The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

64 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1755.
an accession of force was shortly expected at Fort
Duquesne, and that it was of the utmost moment to
make the attack before such an event should occur. It
was moreover important to divide the army, because
the narrowness of the road, and the difficulty of getting the wagons along, caused it to be stretched into
a line four miles in length, by which the soldiers were
so much scattered, that they might be attacked and
routed at any point, even by small parties, before a
proper force could be brought to their support.
These suggestions prevailed in the council, and were
approved by the general. The army was separated
into two divisions. Braddock led the advanced division of twelve hundred men lightly equipped, taking
only such carriages and articles as were absolutely essential. Colonel Dunbar, with the residue of the army,
about six hundred, remained in the rear.
At this time Colonel Washington was seized with
a raging fever, which was so violent as to alarm the physician; and, as an act of humanity, the general ordered
him to proceed no further, till the danger was over;
with a solemn pledge, that he should be brought up
to the front of the army before it should reach the
French fort. Consigned to a wagon, and to the physician's care, he continued with the rear division nearly
two weeks, when he was enabled to be moved forward by slow stages, but not without much pain from
weakness and the jolting of the vehicle. He overtook
the general at the mouth of the Youghiogany River,
fifteen miles from Fort Duquesne, the evening before
the battle of the Monongahela.
"The officers and soldiers were now in the highest
spirits, and firm in the conviction, that they should
within a few hours victoriously enter the walls of Fort
Duquesne. The steep and rugged grounds, on the