The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-24
Death Of General Braddock.
THEORY THAT HE WAS SHOT BY A vIReI.
MA HUNTER TO AvENGE BROTHERS,
WRONG.

MA HUNTER TO AvENGE BROTHERS,
WRONG.
There is traditioe still lingering in the
neighborhood, that bullet from the rifle of
Virginia Hunter, and not an Indian, laid
the British leader low, in revenge for some
wrong inflicted upon brother of the repu-
ted assassin. There is not little romance
connected with this whole story of Braddock
and his defeat-the heroic exploits of the
then youthful Washington, and the capture
OF Fort Duquesne -events which occurred a
century and quarter ago. The writer of
this has rambled over these mountainous re-
gions several times in former years, visiting
all the points of interest along the old Brad
dock road, from Cumberland on the Poto-
mac to the battlefield of Monongahela. 1t
ls, indeed, mostly wild region, hut an in
teresting one mainly because of the events
which transpired along the old line events
which were the turning points in American
history. That was the gateway through
which passed the civilization that now rules
the west and is the glory of our country.
These wild adventures had to do with the
retirement of the French power in America
and the establishment of the Protestant
form of Christianity. The place on the right
of the old National road on the western de.
clivity of the Allegheny mountains, marked
"Braddock's Grove" is undoubtedly the
spot where his remains were finally inferred.
The late Hon. Andrew Stewart for many
years member of Congress from Pennsyl-
vania, once stated in the presence of the
writer that his father lived near this place.
and many years was supervisor of the high
way. On one occasion, when they were re-
! pairing the road, one Tom Fausett, an old
man and a noted hunter one of the first set
tiers in that region, was present. Fau-ett
said that he and his brother Joseph were in
the battle of Monongahela under Braddock,
and that he had himself assisted in the bur
ial of the British General. "Now," said the
men one day, "you have always claimed
that you helped to bury Braddock show us
where he lies and we will dig him up"
Fausett took some observation and bearings,
and then, pointing to a particular spot said =:
dig here am not six feet from his bones"
He continued I'VE buried him in the road
and drove the wagon over the grave so the
Indians could not find him." The working
men dug wright where he directed them,
and. sure enough, found the remains of a
man which all admitted must have been
those of the unfortunate British General.
They were then reinterred at the foot of a
large oak tree near the road, and that place
has ever since been pointed out to the tour
ist as Braddock's grave Mr.. Stewart said
| he was then about eleven years old, and was
an eye witness of these proceedings. Some
English gentlemen travelling in this coun-
try within few years have placed around
| this spot substantial fence, out of respect
| to the memory of their countrymen. But
now comes the question, who killed Brad
dock? 1t must have been this same Tom
| Fausett There once lived in the family of
the writer of this sketch man by the name
of Leonard For number of years Leon
ards father kept an old township pauper
who was this same Tom Fausett, and who,
as before stated, with his younger brother
whom BraddOck struck down with his sword
| for taking shelter behind tree to escape
the deadly ambush into which the army had
fallen. When Tom Fausett, as stated by
! Leonard was old, dim of sight and feeble, he
used to sit in the summer time all dav long
under the shade of an old apple tree in the
front yard and repeat to himself over and
over again: They say | shot Braddock
well, if did, | shot him with two silver
sleeve buttons" There was an old supersti
tion, which may exist yet for aught we know
that general could not be killed with Iced
but with silver bullets only. Fausett wa.
enraged at Braddock for having struck dowr
his brother, and so most likely, cutting of
the buttons from the sleeve of his uniform
which was called "silver" even if they were
not used them instead of load. Poor Brad
dock fell mortally wounded, and in fou
days was buried. He died saying: "WhC
would have thought it? We shall know bet
ter how to deal with them another time
If Fausett did shoot Braddock, one coul,
hardly blame him, for it was his fall tina
saved the army from entire destruction, ,sucl
as that which Custer met upon the plains o
the west. If Braddock had not fallen W
might never have had our Washington 70
the entire army, routed and confused, woul
have been the prey of the French and savag
Indians DR.. Trafoa in the National RI
positOry.