Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1859-09-11
rnn mouNr vERNon FAPEns:
SEWN CRITICAL OCCASIONS n INCIDENTS To
THE LIFE or WASHINGTON.
ny EDWARD ErrRET1

/ ton. 70 e~vacuate "Fot NeerssitYt $50 eaies
o indicate the straits 10 which be was re-
auced,) on the fth OF July. lto4 ;-une CAV %
be afterwards rendered, and IN no smsl degre'
nv his inestimsbls services, forever memora'
be in the annals Of America Snch were ne
courare. skin and energy displayed by the
1 voufhfui commander in these trying scenes
that he came out Of the campaign, moi only
without r~eproach but with enhanced reputa-
ton.
The following wear the great effort was made
bv the mo'her country 10 repair the disasters
II IT5A. and to secure an ascendeney on The
hanks Of the Ohio-for this was the limit Of
ANGLO American ambition before the seven
years var. The widest Imagination bad not
vet rraspeIth the mighty domain, which stretches
gr-styvard 10 the peaceful ocean and the setting
sun. Early in tha spring OF 1888, two regi-
mrnts OF regular British troops, commanded
bv General Braddock, a brave and experienced
officer. but arrogant passionate, and seif-will-
ed. arrived I'm Virginia, and were moved west
ward toward the passes through the AIle9ha-
MES. Colonel Washington had retired from
the army, disguised bv the regulations, which
leavr n~e-eAanca 70 the officers holding under
the roysI commission, over their seniors Of the
same rank IN the provincial service, thus pla-
/ cling him under those whomhe bad commanded
Co the former campaign Influenced, however,
BY strong attraction toward military life, ard
d IL NV ~ .H|.. 800 -
81 the invitation Of General Braddoek. TO
whom he had been made known BY reputation.
a. the officer Of the greatest experience ard
ability in the provincial s@srvice,) 20 Join HE
military family ~ a volunteer aid. On the
passage through the mountains, Colonel Wash
ington was attacked hv a fever, with sHch
violence, that be surgeon was alarmed fo-
bis life, and The general required him TO fan
hack upon the reserve, which WIS preceding
slowly with the baggage and heavy artillery.
I To this Washington consented only on oondi-
ton that he should be allowed 70 Join the msir
body before an engagement. Placed underline
care Of the surgeon In a wag n, reduced nv
disease and suffering from the uneasy motion
Of the vehicle, he remained with the reserve
two weeks, and was only able 70 return 10
head quarters on ths Sth OF July, the eve %
The battle Of the Monongaheia, a day disas-
trous beyond an others in the anuals Of America.
Weak and exhausted. but strength the spirit,
Washington mounted his horse the following
isv. He was often heard TO say in after life
That the most beautiful spectacle he had
ever beheld was the display Of the British
-noops on this e%ventful NOR ing Every man
was neatly dressed 10 full uniform, the soldiers
were srrsgned IN columns, and marched IN sE-
act Order,-the sun CLEANED from their bur
nishe8 arms, the river flowed TRANQUILITY on
-heir right, and the deep forest oysrshadowed
them with solemn grandeur on the left"-
The army was less thar fifteen miles Of For
Duquesne (PittsbuTg,) and confidently expect
ed to effect its reduction in the course OF the
dav.
Washington, though but one night in camp,
had in vain h~esought General Bra3dock to ac-
capt the proaered aid Of the friendly Indians,
! and employ them IN accommodating the broken
and wooded region through which the army
was to pass, on the wav to its destination
The advice was disdsinfuIiy rejected by the
G neral, who placed full reliance on the dis
| cipline and steadinesz Of Kings troops. In
happily be knew the pane Of war only as II
was practiced in those days BY rules OF art,
with the regularity Of a chess board. The ter
-ifc tactics 4 the wilderness ; The crack Of The
rife from the invisible foe; the fearful war
whoop the stsslthv savage creeping on bis
belly through the thiclyet up % the saddle
/ ririhs Of his startled enemy the cleaning
s~calping knife and the effect of ihese u0FVpe-
fenced horrors on the i'm sgina ions Of Euro
pcau t-oo were unknown % him.. His army,
fn magnifceut srrav and iu order Of battle.
had il the course Of the morning crossed Tho
winding stream twice without accident, ard
be advance under Col. GaCe. afterwards the
last Colonial Governor Of Massachusetts was
ascending the first elevation above the meadow.
when a sharp vollev from an uHssen enemy IN
! the woods was heard. Presently q heavy dis
charge followed in front and on the tanks the
advanced party D dismay fell back on the main
body Fastening I'd 10 their relief "a force Of
rwo hundred French and six hundred Indians
grumbers Far inferior 90 those o. the British
armyl rushed from the tbjckrt; the dismsyeo
r~egularr fred az random on friend and foe and
after a Wild and murdsrous conflict Of three
hours, fed panic-stricken from tie field Of
slaughter.
Washington was in the thickest OF this
murder0Is action, conducting himself. accord
ng to the testimony If q bro her officer, wi b
" be Ereatrst courage and resolution" HIS
fellow aids, Captains Orme and Morris, were
asfR4a1b6otPaF TgWas, and be iogl6uRe5
chief. 81 expected every moment" said Dr.
C-7ik, his friend and physician. "to see hin
fam" OF eightv-stx officers in the engage
nent tReBty-six were killed and thirty-sevrr
wounded and OF the privateS, about twrly'
hundred in number. the killed and wounded
amounted no seven hundred and fourteen. II
these numbers, augmented IN proportion %
he size Of the armies. are applied 10 the losses
sustained IN The recent engagements in LON
hardy, it viii Be Immediately perceived that,
IN the uumhrr Of he killed and wounded, the
battles Of Magenta and Soiferino do not com
pare with the ever memorable battle Of the
M~onougahela.
WASHINGTON was not merely exposed TO wha'
may Be called he ordinary and unavoidable
dangers Of such a day. but to risk, las sf er
wards appeared in a Verv eXiraord nary man
rer,) most mime and peculiar. In the year
no, In company with bis friend. Dr.. Cr7ik,
he descended the Ohio on a tour OF ohserya-
ton as far ss the great Ksnswha, and there
be incident occurred. avouchet hv Or. Crak,
which ] give I'm the langu7g- Of Mr.. Irving:
Here washington was visited BY an old
S7chem. who approached him with great
reverence, az the head Cf several Of his tribe.
and addressed him through Nicholson, the in
terp-eter. Re bad heard, ne said, OF his being
inthat part ofthe country, and had come from
a great distance to see him. On further dis
coursr, the Sachem made known that he was
one Of the warriors in he service Of the
French, who Law in ambush on the banks OF
The Monongahela. and wrought such havoc In
Braddock's army. He declared that be and
bis young menh q singled ont Washington, as
be made himself conspicuous, riding abont
the field Of battle with the generals orders,
and fired at him repeatedly, but without sue
cess whence they concluded that be was IN
der the protection Of the Great Spirit, that be
had q charmed life, and could not be slain in
battle"
WashingtnnhimsslF, a the tine. was not un-
aware Of he danger to which he was exposed,
nor of the Power bv which T. was averted. In
a letter to bis brother, he SAYS. "Bv The all
powerful dispensations Of Providence. ] have
been protected bevond an human probability
and expectation for 7 had -four bullets through
ny Goa and two horses shot under me, yet I
escaped unhurt, although death was dwelling
my compagi ms on every side" His remarka-
BE preservation, through the dangers Of this
dreadful daF, attracted general notice, and
Dr.. Davies, OF Nirginis, afterwards President
Of Princeton College, In a discourse a few
weeks afterwards, before a volunteer company
OF Hanover county, alluded 10 that heroic
youth Co. Washington. whom I cannot but
hope Providence has hitherto preserved in 50
signal a manner 1r some important service 10
his country" L is doui tf1l 70 a mere human
prediction, inspired b. early promise, was ever
20 remarkably fulfilled in after life. It is one
Of those striking eases where the foresight Of 2
wise nan becomes prophecy. The expedition
under Bratdock was the most Formidable
which bad ever been, 40 any time, undertaken
ID British America, and its result spread dis
may throughout The continent. Il furnishes a
most 2 gnal illustration of the paraivzing pow
er o. Panic, 20 which have alluded in a for
mer number Of these par c-s; and i- brought
down upon the Inflated Commanders grave
he bitterest reproaches Of bis Goyrrnmsnt and
the country. Washington alone, Of all In con-
s~ricuous stations, came out OF the havoc Of the
day, not only with ult8rnishei but with en-
HANGED honor; and a T|svereut anticipation, as
we have seen, Of some momcntuous connection
between bic career AMI tie fortunes OF the
] COUNTY, NH-A NaeHEe1lNN OF NAE public mind.
Il is impossihleto withhold assert from the re-
Elections Of Mr.. Sparks:
"C1ntrsry 70 his will,' saws this i1dicious
writer, "and IN spite Of his efforts. he had
gathered iaurels from the defeat and ruin IL
others. Had The expedition been succpssfnI-
these lsurels would have adorned he brow ~
bis supe-iors. Il might have been said % him,
hat be done bis duty, and acquitted himself
honorably but he could rot have ben the
prominent and single object o. public regard :
nor could be, BY long series OF common events.
have risen 10 50 high an eminence. or acquired
IN so wi3ea sphere, the admiration and con-
fdenee Of the people. For himself, for bis
country and mankind, therefore, this c~atastro-
pbe, In appearance so calam tous ard 20 deep
" deplore4 az the time, shoHld unquestion7hlv
Be considered 20 a wise and ben fcent dispen-
sstion Of Providence.
n a career like Washing ou's here is scarce
ANYTHING that can be called private life; his
demesdc relations even connect themselves
with the public Interests. The wear after
Braddock's defeat, Colonial Washington went
10 Boston with two brother officers, from his
post on The Virginia and Niarflari frontier.
10 take he decision or Governor Stanley. be
recently appointed Commander-ir-Chie in all
The roysl forces on The continent. On the oues-
tions Of precedence between the Crown and
Provincial officers, which con inusIly em5sr-
raised the service. Going and returning. he
was thr guest AZ New York ~ an early friend
/ and schooi-mste, Beverley Robinson, son OF
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