National Republican., 1880-02-23
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Noble Action Under His First "Bap.
tism by Fire."
Tho Fort Du Quesne Disastcr-G General Brad
docks Defeat and Death washington's
Umheeded Warning - Ills Action
Under neutrality-suspicious.
by High Ofticiais on the
Disastrous Defeat.
Causes Of tho "rrcnch.Indlan war.Y

have followed his subs, quent civil labors rs
first President of the United States. His
early public labors are full Of interest. II WAS
an cveutlul period, aud he seems to have been
ended 10 the treaty of AK la Chapcllc,
in 17iS, had been highly injurious
to the prosperity of the feeble British
Colonies in America. 1t left them re-
duccd in population by war, millions OF dol
lars in debt, aud Impoverished The French
claimed ownership of the entire continent
from Quebec to Louisiana, excepting the mar
row strip Of sea-coast from Maine to Florida,
occupied by the English Colonies.
England however, disputed this claim, and
insisted that through the discoveries OF the
CahOts the territory was hers from the At
lantic westward TO the Pacific. Elch nation
iabOred to advance system of colonization
and actual settlement. Encroachments led to
local conflicts and ultimately resulted In an
other war for supremacy.
The year 17i0 witnessed tho beginning of
difficulties. The French, approaching from
Lake Erie, were occupying and settling the
Ohio valley, and hnd in view the opening of
a road through the valley from Canada to
Louisiana. To check these operations and oh.
tain control Of the interior, a company, COM
posed Of capitalists in England aud Virginia,
was chartered by the Crown and granted
tract of 100000 acres of land on the Ohio
tons. The French resisted. Anuppcal was
made to the Governor of Virginia, who brought
the matter before the Colonial Assembly aud
received instructions to dispatch n messenger
to tho French commander with letter de-
manding an explanation for his hostile con-
duct and requesting him TO cause the French
to ovacuate their forts In that region.
The person selected for this important mis-.
sion was George Washington, then residing on
tlp lower pDtDtnnp aud nurCuiuU hig npnr,ful
occupation of land surveyor. Tho French
commander was at bis forts near Luke Erie
The distance was about 400 miles, through
dense forests, occupied by Indian savages aud
hostile Frcuchucn. He reached tho end of
his perilous journey in safety, was treated
courtcously, but secured from the General n
letter TO the Governor of Virginia, informing
him that he had his Instructions from the
Governor of Canada, and propos a TO follow
them. Washington secretly eyed the opera
ATOMS Of the enemy, saw several hundred birch
bark canoes and pino.wood boats already pre-.
pared for operating along the rivers of the iu-
,erior OH the opening of spring; he cautiously
skctchcd the Dimensions of the principal fort,
aud started on his return. The winter had
set In and the historian describes his return
as
zone of the most solitary marches ever made by
man. and adds There IN the desolltc wilderness
was the future President Of the United States,
Clad IN tho ribc Of I'm Indian, with gun aud knap.
sack struggling through intermnable SHOWS; sleep
Ing IN frozen clothes on bed OF pine brush; break
Ing through the trCachcr0us Ice of rapid streams;
fred ut Us prowlius savage from his covert not
fifteen steps away thrown from Il raft into the
rushing Aleglany: escaping 70 an island In mid
river, and lodging there until the river was fro
zen over: plunging again Into the forest and finally
reaching the Potomac, he successfully arrived at
thG capital Ot Virginia without seas or wound"
The OhIo Company were then actively at
work erecting n fort ut the confluence
tln III, ,,t,,,
~ most Important position, rs it was
tho key to the OHIO valley. Bat in the spriug
the encuiy's boats came swoopiug down with
superior force. Trent and his thirty mon
were Obliged to surrender and leave the
country. The French Immediately occupied
the place and laid the foundation Of Fort Du
Quesne.
WASHINGTON had been commissioned lou.
cnant.colonel and WAS at Alexandria, Va,
cnlisting recruits for r campaign to the Ohio
lie had enrolled l50 men, aud with this little
army slightly increased he set out in May to
rc;uho the fort 50 recently surrendered. He
was thea commissioned colonel, aud had
orders TO construct a fort at the source Of tho
Ohio to dcgtroy Whoever opposed him in his
work; to capture, kill or rcpcl all who inter-
rnpted the progress Of the English settlements
In that country" Before reqchins his destl-
nation ho WAS met by the French 10 arms.
Washington. with muslset in hand, was at the
head of his company Fire !" was the COM
mand, and "the FIRST vollcy of great war
went dying on Its mission OF death" The en-
gagcment wUs sharp and short. The leader
of the French party and ten of his men were
killed aud twenty. ono made prisoners.
Washington proceeded, but receiving an in-
timation from friendly indians that Il heavier
French force was in preparation to meet him
and resist his advance, he halted and threw
up q stockade, which lie called Fort NeCes-
sity. Tho French mado an attack, and
after nine hours ilshting in heavy rain,
and the loss of thirty men killed, he capiiu-
lated and Withdrew from the country. The
French were again In undisputcd possession Of
the country,
England now felt that the honor of the
British nation, rs well as tho welfare Of hor
colonies. was at stake. An English army Of
1000 men was dispatched to America to he
joined with the colonial forces with tho
British General, Edward Braddock, in COM
mRnd.
On the l4th of April, 1855, hs mot the Gov.
oruors of tho colonies at Alexandria, Va, for
consultation. The condition of colonial affairs
was fully discussed. The plans of four cam.
paigns were ratified. Lawrence Governor
OF Nova Scotia. was 10 complete the conquest
Of that province. Johnson, Of New York, was
to onrOll force of volunteers aud MOhawks, in
British pay to capture the French post ut
OF Massachusetts,, was to eqmpa regiment TO
drive the enemy from their fortress at Niagara
Last aud most important Of all, Baddock
hlms ELF as COmmader.in.Chicf, was to lead
the main body of regulars against Fort Du
Quesne where thocity OF PittSburg now stands,
retako that post and sxpcl the French from
tue Ohio Valley"
In April Brnddock set ont with an army of
5000 men on their march to the French Fort
Du Qucsne. On the 9th of July, when within
five miles of the fort, with a portion of his
army far in tho rear, and the 1900 uen who
were with him extending four miles along u
road only twelve feet wide, and a forest on
cit her eide, with thick growth of underwood,
he was surprised by a detachment from the fort
Of French aud indians, inferior In numbers,
concealed in the uuderbrush, A sharp fire
from the enemy, who could not be seen, was
Immediately commenced. Tho Are was re-
turned, The men fired constantly, but could
soc no Gnemy, while the shots from the enemy
were made with deadly aim. Tue English
sodiory, unused to bush .Gghting, linGhed,
Ia vain tho General rushed TO the head of tho
column TO rally them, A route--u defeat-
followed
Washington wsa ON the Generals staff,
Braddgck, after IN vain exposing himself to
lAily and encourage his men, aud after having
Avo horsca shot under him, received ball n