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provincial blues, the general about to die expressed the strongest desires to live, in order that he might reward such heroic conduct.

The skill and courage of Washington, now 23 years of age, were the means of saving the remainder of the army by a well conducted retreat. Sixty-four officers out of 85, and 1400 men, about half of the army, were now no more. The rivers flowed with blood, and the woods were loaded with heaps of the dead. General Braddock was removed on a tumbril, and lived to reach the camp at Fort Dunbar, where the severity of his wounds put an end to his life. The whole force of the assailants was computed at 300 men only, who succeeded in taking the artillery, the military stores of the English army, and even the private cabinet of the general, which contained his commission.

Col. Washington received well earned laurels for his skill and heroism on this occasion. The distinguished part he acted placed him in the midst of every danger. Four bullets pierced his clothes. One Indian with his rifle, it is said, shot at him 17 times. Even at that period, many with prophetic eye thought they saw in him the presage of a character, which was one day to be glorious beyond the rest of his contemporaries.

CHAPTER XII.

Relief to the frontiers afforded by Colonel Washington. Battle at Etchoe. Col. Grant's victory. Fort Du Quesne taken. Revolutionary war. British employed the Indians. Pitt oppose the measure. Its inhumanity and impolicy. Massacre of Miss M'Crea. Tories. Battle at Wyoming. Colonels John and Zebulon Butler. Massacre at Kingston. At Wilkesbarre. Success over the Indians. St. Vincent taken by Colonel Clarke, 1779.

Upon the defeat of general Braddock, the Indians assumed new courage. The distress of the country was great. The advanced settlers, leaving their homes and their little all to the power of the enemy, were driven back with their families, in great distress, into the older settlements. Many began to fear even for the sea coasts.

During these scenes of trial, Col. Washington was in the midst of the sufferings and the perils of his countrymen, active in defence, advising the means, and consoling where he had not the power of relieving. It was his plan to carry war to the fire sides of the enemy; and by finding them employment at home to prevent their making their dreadful excursions abroad.

The western Indians generally adopted the plan of the eastern in going in small parties to war. Sometimes, however, it was otherwise; and col. Montgomery, in the battle at Etchoe with the Cherokees, could not boast of a victory, which he dared not pursue. Col. Grant, on the 7th of June, 1761, was more successful over the same powerful tribe. After a severe battle, which lasted 7 hours, the savages began to give way, when fire was set to the town of Etcho, and, all the towns of the middle settlements being reduced to ashes, they sued for peace.

The taking possession of fort Du Quesne in 1760 by col. Washington, when the French set sail for Louisiana, served, however, to diminish the number of Indian depredations. The revolutionary war likewise, which separated the colo

nies from Great Britain, commenced in 1776, which gave a new turn to the tide of events.

The British now endeavored to concilitate the savage tribes, and to engage them in their service. What they had so long condemned in the French nation, the British began themselves to put into practice. Several tribes entered into their service. A member of parliament said, they had a right to all "the means which God and nature had put into their hands." To prevent such horrid sentiments from polluting the nation, Lord Chatham arose in all his majesty, and in a strain of unequalled eloquence, protested against letting loose the savages in America upon their English protestant brethThis speech alone, fraught with benevolence, honor, eloquence and christian feelings will raise to the memory of his illustrious virtues and imperishable monument of fame.

ren.

Of the policy, as well as of the right of employing the cruel and ungovernable savages, even in cases of self defence, doubts may be justly entertained. The several tribes which were employed, during the revolutionary war, as well by the Americans as by the British, did not answer the expectations of either. In cases of extreme sufferings and dangers, when most wanted, they deserted the cause they had agreed to support.

Their employment gave rise to some of the most tragical scenes which imagination can paint, as well in the army of Burgoyne as in that of St. Leger. The case of Miss M'Crea, in 1777, excited sentiments of universal commisseration for her fate, as well as of detestation for those monsters who contributed to the catastrophe.

This young lady, distinguished not less for her amiable qualities than for her beauty, resided at fort Edward, 50 miles north of Albany. A young British officer, Mr. Jones, had paid attention to her with sentiments which neither length of time, nor distance of place could erase from his mind. Before the consummation of vows of mutual attachment and fidelity could be affected, the service of his country called him into Canada, at the commencement of the revolutionary

war.

When General Burgoyne with his army made his appearance within the United States, which proved fatal to him and his followers, he had halted within 3 miles of fort Edward, on which an assault was now meditated. The attack of an army like that, composed of a thousand discordant elements,

not only made up of Hessians and Canadians, but also of numerous frightful savages, might prove fatal alike to all within reach of their arms. All communication with the provincials was forbidden and partook of the nature of treason. The lover was too near the place which contained the richest treasure of his heart not to be affected with the vestiges of his former flame, or to remain unconcerned for her safety. Amidst all the dangers of arrests, love, which is fruitful in expedients, had found means to convey into the fort a letter, which assured her of safety, advised her not to retire, noticed that his interest would procure protection for the family, and that the surrender of the place would only hasten the welcome hour of a legitimate union for life.

The families in the fort, which had no such assurances of favor, nor could contribute to defence, were now retiring in every direction for shelter and safety. The family of the young lady could use no arguments cogent enough to persuade her to go with them. With a servant girl she waited for the moment when her lover should come to convey her away to some peaceful asylum, where the marriage ceremony might be performed, She was even dressed for the wedding, and looking every moment to see the young gentleman appear, to whom she had long since given her heart.

In the mean time, the anxious lover could find no means himself of approaching the fort of an enemy without the imputation of a traitorous correspondence. In this dilemma, he hired an Indian chief to go and bring her away on a horse sent for the purpose. The Indian came to the fort, held up a letter for Miss M'Crea from her lover before her window, which explained what had happened, and gave new assurances of her most perfect safety. Her maid uttered nothing but shrieks and cries at the sight of the terrific savages; but the young lady's faith was as strong as her love. She set out without the least hesitation. They had but 3 miles to go,in order to reach the place of destination. One half of this distance was now passed over in perfect safety. The most pleasant anticipations began to take the place of anxious feelings, now almost come within sight of the expected paradise, to which she deemed herself hastening. Here, they were met by another Indian chief, who had heard of the price offered for bringing her safely to the raptured lover. A dispute now arose, which, by conveying her there, should possess the reward. A violent contention arose between the

savages, and neither would yield in favor of the other. Seeing no end to the dispute, one of the chiefs sunk a hatchet into the head of Miss M'Crea, which brought her to the ground from her horse; and the savages laid the bleeding scalp of this beautiful lady at the feet of her expecting lover. For a time, delirium seized the senses of the young officer, and general Burgoyne hurried away the guilty to punishment.

In 1778, an Indian war raged from the Mohawk to the Ohio river. The great seat of sufferings was that of Wyoming, on each side of the Susquehannah, which was principally settled by emigrants from the state of Connecticut, which laid claims to the territory by right of purchase from the original natives. Troops had been ordered for their aid; but the difficulty of raising enough for the extraordinary calls of that trying period had prevented the execution of the design. The fires of civil discord had begun to kindle. Many of the tories had retired to the English; others had joined even the savages; and were engaged in leading them against their own brethren.

On the first of July, about sixteen hundred Indians, and tories painted like Indians, with Col. Butler at their head, made an assault on the settlement at Wyoming. One of the forts, designedly manned with tories, was soon delivered up without opposition. The fort at Kingston was defended by col. Zebulon Butler. Invited out to a parley, col. Z. Butler with 400 men was led into an ambush by the treachery of his cousin, col. J. Butler, the result of which was, that of the 400, only 20 escaped.

The fort at Kingston was immediately invested. In order to terrify them into a surrender, the green and bleeding scalps of their countrymen were stuck up on poles flying in the wind. Col. Z. Butler with his family having withdrawn down the river, a flag was sent to ask the terms of capitulation. A savage answered in two words, "the hatchet.' Compelled at length to surrender, the savage kept his word. Selecting a few favorites, not one of the rest escaped. Shut up within their houses, a fire was set to them, which ended the catastrophe.

Wilkesbarre fort shared the same fate, except 70 continental soldiers, who were hacked into pieces. During these calamities, about 3000 inhabitants had fled into the older settlements. To prevent their return the Indians destroyed all before them, and burned every house, except those belong

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