Page:History of Cumberland, Maryland 2.djvu/114

100 greatly addicted to gambling, the only vice ever attributed to her. Her loss of fortune, and the falling away of friends, so preyed upon her mind^ that in a fit of desperation she hanged herself, with a silken scarf, on the night of the 8th of September^ 1731, at Bath. When Braddock was informed of this he said: "Poor Fanny, I always thought she would play until she would be forced to tuck herself up.

General Braddock had been chosen by the Duke of Cumberland because his "courage and military discipline had recommended him as of ability for so great a trust." The Duke had been an eye-witness to his courage on more than one occasion, and was undoubtedly convinced of the wisdom of giving him this command.

Early in November both the Duke and Braddock arrived in London, where they had frequent inter- views and conversations relating to the conduct of the expedition about to be undertaken. The Captain- General gave Braddock minute instructions as to the course he was to pursue; the organization of his forces; the supplies to be provided; posts to be established, &c. Amongst other verbal instructions, he directed Braddock to see that Fort Cumberland was strengthened, and made to accommodate a gar- rison of two hundred men. He advised the greatest care in dealing with the Indians, who would be found a foe different in every way from the regular troops of civilized nations, and practiced in woodcraft. To the latter suggestions Braddock gave little heed, expecting to make short work of the savages with his