The Penn's Grove record., 1923-02-09
LIFE OF WASHINGTON


left, where lay the deadliest fire,
Washington's rangers were posted,
but not exposed like the British. For
on hearing the savage yells aforesaid,
in a moment each they flew each to
his tree, like the Indians; and like
them, each leveled his rife, and with
as deadly aim. This through a kind
Providence, saved Braddock's army;
for exulting their confusion, the saw
ages, grimly painted and yelling like
furies, bursted from their cOverts,
eager to glut their hellish rage with a
total massacre of the British. But,
faithful to their friends, W~ashington's
rangers stepped forth with a JOY to
meet the a~ssailants. Then rose a
scene sufficient to fill the %stoutest
heart with horror. Burning alike for
vengeance, both parties throw aside
the slow-murdering rifles, and grasp
ed their swift-fated tomahaWks.
Dreadfully above their heads CLEANS
the brandished steel, as with full X
erted limbs, and faces all infiamed
with mortal hate, the level at each
other their last decisive blows. Death
RACES through all their fast-thinning
ranks-his bleeding victims are rolled
together on every side. Here falls
the brave Virginia Blue, under the
stroke of his nimbler foe-and there,
man on man, the Indians perish be-
meath the furious tomahaWks, deep
buried in the shattered brain. But
who can tell the joy of Washington,
when he saw this handful of is de-
spised c%ountrymen thus CALAMITY de-
Tending their British friends, and by
dint of mortal steel driving back their
blood-thirsty assailants. Happy check!
for by this time, covered with wounds
Braddock had fallen-his aids and
officers, to a man, killed or wounded
and his troops, in hopeless, helpless
despair, flying backwards and for
forwards from the fire of the Indians,
like focks Of crowding sheep from the
presence Of their butchers. Washing
ton. alone, remained unhurt! Horse
after horse had been killed under him.
Showers Of bullets had lifted MS locks
or pierced his r~egimentals. But st'il
protected by Heaven; still supported
by a strength not his own, he had con-
tinued to fly from quarter to quarter
where his presence was most eeded
something animating his rangers;
sometimes striving. but in vain, tc
raI1v the regulars. Twas his lot to be
close to the brave but im~prudent Brad
dock when he fell, and assisted te
place him in a tumbril, or little cart.
As he was laid down. pale and near
spent With loss Of blood, he faintlT
said to Washington
well, Colonel, what's to be done
row."
"Retreat, sir" replied Washington;
retreat by all means; for the Regu-
lars won't fight and the Rangers are
nearly all killed!'
"Poor fellow!' replied he, "pool
fellow!-Well, do as you will, Col
onel, do as you will"
The army then commenced its re-
treat, in a very rapid and disorderly
ann while Washington with his
few surviving rangers, covered the
Happily, the Indians did not pursue
them far; but after firing a few ran
dom shots, returned in a body, to fall
upon the plumber; while Washington,
with his frightened fugitives contin'
ued their retreat, sadly remembering
that more than one-half of their
mornings gay companions were left
a prey to the ravening beasts of the
desert. There, denied the common
charities of the grave, they lay fol-
many a year bleaching the lonely hills
with their bones.
On reaching Fort Cumberland
where they met Colonel Dunbar, with
the rear of the army, General Brad
dock died. He died in the arms OF
Washington, whose pardon he otter
1900 T.. loror +rootaI him CO 'Ia-
luctlantly that fatal morning-heartily
wished, he said, he had but followed
his advice-frequently called his ran
gers brave fellows! glorious fellows.
Often said, he should be glad to live
if it was only to reward their gailan'
try! | have more than once been told
but cannot vouch for the truth of 1t
that his sister, on hearing how OBJ
stinately Washington and his Blue!
had fought for her brother, was sc
affected that she shed tears; and sent
them in from England handsome cock
AIDES, according to their number, anc
a pair of colours elegantly wrought
by her own fair hands.
With respect to Washington, | can
not but mention here two very extra
ordinary speeches that were made
about him, after Braddock's defeat
and which, as things have turned out
look a good deal like prophecies. A
famous Indian warrior, who acted {
leading part in that bloody tragedy
was often heard to swear, that
washington was not born to be killed
by a bullet! For" continued he, 81
had seventeen fair fires at him with
my rifle, and after all could not bring
him to the groundw And indeed who
ever considers that a good rifle, level
ed by a proper marksman, hardly ever
misses it's aim, will readily enough
conclude with this unlettered savage,
that there was some invisible hand
which turned aside his bullets.
The Rev'd. Mr.. Davies, in a sermon
occasioned by Braddock's defeat, has
these remarkable words-"I beg leave
to point the attention of the public to
that heroic youth, Colonel Washing
ton, whom | cannot but hope Prov
dence has preserved for some great
service to this country! !"
But though the American writers
have pretty unanimously agreed that
Wasbino ton was, under God, the saw