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.

APIPF.NDIX.] BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 473
my. What! will you suffer your Father to go out alone? I am
sure we shall conquer." With this spirited harangue, delivered in a
manner that pleased the Indians, and won upon their confidence, he
subdued their unwillingness, and they agreed to accompany him.
It was now the 7th of July, and news came that the English
were within six leagues of the Fort. This day and the next were
spent in making preparations, and reconnoitring the ground for
attack. Two other captains, Dumas and Liguery were joined with
M. de Beaujeu, and also four lieutenants, six ensigns, and two cadets.
On the morning of the 9th they were all in readiness, and began
their march at an early hour. It seems to have been their first intention to make a stand at the ford, and annoy the English while
crossing the river, and then retreat to the ambuscade on the side of
the hill where the contest actually commenced. The trees on the
bank of the river afforded a good opportunity to effect this manceuvre,
in the Indian mode of warfare, since the artillery could be of little
avail against an enemy, where every man was protected by a tree,
and at the same time the English would be exposed to a point-blank
musket-shot in fording the river. As it happened, however, M. de
Beaujeu and his party did not arrive in time to execute this part of
the plan.
The English were preparing to cross the river, when the French
and Indians reached the defiles on the rising ground, where they
posted themselves, and waited till Braddock's advanced columns
came up. This was a signal for the attack, which was made at first
in front, and repelled by so heavy a discharge from the British, that
the Indians believed it proceeded from artillery, and showed symptoms of wavering and retreat. At. this moment M. de Beaujeu was
killed, and the command devolving on M. Dumas, he showed great
presence of mind in rallying the Indians, and ordered his officers to
lead them to the wings and attack the enemy in flank, while he with
the French troops would maintain the position in front. This order
was promptly obeyed, and the attack became general. The action was
warm and severely contested for a short time; but the English fought
in the European method, firing at random, which had little effect in
the woods, while the Indians fired from concealed places, took aim,
and almost every shot brought down a man. The English columns
soon got into confusion; the yell of the savages, with which the woods
resounded, struck terror into the hearts of the soldiers, till at length
they took to flight, and resisted all the endeavours of their officers to
restore any degree of order in their escape. The rout was complete,
and the field of battle was left covered with the dead and wounded,
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