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BECOMES SURVEYOR; DEATH OF HIS BROTHER.

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squatters who had settled here and there upon the Fairfax lands and also to give encouragement to other reputable persons to settle there. In March, 1748, accompanied by George Fairfax, Washington set of a surveying party.* came accustomed to the the wilds and even cooked his own meals. He was thoroughly successful in this task, and probably through the influence of Lord Fairfax, secured the position of public surveyor, which position he continued to fill for the next three years to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was shortly after promoted to still higher duties, and

* Lodge, George Washington, vol. i., pp. 54-56. "At the very time of the Congress of Aixla-Chapelle, the woods of Virginia sheltered the youthful George Washington, the son of a widow. Born by the side of the Potomac, beneath the roof of a Westmoreland farmer, almost from infancy his lot had been the lot of an orphan. No academy had welcomed him to its shade, no college crowned him with its honors: to read, to write, and to cipher these had been his degrees in knowledge. And now, at sixteen years of age in quest of an honest maintenance, encountering intolerable toil, this strippling

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surveyor in the woods, with no companions but his unlettered associates, and no implements of service but his compass and chain, contrasted strangely with the imperial magnificence of the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. And yet God had selected, not Kaunitz, nor Newcastle, not a monarch of the house of Hapsburg, nor of Hanover, but the Virginia stripling, to give an impulse to human affairs, and as far as events can depend on an individual, had placed the rights and destinies of countless millions in the keeping of the widow's

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when only nineteen years of age was placed in command of one of the military districts, into which Virginia was divided, in anticipation of trouble with the French along the Ohio. This post was of prime importance and gave him the longed for opportunity, with the rank of major and a salary of £150 a year. It was his duty to attend to the organization and equipment of the militia. As usual he worked with energy and vigor, discharging the duties of his position most satisfactorily.

At this time his brother Lawrence, who had always been in delicate. health, decided that a trip to Barbadoes would be of great benefit, and George was finally persuaded to accompany him. They sailed on September 28, 1751, and as the climate seemed to be of great benefit to Lawrence, George returned early in 1752 to bring out his brother's wife to meet him. This meeting never took place. Lawrence received no permanent benefit from his journey and reached home just in time to die, which event took place July 26, 1752. His brother's death placed another burden upon the shoulders of George, as he became one of his brother's executors, who, in case of his niece's death, was to inherit Mount Vernon. The chief responsibility of managing the estate fell upon George, and in this, as in all other things, he directed the affairs of the estate with

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Lodge, George Washington, vol. i., pp. 58--62.

WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION TO THE OHIO.

conscientiousness

and integrity. While conducting the private affairs of his brother, George received an appointment from Governor Dinwiddie to undertake the errand to the frontier of which we have already spoken." Irving says, "It is true that he was not yet twenty-two years of age, but public confidence in his judgment and abilities had been manifested a second time by renewing his appointment of adjutant-general, and assigning him the northern division. He was acquainted too with the matters in litigation, having been in the bosom councils of his deceased brother. His woodland experience fitted him for an expedition through the wilderness; and his great discretion and selfcommand for negotiation with wily commanders and fickle savages. He was accordingly chosen for the expedition." He therefore set out from Williamsburg on October 31, 1753, but as he did not understand the French language he took with him an old soldier, Jacob Van Braam, to act as interpreter. Arriving at Will's Creek (Cumberland River), November 14, he there fell in with Christopher Gist, with whom he had previously become acquainted, and prevailed upon him to accompany the expedition. Five others were also engaged to accompany the party, and the next day the journey through the

*For text of instructions see N. Y. Col. Docs., vol. x., p. 258.

† Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 79. Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 22-23.

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forests was begun. At Logstown, about twenty miles below the Fork of the Ohio, where the Monongahela and the Alleghany unite, he held a conference with the Indian sachems, finally persuading them to give him an escort to Venango, some seventy miles distant. So inclement was the weather and so obstructed was the pathway through the woods, that Washington did not reach Venango until December 4, and here he found Joncaire, who is styled by Irving a veteran intriguer of the frontier."† Joncaire displayed Joncaire displayed to Washington his ability to deal with the Indians of that vicinity, but at a subsequent entertainment, the French officers imbibed freely of wine and their tongues became so loosened that they revealed to Washington their designs regarding the Ohio.‡ He then set out to meet M. Legardeur de SaintPierre, the French commander at the post about 15 miles south of Lake Erie.

Washington was treated with the courtesy for which the French are famous, but Saint-Pierre informed him, after a day or two of consideration, that it was impossible for him to entertain Dinwiddie's proposal. He said that he had been sent to the post by the authorities in Canada and that he would remain there until removed by the proper authority or forced

Irving, vol. i., p. 82 et seq.

† Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 87. See the Journal of Washington, printed at Williamsburg immediately after his return.

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PROTECTION OF WESTERN SETTLEMENTS

Judging from the tenor of SaintPierre's reply, Dinwiddie concluded that something must be done immediately, if the English were to prevent the French from becoming firmly established in the Mississippi Valley. He therefore requested the Assembly to allow him sufficient funds to organize a force to carry on offensive warfare, but the Assembly did not acquiesce in his demands as promptly as he thought they should under the circumstances. Though some members of the Legislature did not think the English king had a valid title to the lands, £10,000 was voted after a long argument "for the protection of the settlers in the Mississippi," but the bill was clogged with the proviso that commissioners should be appointed to supervise the manner in which this amount was spent.* The other colonies were equally dilatory in providing means, and held out little hope of assistance.† Nevertheless, Dinwiddie, with the means at his disposal, increased the military force to six companies and placed Colonel Joshua

back by hostile troops.* While at the fort, Washington was not idle, but obtained all the information possible regarding the strength, purpose and plans of the French; using his eyes, he was able to bring away an accurate description of the fort, its size, construction, cannon and barracks.† On December 15 Saint-Pierre gave him his reply to Dinwiddie, and he prepared to return as soon as possible. He arrived at Venango on the 22d, and three days later set out by land on his route homeward. All the various experiences through which he passed on this journey we cannot here recount; the history of that journey has been told by his biographers, and particularly well by Irving. Washington finally reached Williamsburg on January 16, 1754, concluding an expedition which Irving says, "may be considered the foundation of his fortunes: from that moment he was the rising hope of Virginia."|| His journal, which was subsequently printed in Williamsprinted in Williamsburg, aroused the attention of both England and the colonies to the necessity of prompt measures in dealing pedition is in Sparks' edition of his works, vol. pp. 132-136. Washington's journal of this exwith the situation.§

* Doyle, Colonies under Hanover, pp. 432-433; Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 26-27.

Sparks, Life of Washington, p. 27; Lodge, George Washington, vol. i., p. 65.

Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 90 et seq. || Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 106. See Marshall's Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 461. See also Bancroft, vol. ii., pp. 378-381; Sparks, Life of Washington, p. 28 et seq.; Morris, Discoverers and Explorers of America, pp. 263272; Parkman, Conspiracy of Pontiac, vol. i., pp. 97-99; Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i.,

ii., pp. 432-447, and a reprint will be found in Winsor's Narrative and Critical History, vol. v., p. 572. Gist's journal is in Massachusetts Historical Collections, 3d series, vol. v., pp. 101-108. See also T. J. Chapman, Washington's First Public Service, in Magazine of American History, vol. xiv., pp. 249-257.

Bancroft, vol. ii., p. 381. For the bill see Hening's Statutes of Virginia, vol. vi., p. 417. † On these proceedings, and for Dinwiddie's letters see Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i., pp. 136-144; Virginia Historical Society Collections, vol. i., pp. 61-88; Winsor, The Mississippi Basin, pp. 307–309.

WASHINGTON AT GREAT MEADOWS.

Fry in command, giving Washington an office under him as lieutenantcolonel.* In order to stimulate the zeal of the troops, Dinwiddie issued a proclamation granting them 200,000 acres of land on the Ohio, to be free of quit-rents for a period of fifteen. years. Of these lands, 1,000 acres contiguous to the fort at the Fork of the Ohio, were to be laid off as garrison lands for the use of the soldiers during duty. This measure was received with little approbation by the legislature of Pennsylvania, which also considered that it had the right to the lands thus granted away by Dinwiddie.t

An advance party of 41 men, under Captain William Trent, had already been sent to the fork of the Ohio, and had, by advice of Washington, commenced the construction of a fort.‡ Washington, with two companies, set out in April from Alexandria, and arrived at Wills Creek on the 20th.|| Upon his arrival there, he was informed that a large force of French soldiers had driven out his men, and had themselves undertaken to finish the works, which they had named Fort Duquesne in honor of the gov

* Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 111. Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 36-37; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 112.

See the Journal of Captain William Trent, etc., ed. by Alfred T. Goodman (Cincinnati, 1871).

For Washington's instructions from Din. widdle, see Virginia Historical Society Collec tions, vol. i., p. 59, and for Dinwiddie's call for volunteers, Fernow, The Ohio Valley in Colonial Days, p. 97.

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ernor of Canada.* Regarding this as an act of open hostility, Washington held a council of war, and, having despatched messengers to Dinwiddie asking for reinforcements, started out in the direction of the Ohio. When he reached Great Meadows an entrenchment was thrown up, which Washington intended fortifying more carefully, but at this time the French detachment was reported to be near, lurking in concealment, evidently with no good purpose. Washington therefore decided to carry the war to the French, and set out guided by the Indians. He found the French on May 28, in a place surrounded by rocks and trees, where they had erected a few rough cabins for safety from the inclement weather.† Recovered from their first surprise, the French ran to arms, and a sharp skirmish ensued, the shots whistling around the young commander's head, and one of his men being killed at his side. Victory, however, rested with Washington's force. The leader of the French, Coulon de Jumonville, was soon killed with nine others, and the survivors finally yielded.‡ Among the prisoners taken was La Force,

Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 38-39; Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., pp. 114-115; Johnson, General Washington, p. 31.

Lodge, George Washington, vol. i., pp. 70-71; Sparks, pp. 41-43.

See Bancroft, History of the United States, vol. ii., pp. 384-385. See also Fiske, New France and New England, pp. 273-275; Parkman, Conspiracy of Pontiac, vol. i., p. 99; Miles, Canada, pp. 288-290; Winsor, The Mississippi Basin, pp. 309-312.

84

THE AFFAIR WITH JUMONVILLE; FORT NECESSITY.

who was considered to be a very dangerous adversary. All the prisoners were sent to Dinwiddie at Winchester.*

For the death of Jumonville, the French attempted to blame Washington. They asserted that Jumonville was an ambassador and was advancing for the purpose of summoning the English to evacuate the territory claimed by the French, upon this premise advancing the theory that Washington was an assassin as he had disregarded the protection due to an ambassador. As it turned out, however, a letter of instruction was found on the body of Jumonville, ordering him to ascertain everything he could about the country and the plans of the English, reporting to the commander at Fort Duquesne.† As Washington said, "Instead of coming in the public and open manner of ambassadors, the party of Jumonville came secretly; they sought out the most hidden retreats, and remained concealed whole days within five miles of us. After sending out spies to reconnoitre our position, they retreated two miles, from whence they sent messengers to M. Contrecœur with the results of their reconnoissance." Lodge says, " They were seeking to surprise the English, when the English surprised them, with the usual backwoods result."

seq.

*Irving, Life of Washington, vol. i., p. 124 et

† Ibid, p. 126 et seq.

Irving most completely exonerates Washington from any blame in regard to Jumonville's death. The reader should also examine the ac

At Wills' Creek the command of the forces fell upon Washington, through the sudden death of Colonel Fry. Washington's position was now extremely perilous; the French force was much larger than his own, and his provisions and ammunition were running very low. At Great Meadows Washington erected Fort Necessity, and leaving Captain Mackay in charge of the South Carolina company at the fort, Washington advanced toward Fort Duquesne. But he had not gone far from the fort when he was attacked by the French and Indians, to the number of 1,500, and finally compelled to retreat. He made a spirited stand for some hours at Fort Necessity, but at last capitulated.* The next morning, July 4, 1754, he began the return journey to Wills' Creek, where his men were recruited, and where also he began the construction of Fort Cumberland.† While unsuccessful in

count given by Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 43-45; by Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i., pp. 144-150; by Bradley, The Fight with France for North America, pp. 66-69; by Hildreth, vol. ii., p. 442; by Mante, History of the Late War in North America, p. 13; Lodge's George Washington, vol. i., pp. 71-73; and Washington's reports in Virginia Historical Society Collections, vol. i., p. 171 et seq.; Howe's Historical Collections of Virginia, pp. 92-95.

The terms are given in Miles, History of Canada, p. 497; and in Pennsylvania Archives, vol. ii., pp. 146-147. See also Sparks, Life of Washington, pp. 48-53; Johnson, General Washington, pp. 32-33.

Parkman, Montcalm and Wolfe, vol. i., pp. 151-161, and authorities there cited, especially the letter of Col. Innes in Colonial Records of Pennsylvania, vol. vi., p. 50, the letter of Adam Stephen, in Pennsylvania Gazette, 1754, the

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