that they had left the path some distance, and had encamped for the night in a bottom, in a secret retired situation, as if to se cure CHAP. 1. 1754. ther he intended to go with us or by water. He told me that White Thunder had hurt himself much, and was sick and unable to walk; therefore he was obliged to carry him down in a canoe. As I found he intended to stay there a day or two, and knew that Monsieur Joncaire would employ every scheme to set him against the English, as he had before done, I told him I hoped he would guard against his flattery, and let no fine speeches influence him in their favour. He desired I might not be concerned, for he knew the French too well for any thing to engage him in their favour; and that though he could not go down with us, he yet would endeavour to meet at the Forks with Joseph Campbell, to deliver a speech for me to carry to his honour the Governor. He told me he would order the young hunter to attend us, and get provisions, &c. if wanted. Our horses were now so weak and feeble, and the baggage so heavy, (as we were obliged to provide all the necessaries which the journey would require,) that we doubted much their performing it. Therefore, myself and others, except the drivers who were obliged to ride, gave up our horses for packs, to assist along with the baggage. I put myself in an Indian walking-dress, and continued with them three days, till I found there was no probability of their getting home in any reasonable time. The horses became less able to travel every day; the cold increased very fast; and the roads were becoming much worse by a deep snow continually freezing: therefore, as I was uneasy to get back, to make report of my proceedings to his honour the Governor, I determined to prosecute my journey the nearest way through the woods on foot. Accordingly I left Mr. Vanbraam in charge of our baggage, with money and directions to provide necessaries from place to place for themselves and horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in travelling. I took my necessary papers, pulled off my clothes, and tied myself up in a watch-coat. Then, with gun in hand, and pack on my back, in which were my papers and provisions, I set out with Mr. Gist, fitted in the same manner, on Wednesday the 26th. The day following, just after we had passed a place called Murdering-Town, (where we intended to quit the path, and steer across the country at Shannapins-Town), we fell in with a party of French Indians who had lain in wait for us. CHAP. I. 1754. Surprises M. cure concealment. The Indians offering themselves as guides, Colonel Washington set out in a dark rainy night, in the course of which he surrounded and completely surprised the French encampment, which was but a few miles west of the Great Meadows. About day-break his troops fired, and rushed upon the French, who immediately surrendered; one man only escaped; and Mr. Jumonville, the commanding officer of the party, was the One of them fired at Mr. Gist or me not fifteen steps off, but fortunately missed. We took this fellow into custody, and kept him till about nine o'clock at night; then let him go, and walked all the remaining part of the night, without making any stop, that we might get the start so far as to be out of the reach of their pursuit the next day, since we were well assured they would follow our track as soon as it was light. The next day we continued travelling till quite dark, and got to the river, about two miles above Shannapins. We expected to have found the river frozen, but it was not, only about fifty yards from each shore: the ice I supposed had broken up above, for it was driving in vast quantities. There was no way for getting over but on a raft, which we set about with but one poor hatchet, and finished just after sun-setting. This was a whole day's work we next got it launched; then went on board of it and set off: but before we were half way over, we were jammed in the ice in such a manner that we expected every moment our raft to sink and ourselves to perish. I put out my settingpole to try to stop the raft, that the ice might pass by; when the rapidity of the stream threw it with so much violence against the pole, that it jerked me out into ten feet water. But I fortunately saved myself by catching hold on one of the raft logs. Notwithstanding all our efforts, we could not get to either shore; but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our raft and make to it. The cold was so extremely severe, that Mr. Gist had all his fingers and some of his toes frozen; and the water was shut up so hard, that we found no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice in the morning, and went to Mr. Frazier's. We met here with twenty warriors, who were going to the southward to war. But coming to a place on the head of the Great Kanawa, where they found seven people killed and scalped, (all but one woman with very light hair,) they turned about the only person killed. The residue of the regiment was now on its way to join the detachment advanced in their front. On the march, Colonel Frye died at Paterson's-Creek, and the command devolved on Colonel Washington. Their junction was effected at the Great Meadows; soon after which two independent companies of regulars arrived at the same place, the one about and ran back, for fear the inhabitants should rise and take them as the authors of the murder. They report that the bodies were lying about the house, and some of them much torn and eaten by the hogs. By the marks which were left, they say they were French Indians of the Ottoway nation, &c. who did it. As we intended to take horses here, and it required some time to find them, I went up about three miles to the mouth of Yohogany, to visit queen Aliquippa,, who had expressed great concern that we passed her in going to the Fort. I made her a present of a watch-coat and a bottle of rum; which latter was thought much the better present of the two. Tuesday, the 1st of January, we left Mr. Frazier's house, and arrived at Mr. Gist's, at Monongahela, the 2d, where I bought a horse, saddle, &c. The 6th we met seventeen horses loaded with materials and stores for a fort at the Forks of Ohio, and the day after some families going out to settle. This day we arrived at Willis's-Creek, after as fatiguing a journey as it is possible to conceive; rendered so by excessive bad weather. From the first day of December to the fifteenth, there was but one day on which it did not rain or snow incessantly; and throughout the whole journey we met with nothing but one continued series of cold wet weather, which occasioned very uncomfortable lodgings; especially after we had quitted our tent, which was some screen from the inclemency of it. On the 11th I got to Belvoir, where I stopped one day to take necessary rest, and then set out and arrived in Williamsburg the 16th; when I waited upon his honour the Governor with the letter I had brought from the French commandant, and to give an account of the success of my proceedings. This I beg leave to do by offering the foregoing narrative, as it contains the most remarkable occurrences which happened in my journey. I hope what has been said will be sufficient to make your honour satisfied with my conduct; for that was my aim in undertaking the journey, and chief study throughout the prosecution of it. 5 from CHAP. I. 1754. 22 CHAP. I. 1754. from South Carolina, and the other from New York, making in In this hazardous situation a council of war was called, and the officers unanimously advised that they should retire to the fort at the Great Meadows, where the two roads united, and the country would not easily admit the passage of an enemy without being perceived. At that place it was intended to remain till reinforcements of men and supplies of provisions should arrive. CHAP. I. 1754. June 28. In pursuance of this advice, Colonel Washington retired to Fort Necessity, and began a ditch around the stockade. Before it was completed, the enemy, supposed to amount to fifteen hundred men, under the command of Mons. de Villiers, appeared, and immediately commenced a furious attack upon the fort; where they were received with great intrepidity. The Americans fought partly within the stockade, and partly in the surrounding ditch, which was ready filled with mud and water. Colonel Washington in person continued the whole day on the outside of the fort, encouraging the soldiers by his countenance and example. The enemy fought under cover of the trees and high grass with which the country abounded. The engagement was continued with great resolution from ten in the morning till dark, when Monsieur de Villiers demanded a parley, and offered terms of capitulation. The proposals first made were re- Capitulation of jected; but in the course of the night articles were signed, by which the fort was surrendered, on condition that its garrison should be allowed the honours of war; should be permitted to retain their arms and baggage; and to march without molestation into the inhabited parts of Virginia. The capitulation being in French, a language not understood by Colonel Washington or any of his party, and drawn up in the night under circum 3 stances Fort Necessity. |