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1753.

Major would not suffer
We found he put in

Either the Major or

CHAPTER the Indian ran forward to a big standing white oak, and II. began loading his gun, but we were soon with him. I would have killed him, but the me. We let him charge his gun. a ball; then we took care of him. I always stood by the guns. We made him make a fire for us by a little run, as if we intended to sleep there. I said to the Major, As you will not have him killed, we must get him away, and then we must travel all night'; upon which I said to the Indian, I suppose you were lost, and fired your gun.' He said he knew the way to his cabin, and it was but a little way. Well,' said I, 'do you go home; and, as we are tired, we will follow your track in the morning, and here is a cake of bread for you, and you must give us meat in the morning.' He was glad to get away. I followed him, and listened, until he was fairly out of the way; and then we went about half a mile, when we made a fire, set our compass, fixed our course, and travelled all night. In the morning we were on the head of Piny Creek."

Arrives at

the Allegany River.

The circumMajor Washington "We fell in with "who had lain in

Gist or me, not We took the felo'clock at night;

Whether it was the intention of the Indian to kill either of them can only be conjectured. stances were extremely suspicious. hints at this incident in his journal. a party of French Indians," says he, wait for us. One of them fired at Mr. fifteen steps off, but fortunately missed. low in custody, and kept him till nine then let him go, and walked all the remaining part of the night without making any stop, that we might get the start so far as to be out of the reach of their pursuit the next day, since we were well assured they would follow our track as soon as it was light." No more was seen or heard of them. The next night, at dusk, the travellers came to the Allegany River, a little above Shannopins, where they expected to cross over on the ice; but in this they were disappointed, the river being frozen only a few yards on each side, and a great body of broken ice driving rapidly down the current.

II.

1753.

Weary and exhausted they were compelled to pass the CHAPTER night on the bank of the river, exposed to the rigor of the weather, making their beds on the snow, with no other covering than their blankets. When the morning came, their invention was the only resource for providing the means of gaining the opposite shore.

crossing the

"There was no way of getting over," says Major Wash- Perils in ington, "but on a raft; which we set about with but one river. poor hatchet, and finished just after sunsetting. This was a whole day's work. We next got it launched, and went on board of it; then set off. But before we were half way over, we were jammed in the ice in such a manner, that we expected every moment our raft would sink, and ourselves perish. I put out my settingpole to try to stop the raft, that the ice might pass by; when the rapidity of the stream threw it with so much violence against the pole, that it jerked me out into ten feet water. But I fortunately saved myself by catching hold of one of the raft logs. Notwithstanding all our efforts we could not get the raft to either shore, but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our raft, and make to it."

This providential escape from most imminent danger, was not the end of their calamities. They were thrown upon a desert island; the weather was intensely cold; Mr. Gist's hands and feet were frozen; and their sufferings through the night were extreme. A gleam of hope appeared with the dawn of morning. Between the island. and the eastern bank of the river, the ice had congealed so hard as to bear their weight. They crossed over with- Reaches a out accident, and the same day reached a trading post recently established by Mr. Frazier, near the spot where eighteen months afterwards was fought the memorable battle of the Monongahela.

trading post.

with Queen

Aliquippa.

Here they rested two or three days, both to recruit themselves and to procure horses. Meantime Major Wash- Interview ington paid a complimentary visit to Queen Aliquippa, an Indian princess, who resided at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogany Rivers. She had expressed

Dec. 31.

CHAPTER dissatisfaction, that he had neglected this mark of respect on his way out. An apology, seconded by the more substantial token of a present, soothed her wounded dignity, and secured a gracious reception.

II.

1753.

Arrives at

Williams

burg.

1754.

Governor Dinwiddie resolves to repel the French.

Major

Washington appointed

to command the troops.

Nothing was heard of Vanbraam and his party. Anxious to hasten back, and report to the governor the result of his mission, Major Washington did not wait for them. With Mr. Gist he recrossed the Alleganies to Will's Creek, and thence proceeded with despatch to Williamsburg, where he arrived on the 16th of January, having been absent eleven weeks.

The intentions and movements of the French being now understood, Governor Dinwiddie thought the occasion demanded prompt and energetic action. He called his Council together, and laid before them Major Washington's journal, and the letter of the French commandant. It was agreed, that the instructions heretofore received from the ministry imposed it as a duty, in case of an invasion of the King's dominions, to repel it by a resort to arms. There was no longer any doubt, that the state of things, anticipated by the ministers, had actually come to pass. It was now time to prepare for the exigency. At the last meeting of the House of Burgesses, the governor had failed in his endeavors to rouse the representatives of the people to a sense of danger, and no funds had been provided for establishing a military force.

Without waiting for the burgesses to convene, the Council advised the immediate enlistment of two hundred men, with directions to march to the Ohio, and build one or two forts there, before the French should be able to descend the river in the spring, as they had threatened to do. An order was issued for raising two companies, of one hundred men each, in the northern counties by voluntary enlistments, or, if that method should prove impracticable, by drafts from the militia. The conduct of Major Washington had hitherto been marked with so much prudence, resolution, and capacity, that he was appointed

to the chief command of these troops, apparently by the CHAPTER unanimous voice of the Council.

To make an impression on the minds of the people, and if possible to work them up to some degree of enthusiasm, and excite their indignation against the invaders, Governor Dinwiddie caused Major Washington's journal to be published. It was copied into nearly all the newspapers of the other colonies. In London it was reprinted, under the auspices of the government, and accounted a document of much importance, as unfolding the views of the French, and announcing the first positive proof of their hostile acts in the disputed territory.

Nothing more was expected from the small military preparations set on foot by the governor and Council, than to take a position on the Ohio before the French should come down the river, and unite with the parties from New Orleans. The command of one of the two companies was given to Captain Trent, who, being acquainted with the frontiers, was sent forward to enlist his men among the traders and back settlers, and ordered to commence with all speed the building of a fort at the Fork of the Ohio, in conformity with the recommendation of Major Washington, who had examined that place, as we have seen, with a view to its military advantages.

II.

1754.

is journal

published.

Alexandria.

February.

At the same time, Major Washington was stationed at Stationed at Alexandria, as a convenient situation for the rendezvous of his men, and for superintending the transportation of supplies and the cannon intended to be mounted in the fort. Lord Fairfax, holding the office of county-lieutenant, which gave him authority over the militia in his neighborhood, was active in procuring enlistments and rendering other services to his young friend. The governor's instructions to the officers bore a warlike aspect. They were to drive away, kill, and destroy, or seize as prisoners, all persons not the subjects of the King of Great Britain, who should attempt to settle or take possession of the lands on the Ohio River or any of its tributaries. These arrangements being made, Governor Dinwiddie

II.

1754.

The gover

nor endeav

ors to ro!!Se the other colonies.

CHAPTER Summoned the legislature to meet at an early day, in order to take into consideration the critical state of affairs, and provide for the safety of the Dominion, as Virginia was at that time denominated. He also wrote letters to the governors of the other provinces, calling on them for aid, and drawing a vivid picture of the common danger, with moving appeals to their patriotism and sense of duty to their sovereign. New York and the New England colonies he desired to send troops towards Canada, and make a feint in that direction, which should prevent the reinforcements at Quebec from marching to the Ohio.

Messengers

sent to the

dians.

These appeals were of little avail; the governors had received no instructions; funds for military objects were not at their disposal; and the assemblies were slow to impose taxes even for the support of their own governments. Some persons doubted the authority of the governor of Virginia to meddle in so grave a matter; others were not convinced, that the French had encroached upon the King's lands; and others regarded it as a national concern, in which the colonies had no right to interfere without direct orders and assistance from the King. If treaties have been violated, said they, it is not for us to avenge the insult, and precipitate a war by our zeal and rashness.

In short, the call was premature, and there was little Southern In- hope of coöperation from the other colonies. Messengers were despatched to the southern Indians, the Catawbas and Cherokees, inviting them to join in repelling a common enemy, who had already engaged in their behalf the powerful nations of Chippewas and Ottowas. Reliance was also placed on the friendship of the Twigtwees, Delawares, and other tribes beyond the Ohio.

Assembly divided as to

of military

When the assembly met, a difference of opinion prethe propriety vailed, as to the measures that ought to be pursued; but operations. ten thousand pounds were finally voted for the defence of the colony, cloaked under the title of an act "for the encouragement and protection of the settlers on the Mississippi." The governor's equanimity was severely tried.

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