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CHAPTER XXI

FRANKLIN'S SERVICES ΤΟ BRADDOCK

GNADENHUTTEN

AND THE FRONTIER-INCIDENTS AND SENTIMENTS— NEW MILITARY ORGANIZATION— GOVERNOR

GOLD

DENNY

MEDAL-LORD LOUDON FRANKLIN SENT TO

ENGLAND AS AGENT FOR THE PROVINCE.

IN the spring of 1755, Franklin signalized his personal influence, ability, and public spirit, in another branch of the public service. General Braddock, of unfortunate memory, had arrived early that spring, at Alexandria, Virginia, with two regiments of regular troops from England, and had advanced to Fredericktown, Maryland, where he encamped to wait for teams, which he had sent out agents to collect, in the back settlements of Maryland and Virginia, for the purpose of conveying provisions and other stores for the troops on their march to the frontier. The Pennsylvania Assembly having some reason to suppose that Braddock had been led, by false representations, to misconceive their disposition to promote the public service, were anxious to disabuse his mind on that point, and for this purpose desired Franklin to pay him a visit. He was to go, however, not ostensibly as their agent, but as the head of the colonial postoffice department, in order to concert arrangements for expediting the general's official correspondence with the public authorities of the adjacent colonies, and the expenses of which they would defray.

Franklin, who promptly undertook the mission, found

VISIT TO BRADDOCK.

285

Braddock at Fredericktown, full of impatience for the arrival of the much-needed teams; and remaining with him several days, in constant intercourse, was entirely successful in correcting his erroneous impressions respecting the Assembly, by showing him how they had acted, and what they were ready to do, in aid of his plans. As Franklin was on the point of leaving him, Braddock's agents came in, reporting that they had been able to engage but twenty-five teams, and that some even of that small number were poorly fitted for efficient service. This result surprised the general and his officers. They pronounced the expedition wholly impracticable, as at least six times the number reported were indispensable; and they denounced the ministry for their ignorance in ordering them to a country which could furnish no means of conveyance. Franklin took the occasion to express his regret that the troops had not been directed to Pennsylvania, where almost every farmer kept a wagTo this remark Braddock eagerly responded, saying to Franklin, that as he was a man of influence there, he could probably procure the necessary teams, and pressing him to undertake the business. Upon inquiring on what terms the teams were to be raised, Franklin, at the general's request, made a brief statement in writing of such terms as he deemed reasonable; and these being approved, he was forthwith furnished with the requisite authority and instructions, and departed.

on.

On reaching Lancaster, he issued advertisements, dated the 25th of April, 1755, stating that he was empowered to make contracts for one hundred and fifty wagons, with four horses and a driver to each; and for fifteen hundred pack-horses; naming the days on which he would be at Lancaster and York to execute such contracts, and that he had sent his son into Cumberland for the same purpose. To give additional efficacy to his

advertisements, he published an address to the people, appealing to their public spirit, assuring them that the proposed service would be neither burdensome nor hazardous; that the contracts would put in circulation more than thirty thousand pounds, to the great advantage of the community; that the troops sent over the sea for their defence, could not act without the means called for, which, if not furnished by voluntary contract, would be taken by a forced levy, to the great annoyance and injury of the inhabitants; and that he had himself no pecuniary interest in the matter, as he should receive no compensation for his services, except only the satisfaction arising from endeavors to be useful.

Franklin received from Braddock eight hundred pounds, to pay such advances as might become indispensable to secure the object; but this proving too little, he not only paid the further sum of two hundred pounds of his own money, but found himself constrained to back the contracts by giving his own bonds for their performance; the farmers alleging that they knew nothing of Braddock, or how far they could rely on his faith, or means of payment. This was not all. Learning, while at the camp, that the subaltern officers in the expedition were generally in straitened circumstances, and could not afford to supply themselves with many of the stores that might become necessary for their comfort on their march through the forests, Franklin, without imparting his design to any one, wrote to a committee of the Pennsylvania assembly, which had the control of a small fund, stating the condition of the officers in question, and urging the committee to make them a present of supplies of the kind needed. The committee complied so promptly that these stores arrived in camp at the same time with the wagons and pack-horses, and were received with the most grateful acknowledgments. General

CHARACTER OF BRADDOCK.

287

Braddock also expressed his obligations to Franklin for the important services he had rendered, cheerfully repaid his private disbursements, and earnestly requested his further aid in forwarding provisions during the march of his troops to the frontier. Franklin consented, and continued his valuable services, until the expedition terminated in that overwhelming disaster so well known as "Braddock's defeat."

In rendering these services, Franklin not only gave his most efficient personal efforts, but he actually paid out upward of a thousand pounds sterling of his own money. Fortunately for him, his accounts for these advances reached Braddock a few days prior to the disaster referred to, and the general immediately remitted an order on the paymaster of his forces for the round thousand, leaving the balance for another opportunity.

Franklin, who saw a good deal of Braddock, speaks of him in the following terms : “This general was, I think, a brave man, and might probably have made a figure as a good officer in some European war. But he had too much self-confidence, too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops, and too mean a one of both Americans and Indians. George Croghan, an Indian interpreter, joined him on his march with one hundred of those people, who might have been of great use to his army, as guides and scouts, if he had treated them kindly; but he slighted and neglected them, and they gradually left him." Talking of his designs one day to Franklin, he said, “After taking Fort Du Quesne, [where Pittsburg now stands,] I am to proceed to Niagara; and having taken that, to Frontenac, if the season will allow time, as I suppose it will; for Du Quesne can hardly detain me above three or four days; and then I see nothing to obstruct my march to Niagara." To this, Franklin modestly replied: "To be sure, sir, if you arrive well

before Du Quesne with these fine troops so well provided with artillery, the post, though completely fortified, and with a very strong garrison, can probably make but a short resistance. The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your march is from the ambuscades of the Indians, who are dexterous in laying and executing them; and the slender line, nearly four miles long, which your army must make, may expose it to be attacked by surprise on its flanks, and cut like a thread into pieces, which, from their distance, can not support each other." Braddock, with a self-complacent smile, answered, "These sav ages may indeed be formidable to your raw American militia; but upon the king's regular and disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make any impression.”

Such blind self-confidence and lamentable ignorance of the true nature of the service undertaken, as well as of the character of the enemy to be encountered, made all further suggestions useless: they could be cured only by one of those crushing disasters which are their legitimate consequence, and Franklin said no more. But the very first intimation this unfortunate commander had of the presence of "these savages," was the opening of their deadly fire upon him from their ambuscade, which ended in laying upward of seven hundred of his men dead on the field of battle, and in his being himself carried from it mortally wounded; while all that was done in the way of rallying and saving even the wreck of the army, was accomplished by the "raw American militia," commanded by a young American colonel named George Washington. Captain Orme, one of Braddock's aids, severely wounded, was carried from the field with him, and continued near him during the two days he survived. That officer afterward told Franklin that the general remained silent all the first day till night, when he only said, "Who would have thought it?"—that he was again

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