The Elbert County tribune., 1906-06-28

He now fell back upon Fort Netes-
sity. His situation was critical one
His men had but little ammunition,
and no bread of any kind, having lised
for several days on fresh meat aloiie,
and even this was not plentiful.
Washington spent his single day of
respite in Strengthening his 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 a grand pew
WOW at Fort Duquesne. The French
father" had supplied his children lib
orally with firearms and the where
withal to eat and drink.
The braves after consuming several
oxen and drinking two barrels of wine,
had expressed their willingness to
march against the English and drive
them across the Alleghenies.
De Villiers set out on this expedi-
ton. The way through the forest was
a difficult one, and before they reached
Fort Necessity rain began to fall heav-
lily. But the French pressed on, and
were firing upon Washingtons de
fenses.
Their position was such, being uron
higher ground, on two slight elega-
tions, and well sheltered by trees and
bushes, that they could cross their
fire upon the fort and enfilade ror-
ton of it, without themselves being
exposed to much injury from the Eng
lish.
AT little after nine o'clock in the
evening the French commander called
out for a parley. Washington's fear
of treachery led him to ignore the pro-
posal at first, but his position was SO
desperate that he complied the second
time.
Capt Vanbraam, Dutchman. the
only person in his troop who could
talk French, was sent to De Villier's
camp.
After long preliminary talk the
Frenchman wrote his terms of sur
render by the fiaring light of a pine
knot, the rain drops spattering upon
the paper and rendering the writing
almost illegible.
The terms permitted Washington
and his men to march out with the
honors of war, retaining their arms.
stores and baggage.
Washington signed the paper he
tween midnight and one O'Clock and
the rest of the night passed quietly,
though the men remained under arms.
AT dawn of the Fourth of July the
Great Meadows presented an animated
scene. The morning was fair, and the
sun shone brightly over the damp.
green forests and the lofty ridge of
Laurel Hill.
The horses and cattle belonging TO
the garrison had all been killed and
burdened by the sick and wounded.
whom they carried on their backs. the
English were obliged to leave most of
thelr baggage and cannons behind
SLOWLY they filed out of the fort and
began their slow and wearisome march
for Wills Creek. the nearest English
station, SO miles over the Allegbenies
Sad must have been the heart of
| Washington as he surveyed the scene
All ms hopes of military glory seemed
piighted In the bud, but whatever may
nave Deeh MS feelings, no word of
complaint or anger escaped his Inns
Without any doubt, however. If was
the darkest and most miserable morn
ing in his life.
He could not foresee the future, but
on That other day, when the bell on
the state house at Philadelphia was
proclaiming the Declaration of indie
pendence far and wide, and jubilant
crowds were shouting and throwing
up their hats at the glad tidings there
OF, Washington must have thought o:
the time when he left the walls cj
Fort Necessity, defeated man axd j
fuSitive.-Golden Days.