The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-29
(CONTINUED.)
Build Fort Duquesne.

AS the spring advanced, the French
force upon the river grew from SOC
to 1,400 men, and work was pushed
rapidly forward upon Notifications
such as the little band of Englishmen
they had ousted had not thought OF
attempting veritable fort, albeit OF
a rude frontier pattern, which its
builders called Duquesne, in honor OF
their governor
Washington could hit upon no wa.
ter course that would afford him
quick transport; 'twould have been
folly, besides, to take his handful of
ragged provincials into the presence
of an intrenched army. He was fain
to go into camp at Grand Meadows,
just across the ridge of the mountains,
and there await his colonel with sup
plies and an additional handful Of
men.
Becomes comander-in-chief.
1t was "a charming field for an en-
counter the young commander
thought, but it was to be hoped the
enemy would not find their way to
it in too great numbers. IN en-
dependent Company" of provincials in
the kings pay joined him out of South
Carolina, whence they had been sent
forward by express orders from Eng
land and the rest of the Virginia vol
unteers at last came up to join their
comrades at the Meadows-without
good Colonel Fry, the doughty mathe-
matician, who had sickened and died
or the way-so that there were pres
emily more than 800 men at the camp,
and Washington was now their CON-
mander.
The officers of the Independent COM
pany from South Carolina, holding
their commissions from the king,
would not, indeed, take their orders
from Washington, with his colonial
commission merely; and, what was
worse, their men would not work;
but there was no doubt they would
fight with proper dignity and spirit for
his majesty, their royal master. The
first blood had already been drawn, on
the 2Sth of May, before reinforce
ments had arrived, when Washington
had but just come to camp.
Washington's First Fight.
Upon the morning of that day Wash
ington, with 40 men, guided by friend
ly Indians, had come upon a party Of
some 80 Frenchmen where they lurk-
ed deep within the thickets of the
dripping forest, and with thrust of
bayonet when the wet guns failed, had
brought them to surrender within
Is minutes Of the first surprise.
No one in the Virginia camp doubt
ed that there was war already, or
dreamed of awaiting the action of
diplomats and cabinets over the sea.
The French had driven an English
garrison from the forks of the Ohio
with threats of force, which would
certainly have been executed had
here been need. These men hidden in
he thickets at Great Meadows would
nave it, when the fight was over,
hat they had come as messengers
merely to bear peaceful summons;
'ut did it need 80 odd armed men to
)ear message?
Why had they lurked for five days
70 stealthily in the forest; and why
lad they sent runners back post haste
o Fort Duquesne to obtain support |
or their diplomacy? Washington
night regret that young NJ. Jumon-
lille, their commander, had lost his
ife in the encounter, but he had |
10 doubt he had done right to order
lis men to fire when he saw the
french spring for their arms at the |
rst surprise.
Now, at any rate, war was unques-
ionably begun. That sudden volley
red in the wet woods at the heart of .
be lonely Alleghanies had set the
nal struggle ablaze. 1t was now eth
r French or English in America; it
ould no longer be both. Jumonville,
18th his 80 Frenchmen, was followed
re many weeks were out by Coulon
9 Villiers with 700-some Of them
anne all the way from Montreal at
ews Of what had happened to
RANGES lurking ambassadors in the
lr-away mountains of Virginia.
On the Sd Of July they closed to
q encounter at Fort Necessity"
rude intrenchments un-
er the Great Meadows. There were
Tree hundred and fifty English
len with him able to fight, spite
sickness and short rations; and
J the enemy began to show
lemselves at the edges of the
woods through the damp
lists of that dreary morning. Wash
gton drew his little force up outside
cir works upon the open meadow.
He thought the French would
me up to him in open field" laugh
willy Indian, who gave him coun-
i freely, but no aid in the fight; but
lliers had no mind to meet the gal
ut young Virginian in that manly !,
shion. Once, indeed, they rushed to
8 trenches, but, finding hot recep- ,,
IN there, kept their distance after ,
ards. Villiers brought them after
at only ''as near as possible without
elessly exposing the lives of the
ng's subjects" and poured his fire
from the cover OF the woods.
For nine hours the unequal fight :
aged on. the French and their In !,