Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/255

] flanks, and to be cut like a thread into several pieces, which, from their distance, cannot come up in time to support each other.' He smiled at my ignorance, and replied, ' These savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia; but upon the king's regular and disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make any impression.' I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with a military man in matters of his profession, and said no more." The result showed, unhappily, that the philosopher, on this occasion, was able to judge more clearly than the man trained in exact European military science, and full of prejudice in favor of established routine.

Washington, at Braddock's earnest request, was prevailed upon to serve as aid-de-camp, a position which he supposed would give him facilities for studying the art of war under a strictly scientific commander. "The sole motive which invites me to the field," as he says in a letter to one of his friends, "is the laudable ambition of serving my country, not the gratification of any ambitious or lucrative plans. This, I natter myself, will appear by my going as a volunteer, without expectation of reward, or prospect of obtaining a command, as I am confidently assured it is not in General Braddock's power to give me a commission that I would accept." The advice of Washington was Bought by the perplexed general, who found the season rapidly passing away, and he and his troops advancing at only a snail's pace. Washington urged him to push forward with a light armed division, leaving the rest of the forces to follow under Colonel Dunbar. Braddock acted upon this suggestion, and set forth with twelve hundred men and ten field pieces; but he treated with great contempt the advice of his more experienced aid-de-camp, as to the need of caution in regard to ambushes of the French and Indians. It was getting late in the month of June; Washington was suddenly taken ill of a fever, and was obliged to remain behind at Youghieny, in charge of his friend, Dr. Craik; but eager to rejoin the army, he set off, weak as he was, on the 3d of July, in a covered waggon, and reached the camp on the 8th, when Braddock, having consumed a month in marching about a hundred miles, was now within fifteen miles of Fort Duquesne.

The attack was to be made the next day. Washington again begged to be allowed to send out the Virginia rangers to examine the dangerous passes yet to be gone through ; but Braddock peremptorily and angrily refused. It was an inspiriting sight to see the pomp and circumstance of parade and military exactness, the next morning, the 9th of July, when the troops, as if on a gala day, set out to ford the Monongahela, with bayonets fixed, colors flying, and drums and fifes beating and playing. Washington was in raptures with the scene, and often, in later days, spoke of it as the most beautiful spectacle he had ever witnessed. It was nearly two o'clock when the troops had all passed the river. They were ascending a