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

: NV ySO pass "lIAOuL ohOIs
That's their game, the cunning varmints;
pick off the mounted leaders, and the rest
comes, of course. Don't stay to see where
l hit him, Major. Old Black Rifle is
certain as death. Hurry up the troops,
we'll need 'em all, for the savages are in
full feather in front; if there's one, there's
a thousand, twisting and creeping and
! gliding about among those trunks. Hal
! loo! there's Yaddy's rifle. Hit him again,
| by Jupiter, and Frencher, too. No bark
without it's bite is the plan we're acting
on.''
Washington had not far to GO. Brad
dock, finding the uproar not only con-
tinuing but even increasing in front, had
ragged through the whole army like mad,
and could not wait for his aids report.
Ordering Burton to detach eight hundred
men and hurry forward with all possible
speed, he left Sir Peter Halket in the rear
with full four hundred to protect the bag
gage. He then swore and stormed along
the whole artillery line, and pushed the
guns forward as fast as possible.
Washington met the General, his eyes
fairly aflame, and with spurs buried deep
into his horses sides, right on the brow of
the hill. Cages cannon at that moment
had just filed the woods with their re-
sounding roar, which was followed with
cheer after cheer from the British, who
were standing in a confused crowd in the
middle and on the sides of the road, load
ing and firing as fast as they could.
The terrible, leaden hail, which had
been so steadily raining on the English
and shattering their columns, now slack
ened for while. The British then ad-
vanced on the French in front, pouring in
a hot fire, though very few of the enemy
could be seen. AS they drew near, an
othor staggering discharge met them, ap-
pearing to come, as it were, right out of
the ground.
The British rallied again, and opened a
dreadful storm of grape and musketry,
sweeping away everything living before
them, but the grievous misfortune was
that about the only living things were the
trees of the woods. Beaujeu, the chief
leader of the foe, and several others, were
seen to fall, while the Indians, unaccus-
toned to the appalling roar of artillery and
the loud huzzas of the soldiery, appeared
to waver, and for the moment gave way.
; A well-pushed bayonct charge just then
would have put them to remediless flight.
Observing, however, that the French
and Canadians still held their ground i'll
the direct front; much exasperated by the
fall of their loved Beaujeu, and urged on
to revenge by Dumas, Langlade and de
Lignery, they took fresh heart, and re-
turned to their trees and ravines, through
and along which they extended more and
more.
1t was just at this critical moment that
Braddock's horse leaped into the road,
and, struck instantly by bullet i'll front,
fell on the very leap, throwing the Gen
eral violently to the ground. The grim
and infuriated old warrior staggered tc
|, his feet, sword in hand, and glared around
like a lioncss robbed of her wlfelps. His
eyes fairly shot flames, and his face grew
livid with rage as he saw his carefully
drilled veterans standing in groups anC
without order, all appearing TO nre ran
dom, while many were shooting into the
trees above them, as if their foes were
birds in the branches.
To increase his 0isgustful rage, just al
this moment Cages advance gave way
entirely. The unseen enemy had worked
themselves along the ravines on botl
hanks, and from behind the dense under
: growth and tall grass which fringed them
, poured in n most CALLING fire, coolly ant
securely picking off officer after officer.
Colonel Burton's command had just
, come upon the ground, and were forming
+ as well as could be under such a murder
GUS hail of lead and in such a narrow road
f when crowding down upon them came
Cages and st. Clair's shattered columns
trying to get into their rear, and mixing
, the two regiments in inextricable confu,
sion.
Then it was that Braddock stormed
, around with rage and an indignation
which was almost sublime fromits inten
, sity. Turning sharply on Gage:
, "How's this, craven sir would ye SC
basely dishonor your king and the duke
: Gods wrath is this the way ye've beer
taught to fight! By the Eternal, but III
, break your disgraced sword where you sit
in saddle? Curses on you all for set OF
white-l -livcred towards ! You look more
: like a flock of silly sheep set on by
hounds than drilled soldiers. For shame
( for shame! Fall in ranks, every mother:
, son of you, and come out from behind
5 those trees By the great God above us
: men, but pl cut down with my sword the
first soldier, British or American, who
c dare 'skulk behind cover! Out with YOU
towards p and suiting the action to the
5 word, Braddock leaped to the road side
S and actually hit with the fiat of his
| sword several whom he found behind the
t trees, While others he pushed into the
road.
1 General sullenly expostulated Gage