

DRIED YEARS will have elapsed since The occurrence
.ssotan event remarkable and full of consequence
TO the future destiny OF this country as any one
that had preceded, or has since taken place.
The worldi familiar with the facts attending
WAsHssTos's first Battle--his first pieto,y-and
his FIRST and almost last Surrender, but few know
anything as 10 ,ohere these important works OCCULT
.n,ed.s., s
nation delights to hear and perpetuate the
remembrance of itsachleyements; and the patriotic
heart Of the citizen exults with honest PRIDE when
pointing to the spot hallowed with the blood and
sacred 10 the memory of The tried and faithful SOL
der The history of the world is full of such ex-
amples Witness Marathon or Thermoply8, and
y the nunlberless shrnes at which Frenchmen and
Englishmen, with indeed the whole of civil
Europe, kneel in devout admiration. Our coun-
try is not exempt from this devotion TO the names
aud fame of the patriot soldier who perillet all in
the defence of suffering country. Some OF The
most noted of our American battle fields have been
commernoratedi in marble and bronze, but the num-
Der is few indeed. Our object now is, to make the
ai spot of WAsHiNGToNs first battle and his first
81 eapitulation--ks conflict with De JUMoNvILLE and
ssaDeIeagaement by De YLLER, emphaticaily the IN
itiatory step in the great march of human freedom
and human progress on this continent. With
these warlike demonstrations amid the fastness of
: orr great Appalachian range, commenced astrng-
gle for power betwe, IN France and Eng land which,
- 1t has Justly been remarked, extended from the
,Mopongahela 10 the Ganges. On the this3 day of
oa Julyl774, the power of England Yielded to the
supremacy of her rival, and sin the whole valley
ef the Mississippi its head springs in the Allie
ghenles, no standard foated but that of France"
But this power did not long remain in the hands
of the gallant Gall. Contest succeeded contest;
- ,,l,,
after years OF sanguiniary conflict, the struggle
was ended by the complete overthrow and absolute
loss of all the possessions of France the con-
tinent of North America.
0 Without desiring give detail the leading in
.seulents in the occurrence alluded TO, will
glance hurriedly OF the principle points III
Jrder That the reade. may have Continuous chain
OF events. g
- II having been apparent TO the Governor and
fasGouncil OF Virginia, that the French were deter
mined to take military possession of the country at
The Head of The OHIO (then belonging TO Ylrgnla)
sit was deeided 10 send six companies with WASH q
IaaTosthen 1t. ColoIel, and ten thousand pounds
strwere appropriated for the purpose The youthful
COMMANDER marched his troops without delay to
willis creek near Cumberland, and while there
aawaiting the arrival of his superior officer CCol.
Fry received information shat the French under
syContacour had drawn off The remnant of small
force sent there couple of months earlier, and
actively engaged in certifying the place tthe
forks ofthe Ohio) Startled at this information he
was at loss how TO act as Col. Fry had not ar
rived. But resolved on checking the encroach-
nents of the French, he determined to erect fort
at the mouth of Redstone BrownsvilIe)and pushing
on.boldly into the wilderness, had, by the 9th of
May, reached the Little Meadows, at the head of
Non CHI riy Haltinp here his LITTLE
command, Washington descended the river to as
certain the chances of transporting his men and
artillery by water, and also 10 gather information
concerning the movements of the French. Find
ing the route by water impracticablc, he returned
10 camp and after messenger from this
friendly Half King, Tanacharison, came to aPprze
him of the rapid advance of a small party OF
FIenchmen. Additional information reached him
during the same day, and with the least practical
Bile delay be hurried on to the Great Meadows,
place better adopted for defence. Here a hurried
entrenchDlent. was formed and every preparation
made for meeting and resisting an attack. Some
time during the night second express from Tana-
charison brought intelligence that the French were
'encainped In deep vale about six miles from his
own position, and to strike an effective blow 1t
would be necessary 10 move at once. Although
the night was intensely dark and The rain falling
his little army forward, determined TO anticipate
the attack of the French. " no ean conceive the
terrors of that midnight mountain march over crag-
py rocks through deep ravInes, amid the thunder
Of the elements, and the ..darkness visible which
feiened around! With undaunted nerve the
Youthful officer pressed forwa ard in the track of his
Indian guide, lille his men followed in silence,
for the sullen sound of the thunder and the fierce
sweeping of the tempest, smotheIed alike The hea-
vytread of the one, and the stern command OF the
other. 1870
al the dawn OF day, the united force OF proyin-
Gals ana. Indians, Surrounded the camp of the
FSench,sw who little dreadng attack at that time
and place, were reposng in conscious secusity.-
'phsraard discovering The enemy sptesence sound
ed The alatnl,4 wi hen an almost simultaneous dis
elidfge E. took place. NJ. De JUMoNvILLE, comman7
der ofihs French, with ten of his men fell at the
first fire; The Others surrendered without furtherre-
sistance Thus was shed the frst blood in a war
which was speedily to involve Two of the most
powerful nations OF Europe. s.
In this affair Washington had one man killedand'
tweiwouuded.e = The. prisoners were marched tothe
..Meadows', and thence sent 10 Virginia. During
the action Canadian made his escape, and car
red information of the defeat 10 the commandant
ut Fpu Dns euesne. 4. I. s..sss si5-ai
SgSastsisigton anticipating an attack, strengthen.
ed his position, which, under the trying circum.s
stances; he very appropriately named 'tFort Ne
cessity." 80.
On The 3lstg May, Col. Fry died at Wills Greek.
and thenwtoie command deyolved upon the YOUTH
fulW ashineton. In, the meantime, an independ-
ent company from South Carolina, and a. number
oflfriendIy Indians joined the regiment !; and
Washington thong hit 10 push and foItifyt point