The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-19

which the enemy could fire down upon the de-
tenders of the fort, Washngton's force was so
weakened by lack of ammunition and other sup
plies, that he considered it impracticable to
retreat further. Hence the name of Fort Ne
cessity as Indicative of his desperate plight.
A contemporary account of what followed has
been discovered recently in the Charleston
Is. CO public library in a copy of the South
Carolina Gazette for August %, 1854, which
reads as follows:
Williamsburg, Va, July 19.-On Wednesday
last arrived in town, Col George Washington
and Capt. James Mackay, who gave the follow
ing account TO his honor the governor, of the
late action between them and the French, at
the Great Meadows in the western part of this
dominion
The third of this instant July about 9
o'clock, we received intelligence that the French
having been reinforced with 700 recruits had
left Monongahela and were in full march with
900 men to attack US. Upon this, as our num-
bers were so unequal (our whole force not ex-
ceeding 300), we prepared for our defense in
the best manner we could, by throwing up a
small entrenchment, which we had not time
TO perfect before our sentinel gave notice about
IL O'Clock, of their approach, by firing his piece,
which he did, at the enemy. and, as we learned
afterward, killed three of their men, on which
they began to fire upon us, at about 600 yards
distance, but without effect we Immediately
in order before our trenches. but as we looked
upon this distant fire of the enemy only as an
artifice TO intimidate, draw our fire from US,
we waited their nearer approach before we re-
turned their salute.
'They then advanced in a very irregular man.
ner TO another point of woods. about 60 yards
off, and from thence made second discharge;
upon which, finding they had no intention of
attacking US in the open field, we retired into
our trenches and still rosewood orr fro vo
expected from their great superiority of num-
bers that they would endeavor to force our
trenches, but, finding they did not seem to in
tend this either, the colonel gave orders to fire.
which was done with great alacrity and I'M
dauntedness.
I'VE continued this unequal fight, with an
enemy sheltered behind the trees ourselves
without shelter, in trenches full of water, in a
settled rain, and the enemy CALLING us on all
sides necessarily from the woods till o'clock
at night, when the French called to parley.
From the great improbability that such a vast
~ superior force and possessed of such an adj
vantage would offer parley first we suspected
a deceit and therefore refused to consent that
they should come among us; on which they
desired us to send officer to them and en-
gage their parole for his safety. We then sent
Captain Van Braam and Mr.. Peyronee to receive
their proposals, which they did. and about mid
night we agreed that each side should retire
without molestation, they back to their fort at
MOnongahela and we to Wills Creek: that we
should march away with all the honors of war
and with all our stores, effects and baggage.
Accordingly. the next morning with our drums
beating and our colors flying, began our
march in good order, with our stores etc. in
convoy; but we were interrupted by the arrival
of a reinforcement of 100 Indians among the
French, who were hardly restrained from at
lacking and did us considerable damage by
pifering our baggage
"We then proceeded but soon found it neces-
sary to leave our baggage and stores; the great
scarcity of provisions obliged US to use
the utmost expedition. and having neither wag-
ons nor horses to transport them The enemy
had deprived us of all our creatures by killing,
in the beginning of the engagement, our horses.
cattle and every living thing they could, even to
the very dogs.
The number of killed on our side was 80,
and 70 wounded; among the former was Lieu
tenant MERCER, Of Captain Mackay's independ-
ent company, gentleman of true military worth,
and whose bravery would not permit him to re-
tire, though dangerously wounded, till second
shot disabled him and a third put end to his
life, as he was being carried to the surgeon. Our
men behaved with singular intrepedity. and we
determined not to ask for quarter. but with our
bayonets fixed to sell our lives dearly as
possibly could From the numbers of the en-
victory. and from the character of those we had
to encounter. we expected mercy. hut on
terms that we positively resolved not TO sub