Page:History of Cumberland, Maryland 2.djvu/205

1755.] the enemy. To this he would not consent^ and answered with much warmth, that he was competent to command the troops, and was not yet reduced to the extremity of asking advice or of resorting to the disgraceful method of warfare in vogue with the naked savages. This was the only occasion upon which he aroused Washington's anger, and even then it was quickly forgotten.

It has never been clearly settled whether Braddock died at the hands of the enemy, or by the act of one of his own men, although the question has been largely discussed, for many years past. Thomas Fossit, a soldier in Captain Cholmondeley's company, in his later years persistently declared that he shot Braddock, and that he was justified in so doing. Fossit was a large man, of great strength, rude habits, and strong passions. He had enlisted at Shippens- burg, Pa., and had a brother Joseph in the same command, who was killed in the battle of the Monongahela. Fossit was living near the top of Laurel Hill, in 1783, at the junction of Braddock's and Dunlap's roads, where he kept a small tavern. He was then an old man, but lived many years afterwards, and died at about the age of 100 years, in 1818. Fossit charged Braddock with having killed his brother Joseph by a stroke of his sword, for having taken shelter behind a tree during the battle, and for this reason, as well as to save the army, he alleged that he shot the General.

Mr. Winthrop Sargent reviews this matter at considerable length, and concludes that there was no truth in Fossit's story, because he was mistaken