The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-05-27
SOME INCIDENTS OF GENERAL
BRADDOCKSF ATED EXPEDITION
How the Naughty British Commander
Alienated His Indian Allies.

5. 5. Miller in Meyersdale Republican.
While General Braddock was halt
ing with his army at Fort Cumberland
in the spring of 1855, for the purpose
of assembling supplies and equipment.
preparatory to his decent upon the
French post at the forks of the Ohio
River, he was there joined by a con-
siderable force of Indian allies. These
were secured mainly through the eff
forts of the noted frontiersman and
Indian trader, George Crogan, of Penn
sylvanla, who was acting on behalf of
the governor of his province. Crogan
had also arranged for sundry other
Indian forces that were to Join the
army on its march.
But, as every reader of American
history very well knows, General
Braddock, like the true Briton that he
was, had none but feelings of the most
supreme contempt, not for the Indians
only, but for the American soldiers as
we'll. And by his arrogant and i'm
polltlc manner, soon succeeded in alien
ating his savage, but proud and SEN
sltlve allies, and most of them became
either active or passive enemies of
Braddock and his cause
When Braddock marched out of
Fort Cumberland on June 10, only
nine Indians accompanied him, and
the forces that were to meet him on
the way, never came. Among the nine
warriors that remained faithful to
the General was the famous Oneida
chief, Scarooyadi, and his son. His
tory does not record the name of this
son. Scarooyadi was successor to the
distinguished chief known in history
as Half King" and he had met and
befrIended Washington at the times
OF his several western trips, and
strong friendship existed between the
two.
Braddock's army resumed it's march
from Little Meadows, in what is now
Garrett county, and located near the
town of Grantsville, on the National
Road, on June 10, after three davs'
halt at that place; and some time dur
ing that day, Scarooyadi and his son.
who were scouting near the main line
of march, fell into an ambuscade of
French and their Indian allies who
were already lowering on Braddock's
TANKS. Scarooydai was captured and
among his captors were some of his
former Indian friends. A fierce wran-
gle here ensued among the captors.
The French wanted to kill him. and
the Indians would not consent to it.
They even threatened to desert the
French If they killed Scarooyadi They
finally compromised by leaving the
old chief securely bound to a tree. The
young Indian escaped and raised an
alarm. He thought his father was
killed. A detachment was sent in pur-
suit of the enemy, whom they, how
ever, failed to intercept, but Scarooy-
adj was found and released
The exact spot where the old chief
met with this singular experience can
never be known, interesting as such
knowledge would be, but as this &C.
Cured not far from the main line of
march, and on the first day out from
Little Meadows, and as the army here
consumed four days in advancing u
miles, it is evident that it happened
near where Grantsville now is.
Scarooydai's son was fated to meet
with tragic end. On the 9Th of July,
when the army was some distance
west OF Great Meadows, several of
Braddock's men who were lettering
in the rear, We're killed and scalped
An avenging party was sent in pur-
| SNAS VI SiiS pei pClIdlOGS OI IIlIS uGGU,
and they Unexpectedly met with a
Dand OF their own scouts, and altho
i they gave the usual signs to denote
that they were friends, their signs for
some reason were misunderstood, and
they were fired upon and the son of
Scarooydai was killed.
1t would almost seem as though the
eyes of General Braddock were by this
| ana- I A 4
rate he took, for him, extraordinary
measures to mollify the aggrieved In
dian father He showered numerous
presents upon him; and to the sur
prise of all, he ordered that the young
warrior be buried with full military
honors, and that all the officers of
the command were to attend. A vol
ley was fired over his grave.
Thus was buried with all the pomp
and honors of war this unnamed In
dlan youth, not so many miles from
the spot where seven days later, in the
dead hours of night, midst gloom and
silence, the remains of the naughty
General himself, found sculpture.
The old chief was appeased and re-
NAMED faithful to Braddock; he was
with him in the morning of July 9th,
When washington for the last time adj
mOnished the General to take more
effective measures to guard against
surprise, only to receive a curt reply.
Scarooydadi was with the army when
later in the day with banners flying
and drums beating, it was led blindly
into the jaws of death on the banks
of the Monongahela.
Scarooyadi escaped unscathed from
this field of frightful carnage. He
passed the remainder of his DAYS
along the Ohio river, in Western
Pennsylvania and Ohio; it is not
known that he engaged in war after
this. But he always remained the
steadfast friend of Washington and
the Colonies.
The several historical incidents
above given are well authenticated.
Nearly all of the incidents of the
Braddock campaign, as recorded by
Irving and others, were originally
CLEANED from journal that was kept
by Captain Robert Orme, British Of
ficer and one of Braddock's aides, and
from journal that was kept by GER
tain sailors that belonged to the expe-
/ Al