be exposed even in their intrenchments to insult and hazard. If the enemy should not be strong enough for this, the whole body would have but little to fear from them, in whatever manner or by whatever road they might march.

Thirdly, if the division escorting the convoy should be directed to march first, they would risk almost every thing, and be ruined if any accident should befal the artillery and military stores; and, lastly, if they should advance on both roads by deposits, they must double their number of guards over the mountains, and distress themselves by victualling them at the places of deposit; in addition to which, they must lose the proposed advantage of stealing a march on the enemy.

Having stated these objections to the plan in contemplation, he then recommended an order of march by Braddock's road, which would bring the whole army before Fort du Quesnę in thirty-four days, with a supply of provisions for eighty-six days.

He at the same time addressed a letter to Major Halket, aid of General Forbes, in which he says, "I am just returned from a conference held with Colonel Bouquet: I find him fixed, I think I may say unalterably fixed, to lead you a new way to the Ohio, through a road every inch of which is to be cut at this advanced season, when we have scarcely time left to tread the beaten track, universally confessed to be the best passage through the mountains.

"If Colonel Bouquet succeeds in this point with the general, all is lost indeed! Our enterprise is ruined, and we shall be stopped at the Laurel Hill this winter; but not to gather laurels, except of the kind which cover the mountains: the southern Indians, will turn against us, and these colonies will be desolated by such an accession to the enemy's strength. These must be the consequences of a miscarriage, and a miscarriage the almost necessary consequence of an attempt to march the army by this route."

Colonel Washington's remonstrances and arguments were, however, unavailing, and the new route was resolved on. His chagrin at this measure, and at the delays resulting from it, was extreme, and was expressed in most anxious letters to M. Fauquier, then Governor of Virginia, and to the Speaker of the House of Burgesses.

To the Speaker, from Fort Cumberland, he says, "We are still encamped here, very sickly and dispirited at the prospect before us. That appearance of glory which we once had in view; that hope, that laudable ambition of serving our country and meriting its applause, are now no more; all is dwindled into ease, sloth, and fatal inactivity. In a word, all is lost if the ways of men in power, like certain ways of Providence, are not inscrutable. But we, who view the actions of great men at a distance, can only form conjectures agreeably to a limited perception; and, being ignorant of the comprehensive schemes

which may be in contemplation, might mistake egregiously in judging of things from appearances, or by the lump. Yet every f-1 will have his notions, will prattle and talk away, and why may not I? We seem, then, in my opinion, to act under the guidance of an evil genius. The conduct of our leaders, if not actuated by superior orders, is tempered with something I do not care to give a name to; nothing now but a miracle can bring this campaign to a hapру issue." He then recapitulated the arguments. he had urged against attempting a new road; and added, "But I spoke all unavailingly; the road was immediately begun, and, since then, from one to two thousand men have constantly wrought on it. By the last accounts I have received, they had cut it to the foot of the Laurel Hill, about thirtyfive miles; and I suppose by this time fifteen hundred men have taken post about ten miles further, at a place called Loyal Hanna, where our next fort is to be constructed.

"We have certain intelligence that the French strength at Fort du Quesne did not exceed eight hundred men the thirteenth ultimo, including about three or four hundred Indians. See how our time has been mispent! behold how the golden opportunity is lost, perhaps never more to be regained! How is it to be accounted for? Can General Forbes have orders for this? Impossible. Will, then, our injured country pass by such abuses? I hope, not. Rather let a full representation of the matter go to

his Majesty; let him know how grossly his glory and interests,and the public money, have been prostituted."

Colonel Washington was soon afterwards ordered to Rays Town, before which time Major Grant had been detached from the advanced post at Loyal Hanna, with a select corps of eight hundred men, to reconnoitre the country about Fort du Quesne. In the night he reached a hill near the fort, where he posted his men in different columns, and sent forward a party for the purpose of discovery. They burnt a log-house near the walls, and returned. Next morning Major Grant detached Major Lewis of Colonel Washington's regiment, with a baggageguard two miles into his rear, and sent an engineer with a covering party, within full view of the fort, to take a plan of the works. In the mean time he ordered the reveillie to be beaten in different places. This parade drew out the enemy in great force, and an obstinate engagement ensued. As soon as the action commenced, Major Lewis left Captain Bullet, of Colonel Washington's regiment, with about fifty Virginians to guard the baggage, and advanced with the utmost speed to support Major Grant. The English were defeated with considerable loss, and both Major Grant and Major Lewis taken prisoners. In this action the Virg nians behaved most gallantly, and evidenced the spirit with which they had been trained. Out of eight officers, five were killed, a sixth wounded, and a seventh taken prisoner, Captain Bullet, who defended the baggage with great reso

lution,

lution, and contributed to save the remnant of the detachment, was the only officer who escaped unhurt. Out of one hundred and sixty-six men, sixtytwo were killed on the spot, and two wounded. This conduct on the part of his regiment reflected high honour on their commander, as well as on themselves, and he received on the occasion the compliments of the general. The total loss in this action was two hundred and seventy-three killed, and forty-two wounded.

It was at length determined that the main body of the army should move from Rays Town, and the general called on the colonels of regiments, each to submit to his consideration a plan of his march. That proposed by Colonel Washington has been preserved, and appears to have been judiciously formed.

They reached the camp at Loyal Hanna through a road said to be indiscribably bad, about the fifth of November; where, as had been predicted, a council of war determined that it was unadvisable to proceed further this campaign. It would have been almost imposible to have wintered an army in that position, they must have retreated from the cold inhospitable wilderness into which they had penetrated, or have suffered immensely, perhaps have perished. Fortunately some prisoners were taken, who informed them of the extreme distress of the fort; the garrison, deriving no support from Canada, was weak, was in great want of provisions,

and