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.

468 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [APPENDIX.
previously committed acts of depredation on the frontiers, was kept
in prison at Williamsburg. Being a person of ready resources, and
an enterprising spirit, he broke from prison and made his way several miles into the country, when his foreign accent betrayed him,
and he was taken up, and remanded to close confinement.
Vanbraam and Stobo were conveyed to Quebec, and retained
there as prisoners; they were both ultimately released, and after
the war they went to England.
No. IV. p. 91.
BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT.
The defeat of General Braddock, on the banks of the Monongahela, is one of the most'remarkable events in American history.
Great preparations had been made for the expedition under that experienced officer, and there was the most sanguine anticipation, both
in England and America, of its entire success. Such was the confidence in the prowess of Braddock's army, according to Dr. Franklin,
that, while he was on his march to Fort Duquesne, a subscription
paper was handed about in Philadelphia to raise money to celebrate
his victory by bonfires and illuminations, as soon as the intelligence
should arrive. When, therefore, the news of his total defeat and
overthrow went abroad, the effect produced on the public mind was
like the shock of an earthquake, unexpected and astounding. Of
the possibility of such an issue no one had dreamed, and the expressions of surprise, as well as of disappointment, were loud and universal. The consequences were alarming to the middle colonies, as
their frontiers were left exposed to the ravages of the French and
Indians, in which situation they continued till Fort Duquesne was
taken by General Forbes, more than three years afterwards.
General Braddock landed in Virginia on the 20th of February,
1755, with two regiments of the British army from Ireland, the-fortyfourth and forty-eighth, each consisting of five hundred men, one of
them commanded by Sir Peter Halket, and the other by Colonel
Dunbar. To these was joined a suitable train of artillery, with military supplies and provisions. The General's first head-quarters were
at Alexandria, and the troops were stationed in that place and its vicinity, till they marched for Will's Creek, where they arrived about