ment.

The Indians offering themselves as guides, Colonel Washington set out in a dark rainy night,

in

my proceedings to his honour the governor, I determined to prosecute my journey the nearest way through the woods on foot.

Accordingly, I left Mr. Vanbraam in charge of our baggage, with money and directions to provide necessaries from place to place for themselves and horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in travelling.

The

I took my necessary papers, pulled off my clothes, and tied myself up in a watch-coat. Then, with gun in hand, and pack on my back, in which were my papers and provisions, I set out with Mr. Gist, fitted in the same manner, on Wednesday the 26th. day following, just after we had passed a place called Murdering Town, (where we intended to quit the path, and steer across the country at Shannapins Town), we fell in with a party of French Indians who had lain in wait for us.

One of them fired at Mr. Gist or me, not fifteen steps off, but fortunately missed. We took this fellow into custody, and kept him till about nine o'clock at night; 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 that they would follow our track as soon as it was light. The next day we continued travelling till quite dark, and got to the river, about two miles above Shanna pins. We expected to have found the river frozen, but it was not, only about fifty yards from each shore: the ice I supposed had broken up above, for it was driving in vast quantities."

There was no way for getting over but on a raft, which we set about with but one poor hatchet, and finished just after sun-setting.

in the course of which he surrounded and completely surprised the French encampment, which was but a few

This was a whole day's work: we next got it launched; then went on board of it and 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 to sink and ourselves to perish. I put out my setting-pole 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 on one of the raft logs. Notwithstanding all our efforts, we could not get to either shore; but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our raft and make to it.

The cold was so extremely severe, that Mr. Gist had all his fingers and some of his toes frozen; and the water was shut up so hard, that we found no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice in the morning, and went to Mr. Frazier's. We met here with twenty warriors, who were going to the southward to war. But coming to a place on the head of the Great Kanawa, where they found seven people killed and scalped, (all but one woman with very light hair,) they turned about and ran back, for fear the inhabitants should rise and take them as the authors of the murder. They report that the bodies were lying about the house, and some of them much torn and eaten by the hogs. By the marks which were left, they say they were French Indians of the Ottoway nation, &c. who did it.

As we intended to take horses here, and it required some time to find them, I went up about three miles to the mouth of Yohogany, to visit Queen Aliquippa, who had expressed great concern that we passed her in going to the fort. I made her a present

few miles west of the Great Meadows. About daybreak his troops fired and rushed upon the French, who immediately surrendered; one man only escaped; and M. Jumonville, the commanding officer of the party, was the only person killed.

of a watch-coat and a bottle of rum; which latter was thought much the better present of the two.

Tuesday, the 1st of January, we left Mr. Frazier's house, and arrived at Mr. Gist's, at Monongahela, the 2d, where I bought a horse, saddle, &c.

The 6th we met seventeen horses loaded with materials and stores for a fort at the Forks of Ohio, and the day after some families going out to settle. This day we arrived at Willis's Creek, after as fatiguing a journey as it is possible to conceive; rendered so by excessive bad weather. From the first day of December to the fifteenth, there was but one day on which it did not rain or snow incessantly; and throughout the whole journey we met with nothing but one continued series of cold wet weather, which occasioned very uncomfortable lodgings; especially after we had quitted our tent, which was some screen from the inclemency of it.

On the 11th I got to Belvour, where I stopped one day to take necessary rest, and then set out and arrived in Williamsburg the 16th; when I waited upon his honour the governor with the letter I had brought from the French commandant, and to give an account of the success of my proceedings. This I beg leave to do by offering the foregoing narrative, as it contains the most remarkable occurrences which happened in my journey.

I hope what has been said will be sufficient to make your honour satisfied with my conduct; for that was my aim in undertaking the journey, and chief study throughout the prosecution of it.

The

The residue of the regiment was now on its way to join the detachment advanced in their front. On the march Colonel Frye died at Paterson's Creek, and the command devolved on Colonel Wafhington. Their junction was effected at the Great Meadows; soon after which two independent companies of regulars arrived at the same place, the one from South Carolina, and the other from New York, making in the whole, for the Virginia regiment was not complete, somewhat less than four hundred effective men. The regular captains objected to being commanded by a provincial officer; but, under exifting circumstances, the dispute about rank was waved for the moment, and the command rested with Colonel Washington. A small stockade, afterwards called Fort Necessity, was erected at the Great Meadows, for the purpose of securing the provisions from horses; after which the troops commenced their march towards Fort du Quesne, with the intention of dislodging the French from that place. They had proceeded to the westernmost foot of the Laurel Hill, about thirteen miles from Fort Neceffity, when intelligence was received which terminated their march. They were there met by some friendly Indians, who informed them that the enemy was rapidly advancing as numerous as the pigeons in the woods. Among those who brought this information was a very trusty chief, who had left the fort on the Ohio' only two days

before,

before, where he had seen a considerable reinforcement arrive, and had heard the intention declared of marching immediately to attack the English, with a corps composed of eighteen hundred French; and four hundred Indians. This intelligence was corroborated by the information already received from deserters who had come in a few days before, and had assured them that a reinforcement was expected. The troops had been without bread for six days, and had but a very small supply of meat. The enemy could approach within five miles of their position by water, and might either pass them by a road leading through the country some distance from them, so as to cut off all supplies, and starve them into a surrender, or fight them with a superiority of three to one.

In this hazardous situation à council of war was called, and the officers unanimously advised that they should retire to the fort at the Great Meadows, where the two roads united, and the country would not easily admit the passage of an enemy without being perceived. At that place it was intended to remain till reinforcements of men and supplies of provisions should arrive.

In pursuance of this: advice, Colonel Wafhing-ton retired to Fort Necessity, and began a ditch around the stockade. Before it was completed, the enemy, supposed to amount to fifteen hundred men, under the command of Mons. de Villiers, ap

peared,