Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-04-03
BRADD0CK'S GRAVE.
INTERESTING EXAMINATION.

80 luc OHiOnbOWn \Iu.) dWUto"h
Standard, after giving an account Of
the planting OF surdry trees at The
grave Of Gen. Braudock, in FayettG
county, Pennsylvania, adds the follow,
ing interesting historical sketch oi
events and incidents connected with
Braddook's expedition and death, and
the customs Of that period:
In connection with Braddock grave
We cannot resist the temptation Ia
give somo historical incidents derived
from the Hon. Andrew Stewart. About
tho year 1902 Mr.. Stewards father
lived about two miles East of Brad.
docks grave, on what is called "Brad.
docks Old Roai"--thc old military
road. Being supervisor of roads, he
went with some hands to repair
the road, taking with him Mr..
Stewart--then boy ten or twelve
years OF age. While the. men wore at
work on the east bank of Braddock's s
Run, Thomas Faucette, (born in l7l2,
and died in 1916, aged 104 years, and
who was with Braddocl's army ut the
time of his defeat and .death), an old
mountain hunter, then living on the
road less than q mile east of Brad
docks grave, in cabin, some of the
ruins OF which are still visible, came
along, with his rifle ON his shoulder, a
hunting knife in his belt, dressed in o
blue hunting shirt, bearskin cap, and
buckskin pants, standing straight MS
an arrow, about six feet four inches in
his moccasins. Faucette said: "Takc
care, men, or you will dig up Brad
docks bones. We buried him where
he died, right on the bank of tho run.
We dug away the bank, and drove the
baggage.wagons over the grave, so
the enemy could not find the grave
will show you the spot. The water
has washed down nearly to the bones
Dig down here foot or two and you
will find them" The men did SO and
found the bones.
"Braddock," said Faucette to the
workmen, "was brave man, but to
save his men | shot him."
"Why SOP" was asked.
al will toll you. My brother Joe
and | were fighting behind trees when
Braddock came riding along and struck
Joe, saying, "You coward, stand out
and fight like man" Considering
him our worst enemy, turned around
and shot him instead of an Indian.
When Washington took command Of
us he told us to tree. We did so, and
the remant of us were saved"
In confirmation of Faucette's story,
history says that it was thought at the
time that Braddock was shot by one
of his own men, and it was upon this
occasion that Braddock, when Wash
ington advised him to lot the men tree,
said
"Iigh times, when Virginia buck
skin undertakes TO teach British
General how to fight"
Mr. Stewart further says the bones
were reinterred at the foot OF large
white oak tree, except few which his
father took home, and afterward sent
by some Western merchants, going
East, with directions to put them in
the Museum at Philadelphia. The
merchants, Mr.. Stewart says, then
travelled in companies, armed with
pistols, to protect their money, con-
sisting of Spanish dollars. Each pack
horse carried two or three thousand
dollars in small bags. The merchants
would carrv back on the small horscs
iron, salt, and other merchandise, for
the supply of the Western people, the
whole in year amounting to perhaps
not much more than one "iron horse"
now takes over the mountains in O
single train. Slaves from Virginia
were driven through Uniontown in
those days corraled together like
horses, for the Western market. This
may seem strange to young ears, but
there arc many old persons still living
who witnessed 1t.