The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-07-07
Written for the CITIZEN by CHAs. L
SHIPLEY, Pikesville, Md
ARTICLE THIRD.


that as Braddock neared the fort
the French commander was on the
point of evacuating the post, as
did his successor in 1853, and
leaving the English a bloodless
victory. Rumors had reached him
that the British force was in
overwhelming numbers and point
of discipline that it would be
useless to try to oppose them,
However, as this may be he had
as yet on the 18th of July, an
nounced no definite conclusion,
though possibly his views were
perceptible to his subordinates.
On that day it was known that
the enemy, whose numbers had
been magnified, were at the head
of Turtle Greek. On the Sth,
when his route was changed, NJ.
de Beaujeu, a captain in the reg
ulars, proposed to the commander
that he might be permitted to go
forth with a suitable band to pre-
pare an ambuscade for the Eng
lish on the banks of the Monon.
gahela, and to dispute with them
the passage of the second ford.
1t was with great reluctance
that COntrec9ur complied with
his request, and even, it is said,
refused to assign troops for the
enterprise, bidding him call for
volunteers as for forlOrn hope.
To that summons the whole gar
rison responded to a man. If
this be true, ContrecGur recanted
and wisely preferred making the
force a regular detachment, on
condition that he could succeed
in inducing a union of the In
dams, who TO the number of 1000
warriors were encamped outside
of the fort.
A COUNCIL OF THE SAVAGES.
Accordingly the savages were
at once called to a council. These
wild denizeus of the forest, con-
sisting of bands assembled from
a dozen different nations, listened
with dissatisfaction to the prop
osition of Beaujeu.
Seated under the palisades that
surrounded the fort, or standing
in knots about the speaker, were
gathered a motley but feroclous
crew. Estranged from their an
cient friends, here were Della
wares from the Susquehannah;
Shawnees from Grave Greek and
the Muskingum; scattered war
riors from the Six Nations of
New York; Ojibwas and Potta
wattamies from far off Michigan;
Abenakis and Caughnauagas
from Canada; Ottawas from
Lake Superior, led on by the
stately but terrible Pontiac. and
Hurons from the falls of Mont
real and the mission of Lorette,
whose barbarous leader gloried in
a name torn from the most famous
pages of Christian history.
To these reluctant auditors Beau
jeu stated his designs. "How
my father" said they in reply,
'are you so bent upon death that
you wonld also sacrifice us? With
our eight hundred men, do you
ask us to attack four thousand
English9 Truly this is not the
saying of wise man. But we
will sleep upon what we have
heard, and tomorrow you shall
know our thoughts"
On the morning of the 9th of
July, the conference was repeated
and the Indians announced their
intention of refusing to join the
expedition. At this moment a
runner-probably one of those
dislodged by Gage in the early
mOrning-burst in upon the as.
semblage and announced the APP
proach of the red coated foe.
Well versed in the peculiar char
acteristics of the savages, by
whom he was much beloved,
and full of tact and energy, Beau
ieau took ready advantage of the
excitement which the announce
ment occaSioned. a." said he,
sam determined to go out against
the enemy. | am certain of vic
tory. What Will you suffer
your father to depart alone"
Fired by this language and the
reproofit conveyed, they resolved
at once by reclamation to follow
him to the fray. In a moment
the scene was alive with frantic
enthusiasm. Casks of powder
and bullets were hastily rolled to
the gates, their heads knocked
out and every warrior left to sup
ply himself at his own discretion.