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Michigan Chapter Eight Border Wars of the Colonists
The army started westward in June, 1755, and made very slow progress, owing to the wild and rugged nature of the country. There were no roads; the march was through a pathless forest, over unbridged streams, and through almost impenetrable swamps and thickets, and a path must be cleared. There was no cultivated country to supply forage. The troops, especially the regulars, were quite unused to such campaigning.
As may well be supposed, the French had early and accurate knowledge of the movement. The Indians, hung upon the flanks of the invading army and noted how easy it would be from ambush to pick off with their rifle bullets the straggling troops and their beasts of burden. The Detroit militia helped to reinforce the garrison at Fort Duquesne. The French depended almost wholly on the grain and other provisions and supplies which were forwarded from Detroit. The French troops at Fort Duquesne were under the command of Charles Langlade and the Indians were under De Beau-jeu. They did not wait for the English to attack the fort, but relying upon their superior numbers, sallied forth to anticipate the attack. They came upon the English on the south bank of the Monongahela, entirely off their guard and unsuspicious of the nearness of the enemy. Concealed behind trees the Indians and French began the onslaught by shooting and yelling in the most blood-curdling fashion. The Virginians, among whom were George Washington, an aide-de-camp on the staff of Braddock, bravely met the assault and fought valiantly. The regulars broke and ran in a panic of fright. Washington writing to his mother says: "I luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me. " This was the beginning of the fame of the man who was yet to play an important part in the history of his country. The British officers showed great intrepidity.
Michigan
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