Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-04-11
Braddock's Routes.

At the meeting of the Maryland His
torical Society Of Baltimore, last night,
Col. Wm. ?. Craighill contributed o
hitherto unwritten chapter Of history
regarding the routes of Gen. Braddock's
expedition against Fort Du Quesne in
1855 from this city.
Said Col Craighill: "While portion
of the route is well known, another is
not to be found upon any map of which
| have knowledge and has not been
described in any writings | have seen.
'In 1875 there was published for the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania a
history of Braddock's expedition, con-
tanning . map showing the part of the
march from Little Cacapon river to the
fatal field at Turtle Greek, near Pitts
burg, but have seen nc map which
shows the lines of march from Alexan-
dra to Little Cacapon."
The speaker exhibited map, ex-
planning that he had local knowledge
of the subject, having been born and
reared in the part Of West Virginia ira
versed by a portion of the road, and
had gathered information from re-
liable sources elsewhere. He pointed
cut line from the mouth Of the Little
Cacapon through Cumberland to Pitts
burg. where the old biockhouse of Fort
Du Quesne remains to this day. His
map showed the lines of march from
Alexandria to the Little Cacapon. One
was by Frederick, Md, and the other
by way of Leesburg and Winchester Va.
"Braddock reached Hampton Roads
February 20, LOO. The regular British
troops were chartered at Alexandria. Sir
John st. Clair, who arrived in advance,
proposed to use the Potomac TO trans
port supplies. Governor Sharpe, of
Maryland, did not agree with him,
knowing the shoals and falls of that
river. Washington doubtless agreed
with Sharpe.
con April 24 Braddock was ct Fred
erick, where he had interviews with
Washington and Franklin. st Clair
gave Washington place on his staff
"There is no reasonable doubt that
Braddock crossed the Potomac at Will
Transport and went thence to Winches-
y
Braddock was in Leesburg, Va, which
was on the direct route from AleXan
dria to Winchester. Howe, in his His
tory OF Virginia, says Braddock was in
Leesburg several days.
"Wasbington was sent back by Brad
dock from Fort Cumberland to Will
liamsburg to bring up money for the
troops. In returning he did not use the
unnatural route by Frederick, which
required two crossings of the Potomac,
but went by Leesburg and Winchester,
without crossing the Potomac at all.
and this would, beyond doubt, have
been the best route for the whole of
Braddock' 5 command. Much of it did
90 that way from Alexandria.
Memoranda of Washington's ex-
penditurcs show that he took road
through Loudoun county, crossing the
Shenandoah not far from Harper's Fer
ry. On April and 9 the proyincials
and six companies of the forty-four.h h
regiment, under Sir Peter Halkett, set
out for Winchester. On April IS the
forty eighth, under Colonel Dunbar,
went to Frederick. Arriving there, it
was found there was no road to Cum
berland. and Dunbar was compelled to
recross the Potomac at the mouth of
The Conogogee and came down within
six miles OF Winchester to take the
new road to Cumberland. Washington
in letter says Dunbar was obliged to
recross at Conogogee."