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.

APPENDIX.J THE GREAT MEADOWS. 467
Independent Company was supposed to contain about one hundred
but the number of killed and wounded is not known. The two Independent Companies from New York, which arrived at Alexandria,
never joined the Virginia regiment, although former wtiters, in describing this event, have said they were present. The amount of the
French force is also uncertain. It was believed by Colonel Washington, from such information as he could get, to consist of nine hundred men. M. de Villiers says, that he left Fort Duquesne with five
hundred Frenchmen and eleven Indians. The number of French is
perhaps correct, but the Indians were much more numerous, when
they arrived at the scene of action; and there is good reason for believing, that the French and Indians together made a body of at least
nine hundred.
It was a subject of mortification to Colonel Washington, that Governor Dinwiddie refused to ratify the capitulation, in regard to the
French prisoners. The Governor thus explained his conduct in a
letter to the Board of Trade. - " The French, after the capitulation
entered into with Colonel Washington, took eight of our people, and
exposed them to sale, and, missing thereof, sent them prisoners to
Canada. On hearing of this, I detained the seventeen prisoners, the
officer, and two cadets, as I am of opinion, after they were in my
custody, Washington could not engage for their being returned. I
have ordered a flag of truce to be sent to the French, offering the return of their officer and the two cadets for the two hostages they have
of ours." This course of proceeding was not suitable to the- principles of honor and sense of equity entertained by Colonel Washington,
but he had no further control of the affair.
The hostages were not returned, as requested by the Governor's
flag of truce, and the French prisoners were detained in Virginia,
and supported and clothed at the public charge, having a weekly allowance for that purpose. The private men were kept in confinement, but Drouillon and the two cadets were allowed to go at large,
first in Williamsburg, then at Winchester, and last at Alexandria,
where they resided when General Braddock arrived. It was then
deemed improper for them to go at large, observing the motions of
the General's army, and the Governor applied to Commodore Keppel
to take them on board his ships; but he declined, on the ground that
he had no instructions' about prisoners. By the advice of General
Braddock, the privates were put on board the transports, and sent to
England. M. Drouillon and the cadets went passengers in another
ship at the charge of the colony. La Force, having been only a volunteer in the skirmish, and not in a military capacity, and having