CHAPTER III. 1754. came out tile inten It is true that Jumonville was the bearer of a summons; but this was unknown to Colonel Washington, nor did the mode in which the former approached the English camp indicate that he came on an errand of peace. He was at Jumonville the head of an armed force, he sent out spies in advance, with a hosconcealed himself and his party two days in an obscure tion. place near the camp, and despatched messengers with intelligence to his commander at the fort. These were strong evidences of a hostile intention; and, had Colonel Washington not regarded them in that light, he would have been justly censurable for ignorance or neglect of duty. mons not The summons itself was by no means conciliatory, The sumand if Colonel Washington had actually known, that the conciliatory. French officer had such a paper in his pocket, he could not properly do otherwise than he did, under the circumstances in which M. de Jumonville chose to place himself. It warned the English to retire below the Alleganies, and threatened compulsory measures if it should not be obeyed. The presumption was, that the summons was only a feint, in case the party should be captured, and that Jumonville was to remain concealed, and wait for reinforcements, after he had reconnoitred the English camp, and ascertained its strength. If such were not the object, the consequences are justly chargeable on the indiscretion of M. de Jumonville in the extraordinary mode of conducting his enterprise.* of that period. By the politeness of an individual in England, who had in his possession the letter books and private papers of Governor Dinwiddie, I was permitted to inspect those papers, and to have copies taken. Among them were the original letters of Colonel Washington, written at the time, respecting the skirmish with Jumonville, and the principal incidents of the campaign. * In Horace Walpole's Memoirs of George the Second is the following passage. "In the express which Major Washington despatched on his preceding little victory, (the skirmish with Jumonville,) he concluded with these words, 'I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound.' On hearing of this the King said sensibly, He would not say so, if he had been used to hear many.' However, this brave braggart learned to blush for his rhodomontade, and, desiring to serve General Braddock as aid-de-camp, CHAPTER 1754. Complaints of the ofli cers, and Washing ton's re marks on them. Endeavors to calm their feelings. The labors and dangers of the field were not the only troubles, with which Colonel Washington at this time had to contend. By an ill timed parsimony, the pay of the officers was reduced so low, as to create murmurs and discontent throughout the camp. Complaints grew loud and vehement, accompanied with threats to resign and leave the army to its fate. Under this pressure the character of Washington shone with the same purity and lustre, that often distinguished it afterwards on similar trying occasions. In his letters to the governor he assumed a firm and manly tone, demanded for himself and his associates an allowance equal to that received by the King's troops, and deprecated the idea of being placed upon a footing, which should imply an inferiority in rank, or in the value of their services. While he took this high stand, in defending the just claims of the officers, he endeavored to calm their feelings, and reconcile them to their condition, by appeals to their honor and the obligations of duty. "I have communicated your sentiments to the other officers," said he acquitted himself nobly." Vol. I. p. 347. The original despatch com- The Memoirs of Horace Walpole, Earl of Orford, quoted above, are understood to have been written near the time of the events, but they were not published till after his death. The Editor remarks, in a note on the word braggart, "It is wonderful, that Lord Orford should have allowed this expression to remain, after he had lived to witness and admire the subsequent career of that great man General Washington." It may be added, that it was not by his own desire, but at the solicitation of General Braddock, that Washington joined him as aid-de-camp. III. 1754. to the governor, "and, as far as I could put on the hy- CHAPTER pocrite, set forth the advantages that may accrue, and advised them to accept the terms, as a refusal might reflect dishonor upon their character, leaving it to the world to assign what reason it pleases for their quitting the service." And again; "I considered the pernicious consequences that would attend a disunion, and was therefore too much attached to my country's interests to suffer it to ripen." In this way he concealed his uneasiness, and tranquillized the minds of his officers, although he felt the wrongs they suffered, and approved the spirit that would not tamely submit to them. As to himself, it was not so much the smallness of the pay, that gave him concern, as the indignity and injustice of having his services estimated at a lower rate, than in the British establishment, when in reality no service could be more severe and hazardous, or less promising of glory, than the one in which he was engaged. "Now if we could be fortunate enough," said he, "to drive the French from the Ohio, as far as your Honor would please to have them sent, in any short time, our pay will not be sufficient to discharge our first expenses. I would not have you imagine from this, that I have said all these things to have our pay increased, but to justify myself, and to show you that our complaints are not frivolous, but founded on strict reason. For my own part, it is a matter almost indifferent, whether I serve for full pay, or as a generous volunteer. Indeed, did my circumstances correspond with my inclinations, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter; for the motives that have led me here are pure and noble. I had no view of acquisition, but that of honor, by serving my King and country.” In this declaration, uttered in the sincerity of his heart, we perceive the principles, the eminent virtues, that dictated every act of his public life. Appointed Colonel of Colonel Fry having died suddenly at Will's Creek, while on his way to join the army, the chief command the Virginia devolved on Colonel Washington. Recruits were brought regiment. III. 1754. CHAPTER forward by Major Muse. The North Carolina troops, to the number of about three hundred and fifty, led by Colonel Innes, arrived at Winchester. The governor was then in that town, holding a council with Indians, and he appointed Innes commander of the expedition, but confirmed Colonel Washington's command of the Virginia regiment. Colonel Inues. Captain Detachment of the French expected. Indians join the camp. The appointment of Innes was an unpopular measure in Virginia, as he was from another colony; and the governor was accused of partiality for an old friend and countryman, both he and Innes being Scotchmen by birth. No ill consequences ensued. Neither Colonel Innes nor his troops advanced beyond Winchester. To promote enlistments the men were extravagantly paid; and, when the money raised by the Assembly of North Carolina for their support was expended, they dispersed of their own accord. An Independent Company from South Carolina, consisting of one hundred men under Captain Mackay, arrived at the Great Meadows. Two companies from New York landed at Alexandria, and marched to the interior, but not in time to overtake or succor the army in advance. It was foreseen by Colonel Washington, that, when the French at Fort Duquesne should get the news of Jumonville's defeat, a strong detachment would be sent out against him. As a preparation for this event, he set all his men at work to enlarge the entrenchment at the Great Meadows, and erect palisades. To the structure thus hastily thrown up he gave the name of Fort Necessity. The Indians, who leaned to the English interest, fled before the French and flocked to the camp, bringing along their wives and children, and putting them under his protection. Among them came Tanacharison and his people, Queen Aliquippa and her son, and other persons of distinction, till between forty and fifty families gathered around him, and laid his magazine of supplies under a heavy contribution. It may be said, once for all, that the burden of supporting these sons of the forest during III. this campaign, and the perplexities of managing them, CHAPTER were by no means counterbalanced by any advantage derived from their aid. As spies and scouts they were of 1754. some service; in the field they did nothing. with Cap The forces at the Great Meadows, including Captain Difficulties Mackay's company, had now increased to about four hun- tain Mackay. dred men. But a new difficulty arose, which threatened disagreeable consequences. Captain Mackay had a royal commission, which in his opinion put him above the authority of Colonel Washington, who was a colonial officer, commissioned by the governor of Virginia. He was a man of mild and gentlemanly manners, and no personal differences interrupted the harmony between them; but still he declined receiving the orders of the colonel, and his company occupied a separate encampment. At this crisis, when an attack was daily expected, and when a perfect union of design and action was essential, such a state of things was so unpropitious, that Colonel Washington wrote earnestly to the governor to settle the controversy by a positive order under his own hand. The governor hesitated, because he was not sure, that Captain Mackay's pretensions were inconsistent with the rule adopted by the ministry, namely, that all officers with King's commissions should take rank of those commissioned in the colonies. vances from sity. To avoid altercation, and prevent the contagious example Army adof disobedience from infecting the troops, Colonel Wash- Fort Necesington resolved to advance with a large part of his army, and, if not obstructed by the enemy, to go on by the shortest route to the Monongahela River. Captain Mackay's company was left at Fort Necessity, as a guard to that post. The road was to be cleared and levelled for artillery carriages; and the process was so laborious, that it took two weeks to effect a passage through the gorge of the mountains to Gist's settlement, a distance of only thirteen miles. The Indians were troublesome with their speeches, councils, and importunities for presents, particularly a party from the interior, who feigned friendship, but |