Braddock's Road and Three Relative Papers

by Archer Butler Hulbert

Extracts from

A Journal of the Proceedings of the Detachment of Seamen, ordered by Commodore Kepple, to Assist on the late Expedition to the Ohio with an impartial Account of the late Action on the Banks of the Monongohela the 9^th of July 1755 as related by some of the Principal Officers that day in the Field, from the 10^th April 1755 to the 18^th Aug^st. when the Detachment of Seamen embark’d on board His Majisty’s Ship Guarland at Hampton in Virginia

April 10^th Orders were given to March to Morrow with 6 Companies of S^r P. Halket’s Regiment for Winchester towards Will’s Creeks; April 11^th Yesterdays Orders were Countermanded and others given to furnish Eight days Provisions, to proceed to Rock’s Creek[26] (8 Miles from Alexandria) in the Sea Horse & Nightingale Boats; April 12^th: Arrived at Rock’s Creek 5 Miles from the lower falls of Potomack & 4 Miles from the Eastern branch of it; where we encamped with Colonel Dunbars Regiment

April 13^th: Employed in loading Waggon’s with Stores Provisions and all other conviniences very dear Rock’s Creek a very pleasant Situation.

April 14^th: Detachment of Seamen were order’d to March in the Front: arrived at M^r. Lawrence Owen’s: 15 Miles from Rock’s Creek; and encamp’d upon good Ground 8 Miles from the Upper falls of Potomack

April 15^th: Encamp’d on the side of a Hill near M^r. Michael Dowden’s;[27] 15 Miles from M^r. Owen’s, in very bad Ground and in 1½ foot Snow

April 16^th: Halted, but found it extreamly difficult to get either Provisions or Forrage.

April 17^th: March’d to Fredericks Town; 15 Miles from Dowden’s, the road very Mountanious, March’d 11 Miles, when we came to a River call’d Monskiso, which empties itself into the Potomack; it runs very rapid; and is, after hard Rain, 13 feet deep: We ferried over in a Float for that purpose. This Town has not been settled Above 7. Years; there are 200 Houses & 2 Churches 1 Dutch, 1 English;[28] the inhabitants chiefly Dutch, Industrious, but imposing People; Provisions & Forrage in Plenty.

April 18^th: Encamp’d with a New York Company under the Command of Captain Gates, at the North End of the Town, upon very good Ground