Evening star., 1932-11-29
BRADDOCK BELIEVED SLAIN
BY ONE OF OWN MILITIAMEN
Research Indicates Mary
lander Shot General at
Close Range.
Had Seen Brother Killed as
Coward" for Fighting
Indian Style.

Mai Gen Edward Braddock. the pre-
Revolutionary British soldier noted for
his suicidal scorn of Indian fighting
tactics during the French AMI Indian
War. mey not have died. as history has
supposed. at the hands of the wilderness
.avcres he believed should b. met il
shculcer-tc-shoulier English b2ts.eline
style.
Bra1dock eied, according to the text
books. when his redcoats were am
bushed and moved down while they
stood in rows like the pickets OF fence
during an expedition against Fort Du-
quesne in l755.
But in the light OF evidence uncov-
cred by Lieut. Col. Fielder NJ. M. Beall,
veteran Army offlcer. who retired in
1912 and since has devoted himself TO
historical research at his home, in
Chevy Chase Nd, 1t appears probable
that Braddock was killed by Mary
land soldier of regiment enlisted to
aid the English cause.
Called Man Coward.
GSn. B-addook, ecccr-ing TO the story
Col. Bcall has lean@e. bee s-l.e ancs snsed
when he saw the American soldiers.
who knew about such matters. du-k for
cover before returning the fire Of their
hidden enemies. AS he rode by one
James Farr of the Maryland Militia he
is said to have called the man coward
and run him through with his sword.
John Farr. brother of the slain man,
was standing few feet away. He
promptly raised his rife and killed
Braddock
Such was the statement made by
James Moore Davis, veteran of the
Braodock defeat, who died in Ohio in
1926. According to the version Col.
Beall obtained from Ohio relatives,
James Davis a few days before his
death called to him his youngest son,
Amos, and told him there was secret
he had harbored for more than 70 years
which he wished to tel, because the
party most interested in all probability
Is beyond the reach of military court
martial and legal tribunal"
Davis story was that he had marched
in the ranks of Capt. Wares company
Of Maryland Militia, accompanying
Braddock on the Western expedition.
Was in Rear Rank.
when the battle started, I was in
the rear rank. James Farr was on my
right. John Farr was on my left"
Davis told his son. When the COM
pany was cut to pieces by hidden fire
from the Indians, it was every man for
himself James Farr stepped behind a
tree, and was about to reload his musket
when Braddock rode along, called Farr
q coward and ran his sword through
him John Farr, the surviving brother,
pointed the muzZle of his gun almost IN
the face of the general and fired"
Gen. Braddock had been obstinate in
insisting that both the British and
American troops conduct Indian warfare
in close-ranked, wave-line formation,
contrary to the precepts Of all expert
enced frontiersmen.
Wills De Hass' History of Western
Virginia and the Indian Wars" pub
lished in 1851, Col Beall points out,
speaks Of resident of Uniontown, Pa,
known as Tom Fausett, who did not
hesitate to own that he shot Braddock." !"
His story was that regardless of Brad
cocks positive and foolish order that
troops should not post themselves
behind trees Joseph Fausett Cor James
Farr, Col. Beall believes) had SO posted
himself, which Braddock discovering
rode up and struck him down with his
sword. Tom Fausett, who stood but
short distance from his brother, saw
the whole transaction, and Immediately
threw up his rifle and shot Braddock."