The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-11-21
IKE ADVOCATE.


This extract is republished at the
equest of several, who, by some
nance, failed to preserve the issue OF
81 he ADVOCATE in which II appeared
The commander then was DE Con-
ecour, and he had despaired of hold
~ the place; exaggerated reports
|# Braddock's force had reached
i'm, and he was consulting
<wbether to stand fast or evacuate the
post, when De Beaujcn, one of his
oung captains, offered to take force
advance to meet the English and
fight. TO this the Commandant as
4 sented. De Beaujen marched promptly
out with about ten or twelve hundred
men. French and Indians, and the
collision followed.
The young Frepchman bounded for
yard in gay hunting shirt and a.
Diver gorget, and waved his cap, a.
signal for his followers to scatter
behind the trees and rocks. AT the
signal the Indians disappeared to the
right and left, leaving the French in
Che centre, upon this force the English
opened quick fire, which killed
about twelve men, among whom De
Beaujen, who fell cheering his troops
to the conflict; but this apparent sue
cess of the English was short-lived, II
was the only CLEAN of victory they
had---this first quick fire.
1t could not be called battle; it
was frightfnl slaughter. At the
SECOND fire Of the Indians, the English
regulars huddled up like sheep in
narrow pass, from which they could
Mot extricate themselves, astounded
at the merciless fire from the ravines,
and not able to see their foe, they
were seized with mortal panic, fired
f8she air and had not even presence
ofmind to fly.
y The English officers, who acted
with great courage but not with dis
erection, would not let them take
shelter behind trees or any protection
thatgmight be found, but in vain at
tempted to make them advance on the
fort but they seemed not to hear the
word of command, or if they did hear
they did not heed--the terrific fire
.o....ol ..~4o, ~ a.. IN y, be bv tba Tndions
from behind the rocks paralyzed them
On right and left, from the tangled
ravines, issued fatal volleys, and al
almost every shot Britton fell, The
Virginia rangers having better
knowledge of the Indian mode o.
fighting than their allies, scattered
and fought them from behind trees
These rangers by their skill and thu
use they made of the cannon, saved
remnant of The English from thu
fate of their fellows, who, incapable 0
defending themselves, were sho
down where they stood. The officer
and Americans did all that men coult
do, but it was all in vain. Washing
ton had four bullet holes through hi
coat and two horses shot from unde
him, Braddock had three horses kille,
under him and two fatally wounded
he did all that a brave soldier coul
do, but he was struggling againi
what no commander can make head
sRay against--the surprise and dis
comfiture of his men by the deadl
fire of a hidden and unpproachabl
enemy--his men finally broke rank
and ran over each other in their will
aAempt to escape.
AT last Braddock fell, bullet pass
ed through his right arm and into hi
breast, and would have fallen from hi
horse, but Capt. Stewart, of the Vii
ginia Light Horse, caught him in h
arms. In agony, he groaned alou
and begged to be left to die on tn
field. The English regulars wei
now in full flight, they threw ava
their guns, accoutrements, and eve
y clothing and rushed into the rive
Cannon, horse and infantry hastene
away, and the Virginia rangers ha
10 follow. The army had lost MOI
Sthan half their number by the dead
hidden shots of the enemy. The vi
ginian's were nearly decimated, out {
SO officers twenty-six were killed al
thirty-seven wounded. The enemy
loss was twenty-eight killed al
two wounded.
All that saved the army was Il
cupidity of the savages. They stopp'
che fight and pursuit to gather up Il
muskets and scarlet coats that cover,