The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1892-06-28

consisted in two royal regiments, num-
bering together 1000 men, and pro-
vincials from Virginia, Maryland and
New York which made the full force
a little more than 1000.
Soon the tremendous undertaking
began of penetrating the Great Woods
with the unwieldy column. The
army was followed by a long train of
wagons, loaded down with the bag
gage of officers. 1t was the widest of
absurdities, never had obstinate adj
herences to martinez ideas had so
strong an illustration. This English
soldier, relying on English tradition,
was dragging his cumbrous machines
through the American woods as if
they were on the plains of Europe, and
all this time his dread enemy was
watching him. From the height Of
every mountain Indian runners looked
down and laughed quietly. But the
pioneers still went in front cutting
a road for the creaking wagons, the
scattered troops struggled along, and,
in this manner, Gen. Braddock went
into the great region called the
"Shades of Death" The shadow of
his own lowering above him.
AT the Little Meadows Braddock
saw for the first time that he was
committing an egregious blunder; lie
had refused to listen to the advice of
Washington, and swallowing his pride
actually consulted Washington, who,
always grave and courteous, repeated
his former views: To mobilize the
army. leave the baggage behind, adj
vance rapidly with a body of picked
troops, transport his ammunition on
pack-horses, and so surprise Fort Du-
quesne before it could be re-enforced.
To this Braddock consented with i'll
concealed reluctance. But he was not
yet cured of his folly, nor convinced
that his regulars were not all-suffi-
cient. A brave runner, fighter OF
the wood, Capt. Jack, called the Black
Rifle, came and offered his services to
go with his rangers in front and re.
connoitre for him. But Braddock
tossed away from him, saying there
was time enough for making arrange
ments, and he said he had experienced
troops on whom he could rely for all
purposes, thereupon the bcrderer
shouldered his rifle, turned his back
on Braddock, went away with his
rangers to their homes on the Juniata,
leaving him to his fate, still the folly
went on. They were hating, as
Washington afterwards said, to level
mole hills and erect bridges across
brooks, by which means they went
twelve miles in four days. Some
friendly Indians went before to scour
the woods.s AT last they halted on the
Monongahela, about fifteen miles south
of Fort Duquesne, July s, 1855.
Braddock resolved to advance and at
tack the fort the next morning.
Early that morning, with his advance
of 1000 men and ten cannon, the
brave regulars stepped out proudly to
the tap of the drum, the English
music sounding and their flags float
ing in all the pride and pomp of glo-
rious war. Thus Braddock marched
forth his brave regulars in front, in
disdain of precaution the Virginians,
the provincials in the rear, to be
brought into the action if at any time
they should be needed, which the
General considered altogether i'm
probable. The English, after cross
ing the river near the fort, were
marching across a plain, in front of
which was hill thickly wooded on
each side of the road leading up the
slope, and ravines covered with thick
cts, on this perilous and fatal way
the English were advancing to at
tack the fort.
CONTINUED next week.
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