The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-12-09
AT BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT

In the history Of PENNSYLVANIA. bv
Charles Mcknight, soon to be issued. thu
following incident is narrated:
Tho only thing for Braddock to do
when he found himself in this horrid
slaughter-pen was, manifestly to retire
his forces while he had them under con-
troll throw out scouting parties to beat
up the enemy's position, bring up his ar
tillery to the ends of the ravincs and
thoroughly rake them with grape and
canister, or to rout out the secureiy-hid-
den foe with the bayonet. Indians have
never yet been found to withstand BAY.
onct charge. The cold steel at close
quarters demoralizes. They culver.
break, and fy. This is what Halket and
Washington both urged him to do, but to
no purpose. He ragged along the road
like fury; drove back his men by the
sword, and seemed determined to over.
come by mere force Of drill and obstina-
cy. Indeed, it is uncertain whether he
now could have executed the maneuvre.
No soldiers-not even Cumberland's vet.
eran's-could long withstand q deadly
and concentrated fire from front and
both tanks.
The fact that the fatal flashes and puffs
or smokes and volleys seemed to come
right out Of the ground all from unseen
foes, while the whole ali and woods
around rang full Of savage yclls and hor.
rible screcching. completed the demorali-
zation. Many afterward declared that
during the whole three hours contest
they had never once seen q foe, while
others would not assert that they had
seen over half dozen. 1t is only wonder
that soldiers so wretchedly posted and so
badly commanded could stand it as long
as they did. The provincials suffered 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, attempt.
ed to beat back into the road the men
who had thus sought shelter behind trees,
were shot by their own men.
In one Of the pauses of this one sided
conflict, Washington, who had been kept
busy, carrying the generals orders--t the
other aids, Orme and Morris, having be IN
wounded--saw Col. Halket, grim and
wcary-looking, standing dismountcd
under a huge oak, and leaning heavily
against its massive trunk. fastening up
and out little from the fire he anxious.
ly inquired:
II trust Sir Peter, you arc not very
badly hurt?''
"Na, ma, Geordie, but Use gotten eneuch.
IT'S joost aboon my baldric. VIVA Guild
luke to 60 thro' siccan an aw.somc dav
wi'out scaur or scaith? haze fear Ise
ia en- strong grippit O. death. am
sair, sair forfoughten, but never fear, mon,
but wha' tho auld Sir Peter will Ger
present heckle to his foes.''
ooh! it's no: so bad as that, coloncl,''
said Washington, "but you, like the rest
Of us, have received your baptism of fire.
IT'S CORY field, and the ends not YETI
"D'ye mind, major, the 'secon-sight'
l tauld ye of yestreen and the vision Of
bluid? Said I not recht! But h'ae We
seen Jamie, laddie %
Il have. Sir Peter there he stands, and
unhurt.'
I" 'Tis strange, vera strange. IT'S the
BARN Francis, and not James, that's hurt
and ta'en to the rear, alang vi Sir John
Sinclair, Col. Burton Gladwin, and many
ithcrs. Oh! but this is sorra day!
Braddock's joost lost his fourth horse.
The fule earle thinks he's tighten on the
broad plains O. Flanders. Ills eneucl
amaist to drive one distraught to see him
trying to wheel and maneuvre whail
army. shou]ther to shoulthcr, in twal-
foot road. 1 haze beggit him to let his
men tax to the woods, but the dour dell
wi not. He's clean daft, Geordie, clean
daft"
swell, colonel" said Washington, mo
use to discuss the general now. You need
immediate attention. I'll send some SOL
dies to take you to the rcar.''
Washington had scarce gone hundred
PAGES before bullet, sped by an Indian
rife from the ravinc, struck Halket
straight through the heart. Just as he
was falling, his son James rushed for
ward and caught him in his arms. He,
too, was at the same instant mortally
truck, and both fell together, locked in
ach others embrace. and this was the
asst of the old Scotch nobleman. The
two bodies lay just where they fell, for
years, through summers heat and win.
ter's snow" mid all the wreck of the
spiteful elements"