CHAPTER XXIV
WASHINGTON AT WILL’S CREEK
The remainder of the winter passed slowly to those at the trading-post. When it did not snow it was bitter cold, and often the wind shrieked and tore through the leafless branches of the trees along the river and back of the clearing. Nobody came near the place but a few friendly and half-starved Indians, who were given the food and shelter they begged. They brought no news of the outside world excepting that the red men of the lakes were digging up their war hatchets at the instigation of the French, and that great things were expected to happen during the coming summer.
“And they will happen,” said James Morris. “But I sincerely trust the fighting does not take place around here.”
“More than likely it will take place at every trading-post,” answered Barringford. “Those Frenchmen won’t stop at nuthin when they git a-going, and they’ll bribe the Injuns to do the dirtiest kind of work for them.” This was a strong opinion, yet in those days many thought as the old hunter did.
In the meantime Major Washington had gotten back to Virginia and delivered his reply from the French commander to Governor Dinwiddie. The answer was considered evasive and a ruse to gain time, and when Washington published his report the people at large were much impressed by it. On all sides it was felt that something must be done to clinch the English claim to the Ohio Valley.
The first movement of the governor was to send Captain Trent to the front. Trent was to organize a body of a hundred men and complete the building of the fort which the Ohio Company had started at the fork of the river. In the meantime Washington was commissioned to organize another company at Alexandria and then march for the fort, where he was to take general command. It was hard work to get the colonists to vote any money for the militia but at last the governor obtained an appropriation of ten thousand pounds. On the strength of this the militia was increased to six companies of fifty men each.
“You can have the command of the whole militia if you wish,” said Governor Dinwiddie to Washington. “I know of no better officer.”
“I thank you greatly,” returned Washington. “But as yet I have had small experience in warfare. I would rather stand aside in favor of somebody who knows more of these things than I do.” The governor demurred, but Washington was firm, and in the end Joshua Fry became colonel of the command and the young major was made lieutenant-colonel.
In a country so sparingly populated, it was difficult to get recruits. But few in the cities cared to undergo the hardships of a campaign in the wilderness and the majority of the backwoodsmen preferred to “go it alone,” as they expressed it. In this quandary neither Colonel Fry nor Washington knew what to do, although the latter went around “drumming up” soldiers wherever he could. In this predicament Governor Dinwiddie again came forward and offered a bounty of two hundred thousand acres of land to be divided among the soldiers and officers who enlisted for the campaign. This was an inducement, which many, especially the farm and plantation boys, could not resist, and soon recruiting went forward rapidly.
Early in April Washington set off with a portion of the command for the fort at the fork of the Ohio. Colonel Fry was to follow later, bringing the artillery along by way of the Potomac. The winter was now past, but the snow still lay in the mountain passes, and the rivers were much swollen.