The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-25

serves an iron or granite statue in honor o.
| his nama and sterling worth; and as Mi
Lewis made choice Of a spot for lissffrst and
permanent home near Staunton. nothing
could be more appropriate than the seec
| ton of a park, or o suitable place in the
! flourishng and beautiful county seat OF Au-
gusta, on which to erect an imposing and
imperishable statue to perpetnate the mem.
DRY of the eminent pioneer.
GENERAL BRADDoCKS UNFORTUANATE
CAMPAIGN.
The first attempt on the part OF the Eng
lish to occupy the country contiguous to the
Ohio river, was made in consequence of the
| measures adopted by the French to possess
themselves Of it. France had early become
| acquainted with the country, SO far as te
perceive the facility with which her posses
sions liz the north, might by means of free
communication down the Valley of the Mis-
sissippi, be connected with those in tile
South. 10 preserve this communication un-
interrupted, to acquire influence over the
Indians, and to prevent the occupancy and
settlement by England of the country west
of the Allegheny mountains, the French were
early induced to establish trading posts
among the Indians on the Ohio, and to OBJ
tain and retain possession OF the country by
| the erection of chain of forts to extend
| from Canada to Louisiana.
To counteract these operations OF tie
French, to possess herself Of the country to
which she deemed her title to be good, and
| to enjoy the lucrative traffic which was then
| to be carried on with the Indians, England
gave to an association of gentlemen in Great
Britain and Virginia, under the title Of the
+ SOHO Company" liberty to locate and hold
in their own right, 100000 acres OF land
within the country then claimed by both
England and France. III pursuance Of this
grant, steps were taken to effect these OBJ
jects, by establishing trading houses among
the Indians near the Ohio, aad by engaging
persons to make such survey Of the coun-
try as would enable the grantees to effect a
location of the quantity allowed them out OF
the most valuable lands. The company en-
deavored to complete their survey with all
possible secrecy, and by inducing the In
dams to believe their object to be purely
commercial, to allay any apprehensions which
might otherwise arise Of an attempt to gain
possession Of the country.
The attempt of the company TO ace omplish
| its purpose of territorial aggrandizeme mt
| with secrecy was frutless and unavailing
The Pennsylvania traders, fearful that they
| would lose the profitable commerce carried
| on with the Indians, excited their jealousy,
| who acquainted the red men with the real
| motive Of the company; while the French
actually seized and made prisoners Of the
English traders, and opened and secured, by
detachments of troops stationed at conven-
lent situations, q communication from che
Alleghanies to the Ohio river.
The Ohio company sent party OF men to
erecta stockade fort at the confluence OF
the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers,
which had been recommended to Governor
Dinwidde by Col. Washington, as a suitable
position for the erection of Notifications.
This party of men was accompanied by a
detachment of militia, which had been or
dered out by the Governor, but before they
could effect their object they were driven off
blythe French, who Immediately took posses
sion of the place,an erected thereon Fort du
| Quesne. These transactions caused the con.
flict called Braddock's war, which put an
end to the contemplated settlement, and the
termination of an enterprise almost unparal
| leled for its disasters, and one OF the most
memorable in American history. 1t may not
be amiss to relate some incidents connected
with this war which may have escaped the
pen of the historian.
In Braddock's army there were two regi-
ments Of volunteer militia from Virginia,
and two regiments of regular royal troops,
the 44th and 4Sth. One of the Virginia fegi-
ments was commanded by Col. Russell, OF
Fairfax; the other by Col. Fry, and was
from Shenandoah and James rivers. In the
latter regiment there was a company from
Culpeper, commanded by Capt. Grant, (af.
forwards known as large land holder in
kentucky, and John Field was lieutenant.
Field was killed on the 10th of October,
1774, at the battle of Point Pleasant, one Of
the hloodiest battles ever fought with the
Indians in Virginia, fuller description Of
which will be given Ill another chapter
There was likewise in this regiment com.
pany OF rifiemen from Augusta, commanded
by Capt. Samuel Lewis, the eldest son Of
John Lewis, Of Rockingham. This company
also contained the five brothers of Capt
Lewis: Andrew, afterwards Gen. Lewis, OIL
Botetourt;' Charles, afterwards Col. Lewis
who was likewise killed at Point Pleasant
William, John and Thomas. Among theil
compatriots in arms, were five sons Of Capt
John Matthews, (who had accompanied Bur
den to Virglnia,) John Mcdowell, Pau
| Whitly, James Bell, Patrick Lockard, and {
number of others of the first settlers Of Au
g,lsta, Rockbridge and Rockingham.
From the time this army crossed the ALE
ghany mountain, its movements were con
stantly watched by Indian spies from For
du Quesne, (dukan,) and as it approached
| iACtttCA otiO pOiio VI NooCihdetoh AutiHVio WCIS
regularly despatched to acquaint the French
garrison with its progress, and manner o
4 marching. When intelligence was received
that Braddock still moved in close order, thu
Indians laid the plan for surprising him, ant
carried it into most terrible execution will
but little assistance from the French troops
At the place where the English crossed the
Monongahela river there are about two acre.
Of bottom land, bounded by the river on th,
east, and by a ledge of high cliffs on tn
west. Through these cliffs there is a con
siderable ravine formed by the flowing of {
small rivulet. On the summit Of these cliff
| lay the French ard Indians concealed b.
tall grass and timber, and from this stua
ton, in almost perfect security, they fret
down upon Braddock's men. The only eX
posture of the enemy resulted from raisin!
to peep over the verge of the cliff in order t.
shoot with more deadly aim.
The companies commanded by Captain
Lewis and Grant we're the first to cross tn,
river. AS fast as they landed they formed
and proceeded up the ravine, arrived at tn,
plain on the head of the rivulct without hay
ing discovered the concealed enemy whcl
they had passed. So soon as the rear o