The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1892-07-12
Judge Peters "reminiscences.
Continued from last weekly

of Braddock's force had reached him,
and he was hesitating and debating
whether to stand fast and defend or
evacuate the fort. De Beaujeu, a
young captain, offered to take force
and advance to meet the English. To
this the commandant assented, and
De Beaujeu then promptly marched
out at the head of the force assigned
him, consisting of about 23O Cana
dians and $50 Indians, in all $50 men.
The young captain bounded forward
in gay hunting shirt and silver gor-
get, and waved his hat, the signal for
his skirmishers to scatter behind the
trees and rocks. AT the signal, the
Indians disappeared to the right and
left, leaving the French in the center,
and upon these the English opened
fre, killing about twelve men, among
them De Beauyjeu, who fell cheering
on his troops. This first quick fire
by the English regulars was the only
show of fight they made, and with 1t
every CLEAN of success expired. For
when the Indians opened fire on
them, volley after volley from behind
trees and rocks with fatal effect on
their right and left, they were seized
with mortal panic, the nineteen
huddled together in crowds on a
narrow road ceased TO fire, or if they
fired it was i'll the air. They were so
paralyzed that they did not! hear the
command of their officers, who acted
with great bravery, OF if they did
hear they would not obey, and could
not be induced to advance, either by
their orders or the flat sides of their
swords. Nor had they the presence
of mind to fly, but stood and were
shot down by the merciless fire OF
the enemy. The officers did all that
men could do, but it was all in vain.
The provincials scattered and fought
from behind trees, and by the use O
the cannon afforded some relief to
the regulars, and they seemed to com-
prehend at last that there might be
chance of escape by flight, and
in wild disorder throwing away
their guns and accoutrements
made rush for the river. The can.
non were moved after them and the
provincials had to follow in the efforts
to protect them.
The Virginians were nearly
decimated, for out of eighty-six Off
GERS twenty-six were killed and thirty
seven wounded. Col. Washington
had four bullets through his Goa
and two horses shot under him. Gen
Braddock had three horses killed anG
two wounded under him, and finally
he was fatally wounded.
The enemy had twenty eight killed
and twenty-seven wounded. All tina
saved the English army from tota
destruction was the Cupidity of th'
savages. They stopped. th" fight t.
gather up the spoils, the muskets ant
scarlet coats that literally covered tn,
ground. The love of plunder on th'
part of the Indians enabled the rem
nant of the army to escape. Gen
Braddock mortally wounded, Col
Washington, by consent of all, tool
command and made safe retreat
taking their wounded General will
them by placing him in the folds o
his large silk sash, and affiXing tn
ends of it on two horses movin!
abreast. At the Great Meadows hi
strength failed him, he could go III
further, and the end soon came. Hi
grave was dug near old Fort Necessity
Washington read the funeral service
and the grave was carefully conceale'
"to prevent discovery by the Indians.
See Virginia, History of the Pee
pie, by John Estin Cooke, PIP. 344
351.
Gen. Braddock, having been fatal
wounded, the survivors of the battle
by universal consent, conferred tn
chief, or sole command of the shatteI
ed forces On Washington, to con
duct them back to Virginia. ii
was apprehensive that the enem
would pursue him, and feeling ths
if they did pursue him with the fore
= he had, worn down by hard service
e it was, he would not be able to resi'
0 the enemy, and he made Capt.
Ashby courier to Governor Dir
: widdie, Governor of Virginia, and ~
: siding at Williamsburg, the seat (
Government of Virginia, with an az