The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-03-17
Washington's Road To
The West.
By
JAMES II. MOFFATT
Iu Sports Afield

1t was over this same road that,
on November IS, 1853, Gist led
Major George Washington, who,
though not yet 2I years old, had
been sent by Governor Dinwiddie
of Virginia to deliver a letter to
the Commandant of the French
forces on the Ohio, stating that
the lands along the Ohio belonged
to Great Britain, demanding by
whose authority the French had
marched from Canada into British
territory, and summoning him to
retire to Canada. After a long
delay, the French Commandment
gave Washington a reply, saying
that, as he was acting under the
orders of the Marquis Duquesne,
he could merely forward Dinwid-
dies letter to him in Canada. So
Washington's long. perilous jour
ney seemed failure; but he had
become familiar with the lay of
the land and the number of the
French forces, and had made some
Indian friends.
Six months later, in April, 1854,
Major Washington led a small
band of militia over this same
road, which they widened as they
went; but it was slow work-2o
miles in ten days. On May 20,
after nights march of FIVE miles
in ten hours, Washington surprised
a small scouting party of twenty
four FrenChmen from Fort Du-
quesne now Pittsburgh }, killed the
commander and took all but one of
the others prisoners. On June I
he built small fort in Great
Meadows, which he called Fort
Necessity. Here he left part of
bis command. With the rest he
pushed his road on further west.
-Four weeks later scouts informed
him of the approach of a large
body of French troops sent from
Fort Duquesne to avenge the cap
ture Of the first small bard. Wash
jngton retreated to Fort Necessity,
where, on July 4, he was COM
PEELED to surrender Five days
later he reached Wills Creek, after
a dreary march over the Old Road.
No longer was it called Menace
Inns Trail. 1t was now known as
Washington's Road.
The name of the road was soon
changed again-this time to Brad
docks Road. The Crown sent
General Edward Braddock, with
some English companies, to cap
ture Fort Duquesne and to drive
the French from the British terri
tories along the Ohio. He reach
ed Wills Greek on May 10, 1855
being greeted by a salute of II
guns from the fort, which he re-
named Fort Cumberland, in honor
of the Duke of Cumberland, Cap
tain General of the English Army.
Fort Cumberland as described in
the journal of a seaman" who
accompanied BraddockJ is situ-
ated within 200 Yards of Wills
Greek, on a Hill 400 Yards from
the Potomack. Its greatest length,
from East to West, is 200 Yards,
and breadth 40. 1t is built with
Loggs, drove into the Ground, and
II feet above it Embrazures are
cut for 2 Guns, which are ! Pound
ers-though 10 only are Mounted
with Loop-holes for small Arms. "
Here Braddock staid for month,
drilling his forces-attempting to
reduce the rough Colonial militia
to the discipline of the English
regulars. He was anxious to push
on, but he found it almost inpos-
sible to procure provisions and
horses from Maryland and Viz
ginia. Benjamin Franklin finally
appealed to the settlers of Penn
sylvania, who, in fear of a raid,
furnished some horses and sup
plies. Thus poorly equipped,
Braddock fastened to march on;
but the odds were greatly against
him, for he was entirely ignorant
of the methods of Indian fighting,
and, neglecting the advice of his
/ 4