The fight which he took part in as aide-de-camp, and which had so sad an end, goes by the name of Brad-dock's de-feat.
CHAPTER VI.
COL-O-NEL OF VIR-GIN-I-A TROOPS.
The troops in Vir-gin-i-a were left with-out a head. There was no one to lead them out to war, and if this fact came to the ears of the French, they would be more bold.
Wash-ing-ton's friends urged him to ask for the place. But this he would not do. His brother wrote him thus: "Our hopes rest on you, dear George. You are the man for the place: all are loud in your praise."
But Wash-ing-ton was firm. He wrote back and told in plain words all that he had borne, and how he had been served for the past two years.
"I love my land," he said, "and shall be glad to serve it, but not on the same terms that I have done so."
His mo-ther begged him not to risk his life in these wars. He wrote her that he should do all that he could to keep out of harm's way, but if he should have a call to drive the foes from the land of his birth, he would have to go! And this he was sure would give her much more pride than if he were to stay at home.
On the same day, Au-gust 13, that this note was sent, word came to Wash-ing-ton that he had been made chief of all the troops in Vir-gin-i-a, and the next month he went to Win-ches-ter to stay.