GTON'S

WASHINGTON'S NARROW ESCAPE.

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last, in spite of all the efforts of the officers to the contrary, they ran as sheep pursued by dogs, and it was impossible to rally them."

This is an interesting remark, like the similar passage in his official report, as it serves to mark the period when Washington must have begun to feel less respect for the regular discipline of the English army than was natural to a boy educated in the colonies. To his brother, writing at the

same time, he says:

"By the all powerful dispensation of Providence I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, though death was levelling my companions on every side of me. We have been most scandalously beaten by a trifling body of men. A feeble state of health obliges me to halt here for two or three days to recover a little strength that I may thereby be enabled to proceed homeward with more ease."

When Colonel Dunbar took command it was still in his power to protect the frontier and to have regained something of the prestige which had been lost. But Dunbar left two Virginia and Maryland companies for this service, and really fled to Philadelphia. The enemy did not pursue. In truth,

the force which had defeated Braddock and massacred his men was not the main force of the French. It was only a detachment of 72 regulars, 146 Canadians, and 637 Indians-855 in all, led by Beaujeu. The commander of Fort Duquesne was despairing

of defending his fort.

Beaujeu prevailed on him to let him try the great experiment which proved so successful. He was himself killed at the beginning of the fight; but not more than seventy of his little force were killed or wounded "On the whole," says Smollett, reflecting the English opinion of the time, "this was perhaps the most extraordinary victory that ever was obtained, and the farthest flight that was ever made."

A curious letter, written to Captain Montour this autumn, shows what was the Indian name for Washington. Here is a chance for the American epic-poet :

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WASHINGTON TO CAPT. MONTOUR.

"WINCHESTER, Oct. 10, 1755Recommend me kindly to our good friend, Monocatoothe, and others. Tell them how happy it would make Conotocaurious to have an opportunity of shaking them by the hand at Fort Cumberland, and how glad he would be to treat with them as brothers of our great king beyond the waters."

In another letter of the same autumn he calls George II. "the best of kings." In another century Thackeray calls him "the old pagan," and "the strutting turkey-cock."

In a sermon preached the same summer by Rev. Mr. Davis, afterwards President of Princeton College, he spoke of Washington's preservation on the day of Braddock's fight, and said: "I cannot but hope Providence has hitherto preserved him in so signal a manner for some important service to his

MR. DAVIS'S PROPHECY.

85

country." His seal, bearing his initials, was found on the battle-field eighty years after. He says himself at the time: "I had four bullets through my coat." Of these facts there can be no question. A statement more romantic, which comes to us in the somewhat rhetorical narrative of Mr. Custis, has probably some foundation in fact. He says when in 1770 Washington visited the Kanawha country a body of Indians met them, commanded by the same chief who led the Indians against Braddock. He says that this Indian maintained towards Washington the most reverential deference. A council fire was lighted, and the chief addressed the Virginians. He said then that at Braddock's fight he bade his men aim at Washington, but that their aim was vain. "A power mightier than we shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle."

Washington himself, in his diary of 1770, speaks of an embassy led by White Mingo, which his party met; but he makes no allusion to the extraordinary speech which Mr. Custis reports at length. Custis received the story from Dr. Craik, who was present on the occasion, and was much impressed by the incident. According to Mr. Custis, Dr. Craik told it to a party of officers on the eve of the battle of Monmouth. No Indian ever made such a speech as Custis puts in the mouth of this unknown savage, whom he miscalls "a sachem." But Craik was a man of truth, and there can be little doubt there was some foundation for the story.

CHAPTER V.

WAR ON THE FRONTIER.

Return to Mount Vernon-Ill Health-Another Campaign-Appointed to Command-Dinwiddie's Displeasure-William Shirley-Journey to Boston-Return-Miss Mary Philipse-War on the Frontier-Lord Loudoun-Mount Vernon Again-Hunting Shirts-Mrs. CustisLove-Letters-A Successful Campaign.

ASHINGTON arrived at Mount Vernon on

WAS

the 26th of July, feeble from sickness, and discouraged to the very heart by the failure of the expedition. He writes a very melancholy letter to his brother Augustine:

"What did I get by going to the Ohio? Why, after putting myself to a considerable expense in equipping and providing necessaries for the campaign, I went out, was sadly beaten, and lost all. Came in, and had my commission taken from me; or, in other words, had my command reduced under the pretence of an order from home. I then went out and volunteered with General Braddock, and lost all my horses and many other things. But this being a voluntary act I ought not to mention it; nor should I, were it not to show that I have been on the losing way ever since I entered the service, which is now nearly two years.

In such a crisis of affairs Governor Dinwiddie convened the Virginia Assembly to devise measures

APPOINTED TO COMMAND.

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for public safety. To the justice of the Virginians it ought to be said, that when danger came upon them they always showed their public spirit. They issued orders at once for raising a regiment of 1,000 men. Washington was proposed as a candidate for the command. His poor mother begged him not to accept it. Washington had refused to ask for it, and he had named the only conditions on which he would take it. But to his mother he writes:

"HONORED MADAM:

"If it is in my power to avoid going to the Ohio again, I shall; but if the command is pressed upon me by the general voice of the country, and offered upon such terms as cannot be objected against, it would reflect dishonor on me to refuse it. And that I am sure must and ought to give you greater uneasiness than my going in an honorable command. Upon no other terms will I accept it. At present I have no proposals made to me, nor have I any advice of such an intention, except from private hands."

1

That very day, however, he received intelligence that Governor Dinwiddie had commissioned him on the very terms which he had dictated. The assembly also had voted three hundred pounds to him and proportionate sums to other officers and to the privates of the Virginia companies in consideration of their gallant conduct and their losses. The pointment of Washington was made simply in deference to the public sentiment of Virginia. Din

Sparks' "Washington," vol. ii.

The ap