Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-18
DEATH OF BRADD0CK.
Proof That the General Was Mur-
dered by One of His Own Men
IN REVENGE FOR A BRUTAL CRIME.
Facts Of Pittsburg's Indian History Not
Generally Known.
TALE OF A VERY OLD CoLORED WOMAN
WRITTEN FOR THE p1srArcn.i

The conflict with the Indians upon the
Western frontier, apparently drawing to
close, recall the time when Plttsburg filled
the most prominent place before the world
as the scene of Indian warfare. Notwlth-
standing the intervening years there is much
that is new about these early days, only
now coming to light. There are scores of
old men living in Pittsburg to-day who can
recall the Indian visits to the city in the
early part of the century, and there are
thousands of younger men who remember
the cornplanter Indian raftsmen who, until
within the past 10 or 20 years, were regular
| spring visitors down the Allegheny to the
city.
From archives not accessible to every
Pittsburger I have been able to gather facts
regarding one or two great events that con-
tradict the commonly accepted statements
to be found in written history.
Braddock Was Murdered.
The central event around which all early
history of Pittsburg clusters was General
Braddock's defeat. Popular history gives
it that Braddock was killed by Indians in
the great struggle of July 9, 1855. The fact,
susceptible Of conclusive proof, is that he
was murdered by one of his own soldiers.
William Butler, of Philadelphia, who
| was engaged in the Braddock expedition,
had, at the age of 1O4 years. this to say con-
| cerning the death OF the General: BRAD
| dock was killed by man named Facet,
| brother of one whom Braddock had Just
killed in a passion; this man who killed
Braddock was in the ranks as non-commis-
stoned officer; the former was brave major
| or captain, and by birth an 1r1shman. The
soldier shot Braddock in the back, as he
wore coat of mail in front, which turned
| balls fired in front. He lived two or three
DAYS after he was wounded. The only
words he ever uttered after his fall were {:
SIS it possible all is over?"
Testimony of a Negro.
In addition to the recital of William But
Ter. Billy Brown, an old colored man, who
was BODY servant to Colonel Brown, of the
Irish regiment, and who was present at that
memorable fight, confirmed the truth of
| Braddock being shot by one of his men, be-
| cause he had killed his brother. He also
said that General Braddock's character was
| obstinat. and pro'ane.
"Whe, Washington came up to him in
the fight he is quoted as saying, "fell on
his knees and beseeched Braddock to allow
him to use 800 of his men in tree-hghting,
the General cursed him and said: I've
shouted: Wen sup to-day in Fort Du-
| quesne, or else in hell"
Further evidence of Braddock's assassina-
| tion is found in the Millerstown Gazette, of
1880, il which mention lie made of Buffers
presence in that city, visiting an aged
sol iier who had also been in Braddock's de-
| feat. The paper says both these two old
| soldiers concurred in saying that Braddock
was shot by Facet.
Evidence From the Newspapers.
A correspondent of the Christian ADVOCATE
la minister, writing from Millerstown, Pa,
| in 1833-says: "The old man died at the
| age of 104 years in 1928, who killed Brad
| dock" At the same time, the correspon-
dent confirms the other fact, of the mans
brother being killed by Braddock. He
(Facett) lived at Laurel hill.
The Newburyport, Mass, Herald Of 1842.
declares its acquaintance with Daniel
| Adams, an old soldier of that place, aged
| 80, who confirms the shooting of General
Braddock by one OF his own followers. This
| old veteran stated that the principal officers
| had previously advised retreat, which the
General pertinaciously refuseds to consent
to; that after nearly all the principal officers
| had been shot down he was approached by
Captain to renew the advice, whom he
forthwith shot down. Upon seeing this, a
brother of the Captain Immediately shot
| Braddock.
Where Braddock's Bones Lie.
For the last 100 years, at intervals, sensa-
sational stories OF the finding OF the alleged
| remains of the unfortunate Braddock with
his coat of mail, and all the military accou !.
| terments of a General have come up, but
they were all without grain of truth. The
various spots between Braddock's Field
and the top of the Allegheny mountains,
| that have been pointed out as the resting
| place of the murdered General of the Indian
| fight of 1855, are only located by guess
work. They do not coincide with the ac-
counts of the men who helped close that
final act of darkest history.
The undisturbed grave of General Brad
! dock, according to records now on file in the
| oldest library of Philadelphia, is about
seven miles east of Uniontown, Fayette
county, and close to the northern side of the
National road. Since that day of burial no
| one has ever found time or inclination to
! give the remains a more distinguished sep
| ulcher.
| The Hannastown Massacre.
The massacre of Hannastown, Westmore-
land county, which stood about three miles
| from Greensburg, was another Indian episode
| that filled the early settlers around the prmi-
L
with fear such as is being experienced in
South Dakota to-day. History is repeating
itseli-and though the trained infantry and
cavalry gives protection now that settler of
| 100 years ago had not, Indian outbreaks are
robbed of none of their horror.
The 18th day of July, 1882, was a memoir
able day for Hannastown. While nearly
all of the men were in the harvest field, un-
conscious of impending danger, an alarm OF
Indians caused them to flee and take safety
in the block house. Between 300 and 400
redskins swept down on the town, burnt the
dwellings and took the unfortunate inhabit-
ants, or as many of them AS they found, cap
tives.
A Sad Wedding Party.
There was wedding party in progress at
house near Millerstown, two miles distant.
The savages took the entire party prisoner
treating the bride and groom with the ut
most indignities. These merrymakers were
carried captive to Canada. On the march a
| father was carrying sick child on his
back, when the little saf.erer cried out with
| pain. In an instant a tomahawk was buried
! in his head, and when the father demonstrated
the same fate was meted out to him. A
woman prisoner, who was witness of the
terrible affair, screamed out with horror
and as a warning to the rest she was Drained
on the spot.
The Colonel Boquet who figured SO promi-
nently in the early history of Pittsburg was
notorious in another way. He was mer-
| cenary, a Swiss who had enlisted in the
service of England for money and not Tor
| glory, and on his retreat from the disastrous
| field of Braddock's de eat, threatened TO