was best to be done with his large canoes, provisions, etc. Everything which was not needed was stored in the Hangard and a Sargeant and twenty men (and some sick Indians) were left in charge. He then marched out with his force of about 500 French Canadians and about 400 Indians (the "eleven Indians," mentioned by him as having been set aside by Contrecoeur had been increased to about 400. These were made up from the "Indian nations" which he had brought into Fort Duquesne on June 26th.) He sent out scouts along the trail towards Gist's. These returned in the afternoon and reported that they had been to the road which the detachment of Captain Lewis had opened, but found no one. De Villers expected to find the English force at Gist's, as it had been reported to him several days before that they were there. At daybreak on the 2nd of July the force marched cautiously forward and stopped until the commander could get some positive information as to the location of the English. Scouts were again sent forward along the trail to Gist's. While waiting at this place some Indians came from the Hangard, with a prisoner, whom they had captured. De Villers says, "I examined him, and threatened him with the rope if he offered to impose upon me. I learned that the English had left their post (Gist's) in order to rejoin their fort, and that they had taken back their cannon. Some of our people finding that the English had abandoned their camp, we went thereto, and I sent some men to search it throughout. They found several tools and other utensils hidden in many places, which I ordered them to carry away. As it was late, I ordered the detachment to encamp there." On the morning of July 3rd at daybreak, the French force advanced from Gist's. The weather was bad. It had rained all the night before. But, says De Villers, "I foresaw the necessity of anticipating the enemy in the works he might construct. I even flattered myself that he would be less on his guard in such bad weather." It is interesting to read this account, with Washington's notes, giving the other side of the picture. Washington was fully aware, through his scouts, of all of the moves which were made by the French officer, who was also fully aware, through his scouts, of every move which was made by Washington. It was a game of chess in the open. The French force marched forward all day, in a heavy rain. De Villers says, "I halted at the place where my brother had been assassinated, and saw some dead bodies there yet." When within three-fourths of a league of the English fort, the officers were ordered to march in column "that I might be better able to dispose of them as necessity would require." De Villers gives a complete description of the fight during the day, and says, "The enemy's fire increased towards six o'clock in the evening with more and more vigor than ever, and lasted until eight. As we were all the day under the rain, and as the detachment was tired and the Indians sent me word that they would depart the next day, etc., a cessation of hostilities was proposed to the English, and a captain came to speak to us. The conditions of capitulation were accepted. (They are annexed)." De Villers reported that the "English have had 70 or 80 men killed or mortally wounded, and many others slightly. The Canadians have had 2 men killed, Desprez, Junior, and the Panis, belonging to Mr. Pean, and 70 wounded, two whereof are Indians." (Archives of Penna. Second Series, VI. 168-170). On July 4th, 1754, Washington's little army of tired, hungry and disheartened soldiers marched out of the Great Meadows on their way to Wills Creek, which was seventy miles away. They had to carry everything which they took with them, even the sick and wounded, over poor roads which had been made worse by the heavy rains. Twenty-two years later the Fourth of July had a different meaning to Washington. But, he was prepared for the winter at Valley Forge by this weary journey from Fort Necessity. The Indian allies with De Villers were Nippissings and Algonquins from Canada. When the French force advanced from Gist's they did not wish to proceed, but finally when they saw that some of the "other Nations" were going, they went along. One reason for De Villers requesting the cessation of hostilities, which led to the capitulation of Washington, was that all of his Indians were going to leave him the next day. This would have reduced his force to 500 Frenchmen. The French desertion of Fort Duquesne, in 1758, was due to the desertion of the Indian allies. This same condition might have resulted at Fort Necessity, had Washington been aware of the real situation of the French force, which was also nearly out of ammunition. De Villers did not tarry long in the Great Meadows, as he ex pected that Washington might be reinforced and return. All of the cannon, including the one given to the English by the articles of Capitulation-"they not being able to carry it away"-were destroyed, as was also a quantity of rum, which he did not wish to fall into the hands of the Indians, together with the fortification. He marched away and encamped that night "about two leagues' from the place. On the morning of the 5th they reached Gist's plantation, where the stockade which Washington had built, was demolished. M. de la Chauvignerie was ordered to burn all of the houses in the settlement and round about, including the one which had been built by William Stewart, at Stewart's Crossings (Connellsville), in 1753. They then marched from Gist's and encamped about three leagues to the northwest. On the 6th they marched to Redstone, where the Hangard was burned. On their way down the river they destroyed "all the settlements we found." They reached Fort Duquesne on the afternoon of July 7th. When Washington's force marched out of Fort Necessity, carrying the British Flag with them, the flag of France flew over the continent from the waters of the Potomac and Susquehanna to the Mississippi. The British dominated the narrow strip along the Atlantic, and that was all. There was not left a single trading house or dwelling place of the English west of the blue ridges of mountains. France had its chain of forts connecting the possessions in Canada with the Ohio valley, and, it was only a question of time when this chain would be completed to the possessions on the Mississippi. The prospect for the Anglo-Saxon conquest of the continent was not a bright one. Long Island--The Daughter of Atlantis* BY HENRY ISHAM HAZELTON, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK OME of the old students of history represent Long Island as one of the world's great battlefields. It compares with Armageddon, the most famous of historic fields, and it has in common the fact that, like Armageddon, it has been the scene of conflict through succeeding ages since the dawn of time. Today millions of happy inhabitants pass over its hills and along its highways and shores giving little heed to the landmarks which stand out everywhere to point to the conflict of relentless ages. No other part of the United States bears the signs of so many constant, never-ending, ceaseless changes. Time and again the land has advanced and receded from the Narrows to Montauk Point, has risen and defied Old Neptune and sunk again beneath his mastering power. Those who give thought to the meaning of the struggle think these changing sands may be a straggling remnant of the army of Atlantis, which was overthrown by that monarch's power centuries ago, or perhaps a daughter of that lost continent, for Plato's age-old story is believed more and more today, as science proves the mutability of earthly things. Thick meadows underlie the battle line along the Atlantic shore. Each layer of grass grew in the sunlight at high-tide level and was forced down, as the shore sank, trampled out of sight by the furious onsets of Old Neptune's forces. Some of the sod, uprooted as the battle-charge turned the outer defense line back upon itself, has disclosed the imprint of cloven hoofs, whether of deer, bison, or other species, nobody today can tell. Some of the sod contains fresh water plants. Swamps and forests stood where the sea holds sway as tree stumps prove when found from time to time. *Mr. Hazelton is the historian chosen by "The Evening World," of New York, to present the story of Long Island history through The "World's" pages. The project having been discontinued by that journal it was revived by the Lewis Historical Publishing Company, through whose courtesy this section is here presented. (Ed.) |