The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-12-01
CEN. sRADDock's DEFEAT.
Description Of the Battle Taken from
Or. MitchslI's Biography Of
George Washington.


have never seen a man who could
describe what took place In the midst
Of battle. nor can pretera TO great
or accuracy. | remember that after an
hour or more became suddenly sure
that all was lost, says s. Weir
Mitchell's THE Youth Of Washing
ton," in Century. The whole disGr-
dered mass now broke and ran as
sheep before hounds, leaving artillery,
provisions, baggage. and the wounded
and dying-in short. everything. When
finally dozen gallant officers threw
themselves In front they were knocked
down and trampled ON. We had as
little success as II we had attempted
TO stop the wild bears OF the noun
tains, or torrents, with our feet 1t
was quite useless
AT this time. Gen. Braddock was
under great oak near to where we
left the wagons. was beside him
and heard him cry out: They hay,
got me-" Capt. Stewart. Of the Vir-
ginia light guard. caught him as he
reeled in the saddle. shot through the
right arm and lung. The men ran
past ms. refusing TO help; but another
officer aiding us, he was somehow got
on 10 a tumbrei and was carried along
In what was now a mad flight TO get
TO the ford. heard him cry out:
let me alone! Let me die here!"
The wagoners in our rear. near the
ford. cut loose the traces and mounted
their horses and fled. In spite Of the
immense courage shown by the off,
GERS, who In camp we're drunken OF
seemed 10 be effeminate or lazy, all
who were of mind TO resist were swept
away by a mere mob OF panic-strieken
men. Men caught on to my stlrrups,
and even the horses name, but some
how ! got free and out again to one
side. Instantly my second horse stag
gered and went down. saw DR.. Craik
near by. with the utmost devotion, al
though himself wounded, helping q
disabled officer 20 walk away. I was
now afoot. and. as saw how complete
was the rout. | began to fear that our
brave Virginians would none Of them
escape. They held the fringe of the
woods with wonderful courage, using
their rifles. and keeping back the
French and Indians Nothing else
saved the troops Of his majesty from
complete massacre
As / stood still a moment heard
Croghan call loudly TO me TO take
TO cover. took his advice, and God
alone knows how | escaped death. ]
had four balls through my clothes.
The leaders OF the rangers now saw
how great was their peril. The reg
MARS were by this time near the ford,
In the river. or across It, A few brave
men in groups were retreating slowly,
firing useless shots. The enemy, yell
ing in triumph. were crawling or leap
ing nearer from time 10 time. Now
and then a painted savage ran out
from cover nnd fed back. shaking .
bloody scalp.
The rangers hal los, heavily. bal
those who we're left slipped from one
shelter TO another and at last when
there was little cover left. ran down
to the river and with them Few
would have got away except for the
desire of the Indians 90 plumber the
dead and the bageage and 90 collect
scalps and that the French we're too
few in number to venture ou pursuit
got over the ford IN haste. and
standing Sill on The rise Of ground
beyond the river io0'sed at my watch.
could hardly believe II 10 be as !
saw. five o'clock Most Of those who
were unhuFi Were now safe. and with
Capt Croghau ! began to gather the
wreck ef our poor rangers One COM
pany vas aimts' al gone. another lost
every uificeI and many men. As to the
regulars. 7oo neirly half Of the force
/ we're dead b. wounded a part oi
Nhai vas lot OF this ane army wa
aoen scattered beyond the two fords
! aad later wis starved In the woods og
eoi at last iito the camps
About iea men we're gathered bs the
oIesfs aalrer of mile beyond our
hrsl ford There Lieut. Col. Burton
railicd SOM hundreds Of men. aud
later about 81 under Col. Gage. lninet
them 10 mS relief and greatly t. ms
surprise Their. vas uo pursuit.
That nlehi s PARTIES aad sentinel.
thrown oui Ted n an heur Al
though vert veal 1 sai up beside thi
General all nieht Dlr craih. who had
cared Tor hls wound 10 the lung. As
.nrta No thai he would certainly di'
before dawn bnl be- lived longer thar
was cSpeeied ! never remember hax.
Ing been more disturbed IN mind thar
during that night