White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-10-26

uSlLllS McduS. 1utu ue cauSHl ulHl'
self and his voice was that of an Off.
Ger as he warned. But that isn't to
be talked about. The rif1emen will
scout against a surprise" We were
at the wagon and l would have liked
to have given him a hand over the
%tail-board, but knew better.
Early that evening the word was
passed that st. Clair was to push for
ward at once a strong force so as to
make both fords secure For some
reason he abandoned this plan, which
might have eliminated all chances of
a massacre. Perhaps General Brad.
dock opposed it, although | was after
ward told by Captain Orme that
Braddock never passed upon 1t.
Could weshave but known that night
what had gone on in Duquesne the
entire history of this country might
have read differently; always provid-
ing we had taken advantage Of our
knowledge. AS it transpired later.
the de Normanville brothers on July
eighth reported to Beaujeu that our
army vas eighteen miles from the
fort. Beaujeu at once, in a desperate
mood, %harangued the Indians The
red men told him he was mad to
propose an attack on such an army
Yet such was his influence over them
that they did not fatty refuse the
venture but did ask a day in which to
think over his bold project. Thus
this very night after had spoken
with Colonel Washington, the cum
mandant at Duquesnes was gloomily
facing the hours that separated him
from July ninth, the day he was to
accomplish so much for France and
leave a memory that was oon to be
forgottenl
But he knew nothing of all this, and
Sir John did not take. steps to make
the double crossing of the Mononga-
hela safe. However, General Brad.
dock did realize the necessity of doing
in part what Sir Peter Halket mad
urged him to do thoroughly, and at
three of the clock of the morning of
the ninth sent Gage forward to Sc.
cure the two crossings and TO hold
| the farther shore of the second until
the army should come up.
Round Paw and l were awake when
this detachment started and we did
not go back to sleep again. Cromit
had found Simon Flax among the
wagons and had Joined his mess. At
four O'clock in the morning st. Clair
followed after Gage with the road
builders. Braddock posted four hun
bred men on the surrounding heights
and started for the first crossing at
six in the morning.
Round Paw and l acted as scouts.
although ii has been enormously
charged that Braddock had no scouts
out. Such statements are absurd The
entire army, including the wagons
and guns, made the first crossing
without an, hindrance; and 1t did
/ seem as if the road to Duquesne was
open before use. We marched In order
Of battle to the second ford. and saw
nothing of the enemy. Gage had car
ried out his instructions. and the last
crossing was clear and the prize was
almost within our grasp.
A band of twenty OF the enemy's
Indians had been seen. but these had
run away in fright. 1t lacked an hour
before midday when we reached the
second crossing. but it was not until
two hours later that the banks were
pronounced safe for the artillery and
the wagons. In another hour the
army had passed this ford.
The Onondaga and | were in ad
vance and halted to watch this final
passage of the river. For the benefit
of any French scouts the troops had
been ordered On dress parade. 1t was
a wonderful spectacle, and my heart
beat high with pride. Round Paw
sounded his "Yo-hahl" as he gazed
on the soldiers wearing their best uni.