The Portland daily press., 1872-01-27
General WashingtOn's Account of Brad.
docks Fight.

Tothe Hon. Robert DinWiddie, Esq, VII
liams6urg.
FORT CUMBERLAND, July IS, 1855.
HONORABLE SIR,-As am favored with an
opportunity, should think myself inexcusa-
BILE was 1 to omit giving you some account of
our late engagement with the French on the
Monongahela, the ninth instant.
We continued our march from Fort Cum
berland to Frazer's (which is within seven
miles of Du Quesne) without meeting any ex-
traordinary event, having only straggler or
two picked up by the French Indians. When
we came to this place we were attacked (yery
unexpectedly by about three hundred French
and Indians. Our numbers consisted of
about thirteen hundred wellarmed men,
chiefly regulars, who were Immediately struck
with such an inconceivable panic, that moth
ing but confusion and disobedence of orders
prevailed amongthem. The officers in gener-
al behaved with incompatible bravery, for
which they greatly suffered; there being near
ly sixty killed and wounded, large proper
ton out of the number we had.
The Virginia companies behaved like men
and died like soldiers; for, l believe, out of
three accompanies that were on theground scarce
thirty were left alive. Capt. Peyroune aud all
Poison had almost as hard fate, for only one
of his escaped.
In short, the dastardly behavior of the reg
ular troops (so called) exposed those who
were inclined to do their duty to almost
certain death; and at length, in spite of
every effort to the contrary, theyl broke
and ran as sheep before hounds, leaving the
artillery, ammunition, provisions, baggage,
and in short everything, prey to the enemy !;
,l,a,, H.. t1,n,x, s,,
hopes of regaining the ground and what we
had left upon it, it was with as little success
as if we had attempted to have stopped the
wild bears of the mountains, or rivulets with
our feet; for they would break by in despite
of every effort that could be made to prevent
it.
The General was wounded in the shoulder
and breast, of which he died three days after;
his two dides-de-cdnp were both wounded,
but are in fair way of recovering. Col Bar
ton and Sir John St. Clair are also wounded,
and hope will get over it. Sir Peter Halket,
with many other brave officers, were killed in
the field. 1t is supposed that we had three
hundred or more Killed; about that number
we brought off wounded; and it is conjectur-
ed II believe with much truth that two
thirds of both received their shot from our
our own cowardly regulars who gathered
themselves into body, contrary to orders,
ten or twelve deep; would then fire and shoot
down the men before them.
tremble at the consequence that this de-
feat NAV have upon our back settlers, who,
suppose, will all leave their habitations, un-
less there are proper measures taken for their
security.
Col Dunbar, who commands at present,
intends, as soon as his men are reunited at
this place, to continue his march to Philadel-
phia for winter quarters; consequently there
will hp NO mi affh III ia tho chaf-
tered remains of the Virginia troops, who are
totally inadequate to the protection of the
frontiers.
AS Capt. Orme is writing to you, however,
doubt not but that he will give you a cir
cumstantial account of all things which will
make it needless for me to add more than
that am, honorable sir, your most obedient
| and most humble servant
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
From Old and Ne,c for February.
1T was supposed that Gen Braddock was shot by
IF hfa