The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-02-24
wAsnINGToH's WATCH AND SEAL.

ginians, and, each man posting himself
behind tree, protected the wounded soldiers
from being scalped Braddock was mortally
wounded and the regulars ran s'like sheep be-
fore the houai:s." Braddock was carried Off
on litter, His army was annihilated.
Fosr avs later he was buried in the middle
Of The road rs precaution against the dis
'coyeiy Of his graye. Five hundzed British
lay dead ON tho field, esldes thosa killed. p,
ssssss v1 assu' aeIeat Is Alaeiie1.
troops, who In silent evaporation had alsssSed !
themselves to DO led BY the folly Of BrHddock'
into this slaughter, knew of Washington's re-
monstrances. This and his courage and cool-
ness during the battle and defeat, gave them
a high opinion of his military ability,
and they proclaimed his fame far and wide,
and thus he won honor out Of the ignomini-.
Gus defeat of Braddock.
Some eighty years lateE " ashIHg toms gold
scar, which was shot fFom his chain, was
fund on this battlefield -
Washington then took command of 1900
Virginia troops to carry on this war SO dis
astrously commenced, and which seemed
to be but one series Of catastrophes,
until the whole country was blaming him
for the reverses. Every new outrage in
fiicted by the Indians was charged to his
neglect or incompetency. He was wounded
to the heart by this He had neither honor
nor emolument from his command He was
shut up in frontier town, surrounded by
savage hordes whose terrible ravages he could
not arrest with the feeble means he had. He
wished to form line of fortresses on the
frontier, with Winchester as the central one,
and he proposed several other suggestions
which proved his forethought and sagacity.
but they were not accepted by Governor
Dinwiddie, with the exception of a fortress
at Winchester and some small frontier posts
Washington, as well as many others who
attain celebrity, had to bear with bitter en-
mites, and he was assailed by q torrent OF
abuse and accused Of being idle and frivo
lous, partial and selfish, and all his endeayors
were perverted. Governor Dinwiddies or
ders were dark, doubtful and uncertain; to-
day approved, tomorrow condemned" At
last he fell i'll through anxiety and exposure,
and lay in burning fever four long months,
but he resumed his command on the LIST of
March, 1758
William Pitt was now prime minister of
Great Britain, and Governor Dinwiddie was
superseded by the Earl of Loudon, who made
Washington commander in chief of all the
Virginia troops, and he was also colonel
of the First regiment. Early in March he
reached Fort Cumberland from Winchester.
Col Bouquet was determined to open a
new route through Pennsylvania, which was
against Washington's Judgment Quite a
large band Of Indians were engaged as allies
by the English, after much difficulty; but
the regulars treated them with such contempt
that finally the most Of them went home dis
gusted at their treatment Gen. Forbes, who
was commander in chief, was detained in
Philadelphia, and Col Bouquet, who was to
command the advance, assembled his corps
of British regulars. There were about $500
American troops and 700 friendly Indians
among them. Washington summoned his
two regiments of Virginia troops to meet at
Winchester. After annoying delays and
great distress among the Virginia troops
they at last started toward Fort Cumberland.
At about this period Washington was chosen
by the electors to be the representative Of
Frederick county to the house Of burgesses.
July and August passed. Washington stil
encamped at Fort Cumberland, much against
his viii, with nothing to do. In September
he was ordered to join Col Forbes The
military road was opened as yet but forty
five miles, where fort of deposit was made,
called Loyal Hannah, and fifty miles yet
were to be traversed Col Bouquet sent 300
men on ahead 10 reconnoiter. The major
was boastful, conceited bravado, and he
marched along with music, with the idea
that he could take the fort by surprise, and
after sending the Americans contemptuously
to the rear with the baggage, saying: "You
and your Americans may remain behind.
win show you how fort can be taken
He encamped on an eminence. The result
came near proving most disastrous one.
The signal successes Of the British arms In
Canada cut of supplies and aid from Fort
Duquesne, and when Washington reached
it there was but the blackened ruin Of
deserted fort The men had left and de-
stroyed it behind them, and soon the French
were driven out Of the valley and Washing
ton returned 10 Virginia with q somewhat
better fame
Washington's courtship, In 175S, Of the wife
who made him so happy and sustained the
dignity of his exalted position 50 well after
ward-the marriage taking place In the fol-
lowing year-was almost brusque, as history
tells It, and devoid Of sentiment, though q
more tender story could have been told,
probably, had the chroniclers so chosen.
Washington had to cross the Pamunky
river, where there was no bridge, and he
was carried across in q ferryboat, when he
met Mr.. Chamberlain, who urged him to
60 to his house for dinner, at least WASH
ington did 30, and fell captive at the feet
Of Martha Custis, a widow, young, beautiful
and rich. Washington, who had not wished
to spare the hour for dinner, staid on, and
remained finally all night. The handsome
young widow had many suitors, but In spite
Of them Washington gained her consent TO a
marriage as soon as the campaign against
Fort Duquesne was at an end Therefore on
Jan. IL, 1850, his marriage with Mrs. Gusts
took place at the brides beautiful home with
great splendor. An old negro servant Of
Mrs. Gusts household spoke afterward Of