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.

838 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [_ET. 23.
The General was wounded, of which he died three
days after. Sir Peter Halket was killed in the field,
where died many other brave officers. I luckily escaped
without a wound, though I had four bullets through my
coat, and two horses shot under me. Captains Orme
and Morris, two of the aids-de-camp, were wounded
early in the engagement, which rendered the duty
harder upon me, as I was the only person then left to
distribute the General's orders, which I was scarcely
able to do, as I was not half recovered from a violent illness, that had confined me to my bed and a wagon for
above ten days. I am still in a weak and feeble condition, which induces me to halt here two or three days
in the hope of recovering a little strength, to enable me
to proceed homewards; from whence, I fear, I shall not
be able to stir till towards September; so that I shall
not have the pleasure of seeing you till then, unless it
be in Fairfax. Please to give my love to Mr. Lewis
and my sister; and compliments to Mr. Jackson, and
all other friends that inquire after me. I am, honored
Madam, your most dutiful son.
TO JOHN A. WASHING-TON.
Fort Cumberland, 18 July, 1755.
DEAR BROTHER,
As I have heard, since my arrival at this place, a cirregaining the ground, and what we had left upon it, it was with as little
success as if we had attempted to stop the wild bears of the mountains, or
the rivulets with our feet.
"It is supposed, that we had three hundred or more killed, and about
that number were brought off wounded. - It is conjectured (I believe with
much truth), that two thirds of both received their shot from our own
cowardly regulars, who gathered themselves into a body, contrary to orders,
ten or twelve deep, —would then level, fire, and shoot down the men
before them."