The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-09-26
NUMBER 80.

can depend on WHAT Is 4Clt OF my company
to a man. and think can get enough ran
gers from Dobb's, DagwOrthy's, Stevens
and Peyronics' companies to make the at
tempt. ''TIop' he shouted, III clear, ring
ing tones, American rangers, stay ono
moment! We've tried fighting Indians OH
the British plan, and if we 60 on one short
halEhour longe. well not have a whole
scalp left. Captain Jack proposes to run
forward and take possession of yondvr
huge log, which commands the enemy's
position, and will give us complete protec-
ton, and wen route those cursed, yelp-
! ing, barking devils down there euicker'n
| you could scrunch nest of IattIesnakcs.
All who want to redeem this disgracerul
day, and strike at least ore stout blow FOR
victory, follow mc!'
4 hearty cheer rang out. About eighty
American rangers, including, also, Jack,
Scarooyaddy, Alaquippa's two sons, Gist,
Fairfax, and two other friendly Indians,
agreed to follow.
''Now, lads, all load up and sling each
man of you around his tree and draw their
FIRE"
So as brisk volley came from tho
! foe. ''Now for il, and Jack and Wag-
goner leading, they darted rapidly for
ward, rifles cooked, al ready in trail, and
losing only three men by the way.
''Now!' shouted Waggoner, 'Espread
! yourselves along snug, and fire one voIley
! all together, and then every man load and
fire at will, and if we don't have some little
| to boast of this day my names not Tom
| Waggoner. Look, Jack; look! Dye see
the painted, slippery devils wriggling and
| gliding away? Aha! we've got 'cm, every
pop! Now for it, boys, Quick! quick!
before you lose en-. Ready! Take aim'
Fire!'-anH 4 tremendous volIey and rcd
line of flame lcaped from their rifles.
'Han' yelled Jack, springing TO his feet
| with excitement, as he saw whole raft Of
Indians break cover, Zone more like that
and well have scalps enough to buy Il
farm apiece. Hurrah! boys; Lur-'
His words were drowned by the roar of
guns and a general discharge of muskesry
| behind him, and at least forty of the eighty
fell killed and wounded by the fire from
the mob Of British regulars III their rear,
who loaded and fired wherever they saw =
flash of smoke.
My God"' gasped Jack, the first TO re
cover from the dreadful shocl, which
seemed TO pagalyzc and hold spccchIess all
that were left. .'Shot by our own men, as
I'm living sinner: Worse than murder,
by heavens! Come, Waggoner and Yaddy,
it's no use. The days lost when British
soldiers can thus slaughter their betters.''
Another yolley was poured on their
doomed heads, until fifty out of the gal
liant little band were either killed or
wounded, and the rest were put to 4 hasty
flight. Their rage, disgust and indigna-
tion can be imagined but not described.
Braddock, almost all his best officers
either killed OF wounded, and all the am
, munition shot away, found it now almost
impossible even 70 effect safe or orderly
retreat. The Indians, having lit.lc more
D to fear from the army on the hill plain, had
/ now worked down the rayines until they
: appeared on the first '.bottom," and COM
menced to attack fine baggage
The flank parties posted for its aecuIity
al: but one ran in. \ great number of
horses and some drivers were shot down,
: while the rest, cutting loose the best
horses in the teams, mounted and were Oft.
The cannon did some service, and, com-
mandcd and sometimes even served by
5 Washington himself, had FOR sometime
kept off the foe, but the spot was so woody
that very little execution could be done.
just at this juucture Braddock himself
who bad had five horses killed under him
and whose clothes had been TiddCd vsitl1
Q bullets, received a mortal wound while
- standing beneath large tree OH the brow
of the second rise. The ball passed through
his right arm, lodging deep i'll his lungs.
The order he was just giving was left un-
7 finished on his lips. Falling from his
horse, there the brave but unfortunate
| General lay, with but few friends around
! him and all his drilled veterans flying of
in headlong, diSgraceful flight. They
ran," wrote Washington in his first letter
after the battle, ''as sheep pursued by tho
dogs, and it was impossible to rally them. >
The fall of the General destroyed all
semblance of further opposition. Every
aide hut Washington and every field Off
Ger was struck down. About nine hun
dred out of the fourteen hundred men, and
siXty-three ont of tie ciyhty-siX officers
were either killed or wounded, and the
rest scarce waited for the drums 10 sound
/ the retreat. IN, all was abandoned!
, Horses, cattle, wagons, artillery, military
chest, personal baggage, eCeIyMt"g-and
what was worse, almost CCcgy DerSVl who
; was badly wounded.
Down, down the fugitive mob rushed to-
the ford, over which they had passed with
such pageantry and enthusiasm IN the
morning. The whole route was strcwu
with guns, military traTpings, and even
clotling-aH which could impede flight
About fifty Indians pursued even 10 the
Monongahela, tomalIawking several in the
passage.
It was wen that the savages, glutted
with blood, laden down with scalps. or
having a wholesome fear Of Dunbai's army
! still in the Iear, turned aside from the
monOtony of slaughter TO the work Of
, caJheungsthe rich spoils of the disastrous
field. Had they chosen to pursue across
the river, er had they gone zip the same
bank and waited at the other ford, two