Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-12-24
Cen. Ernddnes.. Grave.

The place of BraddOck's sepulchre was
within q few yards Of small stream, the
banks of which abruptly sioped down TO the
water, and distant shout two milos-west-
warily-from Fort Necessity. The grave
was made Immediately in the road, about 4
stones throw iroa the present National
road. When the march was resumed the
horses, wagons and troops passed over the
grave, The purpose being to prevent lis dis
covery and Gesccration by the enemy.
About 1924, a p.riy Of vOrkmen engaged
in repairing the old road came upon the re-
mains OF a human skeleton which was sup
posed to be that Of BraddCck. Numerous
insignia of rank we're found with it, and
there was no knowledge of the burial Of any
other officer in that vinicity. Those who
were present on the occasion carried away
with them as souvenirs the buttons and
other metal articles which had not been
destroyed hy corrosion- Some Of the party
even went so far in the qualification Of their
passion for relies as 10 make way with sew
eral of the small bones of the hands. Mr..
James Matthews, blacksmith who lived
at Mount Washington, as Fsrt Necessity
has since been called, was present on the
occasion referred 10 aud witnessed the dis
internment Of these remains. They were
carried to point about one hundred and
fifty Yards eastward and buried in a field at
the foot of large oak tree some twenty-five
Yards from the National Road. In order
to mark tie spot more clearly 10 strangers
Hon. Andrew Stewart had prepared bosTd
on which was inscribed the fact that this
was the last resting place Of Major-Geners!
Edward Bradiock. and this board was
nailed TO the tree. For twenty-five years
the National Roa1 was the great highway
between the East and the West, and thoGs-
ands OF persons passed over II. The writer
can well remember how, when a boy. each
morning and evening, long trains of stage
coaches arrived at and left Cumberland over
this great highway. BTaddocks grave was
one OF the grea. points OF attraction on the
road, and every day the stages were stopped
in erder that the passengers night discm
bark for few minutes to inspect the place.
The old oak tree ten years since fe,f \
victim TO tire inpeIiols hand of time. and
during the prevalence Of q storm was blown
down, the trunk breaking OF some feet from
the ground. leaving Only i stripped and
shiverded trunk TO marS the sacred SPOT.
The stump has now entirely disappeared
and no mark Of the old tree remains. In
1871 party Of gentlemen from England
visited the place and before leaving il the
inclosed il with fence of boaris, securely
built, ard thus it remains to-day. y foot
note in De Hass' "ilistoTy Of the Indian
Wars Of Wes; Virginia states that 'gnany
wears since the remains of General Brad
dock were removed to Eag'and and nov
rests with the guieJ sl;epers Of Westminster
Abbey Whence this information was
derived has not transpired. However it is
certainly erroneous. Those remains IN
doubtly still lie in The place above described.
and no inhabitazt Of that locality has ever
heard Of their removal 70 England. Those
bones which were carried away as souvenirs
by desecrating curiosity seekers were after
ward gathered together by Mr.. Stewart and
are supposed to have been deposit in Pesles
Museum, Philadelphia. It was Washing
toms intention when ne buried BrsddOck
TO return at scme future day and erect
monument to his memory, but his time
was so occupied by the events Of the years
following that it was not until after the
close of the Revolutionary War that he was
able TO undertake The sef-imposed task. In
1874 he visited the plsce for the purpose
indicated, and ''made diligent search for
the grave, but the road had been so much
turned and the cleared land go extended
that it could net be found" The British
Government is not wont to neglect her Sold
isrs, but she never took the slightest notice
of the resting place of Braddock, and it was
left for 4 strangers hand to mark the spot
where be lay mere than half q century after
- felk 49, hsi- e .-