Chapter IX
George Washington speaks
George Washington, the young colonel of colonial troops, was oneof the few men who may truly be said to have taken an active andpatriotic interest in the thirteen States as a whole in those eventfulmonths when Steve and his friends fought Jules Lapon and his Indiansin the forest, or hunted and trapped along the river at the riskof losing their lives. Young though he was, this courtly colonialgentleman, whose name at this day is held in honoured memory byAmericans and Englishmen alike, had already taken an active partin the events which had slowly and insensibly led up to a conflictbetween the French and the English. Steve looked at him as he lolledon the rough wooden form, and could scarce credit the fact that he wasspeaking with George Washington, openly spoken of at that period asthe colony's chief champion, and well known to be one of the first tohave crossed swords with the enemy.
"What do you advise me to do, Colonel?" he asked, as he refilled hiswooden pipe. "I must work, of course, or else I shall starve, andthe work I want is something in connection with scouting. Then thereis my father. I do not fear that anything has happened to him, butam naturally anxious that he should learn that I have crossed theAlleghanies."
"You have a letter for Charlestown; is that not the case?" asked theColonel. "I can have that delivered for you, and I will make a pointof warning all the men stationed at the crossings over this range thatthey are to stop your father and tell him what has happened. If youconsent to that, then I have work for you."
He pulled at his pipe and stared across at the young trapper betweenhalf-closed lids.
"He is just the lad we want," he was saying to himself. "He is calledthe Hawk, and I know that no Indian would give him such a title if hewere not worthy of it. He has friends, too, who will help him. Yes,he has come in the nick of time. Well," he went on, speaking aloud,"what do you say to this proposition? I will take care that yourfather is warned, and I have work for you, work which is of the utmostimportance, and which every patriotic man would eagerly undertake."
"Then you may put my name down for it, Colonel," said Steve quickly."I have seen enough of these Frenchmen to make me sure that everytrapper will have to fight if he wishes to get back his possessions.They have robbed us all in the most barefaced manner, and I for onemean to get back what they have taken. Then, they say that theseenemies are determined to drive us altogether out of the country. Thatmeans that England is in danger of losing her colony, and every man,or lad for the matter of that, should take a hand in defending thecountry."
"Would that all would think in the same way," sighed the Colonel. "Iam surrounded by apathetic people, by farmers who are still almostignorant of the turn affairs have taken, by planters and traders whoserelatives have been massacred by the Indians, and who yet are contentto continue planting and trading without a thought or care for theunhappy people who have sought a home on the far side of this mountainrange. Excuses are everywhere. Men will not turn out to fight becausethey have crops to look to, because they have wives and a home, orwith better reason, because they have lost all sense of patriotism,and the national danger does not alarm them. It is maddening to thinkthat there are hundreds and thousands who could help us, whose fatherswere patriotic to the backbone, and who would have responded at thefirst call. I can only think that prosperity has killed all thoughtof the nation, and that they will not be roused till the French areat their doors. There, Steve Mainwaring, you have my opinion of thesouthern States. They are mostly apathetic, though the men couldfight, ay, and would fight if only they could be brought to thepoint. Look at Pennsylvania, too. Her council will not move a step tohelp the colony, simply for the reason that they are for the most partQuakers, and hostile to even the thought of war. Would they fight, doyou think, if they heard the war whoop of the Indians?"
He looked across at Steve, and flushed red with indignation.
"If they did not they would have little chance afterwards," was ourhero's scathing answer. "They would be cowards if they did not do allthat was possible."
"And yet they are not that," said George Washington slowly. "It issimply apathy which keeps them at home. They seem to have no interestin the struggle. Now, look at the north. There are men, if you like!They are Puritans for the most part, but they do not forget theIndians, and they have already helped with men and money. There havebeen stirring times, I tell you, Steve, and there is stern fightingbefore us. I'll let you know how we stand at the present moment,and what has happened in the past, for I expect that you are fairlyignorant. News does not travel far or fast in the backwoods."
Steve and his friends had, in fact, only a superficial knowledge ofthe events which had led up to the then position of affairs, and helistened with interest as George Washington told of how the French hadcommenced upon a course of intrigue and invasion which was destined todespoil the thirteen States. It was De la Galissoniere who had firstcast covetous eyes on that no-man's land in the valley of the Ohio,and who in 1749 had sent an expedition to the valley with instructionsto nail up proclamations stamped in tin, claiming the land for France.He argued that once this had been done he could pour settlers intothe country, who would quickly oust the British, for it must beremembered that the latter were few in number, and for the most partvery scattered, preferring to pitch their farms alone, and not tolive, as did the French, always in communities. And while this processof filling the debatable and coveted land was in course of completion,agents were engaged with the _habitants_ in Acadia (Nova Scotia),undermining their loyalty to King George of England, and preparingthem for revolution. This was perhaps one of the most disgracefulevents of this period, for these humble and hitherto contented peoplewere dominated by these agents, who gained an ascendency over them bydetestable means.
It was Shirley of Massachusetts and Dinwiddie of Virginia, bothfar-seeing governors, who first bestirred themselves in the matter.They realised the schemes of the French, and the patriotic andenergetic young colonel who sat opposite to Steve, the famous GeorgeWashington, was sent on a mission to the commander of Fort Le Boeuf,which the French had erected some twenty miles south of Lake Erie.That was in the year 1753, and when George Washington, after a mostarduous journey, returned to Williamsburg, he brought no satisfactoryanswer with him. He had met with politeness. That was all. The Frenchwould not retire, and showed every disposition to remain in thecountry south of Lake Erie. Dinwiddie, who was at this time the movingspirit, had in the meanwhile obtained the sanction of the EnglishGovernment to oppose force by force, and to do his utmost to arrestthe invasion of the French.
It is interesting at this time to remember that France and Englandwere at peace in Europe, for after the war of the Austriansuccession, and the battles of Dettingen and Fontenoy, the peace ofAix-la-Chapelle was solemnly signed. And yet we find our Governmentgiving its sanction to a movement in America destined to drive theFrench out of the country, while we know that France, in spite of thepeace, was steadily, if not feverishly, pressing her colonists intothe valley of the Ohio, and flagrantly abusing the peace which existedbetween the nations. However, such conduct on our part was certainlyto be commended, for we were not the invading party, and were merelyattempting to protect our own interests. We were not desirous of anopen rupture with France, our hereditary enemy, for the simple reasonthat we were not ready. Our Government was weak, its colonial policyvacillating, while its chief minister was altogether unsuited toour needs. But, whatever the condition of those at home, there werestrenuous men in America, and we find Dinwiddie despatching a secondmission of forty backwoodsmen, under Ensign Ward, to erect a fortat the junction of the Alleghany and the Monongahela rivers, in theOhio valley. They were driven back by French _voyageurs_ and soldiers,who promptly erected a fort at this chosen spot, a fort well known infollowing years as that of Duquesne.
And now we come to more stirring times, times in which GeorgeWashington took an active part. As he sat opposite to Steve, hemodestly related how he had been sent with 150 men to destroy thisFort Duque
sne, how he had fallen in with a party of Frenchmen, and howthey had exchanged fire, with the result that the French leader andsome of his men were killed and wounded, while some twenty-two weretaken prisoners. This may be said to be the first occasion when bloodwas shed in this historic conflict, and bearing in mind what has beenwritten with regard to the apathy of the various southern States, itis only fair to mention that Washington commanded Virginians, and thatit was Dinwiddie, a Virginian governor, who persuaded his legislatureto vote L10,000 for the cause, and thereby enabled him to take activesteps to oppose the French.
But the men whom Washington now had under his command were hopelesslyfew, though reinforcements had brought their strength to 350, forthe French had been preparing for the struggle for a long while,and had more than a thousand men at Fort Duquesne. They advanced onWashington, who retired to Great Meadows, and threw up entrenchments,aptly named Fort Necessity. And there he was attacked in force, whilea deluge of rain descended on the two opposing forces. After ninehours of gallant resistance, the French were still all round theimprovised defences, and being in almost as miserable a condition asthe colonials, they proposed a capitulation, which the young colonelrefused. Later, when his ammunition was exhausted and some hundred ofhis men lay killed or wounded, he consented to discuss terms, whichwere at length agreed upon, for they were sufficiently honourable andlenient.
Such an open rupture, it may be easily assumed, caused unusualexcitement, and the presence of the French and their murdering Indiansin the backwoods of the Ohio valley practically drove our trappers andpioneers back across the Alleghany range. A few hardy and courageousmen, however, still clung to their huts, and we have already made theacquaintance of some of these. The excitement, and obvious intentionsof the French were not sufficient even yet to rouse the thirteenStates to concerted action, though Virginia, having quarrelled withDinwiddie till he was almost frantic, and having voted him twentythousand pounds for purposes of military defence, but saddled withsome impossible proviso, at length withdrew the proviso, and grantedthe money free. There was little stir in the other States. Men fromNew York State were under arms, and some from Carolina. Pennsylvania,with a large German population, stirred not a finger. It is wonderfuland amazing indeed to remember that these people inhabiting thevarious States and displaying such suicidal apathy, were the sonsof a race which had shown wonderful pluck and perseverance, andthemselves the originators of that following race of men who foughtand bled for their country so manfully, whose blood flows in the veinsof descendants who are justly proud of their forefathers, and who,in place of apathy, show to a wondering world great patriotism andactivity, the power to fight and work with equal determination.
We leave the conflict at Great Meadows, and the year 1754 withEngland and France still at peace in Europe, but preparing for aninevitable war in the backwoods. Those following months saw a newFrench expedition sent to Canada under a new governor, and feverishpreparations pushed on for the coming war. As to England, she atlength saw the necessity for sending help, and despatched troops toAmerica, while her fleets sailed, each captain having no doubt secretinstructions to attack and capture the French expedition. Indeed, inthe summer of 1755 two French vessels were captured off Nova Scotia.
Meanwhile Braddock, the chosen leader of our troops, had arrived atAlexandria, opposite the site of the present city of Washington,and plans for the coming campaign were discussed, while Johnson, ayoung Irishman, who had lived much in the backwoods, and who knewthe Indians as well as did Steve, was given the task of travellingamongst the six tribes who composed the Iroquois, and endeavouringto counteract the subtle influence of the French. For these astuteenemies of ours were not content to have their own Indians followingthem. They aimed at suborning the six tribes who had hitherto beenfavourable to the English colony.
Now let the reader glance again at the map for an instant. He will seethat the river St. Lawrence forms one side of a triangle, of which theMohawk river, uniting with the Oswego, forms a second, the Hudson,Lake George, and Lake Champlain, with the river Richelieu, completinga line which makes the third. The latter two sides formed the readiestmeans of attacking the French, for there was a waterway in eithercase, while on every hand there was virgin forest, through which thetask of escorting an army was very great. The council which met atAlexandria, and which consisted of British officers and governors ofthe various States, decided that Fort Duquesne was the key of thewhole position, and should be attacked in force, while to divert theattention of the French an expedition should make for the chain oflakes running northward from the Hudson, and a second for Acadia,where the _habitant_ subjects of King George were in practically openrebellion.
It is not possible to give in detail the various incidents whichbefell these three expeditions, but a few words will suffice todescribe what happened. Braddock's force, consisting of regulars fromEngland, and of a few rangers from New York, Virginia, Maryland,and Carolina, marched for Fort Duquesne through the woods, andafter meeting with great difficulties and serious delays at lengthcame within a dozen miles of the fort. What followed will for everbe an illustration of the futility of attacking a guerilla forceas if it were a European army encamped in the open, or drawn up inserried ranks to oppose the coming of the enemy. Braddock's men weremet after they had crossed a river by a fierce and stinging firewhich belched from the thick forest and brush. Occasionally a blueor white uniform was seen, or the feathered head of an Indian, andat these our guns were discharged with some effect. Indeed, for awhile the French flinched, and but for the courage of their officermight have fled. They rallied, took up their stations in the bush,and kept up a constant musketry fire upon our columns drawn up inclose order in the open. Then the Indians crept through the forestto either flank, and presently our hapless men were being raked bya stinging hail of bullets. Pack animals dashed madly amongst them.The war-whoop of the Indians deafened the combatants and increasedthe disorder. At this moment, when the British were standing theirground with magnificent courage, replying to a fire delivered by aninvisible foe with searching volleys, a little common-sense mighthave gained the day for us and sent the Indians and the French in fullflight to their fort. But there was no one in authority possessed ofthat common-sense. The Government of that day had done as those offollowing Governments have done without fail. They had sent a Britishofficer to command, who knew nothing of the backwoods and the men whoinhabited them, who was ignorant of Indian warfare, despised cover,and thought that there was no glory in a fight in which the combatantsdid not stand shoulder to shoulder, in the full blast of the cannon.An order to the men to break ranks and take cover might have alteredthe sad event entirely. But our soldiers were kept in the open, andat length, after facing a terrible fire for two hours, they fled onseeing Braddock mortally wounded.
"It was the most terrible experience of my life," said GeorgeWashington as he sat in front of Steve. "Those gallant but ill-ledmen stood as firm as rocks, and were slaughtered like sheep. The fewVirginian backwoodsmen we had with us took cover and did their bestto hold the enemy, but were too few to make any effect upon them.We fled, and our flight became a rout. A panic seized the men, andnothing could hold them. Let us pass on from that battle, for it isnot pleasant to have to reflect upon it, while I can assure you thatthe effect of such a disastrous defeat was felt throughout America,and even in Europe. As to its effect in the valley of the Ohio, youshould know that very well. No doubt you saw something of the Indiansand of the French."
"We were attacked by one band, under a rascal named Jules Lapon,"answered Steve. "But we beat them off handsomely, and won our waythrough from Albany in safety. I believe that we owe our security frominterference at our settlement to that same Jules Lapon, for he hadland next to ours."
"And carefully kept others from stealing it, even his majesty LouisXV. of France. But I will proceed. As I have said, I was one of thoseunfortunate ones who took part in the Braddock expedition, and I wassaying that the effect was disastrous in the valley of the Ohio.
TheIndians swept on, and though I was left to protect the frontier, howmuch use was I when I had some four hundred miles to watch and abare thousand men to help me? No wonder the Indians pushed on, andthousands of our settlers were massacred. But to proceed. The Frenchcaptured papers with the baggage of Braddock which told them plainlywhat other movements were taking place, and they at once made ready tooppose these attempts on their frontier. Shirley started from Albanywith some 1500 men, and made his way by the Mohawk river to Oswego,where he prepared to march on Fort Niagara. But the French put allthought of such an attempt out of his mind by throwing reinforcementsinto Fort Frontenac, which, as you know, is on the opposite side ofLake Erie, only some fifty miles away. Shirley had nothing leftbut to increase the defences of Oswego, and returned, having left agarrison of 700 men.
"The third expedition was under Johnson, a man who knows the Indianbetter perhaps than any other white man. He also set out from Albany,with 6000 provincial soldiers, 4500 of whom came from Massachusetts.All were amateurs in the art of war. A few were backwoodsmen, butthe majority were farmers, mechanics, or fishermen. As for Johnsonhimself, he was wholly unused to the command of men, and innocent ofthat organising ability without which a force cannot be victualledsatisfactorily. In addition, I must tell you that the men he had wereunused to discipline, and very apt to act and think for themselves.But I will not give you all the details. Johnson reached the bend ofthe Hudson, _en route_ for Crown Point, the French station at the footof Lake Champlain, and left 500 men there to build a fort known nowas Fort Edward. Then he pressed on across the twelve miles of virginforest which stretched between him and Lake George. Arrived there hecommenced to build Fort William Henry.
"Meanwhile the French had poured reinforcements into Crown Point, forit must be remembered that they had captured Braddock's papers, andknew that this movement of Johnson's was afoot. Their scouts told themof the arrival of the British, and they at once made arrangements toattack. Stealing down the long strip of water which runs parallelwith Lake George, known as Wood Creek, they landed from their canoesat a point which struck the road between Fort Edward and Fort WilliamHenry in the centre, and, believing that there were no cannon atthe latter fort, they prepared to attack it. Meanwhile Johnson hadheard of their coming, and sent out a force to find the French anddrive them back. This force fell into an ambush, and very nearly metthe fate which had befallen poor Braddock. However, they extricatedthemselves and retired on the fort, where the contest was continued.And here the New England farmer and backwoodsman showed his mettle. Hetook cover cleverly, for the fort as yet existed only in name, and wasa mere barricade. He searched the woods with his bullets, and, aidedby our guns, caused considerable loss to the enemy. Then, gatheringheart, the sturdy provincials leaped over the barricades and chargeddown upon the French with clubbed musket and tomahawk. That gallantcharge drove the enemy from the field, and resulted in the captureof their leader. It was followed by another success, for part of theFrench force, consisting of Canadians and Indians, had retired fromFort William Henry into the woods to the place where their ambush hadbeen laid, their intention being to loot and gather scalps. Here theywere pounced upon by a small force sent from Fort Edward and utterlyrouted. Thus, you will observe, what had very nearly been a disasterended in a fine victory for our arms, and in a measure helped tolighten the depression caused by Braddock's defeat."
Colonel George Washington sat up to look at Steve, and remained forsome minutes lost in thought. No doubt he was passing in review thoseeventful days during which he had marched with Braddock. He had givenSteve some idea of what had occurred, though he had not completed thetale. For a fourth expedition was attempted that year. Two thousandstaunch rustics, enlisted from Massachusetts, sailed from Bostonharbour for Nova Scotia, their object being to capture Fort Beausejourwhich the French had built on debatable land on the isthmus connectingCanada and Nova Scotia. It was from this post, the headquarters of theintriguers, that agents and soldiers worked to undermine the loyaltyof the _habitants_ of Acadia, for France was determined to recoverthis lost province. However, the gallant peasants from Massachusettsbrought their designs to an end, for they sat down outside the fort,and despite attacks from Indians and Acadians outside, they pressedthe siege so strenuously that the place was surrendered. Then thetroops marched across to the north shore of the isthmus and took FortGaspereu without meeting with opposition.
The end of this momentous year of 1755 found France and England stillostensibly at peace, for there had been no declaration of war as yet.The winter brought some abatement to Indian ravages on the Britishfrontiers, but the French had the best of the position. The valley ofthe Ohio was theirs, right up to and over the Alleghany range. Theyhad a formidable force at Fort Duquesne, at Frontenac, and at Niagara.Their defences at Crown Point were improved, and now they were hardat work erecting Fort Ticonderoga at the very foot of Lake Champlain,not more than forty miles from Fort William Henry. As to Nova Scotia,it was in our possession now, but the very formidable fortress ofLouisbourg on Cape Breton Isle dominated the position, and offered ahaven to French ships, and a base from which the strongest expeditionscould set out.
"There is little else to tell you, Steve," said George Washington,sitting up suddenly to shake the ash out of his pipe and refill thebowl with best Virginian. "Still, as I think over all the eventswhich have happened, I see one or two other points which may help toenlighten you. Nova Scotia, for instance, that old French Acadie, youmight well consider to be still a thorn in the flesh, in spite of thereduction of Fort Beausejour; for Louisbourg lies very close to it,and there were thousands of disaffected _habitants_ to be dealt with.But they are no longer in need of consideration, for they have beendeported. Yes, cruel though the act seems, it was necessary, in myopinion, for they were a menace to our safety, and were so obviouslyFrench in interest and sympathy that it was necessary to remove them.And now to complete my tale. Oswego has fallen, and the French havewiped the station out of existence. Then France has made a descenton Minorca, and that taken in conjunction with her attitude here hascaused our government to declare war, and to show that it will supportus, it has voted L115,000 with which to carry on this conflict.General Abercromby and Colonel Webb have taken up commands, and Ihear now that the Earl of Loudon has arrived in the colony. Meanwhilecolonial troops have been enlisted for the coming campaign, and aftergathering at Albany report says that they are now reinforcing FortsWilliam Henry and Edward, where they will strengthen the defences andmake ready for an advance by road or lake upon Fort Ticonderoga. Butit is already late in the season, and I doubt that anything will bedone before the advent of 1757. We want more men and money, and verymuch stronger support from home, and I hear that there is a prospectof receiving it; for rumour says that a new ministry will be formed,and Pitt will come into power. Then this campaign will be pressed on,and we may hope to beat the French. For here again I have a littleinformation.
"Knowing how relatively few their men are, you would expect France topour troops into Canada," said the young colonial leader, as he lookedacross at Steve. "Well, she has done so up till recently, and has senta fine commander in the person of Montcalm. But European conquest hasdistracted her attention, and it is a fact that she has joined acoalition with the object of attacking Frederick of Prussia. She hasdropped her active colonial policy for the shadow of European glory,and, mark my words, she will bitterly rue her determination. She hasprogressed rapidly in this campaign, her woodsmen and Indians pressat our doors, and our middle and southern States still sit apathetic,playing into the hands of our enemies. There will never come suchanother opportunity. The task before these Frenchmen is easier at thismoment than ever before, and never again can she expect such goodfortune. And yet she has suddenly changed her policy. She has banishedall thought of these vast stretches of unclaimed land, and wouldrather humble the power of Frederick of Prussia than become a power inNorth America. I tell you she will repent the action. It is England'sturn to profit now, for we have suffered bit
terly.
"But I have told you all the facts now, and will again return tomy proposition. Steve Mainwaring, report tells me that you are apractised scout and backwoodsman, and, moreover, I can tell thatyou have had a good education. A man of your class is wanted in theneighbourhood of Fort William Henry, a leader of scouts who can keepour generals informed of the movements of the French. The winter isalmost upon us, and the next few months will see little movement inother parts. But on Lake George a serious attack from the Frenchis possible, for they can come over the ice. Will you take servicewith the colonials and enlist a band of scouts to act in thatneighbourhood?"
There was silence for a few minutes, while Steve looked back at theColonel, a man after his own heart, tall and active, with fearlesskind eyes which looked straight into his. Then he sat up suddenly,sprang to his feet, and gripped the hand held out to him.
"I will go gladly, sir," he said. "I will take service till such timeas this contest is ended."
"Good! That is excellent. Then we can go further. You will be gazettedas captain," said George Washington, "and I may say that I havebeen authorized to act in this manner, for our leaders are eager todiscover the right man. You will receive a bounty on being gazetted,and will draw sufficient in pay and allowances to keep you. To yourmen you can offer a bounty of six dollars, and twenty-six shillings amonth pay, besides rations and clothing."
"I accept the terms willingly, Colonel," answered Steve promptly. "Ithink I can guarantee that I shall be able to enlist ten men at least.The money will be little inducement to them, for they have a good dealmore to fight for. As to the clothing, they will prefer to keep totheir hunting costumes. All will be trappers born and bred."
"Then you can enlist them up to forty in number. And now, Steve, foryour orders. When can you be ready?"
"In a week, I think," was our hero's answer. "That will give the mentime to settle their families."
"And when can you march?"
"When you order, sir."
"Then you will set out in ten days' time, and meanwhile I will send ona letter to Fort William Henry, intimating what I have done. Now joinme at my evening meal."
Ten days later Steve set out from the mountains, seventeen of thetrappers who had fled from the settlement accompanying him. Jim andMac and Pete were there, while Silver Fox, wrapped in his blanket,taciturn and silent, strode on in advance, his keen eyes notingeverything, his nostrils agape as if he already scented the smoke fromthe camp fires of the Shawnee Indians, hereditary foes of his race,with whom he hoped to meet before the conflict was ended.
And so with the encouraging cheers of George Washington's raggedsoldiers ringing in their ears, the party set out, Steve theiracknowledged leader, and turned their faces for Albany. They plungedinto the forest within a few minutes, and stole along, a silent band,clad in moccasins and trapper's leather. Icy blasts occasionallyreached them, while leaves of every tinge and shade slid from thetrees and pattered in their faces. The winter was at hand, and beforeSteve and his band had reached their destination the frosts hadcommenced and some snow had fallen. Little did they care for the cold.These hardy huntsmen entered Fort William Henry ruddy and brownedby exposure, their honest faces displaying their enthusiasm and theeagerness which all felt to commence the contest. Nor were they keptlong impatient. For the French were close at hand, and, indeed, hadcome within sight of the fort that very morning.
"I am glad to see you," said the commander, as he shook Steve's hand."You will find your own quarters, and draw your rations as do theothers. To-morrow you will see what the French are doing. A dozen ofour poor fellows were ambushed and slaughtered yesterday."
Steve saluted and returned to his men. That evening their arrangementswere completed, and as the first streak of dawn lit up the gloomyforest surroundings of Fort William Henry, he and his men stole fromthe fort in single file, and, passing the sentries and outposts,disappeared one by one amongst the trees and brambles. They were aloneagain, dependent on their own courage and exertions, and consciousof the fact that a remorseless enemy might pounce upon them at anymoment.