The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-04-04
Redskins in Force

No one could count the enemy
where they spTang from covert To
covert. They were, in fact. near a
thousand strong at the first meeting
in the way-mOre than six hundred
Indians, a molly host gathered from
far and near at the summons OF the
French. sevenscore Canadian rangers,
seventy odd regulars from the fort,
and thirty or forty French officers.
come out OF sheer e2gerness to have
a hand in the daring game. Con-
trecOuer could not spare more French
men from his little garrison. his con-
nectiOus az the lakes being threat
ened, and he sOrely Strengthened for
men 2nd stores He was stalking ev-
erything as it was. upon this encoun-
ter on the way.
If the English should shake the saw
ages off. as he deemed they would.
he must no doubt withdraw as he
could ere the lines OF siege were
closed about him He never dreamed
OF such largeness OF good fortune as
came pouring in upon him.
The English We're not only check
ed. but beaten.
They had never seen business like
this. Twas pitiful. shameful slaugh-
ter-men shot like bears in a pen
there where they covered close in the
scarlet ranks
The first blazing volley had sent
the craven Canadians sCampering back
the way they had come: Beauieu. who
led the attack, was killed almost at
the first onset. but the gallant young
sters who led the motley array wav-
cred never an instant, and readily
held the Indians to their easy work
Washington did all that furious
energy and reckless courage could To-
keep the order of battle his com
mander had SO madly chosen. TO hold
the regulars to their blind work and
hearten the Virginians to stay the
threatened rout, driving his horse
everywhere into the thick Of the muir
derods firing, and crying upon all
alike TO keep to it steadily lika men.
He had but yesterday rejoined he
advance having for almost two weeks
lain stricken with a fever in Dunbar's
camp.
A Charmed Life.
He could hardly sit his cushioned
saddle for weakness when the night
began; but when the blaze of the bat
tie burst, his eagerness was suddenly
like that of one possessed. and his i'm
munity from harm like that OF one
charmed. Thrice a horse was shot
under him, many bullets cut his cloth
ing, but he went without a wound. A
like mad energy drove Braddock
storming up and down the breaking
lines, but he was MORALLY stricken az
last, and Washington alone remained
to exercise such control as was pos
sible when the inevitable rout came.
It was impossible TO hold the ground
in such fashion. The stubborn Brad
dock himself had ordered a retreat era
the fatal bullet found him Sixty
three out of the eighty-six officers OF
his force were killed or disabled: less
than five hundred men out Of all the
thirteen hundred who had but just
now passed SO CALAMITY through tho
ford remained unhurt: the deadly
slaughter must have gone on to utter
destruction.
Death Of 5raddoek.
Retreat was inevitable ~ twas
blessed good fortune that il was SIN
possible. When once il began IL was
headlong. reckless. frenzied The men
ran wildly, blindly as II hunted BY
demons whom no man might hope 90
resist-haunted by the frightful cries.
maddened by the searching and secret
fire of their foes. now coming hot
upon their heels. Wounded comrades.
military stores, baggage. their very
arms, they left upon the ground.
abandoned. Far into the night they
ran madly on. il frantic search Tor the
camp CT the rear division. crying. IS
they ran, for help; they even passed
the camp, in their uncomfortable ter
ror of pursuit, and went desperately
on toward the settlements
Washington and the few officers and
provincials who scorned the terror
found the utmost difficulty in bringing
of their stricken general. where he
lay wishing to die. Upon the fourth
day after the battle he died. loathing
the sight of 4 redcoat. they said. and
murmuring praises OF the blues thu
once despised Virginians They buried
his body in the road. that the army
wagons might pass over the place and
obliterate every trace of a grave their
savage enemies might rejoice 20 ind
I'd desecrate.