Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

158

A PRELUDE TO UNION.

P'T. II. Unable to continue his retreat, from a failure of exP'D. III. pected munitions, he entrenched his little army within CH. IV. Fort Necessity. A party of fifteen hundred French, soon followed and assaulted the entrenchments. After a brave resistance, Washington surrendered the fort; receiving for the garrison, the honors of war.

1754.

July 3.

Attempt

CHAPTER IV.

Congress at Albany.-Convention of governors in Virginia.—

Braddock.

1. THE British government, in prospect of war, proposed to their American colonies, to form a union. to unite. Delegates from each of the New England provinces, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, accordingly met at Albany. After deliberating, they accepted a 1754. plan of confederation, which was drawn up by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, on the 4th of July, 1754. This was just twenty-two years before that great statesman signed the Declaration of Independence.

Plan

2. But the plan was disliked in England, because it gave too much power to the people; and in America, because it gave too much power to the king. Thus neither was shown how widely different, even at that period, party. were the views of the British and the Americans.

suits

dock as

It

was this difference of opinion, which finally led to the American Revolution.

3. General Braddock was dispatched from England Brad- with fifteen hundred men. On his arrival in America, sembles he requested a convention of the colonial governors to assemble in Virginia, to concert with him a plan of

the gov

ernors.

17. Why did he stop at Fort Necessity? What happened at the fort ?

CHAPTER IV.-1. What proposal was made by the British government? What was done in consequence? What plan did the delegates accept?-2. How was it received in England? How in America? What did this show? What did it lead to? 3. How many men were now sent over? Under whom? What did he request?

BRADDOCK'S RASH CONDUCT.

159

military operations. Four expeditions were here re- p’T. II. solved upon, the first, against Nova Scotia, the P'D. III. second, against Fort du Quesne, the third, against CH. IV. Crown Point, and the fourth, against Niagara.

4. The expedition against Nova Scotia was commanded by generals Monckton and Winslow. The fleet which conveyed the troops, sailed from Boston. The army distinguished themselves by bravery and good conduct, and with the loss of only three men, put the British in full possession of Nova Scotia.

June 10, Brad

dock's

army begin their

5. General Braddock commanded the expedition against Fort du Quesne. On his arrival, he engaged 1755. Washington, now a colonel, to become his aid. By his advice, Braddock, in marching his army across the wilderness, left his heavy baggage behind, under the care of Colonel Dunbar, with an escort of six hundred men; and at the head of twelve hundred select troops, he proceeded by more rapid marches, towards Fort du Quesne.

march.

dock

6. Braddock was not deficient in courage, or military skill; but he was wholly ignorant of the mode of conducting warfare in American woods; and he Bradheld the opinions of the colonial officers in contempt. contemns Washington had, however, ventured to suggest the ex- and dispediency of employing the Indians; who, under the regards Half-king, had offered their services, as scouting, and advanced parties. Braddock not only disdained the advice, but offended the Indians by the rudeness of his manner. Thus he rashly pushed on, without knowing the dangers near.

7. It was noon, on the 9th of July, when from the height above the right bank of the Monongahela, Washington looked back upon the ascending army, July 9. which, ten miles from Fort du Quesne, had just crossed the stream for the second time. Every thing looked of Bradmore bright and beautiful, than aught he had witnessed army.

3. What expeditions did this convention agree on?-4. Give an account of that against Nova Scotia? -5. Who commanded the second expedition? In what capacity did Washington accompany him? What measures did he take by Washington's udvice? --6. What can you say of Braddock? What wholesome advice had he, which he despised?-7. How did Braddock's army appear to Washington, on the morning of July 9th?

Fine ap

pearance

dock's

160

PROVIDENTIAL PRESERVATION.

PT. II. before. The companies, in their crimson uniform, with burnished arms and floating banners, were marching gaily to cheerful music, as they entered the forest.

P'D. III.
CH. IV.

8. Suddenly there burst upon them the Indian warwhoop, and a deadly fire, from opposite quarters, and from unseen foes. Many fell. Panic-stricken, their ranks broke, and they would have fled, but Braddock They fall rallied them; and, a bigot to the rules of European Indian warfare, he constantly sought to preserve a regular cade. order of battle. Thus he kept his men, like sheep

into an

ambus

penned in a fold, fair marks for a foe, beyond their reach; and, in the only spot, where the Indians, far inferior in numbers, could have destroyed them. They lay on each side of the way, concealed in two ravines.

9. The Indians, singling out the officers, shot down every one on horseback, Washington alone excepted. He, as the sole remaining aid of the general, rode by Wash turns over every part of the field, to carry his orders. ington's The Indians afterwards asserted, that they had specially ful pres- noticed his bearing, and conspicuous figure, and reervation. peatedly shot at him; but at length they became con

wonder

Braddock

vinced that he was protected by an Invisible Power, and that no bullet could harm him. After the battle was over, four balls were found lodged in his coat. Two horses had been killed under him; but the appointed guardian of his country, escaped without a wound.

10. Braddock, who had been undismayed amidst continued showers of bullets, at length received a morkilled. tal wound. Upon his fall, the regular troops fled in cers, 600 confusion. Washington formed, and covered their privates. retreat with the provincials, whom Braddock, in his

64 offi

contempt, had kept in the rear. The defeat was total; sixty-four officers out of eighty-five, and nearly half the privates, were killed or wounded.

11. The army made no halt till it met the division

2. How was the scene reversed? What was Braddock's conduct? Where were the Indians concealed ?-9. What is very remarkable concerning Washington during this battle? — 10. What was the fate of Braddock? What was the condition of the army? What the loss?

DIESKAU'S Reverse.

161

P'D. III.

under Dunbar, forty miles in the rear. There, Brad- PT. 11. dock died. The whole army continued to retreat till it reached Fort Cumberland, one hundred and twenty cH. v. miles from the place of action. Colonel Dunbar, with- Dunbar drew the regulars to Philadelphia, leaving the whole in com frontier of Virginia open to the depredations of the mand.

French and Indians.

CHAPTER V.

Remainder of the campaign of 1755.-Campaign of 1756.

June,

and

1. THE troops destined for the third expedition against Crown Point, amounted to more than four 1755. thousand. They arrived at Albany the last of June, Johnson under the command of General William Johnson, and Lyman. General Lyman. Here they were joined by a body of Mohawks, under their sachem, Hendrick.

2. Lyman advanced with the main body of the army, and erected Fort Edward, on the Hudson, for the secu- Erect Ft. rity of the batteaux, provisions, and artillery; which Edward. were forwarded from Albany, by Johnson. Towards the last of August, Johnson removed his force, and encamped at the south end of Lake George. Here he was engaged in preparing to cross the lakes.

Baron

Dieskau

attacks

feats a detach

3. In the mean time, the Baron Dieskau led against this force, an army from Montreal. He encountered and dethe Americans near their camp, and was at first successful; but the fortune of the day changed. His army was defeated and fled; and himself, pale, and bleeding with mortal wounds, was found, sitting against a tree in the woods.

11. Describe the retreat of the army?

CHAPTER V.-1. What was the third expedition of the campaign? How many troops ? Where were they on the last of June? Under whose command? Who joined them? -2. In what direction did the two divisions of the army move?-3. Who commanded the French army? Give an account of his operations.

ment.

Is defeat

ed by the

main

body.

162

P'D. III.

THE BEST TITLE, A GOOD CHARACTER.

PT. II. 4. Johnson, in representing this affair to the British, made no mention of General Lyman, but obtained for CH. V. himself £5,000, and a baronetcy. The public impresJohn- sion was, that the reward belonged, at least, equally to son's ho- Lyman.

nors tar

The re

nish his 5. The poor dispirited remains of Dieskau's army charac- halted at French mountain, where they were, the next ter. day, cut off by a detachment from Fort Edward. Their dead bodies were thrown into a small lake, since called mains of the Bloody Pond." May the time soon come, when French the pure waters of our mother earth, shall no longer destroy be dyed by the blood of her children, barbarously shed ed. by each other's hands!

the

Sir Wm.

6. The success at Lake George revived the spirits of the colonies; but Sir William Johnson, did not follow up his success, by proceeding to reduce Crown Johnson Point; but he erected, at the scene of his exploit, on the southern shore of Lake George, a fort, which he paign. called William Henry. (Leaving six hundred men, to garrison the forts, the remainder of the troops returned to their respective colonies.)

wastes

the cam

1755.

7. The enterprise against Niagara was undertaken by Governor Shirley in person. He did not arrive at Oswego until the 21st of August, and he there waited Aug. 21 for supplies until the season was too far advanced for Shirley crossing Lake Ontario. Leaving seven hundred men, under Colonel Mercer, to garrison the fort, he returned paign. to Albany, and so ended the fourth expedition.

loses the

cam

8. By the destruction of Braddock's army, the frontiers of Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were left to the mercy of the savages. Washington, at the head of his 1756. Indians regiment, did his utmost to defend them; and he strenuavage ously urged that offensive measures should be again Pa. adopted, and especially against Fort du Quesne, which he knew was their place of gathering.

Va. and

4. Who gained money and a title, but lost in character ? -5. What became of the remains of the French army?-6. Did Sir William Johnson follow up his success? What disposition was made of the army?-7. What happened in regard to the fourth expedition?-8. What after these failures, was the condition of the frontier states?

« ZurückWeiter »