The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-01

Before he reached the goal of his journey, Washing
ton learned from his scouts the futy of his Grand In
stead of driving the French, he and his command
stood in fair way of being themselves driven OUT if
not altogether annihilated.
The French had been improving the summer weather.
they had captured the few English and built and manned
strong fortress at the very place where the English
pected to build and French and Indian force OF
forest
When within days march of the new fort which
the French had named Duquesne after the of
Canada Washington halted at place called the Great
Meadows and constructed fertilization of logs and
earth throwing with his hands the first shoveful
of soil
To this rude stockade he gave the of Fort Ne
eessy. In it were placed the cannons which he had
dragged with great toll thru the forest paths from Vr
gina-
After a few days rest, Washington went forward
Half King. council held and it determined to
make night attack upon the French
The scouts of the faithful Shawnee chief found the
enemys TRAIL and in the darkness of rainy night the
English made successful raid. Jumonvlle the French
leader killed. and several of his fell prisoners
into Washington 8 hands,
- He now fell back upon Fort Necessity. His situa
ton critical His had but little ammuni
ton and bread Of any kind having lived for era
They much fatigued by their long and weari-
march and the provisions of the wildwood; and,
than ALL the walls of the rude fertilization
hardly such could be expected to sustain siege from
any large number of foes.
Washington spent his single day of respite in strength
ening his rampant with logs. On the morning of the
third of July his scouts brought intelligence of the ad
of the French
Meanwhile the French and Indians, under the com.
mand Of Coulon de Viiers, had been holding grand
pow-wow at Fort Duquesne. The French father'' had
supplied his children literally with firearms and the
wherewithal to eat and drink.
The braves after consuming several and drink
ing two barrels of wine had expressed their willingness
march against the English and drive them the Allie
ghenies. ~s.- So < -
De Villiers out his expedition. The way thru
the forest difficult one, and before they reached
Fort Necessity rain began to fall heavily But the French
pressed on and before of the third July they
were firing upon Washington's defenses.
Their position such, being upon higher ground,
two slight elevations, and well sheltered by trees and
bushes that they could their fire upon the fort
enflade portion of it, without themselves being exposed
to much injury from the English.
The rain continued all that day and night but the
eombatants fought Washingtons stood knee
deep in the mud and water Twice the fuslading par
tally subsidized, and beseged and beleaguered gazed sui
eny each other thru the thin gauze rain
At little after nine O'Clock in the evening the
French commander called out for parley. Washing
fear of treachery led him to the proposal
frst but his position desperate he complied
the second time.
Captain vanbraam, Dutchman, the only person in
his troop who could talk French De Vier $
camp
After long preliminary talk the Frenchman wrote
his terms of surrender by the aarng light of pinekno
the raindrop scattering the paper and rendering
the writing almost illegible
The terms permitted Washington and his men to
march out with the honors of retaining their arms
stores and baggage
Washington signed the paper between midnight and
o'clock and the rest of the night passed quietly
the remained under
At dawn of the Fourth Of July the Great Meadows
presented animated scene. The morning was fair,
and the shone brightly the Damp green forests
and the lofty ridge of Laurel Hill.
The horses and cattle belonging to the garrison had
al been killed, and, hurdened by the sick wounded
whom they carried their backs the English were
obliged to leave most Of their baggage be-
hind.
Slowly they filed out of the fort and began their slow
and wearsome march for Wills Creek, the
hsh station, ffty-two miles over the Alleghenies
Sad must have been the heart of Washington as he
surveyed the All his hopes Of military glory
seemed blighted in the bud but whatever may
his feelings word of complaint anger escaped his
lips.
Without any doubt, however, it the darkest and
most miserable morning IN his life.
He could not foresee the future, but on that other
day, when the bell the State House Philadelphia
procaiming the Declaration