Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-22
PART III.

session west of the Allegheny mountains began
to assume threatening aspects and Governor
Dinwiddie, with zeal and diplomatic tact,
resolved to serve notice upon the French in
their forts near Lake Erie that they were tres
passing upon the territory of Great Britain and
warning them to depart in peace. The execu-
ton of this delicate and hazardous mission
required a journey, going and returning, OF
over eleven hundred miles, through forests
inhabited by Indians, who were generally hostile
to the English. To insure success the mes
senger must be a man of in telligence, courage.
perseverance, experience in travelling through
the woods and acquainted with the manners OF
the Indians. Washingtons success1ul career as
q surveyor beyond the Blue Ridge had already
brought his name and character prominently to
the attention of the governor and his council
The commission was offered to MIN as one well
qualified for such an undertaking He accepted
il October 80, 1853, and set out the same
day fully apprise9 of the difficulties to be
encoun tered. At Fredericksburg he engaged
Jacob Van Braam as French interpreter and
then proceeding TO Alexandria. procured a few
horses and other necessaries. At Winchester
he secured baggage or pack horses and the
remainder of his outfit, and going thence d.
rect to Wills creek. arrived on the 18th. Here
he engaged Capt. Christopher Gist guide and
four servants. Barnaby Curren and John Nc
Quire. Indian traders; Henry Stuar. and Viii
liam Jenkins
Crossing the Allegheny mountains by the
Ohio COmpanys -Oute they halted at Logstown.
eighteen miles below the present city of Pitts
burg, 10 hold council with the Indians An In
dian interpreter, John Davidson. and three
1n6ans-Haf King. White Thunder and Jes-
kakake--were engaged AMI accompanied the
party as guides and hunters when the journey
was resumed. AT Venango, though politely re-
ceived by the French officer in charge of the
fort. Capt Jonicarie. Washington. as the bearer
of dispatches from Gov. Dinwiddie, was re-
ferred TO St. Pierre as the proper person to re-
ceiye his message.
Another weary march Of four days brought
them tG their destination at Fort lie Boeuf.
The Chevaiier St. Pierre received Major Wash
ington with formal pOliteness and in due course
delivered to him a sealed reply
AHARD JOURNEY.
The journey back, owing to the lateness Of
the season and the fatigue already borne, was
far more severe than the trip out had been.
The horses were so jaded as scarcely &c be able
to travel, and after three days weary marching
Washington gave up his horse to help carry the
baggage, put Van Braam in charge oil the caval-
csde. equipped himself III hunting Dress
strapped his papers and some provisions &c his
back. and gun in hand, accompanied by no one
but Gist. struck out on the most direct route
for Shawnopen Town After enduring great
hardships, shot at by a treacherous Indian
guide and nearly drowned by being flung from
raft by drifting ice while crossing the Ale
gheny river. they finally reached Mr.. Frazer's
and rested, waiting for the others TO come up.
At Mr.. Gists plantation at Monongahela
fifteen miles above Frazer Washington bought
a horse and pushing on alone reached Belvuir
january IL Here he rested one day. then set
out for Williamsburg and delivered st. Pierre's
answer to Gov. Dinwiddie on the 10th. after an
absence Of only seventy eight days. Washing
tons embassy to the French commandant near
Lake Erie was. considering the season of the
year, the means at his command. the extent of
wilderness trayersed, the hostile Indians met
and placated all fraught with such danger and
difficulty as to place its execution among the
heroic achievements in history.
This diplomatic step OF serving notice on the
French was deemed TO be of great moment to
British interests in America and gave dignity
and character to the enterprise in Washington's
eyes. The prudence. dispatch and persever-
ance exercised by Washington in his Journey
and IN his intercourse with the suspicious and
crafty Indians and the more subtitle French
was In every step of the mission marked by a
high degree Of address and Judgment. The SOL
dierly acumen too, with which he roted the
defensible ana strs;egetieal points in the
route gave special value TO his journal and
elected from the governor. counsel and
assembly their hearty acknowledgements
His journal was written out from his note
book In a single day to accommodate the gov
ernor, who, by the advice of the council, SUBJ
United it In that form to the house of burgesses
rs q report Of the mission. That body ordered
II to be printed and copies were sent to the
governors and influential persons in the sew
eral colonies 1t also sent to the home
government as a Justification OF the new policy
insugurated by the governor of Virginia and
to stimulate the ambition OF the crown to an
tagonize the French.
Praise of Major George Washington's cour-
age, prudence, diplomacy and perseverance
was universal. and. notwithstanding his youth
he was henceforth widely recognized as a cana
Die and sale leader IN public affairs. Move
ments for the political control Of the Mississippi
valley were rapidly drifting beyond the sphere
Of diplomacy between France and Great Britain
to that Of open and armed hostility.
HosruIrIEs BEGUN.
Gov. Dinwiddie had become interested in the
Ohio Company, and Immediately after receiy-
ing Maj washington's report as to the inten-
tons Of the French about the head waters of
the Ohio ordered two Companies OF provincial
militia to be raised for service at the forks of
the Ohio, and there to erect a fort In JAM
nary, 1854, Capt William Trent was commits
stoned to raise a company of 100 men, appoipt
his own officers and rendezvous at the forks
Gov. Dinwiddie called the assembly to meet on
the 18th Of February. 1854, in a special
session. that they might grant the neees-
sary authority and provide the requisite
means for carrying out these measures
After much entreaty and some threats on the
part of the governor, the assembly authorized
the raising Of a regiment of 800 volunteers and
voted tfs requisite appropriation. George
Washington. with characteristic difiidence de-
clined to accept the chief command of the ex-
petition, with the remark: "It Is q charge too
great for my youth and inexperience to be en-
trusted with" But he did accept the office of
second In command and was appointed lieu
tenant colonel. under Colonel Fry. Neither
soldiers nor officers came forward at the call Of
The governor as promptly he expected, SO
fhat he was moved to issue proclamation
granting 100, 600 acres of land on the Ohio to
be divided among those engaging in the expe-
diton-
wAsHfNGToSs EXPEDITION.
April ?, 1854. Washington set of from Alex
andria with two companies, amounting to about
$50 men, for the Ohio. At or west of winches-
ter mis- companies were Joined by that of Can't.
Adam Stephen and others, enlisted chiefly in the
valley Of Virginia Col Fry, as COMMANDMENT
chief. Was to follow. bringing with him the ar
tillery and remaining part Of the Virginia regi-
n4ent
Before arriving at Wills creek Lieut. Col.
Washington learned that the few troops at the
forks had been Obliged by a superior force OF
the French to yacate their works and were then
retiring to Virginia The situation in which
Washington now found himself Was one of such
gravity to induce him to call a council OF
war. In which it was decided to proceed 10 che
Ohio Companys store house at Redstone creek
and there await endorsements Washington
wrote to the governor the particulars OF the
situation and requested that cannon Of heavier
metal than any n hand might ba