Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/252

 concealed whole days within five miles of us. After sending out spies to reconnoitre our position, they retreated two miles, from whence they sent messengers to M. Contrecœur with the results of their reconnoisance."

Colonel Fry's sudden death, at Wills' Creek, placed the burden of the chief command upon Washington. His position was perilous in the extreme; the French force was very much larger than his own; and scarcity of provisions began to be seriously felt. Fort Necessity was built at the Great Meadows ; and leaving the South Carolina company under Captain Mackay in charge of the fort, Washington advanced towards Fort Duquesne. He was soon compelled, however, to retreat, and the French and Indians, to the number of fifteen hundred, coming upon him at Fort Necessity, he made a spirited stand for some hours, but finally agreed to an honorable capitulation. The next morning, July 4th, Washington set out on his return to Wills' Creek, where his men were recruited, and where also Fort Cumberland was erected.

Although this campaign was thus unsuccessful, it was felt that Washington had done all that was possible under the circumstances. He received the thanks of the Assembly, and acquired the unbounded confidence and affection of the soldiers under his command. Three hundred pistoles—about—$1,100 were distributed among the soldiers.

While Washington was engaged in his expedition against the French, a convention was held at Albany of Committees from the Colonial Assemblies of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and the New England colonies. This was in June, 1754. The principal object they had in view was to renew the treaty with the Six Nations, whose friendship at this crisis was of grave importance. Beside this, the question of union and confederation of the colonies for mutual defence came up, and was decided in the affirmative, and one delegate from each colony was appointed to draw up a plan of union. Franklin sketched such a plan, which was adopted by the Convention, the Connecticut delegates alone dissenting "It proposed a grand Council of forty-eight members: seven from Virginia; seven from Massachusetts; six from Pennsylvania; five from Connecticut; four each from New York, Maryland, and the two Carolinas; three from New Jersey; and two each from New