This was at the time of the Seven Years’ War between the French and English. England had a poor opinion of the colonial officers and soldiers,—these same officers and soldiers who were to defeat their trained troops on every hand a few years later in the Revolution,—and at the beginning of the war sent General Braddock with two regiments of regulars to Virginia. Braddock landed on American soil in 1755, and, appointing George Washington one of his aides, set off with his regulars and some colonial troops from Fort Cumberland in Maryland for Fort Duquesne.
The country to be traversed was a wilderness. No road led through the woods; so the troops were forced to cut one as they slowly went westward. Braddock was brave and honest, but harsh and brutal in manners. He could not understand the nature of a war in the woods. Like other English officers of the time, he despised American militia and their half-Indian way of fighting. Washington and the other American officers advised him to send scouts ahead to look for the enemy; but Braddock would have none of this. He marched his army through the forest in perfect alignment, with the band playing and banners flying.
On July 9, 1755, after crossing the Monongahela River, when they were only eight miles from Fort Duquesne, those in the front of the army suddenly saw what seemed to be a single Indian coming toward them. It was really a French officer with a band of French and Indians at his back. Feeling that they were doomed to defeat, the French had determined as a last resort to sally out from Fort Duquesne and give battle to the English in the woods.
As soon as the French officer saw the British he stopped and waved his hat. The French and Indians immediately disappeared into the bushes and opened fire on the English troops. The red coats of Braddock’s men made a fine target. They tried to return the enemy’s fire; but there was no foe to be seen. They stood their ground bravely for a time; but it was a slaughter. Huddled together like sheep, they were shot down by scores.
The colonial soldiers attempted to fight from behind trees, but Braddock considered this cowardly, and beat them back into line with the flat of his sword.
“Come out into the open field like Englishmen!”
It was courageous; but it was foolhardy.
General Braddock exposed himself fearlessly. In rallying his men he had four horses shot under him, and was at last mortally wounded. Washington, who was the only officer on Braddock’s staff not killed or wounded, saved the defeat from becoming a rout. Two horses were shot under him and four bullets pierced his clothes.
On the way back to Fort Cumberland, General Braddock died, and Washington took charge of the demoralized troops. In order to prevent the Indians finding Braddock’s grave and mutilating the body, the general was buried in the road and the entire army passed over it,—men, horses, and wagons.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION
ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1, No. 35, SERIAL No. 35
COPYRIGHT, 1913. BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.