The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-29
and filling all the air with chill and
nalIid Yniaf

ne FRENCH AK FdFteys
Day insensibly darkened into nigh
| in such an air, and it was eigh
o'clock when the firing ceased and the
French asked a parley. Their mer
were tired Of the dreary fight, thefl
Indian allies threatened to leave then
when morning should come, and they
were willing the English should with
draw, If they would, without further
hurt or molestation
The terms they offered seemed very
acceptable to Washington's officers as
the interpreter read them out, stand
ing there in the drenching downpouI
and the black night. at rained SC
hard we could hardly keep the candle
lighted to read them by" said an of.
f1cer; but there was really no choice
what to do. More than fifty men lay
dead or wounded in the flooded camp;
the ammunition was all but spent;
the French strength had hardly been
touched in the fight, and might at
any moment be increased. Capitula-
ton was inevitable, and Washington
did not hesitate.
A Sorry Return Home.
The next morning saw his wretched
force making their way back again
along the rude road they had cut
through the forests They had Meth
er horses nor wagons to carry their
baggage. What they could they burn
ed; and then set out, sore stricken in
heart and body, their wounded COM
1ades and their scant store of food
slung upon their backs, and dragged
themselves very YEARLY all the fifty
miles to the settlements at home.
Two Of the kings Independent CON-
panies from New York ought to have
joined them long ago, but had gotten
no further than Alexandria when the
fatal day came at the Great Meadows.
North Carolina had dispatched three
hundred and fifty of her militiamen.
under an experienced officer, to aid
them, but they also came too late.
1t had been expected that MARYLAND
would raise two hundred and fifty
men, and Pennsylvania had at last
voted money, to be spent instead of
blood. for she would levy no men:
but no succor had come from any
quarter when it should. The English
were driven in, and all their plans
were worse than undone.
Bitter Medicine for Washington.
1t was bitter trial for the young
V1rginian commander to have his
first campaign end so disastrously-
to be worsted in a petty fight, and
driven back hopelessly outdone.
No one he cared for in Virginia
blamed him. His ragged troops had
borne themselves like men In the
fight; his own gallantry no man could
doubt. The house of burgesses thank
ed him and voted money to his men.
But 1t had been rough apprentice
ship, and Washington felt to the
quick the lessons it had taught him.
The discouraging work of recruit.
ng at Alexandria, the ragged idlers
to be governed there, the fruitIess
1rilling of listless and insolent men.
me two months work with axe and
spade cutting a way through the for.
ests. the whole disheartening work O;
making ready for the fight OF seeking |
he enemy, and of choosing field az
he had borne as a stalwart |
young man can while his digestion
holds good.
he had at least himself done every.
thing that was possible, and it had
been no small relief to him. to write /
letters to the men who I
we're supposed to be helping him in
telling them exactly
low things were going and who was
o blame-letters which showed both
low efficient and how proud he was.
Enjoyed the Bullets.
He had even shown a sort of boy
sh zest in the affair when it came to
ctual fighting with Jumonville and
lis scouts hidden in the forest He
lad pressed to the thick of that hot
nd sudden skirmish, and had taken
he French volleys with lads relish
f the danger 81 heard the bullets
he wrote his brother, and
elieve me there is something charm
1g in the sound"
But after he had stood day in the
CODED trenches of his wretched
fort" at Great Meadows, and fought
III evening in the open with an en-
my he could not see, he knew that
9 had been taught a lesson; that he
'as very young at this terrible busi-
ess Of fighting; and that something
lore must be learned than could be
cad in the books at Mount Vernon.
ie kept cheerful front in the dreary
streat. heartening his men bravely
Y word and example of steadfast-
ess; but it was a sore blow to his
ride and his hopes, and he must only
ave WINGED without protest could he
ave heard how Horace Walpole call
/ him a brave braggart' for his
,domontade about the music Of dead
missiles.
He had no thought, however, of
lifting his duty because his first
Lmpaign had miscarried.
When he had made his report at ..
he rejoined his demon
lied regiment at Alexandria, where