Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-07-05
WASHINGTON'S SAD FOURTH OF JULY.


1t was the 4th day of July, 1854,
90 years before the Declaration OF
Independence made the day ever
famous.
The light Of early morning shone
upon strange scene in the wilder
ness of western Pennsylvania.
A force of 600 Frenchmen and
100 Indians was camped around a
rude stockade little to the south.
east and not far from the present city
of Pittsburg. They were commanded
by Coulon de Villiers, young French.
man, the commandant of Fort Du-
Quesne, who had sworn vengeance
against the English for the death ot
his brother, Jumonville, who had fall
en- IN skirmish a few days before.
Besides, he was pledged to make good
the French boast that no English flag
should wave west of the Alleghenles.
In the fort little force numbering
less than half the number of the
French and Indians had held out for
one long day and six hours OF the
night against the attack Of their
vengeful and overpowering foe.
Before we relate the story OF Fort
Necessity, however, 1t will be well to
refer to the causes which led to this
Fourth OF July episode.
At the commencement OF the
French aud Indian War 1t Was deter
mined by the English, for the better
protection OF their interests, to build
fort at the junction of the Alleghe-
ny and Monongahela rivers, on the
present site of Pittsburg. A body of
troops was accordingly dispatched by
Gov. Dinwiddie of Virginia to accom-
plish this object.
The death of their colonel on the
march threw the command into the
hands of the second officer, a tall
Virginian of %, with brown hair and
gray eyes, whose gravity Of manner
and careworn appearance bespoke
even then the greatness he was 10
win. This Virginian youth was
George Washington.
Before he reached the goal Of his
journey, Washington learned from
his scouts the futility of his errand.
Instead of driving out 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 expect.
ed to build one, and French and
Indian force of more than 1000 men
was thronging the adjacent forest.
When within a days march Of the
new fort, which the French had named
Duquesne, after the governor of Can
ada, Washington halted at place
called the Great Meadows and con-
structed fortifcation of logs and
earth, throwing up with his own
hands the first shovelful of soil.
To this rude stockade he gave the
name of Fort Necessity. In it were
placed the cannons which be had
dragged with SO great toll through
the forest paths from Virginia.
The scouts of the faithful Shawnee
chief found the enemys trail, and in
the darkness of rainy night the
English made successful raid. Ju.
monville, the French leader, was
killed, and several of his men fell
prisoners into Washington's hands.
After a few days rest. Washington
went forward with a portion of his
ce to meet the Shawnee chief,
Half King. A council was held and
it was determined to make a night
attack upon the French.
He now fell back upon Fort Neces-
sity. His situation was critical one.
His men had but little ammunition,
and no bread of any kind, having
lived for several days on fresh meat
alone, and even this was not plentiful.
Washington spent his single day Of
respite In strengthening MS rampant
with logs. On the morning of the
Sd of July his scouts brought intelli-
gence of the advance of the French.
Meanwhile the French and Indians,
under the command of Coulon de Vii
liers, had been holding grand pow
WOW at Fort Duquense. The "French
father" had supplied his children lib
orally with firearms and the where
withal to eat and drink.
The braves after consuming several
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