The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22

lugtine0 myeelI IN OOink IL, outtneIo " = ploes
ure in unburdening oneself to a friend.
should be glad II you would burn IL az soon OIL
you have read IL. 1 shall besvery happy TO have
reason to retract hereafter what l have here
said and submit TO be censored rs moody ant
apprehensive. Prny take no notice OF any part
OF this letter in your answer TO me. for fear o
accident"
Shortly after the date Of this letter the de-
fent OF Gen. Braddock occurred. and William
Shirley was killed during the engagement
Washington. IL may be remembered. had
reJoined the army under Braddock only the
day before the fight on the Monongahela-
and while he was yet in a low and enfeebled
state OF health. On July 10. 1755. Capt. Robert
Orme. the aide de camp OF Braddock previously
mentioned. who himself had been wounded In
the fight against the French and Indians. ad-
dressed to Lieut.. Gov. Morris OF PENNSYLVANIA
a letter, from which We make some extracts:
Il conclude you have had some account OF the
action near the banks OF the MononRahela.
about seven miles from tho French fort lDu-
%duesnel. As the reports spread are very i'm
perfect, what you have heard must conso-
auently he so to you. You should have heard
more early accounts OF IL, but every officer
whose business II was to have informed you
was either killed or wounded. and our
distressful situation put it out OF our
power to attend to II 40 much as we
would otherwise have done. The 9th
inst. we passed and repassed the Monon-
Rahela by advancing first a party OF three
hundred men. which was Immediately followed
by another of two hundred The General. with
the column OF artillery. baggage. and the main
body OF the army. passed the river the last
time about l o'clock. As soon as the whole
had got on tho fort side Of the Monongahela
we heard a very heavy and quick fire In our
front. We Immediately advanced in order to
sustain them. But the detachment OF the two
hundred and three hundred men gave way and
fell back upon us. which caused such confusion
and struck 80 great n panic among our mon
that afterward no military expedient could
be made use OF that had any effect
upon them. The men were so extreme
ly deaf to the exhortations OF the Gem
eral and the officers that they fired
away in the most irregular manner all their
ammunition. and then ran of. leaving TO the
enemy the artillery. ammunition. provision and
baggage: nor could they be persuaded to stop
till they got as far as Guests Plantation: nor
there only in part. many of them proceeding as
far as Col. Dunbar's party. who lay six miles on
the side" Capt. Orme goes on to say that the
officers were absolutely sacrificed by their un-
paralleled good behavior. advancing sometimes
in bodies. and sometimes separately. hoping. by
such example. to engage the soldiers to follow
them. but to no purpose. The General had
five horses killed under him. and. at last.
received u wound through his right arm into
his lungs. Of which he died on the 18th
inst. Poor Shirley was shot through the
head. Mr.. Washington had two horses shot
under him. and his clothes shot through in
several places. behaving the whole time with
the greatest courage and resolution. Sir Peter
Halket was killed upon the spot. Col. Burton
and Sir John Clair were wounded. Enclosed 1
have sent you a list OF killed and wounded ac-
cording to as exact an account as we are yet
able to get"
The writer explains the division of the ex-
peditionary column into two parts. Upon
our proceeding with the whole convoy to
the Little Meadows. it was found impracti-
cable to advance in that manner. The General.
therefore. advanced with twelve hundred. with
the necessary artillery. ammunition and pro-
visions. leaving the main body OF the convoy
under the command OF Col. Dunbar. with
orders to Join him as soon as possible.
In this manner we proceeded with safety
and expedition till the fatal day l have Just
related. and happy it was that this dis
position was made. Otherwise the whole
must either have starved or fallen into the
hands of the enemy, as numbers would have
been no service to us when our provisions
we're all lost. Our number OF horses very much
TeuuCeu. anu tnOSe tAtFeultly "edk, AIN many |
being wanted for the wounded men.
occasioned our destroying the ammunition
and superfuous part OF the provisions left in
Col. Dunbar's convoy. to prevent its falling
into the hands OF the enemy. AS the whole OF
the artillery was lost, and the troops are so ex-
tremely weakened by death. wounds and sick
ness. 1t was judged impossible to make any
attempt. Therefore. Col. Dunbar is re-
turning to Fort Cumberland. with everything
he is able to bring up with him." 1t will be
that Capt. Orme seems to approve Of
retreat, but it is we'll known that the
not only subjected the latter to
much animadversion in Virginia. but caused
to be sent into honorable retirement as
Colonel OF Gibraltar. He was never
again actively or Independently employed.
A few days after the defeat OF Braddock.
Washington returned quietly to Mount Vernon.
arriving on July 20. 1855. On Aug. IA he
wrote to his mother: IF It is in my power
to avoid going to the Ohio again l shall. but IL
the command is pressed upon me by the gem
eral voice Of the country. and offered upon such
terms as cannot be objected against. it would
dishonor upon me to refuse it. and that.
l am sure. must or ought to give you greater
than my going in an honorable
Upon no other terms will / accept
Of 1t. At present, | have no proposal made TO
nor have / any advice of such an intention.
except from private hands" AS a matter OF
fact. on that very day Gov. Dinwiddie was
signing. In Williamsburg. Washington's com
as Commander-in-Chie OF the Vir-
ginia forces. the Legislature OF the Dominion
having Appropriated the money for raising six
teen companies to be formed into a regiment.
The last letter relating to Braddock's defeat is
addressed to Washington. MY dear George"
by the same Capt. Robert orme. to whom We
have referred above. In view OF the opinion OF
Braddock's character which has been generally
held. it may be well to note this testimony that
his memor and bears witness to
the loyal impulses Of the writer's heart. Your
.etter gave me infinite pleasure, as every mark
II your friendship and remembrance ever will
DO. For. believe me. / shall ever. however
cultivate as close all intercourse as
our distance will permit. / thought you very
.ong before you wrote and feared some acct
lent which your i'll state Of health at
parting from us seemed TO confirm. The
part OF your letter mentioning the refec-
ton q ,,pop tho Gaparnl 1ivaa pna p,,,ol ,.o..;