Chapter XII: On General Braddock's Staff

Governor Dinwiddie's Proposition--Washington dissents--Dinwiddie
insists--Washington's Letter--His Rank reduced from Colonel to
Captain--He resigns, and retires to Mount Vernon--The Enterprise
abandoned--A Convention of the Colonies--The King sends General
Braddock with Army--He demands the Services of Washington--Their
Correspondence and Interview--Washington's Motive--On the
Staff--Meeting with his Mother--The March begins--Grand
Spectacle--Braddock's Talk with Dr. Franklin--Underrating Indian
Tactics--Washington disabled by Sickness--Talk with Braddock
about Indians--Army Wagons Useless--Braddock's Temper and Love
of Drink--Good Disciplinarian--Washington's Advice
rejected--Indian Allies--How deserted--What Scarvoyadi
said--Surprised by Indians--Terrible Battle--Washington's
Bravery--Dr. Craik's Word--An Eye-witness--How British
fought--Braddock mortally wounded--Whole Command on
Washington--Retreat--Braddock's Confession--Dies at Fort
Necessity--Burial--Horrible Scenes at Duquesne--Testimony of a
Prisoner--Words of Washington--Letter to his Mother--Letter to
his Brother 211

XIII.

ON THE FRONTIER.

General Dunbar a Coward--Goes into Winter Quarters in
Philadelphia--Assembly meets--Washington's Advice to the
Governor--The Assembly Timid--Washington appointed
Commander-in-chief of Virginia Forces--Failure of the Other
Expeditions--Conference with Fairfax--Headquarters at
Winchester--A Great Scare--Its Funny Termination--Washington's
Appeal to Dinwiddie--Trouble with Captain Dagworthy--Goes to
Boston on Horseback--Meets Miss Phillips in New
York--Honors--His Return--Love in New York--Sudden Alarm calls
him to Winchester--Hurried Steps at Defence--Letter to Loudoun
describing the Condition of Frontier--Appeal to Dinwiddie for
the Terrified People--Indian Atrocities--Dreadful Scenes
described by Washington--Washington Sick Four
Months--Changes 232

XIV.

A RIFT IN THE CLOUD.

Great Need of the Hour--The People Timid--Washington's Mother
again--Another Expedition against Duquesne--Size of the
Army--Goes to Williamsburg--Mr. Chamberlain's Salutation--Stops
to Dine--Meets Mrs. Custis--A Widow Bewitching--Business
done--Returning, stops to see Mrs. Custis--A Treaty of Love--The
New Road Project--Washington opposes it--Elected to House of
Burgesses--Delay--Army moved in September--Braddock's Folly
repeated--Washington overruled--His Prophecy--Major Grant--His
Reckless Course--Conceit of Grant and Forbes--Marching into an
Indian Ambuscade--A Bloody Battle--Defeat of the
English--Retreat--Where was Washington--His Views--Forbes
proposes Winter Quarters--Washington proposes and leads Another
Attack--The Enemy escapes from the Fort--Washington plants Flag
over it--Leaves Force to rebuild--French War ended--Washington
resigns--Goes to Mount Vernon--Testimonial of Officers 249