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.] BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 469
the middle of May. It took four weeks to effect that march. In letters written at Will's Creek, General Braddock, with much severity
of censure, complained of the lukewarmness of the colonial governments and tardiness of the people in facilitating his enterprise, the
dishonesty of agents, and the faithlessness of contractors. The
forces, which he brought together at Will's Creek, however, amounted
to somewhat more than two thousand effective men, of whom about
one thousand belonged to the royal regiments, and the remainder
were furnished by the colonies. In this number were embraced the
fragments of two Independent Companies from New York, one of
which was commanded by Captain Gates, afterwards a major-general
in the Revolutionary war. Thirty sailors had also been granted for
the expedition by Admiral Keppel, who commanded the squadron,
that brought over the two regiments.
At this post the army was detained three weeks, nor could it then
have moved, had it not been for the energetic personal services of
Franklin, among the Pennsylvania farmers, in procuring horses and
wagons to transport the artillery, provisions, and baggage. The details of the march are well described in Colonel Washington's letters.
The army was separated into two divisions. The advanced division,
under General Braddock, consisted of twelve hundred men besides
officers. The other, under Colonel Dunbar, was left in the rear to
proceed by slower marches. On the. 8th of July the General arrived
with his division, all in excellent health and spirits, at the junction of
the Youghiogany and Monongahela Rivers. At this place Colonel
Washington joined the advanced division, being but partially recovered from a severe attack of fever, which had been the cause of his
remaining behind. 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 north side of the Monongahela, prevented the army from marching in that direction, and it was
necessary in approaching the fort, now about fifteen miles distant, to
ford the river twice, and march a part of the way on the south side.
Early on the morning of the 9th all things were in readiness, and the
whole train passed through the river a little below the mouth of the
Youghiogany, and proceeded in perfect order along the southern
margin of the Monongahela. Washington was often heard to say
during his lifetime, that the most beautiful spectacle he had ever
beheld was the display of the British troops on this eventful morning.
Every man was neatly dressed in full uniform, the soldiers were arranged in columns and marched in exact order, the sun gleamed
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