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.

PART I.] THE FRENCH WAR. 265
the enemy. Finding, however, that his party was overpowered, and likely to be surrounded, he retreated to a
stockade, not far distant, in which they were besieged
for three hours; but the firing communicated an alarm
from one habitation to another, by which means most of
the families were timely apprised of their danger, and
happily escaped. Our party killed one Indian, whose
scalp they obtained, and wounded several others.
I exert every means in my power to protect a much
distressed country, but it is a task too arduous. To
think of defending a frontier of more than three hundred
and fifty miles' extent, with only seven hundred men, is
vain and idle, especially when that frontier lies more
contiguous to the enemy than any other. I am, and
have for a long time been, fully convinced, that, if we
continue to pursue a defensive plan, the country must
be inevitably lost.*
You will be kind enough, Sir, to excuse the freedom
with which I deliver my sentiments, and believe me to
be, as I really am, with unfeigned truth and regard,
Your most obedient, humble servant.
~ From the time that the Virginia regiment was organized, it had been
Colonel Washington's opinion, that an offensive war should be kept up
against the enemy. In this sentiment Governor Dinwiddie agreed with
him, and he urged upon Lord Loudoun the advantage of an expedition
against Fort Duquesne. But the great operations at the north absorbed
his Lordship's attention, and he placed the whole southern frontier upon
the defensive. Hence the enemy made perpetual inroads, committing
murders and ravages. Considering the weak state of the garrison at Fort
Duquesne, a large portion of which had been withdrawn to defend the
Canada borders, it was deemed an object of easy attainment, as no doubt
it was, for Colonel Stanwix, with his five hundred Royal Jmericans, in
conjunction with the Virginia and Maryland troops, to seize that Fort.
This would have effectually put a stop to all the savage depredations.
But such were not his orders, and nothing was done. The Indians were
emboldened by this inactivity, and the frontier inhabitants were molested
in every quarter.
VOL. II. 34 w