The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-06-30

senses grew weary of the confus-
ing prospect, and the imagination
of the soldiers painted a hundred
hOrrid forms to people its gloomy
recesSes.
At every turn they expected to
find a bloody corpse, or the
bleached bones of some long muir
dered traveller or bunter, lying
across their pathway, so aptly
called the "Shades of Death"
The mantle of pine needles that
covered the earth, Scarcely gave
forth any sound, except a soft
rustic like that of silk clad phan
toms. and the soft currents of air
that ever and anon played
through the tree tops, sounded
like the warning whiSperings of
protecting spirits.
The spirits of the British regu-
lars were still more depressed by
the taunts of the Colonial Rang
erS, who ever and anon, painted
the tragic ending of the enter
prise before their eyes in bloody
outlines, if their General persist
ed in pushing forward through
such wild territory in the un-
guarded manner with which he
had commenced the march. 1t
was not until the 18th of June
that the troops passed beyond
these inauSplciOus scenes. and
Braddock slowly descending the
shaggy sides of Meadow Noun
tain, beheld his whole force in
sight of the fortified camp at
Little Meadows.
A FATAL CHANGE IN THE ROUTE
OF MARCH.
We are now approaching the
last dread scene of our tragic
story and events crowd thick and
fast upon our view. After re
suming his march from Little
Meadows, the night of the 4th of
July finds the army halted at
Ihlcketty Run, petty branch
of Sewicky Creek, where by some
dismal fatality it remained until
the 9th, awaiting the return of
spies and the arrival of supplies
from Dun bars camp, under the
convoy of Captain and 100 men.
In the rear of the party came
Washington, one of Braddock's
aids, who debilitated by a recent
severe illness, was unable to en-.
dure the fatigueS of such a road
on horseback, and jOurneyed in
covered wagon, but it was not
until the Sth that he Joined the
General. 1t must be remembered
that the English were now on the
west side of the Monongahela
within an Obtuse angle formed by
the forks of the Ohio at whose
apex stood Fort DuQuesne. Here
he decided to change the route as
the one he had been following
was full of peril, therefore aban-
donlng all idea of following it,
he started on the morning of the
9TH, and leaving the Indian track
he had followed so long, he essay
ed to work his way across Turtle
Creek, twelve miles above its con
huence with the MOnongehela, a
step which if carried out would
have insured success. But the
fates were against Braddock. On
reaching the eastern branch of
Turtle Greek, the road suddenly
terminated in one Of those head
long precipitous descents so com
mon along the edges of the water
courses of Allegheny County,
Pa. practical for foOtmen, or
even sure footed horses. but ut
terly impossible for artillery and
wagons.
A halt was made and St. Clair
went forward with a suitable
force to explore the country. He
soon returned with the pleasing
Intelligence that he had diScov
cred the ridge that led directly to
Fort DuQuesne, but after re-
hectlng upon the labor necessary
to construct a road across the
hills about the head waters of
Turtle Creek, it was decided to
abandon that region and proceed
direct to the MonOngahela, and
at a place where it makes a bend
to the north TO cross at the upper
arm of the elbow, to follow in as
straight a line as possible like a
cord to bow and recroSs the
stream at point just below the
opposite mouth Of Turtle Greek.
Two excellent fords with easy
banks afforded strong induce
ment TO pursue this plan. but had
he persisted in the one across
Turtle Greek, he would have !
moved through a country pre-
senting but few facilities for an
ambnscade of the enemy, whereas
III crossing. the MonOngahela
twice, he exposed himself to the
rlsk OF encountering determined
IL