Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-10-16

!. before his second horse was laid 10
with bullet, and Braddock was aga
: on his feet in the road, which did n
go far to improve his temper. He
5 Washington ventured to observe quiet
and in low tones: General since Il
enemy's evidently in great strengI
, ahead and on each flank, would it n,
: be well to find out exactly where he i
, and how he manages to so hide himself
If we could retire the troops little o,
of fire, beat up these woods with tt
, bayonet, and reform
"Retire! retire out of fire, and bt
fore id dastardly foe who dare NJ
uncover himself." shouted Braddocl
"Major Washington, you are my aide
de-camp to carry orders, not to Civ
them! Retire is round, well-picke
word! 1t may suit your American mill
tia, but, sir.it is disgraceful word 70
an officer holding Majesty's commits
sion, either to speak or to hear! 1t wa
by retiring, as you well call it, tina
Forts Duquesne Necessity were give
up by you last year to the French
Damme, sir; it has been so much ~
firing that brings me and my army OIL
this field! Here, orderly bring me an
other mount"
Washington's pale face flushed VI
with indignation at this singing, bu
totally undeserved taunt, the more gal
ling since Braddock had repeatedly
given his approval of the "a campaign
Seeing the Generals obstinate temper
and knowing he had no right to offel
advice, he put spurs to the horse and
was soon over the hill to order to hur-
ry up the artillery.
"That's right, officers!" hoarsely
shouted Braddock, soon as he wa:
mounted. Tell off your men into small
parties, advance OH a double-quick
and drive those id skulking vaga-
bonds from their hiding placesn'
1t was useless. By this time the
whooping savages had enveloped both
fianks, while most CALLING concentric
fire was poured in upon the panic
stricken army, which was particularly
severe upon the officers.
In vain these officers, with unparal-
led bravery, put themselves repeatedly
at the head of small parties and ad-
vancsd with cheers upon the hidden
foe. Distinguished by their horses and
uniforms, they were simply sacrificed.
In the dark and narrow road, sur
rounded on all sides by gloomy trees
and dense thiekets, were crowded close
together the panic-stricken wretches,
appalled, at the fatal fires of whom they
never saw. Many fired away into the
air; many more brought down their
own men. -rs.
Wherever puff of smoke was seen,
off went the soldiers muskets; while
all around, securely hidden in those
mysterious, unsuspected ravines lay a
screeching, murderous, insatiate foe,
their rifles or muskets loaded with both
bullet and buekshot, peering through
grass and bushes, resting them on the
Drinks, gathering more confidence with
each fatal voiley, and making the for
est echo with demoniae yells and whoops
and savage clamor.
Occasionally a naked and hideously
painted savage would break from cover,
and rush forward with fearful screech,
to secure the scalp of some officer he
had shot. Then would follow volley
of musketry from the poor soldiers,
killing or wounding their own fellows
more than damaging the enemy.
What followed deserves not the name
of battle; it was simply horrible
slaughter. Once Colonel Burton man.
aged to gather hundred men, and ad-
vanced towards rising ground in front,
the very center of the French position,
but on his being disabled by rifle ball,
the rest retired precipitately.
By this time Sir Peter Halket came
up with reinforcements, but too late for
good. The men were hopelessly disor-
dered and panic-strieken, firing off all
their ammunition, quarreling with their
brave officers, who threw themselves
from their horses and led them repeat
edly on foot, but only to be swept into
eternity.
The only thing for Braddock to do
when he found himself caught in this
horrid slaughter pen was, manifestly,
to retire his forces, while he had them
yet under control; throwing out scout
ing parties to beat up the enemies pos
ition, bring out his artillery to the ends
of the ravines and thoroughly rake them
with grape and canister, or to route
out the securely hidden foe with the
bayonet. Indians have never yet been
able to Withstand bayonet charge.
The cold steel at close quarters demor-
alizes. They culver, break and fly.
This was what both Halket and WASH
ington urged him to do, but to no pur-
pose. He ragged along the road like flu
ry; drove back his men by the sword,
and seemed determined to overcome by
mere force of drill and obstinacy. In
deed, it is uncertain whether he now
could have executed the manouvre. No
even Cumberland's vet
erans-could long withstand deadly
and concentrated fire from front and
both flanks.
The fact that the fatal flashes and
puffs of smoke and volleys seemed to
come right out of the ground and from
unseen foes, while the whole air and
woods around rang full Of savage yells
and horrible screenings, completed the
Generalization. Many afterwards de-
clared that during the whole three
hours contest they had never once seen
4 foe; while others could not assert that
they had been over halfa dozen. 1t is
only a wonder that soldiers so wretch
edly posted and so badly commanded
could stand it as long as they did.
The provincials suffered as much as
the British soldiers. Whenever and
wherever they could they took to the
trees. 1t is even asserted, and we think
it probable, that some of the officers who
by Braddock's explicit command, at
tempted to beat back into the road the
men who had thus sought shelter be-