GEORGE WASHINGTON.

149

CHAPTER LXVIII.

George Washington begins his public career.-His Educa tion and his Character in youth.-He is sent as a Messenger to the French on the Ohio.-Anecdotes of the journey.

1. THE messenger intrusted with this important errand was Georgs

Washington, then scarcely twenty-one years of age. He was a Virginian by birth, and had received no other education than that of the family and the common school. His mind, as it appears, had taken

quite a mathematical turn, and he had early become a surveyor.

2. But he was most distinguished for his excellent moral character. in this respect few young men of his time stood higher. His passions were indeed strong, but he strove to govern and subdue them. At the age of nineteen he had been made an adjutant-general of some troops, raised for the defence of the country against the Indians, and held the rank of major; but he had never been called into service.

3. Such was the person selected by Governor Dinwiddie for an expedition at once difficult and dangerous. Several young men, to whom the commission had been offered, refused it, for want of courage to engage in the undertaking. But Washington was born to save his country, and not solely to seek his own ease and comfort.

4. He set out on his journey from Williamsburg, the capital of Vir ginia, October 31, 1753. He had with him an Indian interpreter, a French interpreter, a guide, and four other persons, two of whom were

CHAP. LXVIII-1. Give some account of Washington. 2. His character? 3. How did his conduct differ from that of several other young men? 4. Whom did he take with him on his journey? From what place did he start?

Indian traders; making, in all, a company of eight men, with their horses, tents, baggage, and provisions.

5. The distance from Williamsburg to the principal fort of the French was about five hundred and fifty miles. They were to pass high and rugged mountains and cross deep rivers. Half the distance, moreover, was through a pathless wilderness, where no traces of civilization had yet appeared, and where, perhaps, none but savages and wild beasts had ever trodden.

6. But danger did not move Washington where duty was concerned He pursued his way, and delivered his letter to St. Pierre, the French conmmander, whom he found at a fort on French Creek, sixty-five miles north of Fort du Quesne. He obtained a reply from the French officer, and returned, having, however, secretly taken the dimensions of the French fort, and collected much useful information.

7. His mission did not prevent a war from breaking out, but it was at least satisfactory to him to know that he had done what he could. He received the thanks of the governor and council of Virginia for his services.

8. Some few anecdotes of this journey are worth relating. On their return homeward, Washington was shot at by a French Indian, but, though the savage was not fifteen paces off, according to Washington's own statement, and probably meant to kill him, not the slightest injury was done him.

9. Again, as they were obliged to cross the rivers on rafts, and in such other ways as they could, and as it was winter, they sometimes narrowly escaped being drowned. In one instance they were wrecked on an island, and obliged to remain there all night; the cold, in the mean time, being so intense that the hands and feet of the guide were frozen.

10. In another instance, while descending a river in a canoe, perplexed by rocks, shallows, drifting trees and currents, they came to a place where the ice had lodged, which made it impassable by water. They were, consequently, obliged to land and carry their canoe across a neck of land for a quarter of a mile or more.

5. How far was he to travel? What country were they to cross? 6. How did Washington perform his task? 7. What of his mission? 8-10. Tell some anecdotes of the journey.

BATTLE AT THE GREAT MEADOWS.

151

CHAPTER LXIX.

Washington and his band of Virginians march against the French.-Battle at the Great Meadows.

1. THE French continuing their aggressions, the British ministry encouraged the colonies, especially Virginia, to arm themselves and resist them in the best way they could. This was in the beginning of the year 1754, two years before the British and French came to an open rupture, in what has usually been called the "French and Indian war."

2. Virginia raised a regiment of two or three companies, of whom Washington was made lieutenant-colonel. The case was thought an urgent one, and, as the chief officers in command did not arrive, nor any aid from the other colonies, though it had been promised, Washington, with his little army, boldly entered the wilderness, and marched against the enemy.

3. On the 28th of May, at a place called the Red Stones, they came up with a party of French and Indians, whom they attacked and defeated, killing ten or twelve, and taking twenty-two prisoners. From the prisoners, Washington learned that the French forces on the Ohio amounted to a thousand regular troops, beside Indians. Nothing daunted, however, he continued his march.

4. At a place called the "Great Meadows," he halted and built a fort, calling it Fort Necessity. Here he waited a long time for troops from the other colonies; but none came, except a company of one hundred independents from South Carolina. The forces now amounted to four hundred men.

5. On the 3d of July, Washington received information that the whole body of French and Indians were marching to attack him. At eleven o'clock they arrived, and commenced their assault. They were met, however, with a bravery that could hardly have been expected from troops so inexperienced.

6. The battle lasted from eleven in the forenoon to eight in the evening. "Scarcely, since the days of Le-on'-i-das and his three hundred deathless Spartans," says Trumbull, in his "Indian Wars," "ha the sun beheld its equal. With hideous whoops and yells, the enemy

CHAP. LXIX.-1. What took place in the year 1754? How long was this before the French and Indian war? 2. What was done by Virginia? What was done by Washington? 8. What happened at Red Stones? 4. What did Washington do at Great Meadows' 5. What happened on the 8d of July? 6. Give Trumbull's description of the battle.

came on like a host of tigers. The woods and rocks and tall tree tops, as the Indians climbed into them to pour down their bullets into the fort, were in one continued blaze and crash of fire-arms.”

7. Nor were the young Virginians idle. Animated by their chief, they plied their rifles with so much spirit that their little fort seemed a volcano in full blast, roaring, and discharging its thick sheets of liquid death. For full nine hours, salamander like, enveloped in smoke and flame, they sustained the shock, and laid two hundred of the enemy on the field.

8. Discouraged by such desperate resistance, Count de Vill'-iers, the French commander, sent in a flag of truce, extolling their gallantry, and offering to treat with them on the most honorable terms. They were to give up the fort, but the troops were to be permitted to march away with all the honors of war, carrying with them their stores and baggage. The terms were accepted, and, accordingly, they left the fort early the next morning.

9. Although the French commander had promised that the Virginia troops should not be molested, they had not retreated far, before a party of a hundred Indians came upon them, and robbed them of a part of their baggage. They soon arrived, however, without any further loss of life, at Williamsburg.

10. A vote of thanks was passed by the legislature to Colonel Washington and his brave companions, and a pistole granted to each of the soldiers; for, although baffled and defeated in their enterprise, they had conducted bravely. Of the three hundred Virginians engaged in the defence of the fort, only twelve had been killed.

7. What of the young Virginians? 8. What of Count de Villiers? 9. What had the French commander promised? What was done by a party of Indians? 10. What was granted to Washington and his men? What is a pistole? ans. A Spanish coin worth about three dollars and sixty cents.

UNION OF THE ENGLISH COLONIES.

153

CHAPTER LXX.

The Union of the English Colonies in 1754.-Attacks upon the French Colonies.-Franklin's eminent services.Braddock's Defeat.

1. The French and Indians continuing their depredations on the

frontiers of the colonies, the

British ministry, without for

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

mally declaring war, en couraged the colonists to de fend themselves, and to unite for the purpose. They accordingly sent delegates, who met at Albany, in 1754, and a plan of union was adopted, not very unlike the present federal constitution.

2. This plan, or system was signed by the agents of Massachusetts, New Hamp shire, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, July 4th, the very

day of Washington's retreat from Fort Necessity. The deputies from Connecticut alone refused to sign it, though some features of the plan were disliked by the colonial assemblies and the members of the councils.

3. Early in 1755, the colonies proceeded to attack the French at four different points-Nova Scotia, Crown Point, Ni-ag'-a-ra, and Ohio River. The expedition against Nova Scotia, under Generals Monckton and Winslow, was completely successful; the whole country was subdued, with the loss of only twenty men.

4. The expedition against Crown Point, on Lake Cham-plain', led by General Johnson of New York, though a failure as to its main object, was yet honorable to the officers and men who were employed in it. In a great battle fought near Whitehall, seven hundred of the French were killed, and three hundred wounded, while the whole loss of the colonies scarcely exceeded two hundred.

CHAP. LXX.-1. What was done by the British ministry? What plan was adopted by the colonies? 2. What agents agreed to this system? 3. What took place in 1755? 4. What of the expedition to Crown Point?