The Washington herald., 1913-01-13

enlng work OF making ready for the
night, of seeking the enemy, and of
choosing field of encounter, 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 IL had been
no small relief to him TO write plain
spoken letters to the men who were sup
| posed to be helping him in Williams
burg telling them exactly how things
were going and who was to blame-let-
tiers which showed both how efficient
and how proud he was.
Enjoyed the Bullets.
He had even shown a sort OF boyisr
zest In the affair when IL came to actual
fighting with Jumonville and his scouts
hidden in the forest. He had pressed
to the thick of that hot and sudden
skirmish. and had taken the French vol
leys with a lads relish of the danger.
i heard the bullets whistle" he wrote
his brother. and believe me there Is
something charming I'm the sound"
But after he had stood day in the
Hooded trenches Of his wretched fort
at Great Meadows and fought till even
ing IN the open with an enemy he could
not see. he knew that he had been taught
lesson: that he was very young at this
terrible business of fighting, and that
could be read in the books at Mount
Vernon. He kept a cheerful front in the
dreary retreat, heartening his men
bravely by word and example of stead
fhstness: but 1t was a sore blow to his
pride and his hopes. and he must only
have WINGED without protest could he
have heard how Horace walpoIe called
him brave braggart" for his rodo-
montade about the music OF deadly mis-
siles
He had no thought, however. of quit
ting his duty because his first campaign
had miscarried.
When he had made his report at Will
Namsburg ne rejoine.l his demoraIized
regiment at Alexandria. where IL Law hut
an hours ride from Mount Vernon and
set about executing his orders TO recruit
once more. as If the business were only
just begun.
Build Fort Cumbc rInnd
Capt. Innes, who brought go men from
North Carolina too late TO be of as
sistance at the Meadows, and who had
the chagrin Of seeing them take them
selves off home again because there was
no money forthcoming to pay them what
had been promised, remained at Wills
Creek. amid the back settlements to
command the Kings prOvinCials from
South Carolina who had been with Wash
ington at the Meadows. and the two in
dependent companies from New York.
who had fingered so long on the way;
and TO build there a rough fertilization,
TO be named Fort Cumberland. in hon
or of the far-away duke who was COM
mander-in-chief in England.
Dinwiddie. having such hot Scots
blood in him as could brook no delays.
and having been bred no soldier or
but a merchant and man
of business. would have had Washing
toms recruiting dispatched at once, like
a bill Of goods. and new force sent
TO the Ohio again to catch
the French while they were at ease over
their victory and slackly upon their
guard at Duquesne.
Dinwiddie BIundcrs Again.
When he was iatly told it was I'M
possible, he turned to other plans, equally
i'll considered. though no doubt equally
well meant. BY October he had obtained
of the assembly 10000 and from the
at home 1ODJ more in good
specie, such as was scarce in the colony
for the sharp stir of actual fighting had
had its effect alike upon King and
had ordered the formation
and equipment OF ten full companies
for the frontier.
But the new orders contained a sad
civilian bIunder The ten companies
should an be independent companies;
there should be no officer higher than
a captain among them. This, the good
Scotsman thought. would accommodate
all disputes about rank and precedence,
such as had come near to making trouble
between Washington and Capt. Mackay.
of the independent Company from South
Carolina, while they waited for the
French at Great Meadows.
To-morrov-washi Resigns
His Commission.