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.

70 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1755.
which, at the earnest recommendation and request of
Washington, were accepted, but in so cold a manner,
and the Indians were treated with so much neglect,
that they withdrew one after another in disgust. On
the evening preceding the action, they came again to
camp, and renewed their offer. Again Colonel Washington interposed, and urged the importance of these
men as scouts and out-guards, their knowledge of the
ground, and skill in fighting among woods. Relying
on the prowess of his regular troops, and disdaining
such allies, the general peremptorily refused to receive
them, in a tone not more decided than ungracious.*
Had a scouting party of a dozen Indians preceded the
army after it crossed the Monongahela, they would
have detected the enemy in the ravines, and reversed
the fortunes of the day.
General Braddock was a brave man and an experienced officer; but, arrogant and obstinate, he had
the weakness, at all times a folly and in his case an
infatuation, to despise his enemy. Ignorant of the
country, of the mode of warfare in which he was engaged, and of the force opposed to him, he refused
counsel, neglected precautions, and thus lost his life.
* This was told to me by William Butler, a very old man, who had
been a soldier in the action of the Monongahela, and who said he was
standing as sentinel at the door of the General's tent, and heard the
conversation. Seventy-five years after the battle, there were at least
two men living in Pennsylvania, who were engaged in it.