Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-16

recently through the action of the local
society OF the Sons and Daughters of the
american Revolution. 1t has long been a
tradition in this community that the army
OF General Braddock, to which the father
or his country in his youth was attached
as an aid-de-camp to the general, landed
there and encamped on the Ohservat tory
HILL
1t was adverted to by so eminent an
authority in matters of history as the late
Peter Force; and George W. Hughes, civil
engineer and superintendent Of the Long
bridge, in report to the Secretary of the
Treasury, dated January so, 1875, makes
this statement: 1T Is matter of history that
General Braddock disambarkad at rock
which still bears his name. near the glass
house. from slooD-of-war, on his unfor-
tunate expedition against the French and
Indians in 1155."
Only Tradition.
Upon the assumption that such was the
fact, the society determined that it would
be proper to mark the spot in a Way to
commemorate the went. The assertion or
assumption that Braddock and his army
landed on this rock in their progress west
ward from Alexandria can be established
by no contemporary record and has to sus-
tain 1t TO basis of authentic fact: it has not
the force even of probability to support it,
The rock was undoubtedly there at the time,
and might have been utilized by the expe-
dition as landing place had It been re-
CURED by the necessities of the occasion
1t is graceless task to destroy the ro-
mantle legend, but the undoubted facts of
history are utterly inconsistent with such
a movement by Braddock's army, as will
De readily seen from a review of the local
situation at that time and of certain facts
connected with the army which have been
preserved.
In the valuable contribution to the his
tory OF the Potomac valley by our fellow
townsman, William H. Lowdermilk en-
titled The History of Cumberland" and in
another work by Winthrop Sargent, en-
titled The History of Braddock's Expedi-
ton,' VIII he found all the information
extant in regard to the causes which led
up tn the expedition and of its movements
on this continent Mr.. Lowdermilks work
contains the Orderly book" of Gen Brad
dock. printed from the originals in Wash
lngton'S handwriting, which are in the
Library of Congress; and that of Mr.. Sar-
gent contains the journals of Capt. Orme
and of the Seamen detailed by the British
admiral to accompany the expedition.
The story of the expedition. apart from
local incidents and associations, is one of
the most interesting chapters in American
history.
The French being in possession of Canada
and of the country at the mouth of the
mississippi and claiming the Intervening
territory by right of discovery, began the
struggle for the mastery of the continent"
by establishing forts at Niagara and Crown
Polnl, ana attempting to establish chain
of posts along the Ohio and Mississippi to
the Gulf of Mexico. Their aggressive move
ments were viewed with alarm by the
British colonists along the Atlantic sea-
board, by whom the French pretentions
were denied. but the efforts of the colonists
at resistance were feeble and without sue
cess; the French reached the junction of
the Ohio and MononEanela, the site of the
present city of PittSburg, and captured a
small detachment of Virginans who were
engaged there in the erection of fort;
they then erected a fort at the spot. to
which was given the name Du Quesne, in
honor of the governor general of Canada
A movement under the command Of Wash
ingtcn eliminated in disaster. and after the
British flag was struck at Fort Neces-
sty. and WashingtoE's little army retired.
1.-The lilies of France foated over every
fort, military post and mission from the
Alleghanies to the Mississippi"
The English Aroused.
The government Of Great Britain became
aroused, and money was appropriated by
parliament to defray the expenses of an
expedition having for its object the restora-
ton of English power the continent.
On September "a, 1854, Sir Edward Brad
dock was commissioned by King George as
general of all the troops to be sent to North
America or raised there; under date of No
vember, %. 1854, he received his instruc-
tons from the king, which read in part as
follows:
81. We having taken under our Royal &
serious cor sideration the Representations
of our subjects in North America, & we
present state of our colonies, in order to
vindcate our just Rights and Possessions
from all ercroachments, e to secure ye
Commerce of our subjects. We have given
direction vt Two Of our Regiments of Foot
now in Ireland, commanded by Sir Peter
Halket e Col. Dunbar. & likewise a suita-
BILE Train of Artillery, Transports and
Der of our Ships of War, to convey the
same. shall forthwith repair to North
America
I'D You shall Immediately upon the re-
ceipt of these our instructions embark on
board of one of our Ships of War, and you
shall proceed to North America, where
you will take our said force under your
command And We having appointed
Aug. Keppel, Esqr., to command yc Squad
ron of our Ships of War on We American
Station. we do hereby require & enjoin you
to cultivate good understanding &
respondence with We sd Commander Of our
Squadron during your continuance upon
We Service with which you are now en-
trusted. We having given directions Of
We like nature to We sd Commander Of our
Squadron with regard to his conduct & cor
respondence with you"
BraddOck In Command
The king further directed that the COM
plements of the two regiments of foot
should be increased from 500 to 100 men
each, by recruits to be enlisted in America,
and that two other regiments of foot of
1000 men each should be raised in the
colonies, one of which should be under the
command of Governor Shirley of Massa-
chusetts. and the other CT Sir William
Pepperill. Sir John St. Clair was APP
pointed deputy quartermaster general Of
the forces.
Braddock was given the chief command
in America upon the recommendation Of
the Duke of Cumberland, the British COM
mander-in-chief. from whom he received
further instructions enjoining him among
other things, to constantly observe strict
discipline in the troops. land to be par
ticularly careful that they be not thrown
into a panic by the Indians, with whom
they are yet unacquainted and whom the
French will certainly employ to brighten
them" AS shown by the sequel this in
junction was not regarded by Braddock.
for he was ambushed by the French and
Indians on July 8, 1855, and his army de-
Stroyed.
Walpole describes Braddock as a man
desperate in fortune. brutal in his be-
havior and obstinate in his sentiments"
but intrepid and capable" Shirley de-
scribed him as "a general most judiciously
chosen for being disqualified for the service
he Is embarked in, in every respect"
LoWdermilk. in a review of his character,
states that The was fond of high living.
convivial and prone to the laxity of morals
that usually follows excess in those mr.