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

- ~ AAlN4L PldllCs DuG IilONSh NlAAS
was a bold stroke of g%eneralship, yet
it appeared that he had not a force
sutficinet to effect it. For in the
midst of his first days march, he was
met by a party of friendly indians,
who running up to him, with looks
and gestures greatly agitated, cried
out, "Flyl Fly! don't look behind you!
your enemies are upon you, thick as
the pigeons in the woodsi'
Washington called a council of his
officers, who advised an immediate
return to Fort Necessity, which they
hardly recovered, before their senti-
nels fired an alarm, and running in,
stated, that the woods were alived
with F%renchmen and Indians!-
1t should have been observed, that the
dreadful news, the day before, had
produced so shameful desertion among
the troops in the course of the night,
that when the enemy attacked, which
they did with 1900 men. Washington
had but 800 to stand by him. But
never did the true Virginian valour
shine more gloriously than on this
trying occasion-to 800 young fellows
commanded by a smooth faced boy
all unacCOstomed to the terTors OF
War-far from homeland from all
hope for help-shut up in a dreary will
derness-and surrounded by five times
their number of savage foes, yet with
out sign of fears, preparing fer NOR
tai combat! Scarcely since the days
of Leonidas and his three hundred
deathless Spartans, had the sun beheld
its equal. With hideous WhoOps and
yells, the enemy came on like a host
of tigers. The woods and rocks, and
tall tree tops, filled with Indians, We're
in n continued blaze and crash of
firearms. Nor were our young d
riors idle; but animated by their
youthful commander, piled their rifles
with such spirit, that the little fort
resembled a volcano in full blast. d
ing and d~ischarging thick sheets of
liquid fire and of leaden deaths among
their foes. For nine glorious hours,
salamanderlike, enveloped in smoke
and flames, they sustained the attack
of the enemy's whole force, and laid
two hundred of them dead on the spot,
Discouraged by such desperate resis-
lance, the French general, the Count
ton, highly eXtolling his gallantry,
anu Ollci1llS Hill the tliOSl I"IOilUll Dlt
terms. 1t was stipulated, that Wash
ington and his little band of heroes.
should march away with all the hon
ours of war, and carry with them
their military stores and baggage.
On their return to the bosom OF
their country: they we're everywhere
received with the praises which they
had so well deserved. The Legisla-
ture voted the thanks of the Nation
to Washington and his officers; with
a pistole apiece to each of his men,
about 800.
In the course of the following win
ter, notice was given from the mother
country, that American officers, act
ing with the British, should bear no
command! Hence the poorest shoat,
if wearing the proud epaulette of
Britain, might command a Wolfe, if
so unlucky to be an Americana! In
censed at such an outrage on common
justice, and the rights of his country
men, Washington threw up his COM
mission, and retired to his plantation,
Mount Vernon, lately left him by his
brother LaWrence.-Here C~incinnatus-
like, he betook to his favourite pillow;
the ason called for the sword:
and he "a now risen too to be
overlooked in times like those when
troubles and fears began to darken
over all the land.
The report of his gallant but unsuc-
cessful struggle with the French and
Indians, soon reached England; and
the ministry, thinking the colonies
alone too weak to drive the enemy.
In mi al on Cnparol Dpal11.1- I'll