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very sincerely and truly your friend and well…wisher； B。 FRANKLIN。〃
I received of the general about eight hundred pounds； to be disbursed
in advance…money to the waggon owners； etc。； but； that sum being
insufficient； I advanc'd upward of two hundred pounds more； and in two
weeks the one hundred and fifty waggons； with two hundred and fifty…nine
carrying horses； were on their march for the camp。 The advertisement
promised payment according to the valuation； in case any waggon or horse
should be lost。 The owners； however； alleging they did not know General
Braddock； or what dependence might be had on his promise； insisted on
my bond for the performance； which I accordingly gave them。
While I was at the camp； supping one evening with the officers of
Colonel Dunbar's regiment； he represented to me his concern for the
subalterns； who； he said； were generally not in affluence； and could ill
afford； in this dear country； to lay in the stores that might be necessary in
so long a march； thro' a wilderness； where nothing was to be purchas'd。 I
commiserated their case； and resolved to endeavor procuring them some
relief。 I said nothing； however； to him of my intention； but wrote the next
morning to the committee of the Assembly； who had the disposition of
some public money； warmly recommending the case of these officers to
their consideration； and proposing that a present should be sent them of
necessaries and refreshments。 My son； who had some experience of a
camp life； and of its wants； drew up a list for me； which I enclos'd in my
letter。 The committee approv'd； and used such diligence that； conducted by
my son； the stores arrived at the camp as soon as the waggons。 They
consisted of twenty parcels； each containing
6 lbs。 loaf sugar。 1 Gloucester cheese。 6 lbs。 good Muscovado do。 1
kegg containing 20 lbs。 good 1 lb。 good green tea。 butter。 1 lb。 good bohea
do。 2 doz。 old Madeira wine。 6 lbs。 good ground coffee。 2 gallons Jamaica
spirits。 6 lbs。 chocolate。 1 bottle flour of mustard。 1…2 cwt。 best white
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biscuit。 2 well…cur'd hams。 1…2 lb。 pepper。 1…2 dozen dry'd tongues。 1 quart
best white wine vinegar 6 lbs。 rice。 6 lbs。 raisins。
These twenty parcels； well pack'd； were placed on as many horses；
each parcel； with the horse； being intended as a present for one officer。
They were very thankfully receiv'd； and the kindness acknowledg'd by
letters to me from the colonels of both regiments； in the most grateful
terms。 The general； too； was highly satisfied with my conduct in procuring
him the waggons； etc。； and readily paid my account of disbursements；
thanking me repeatedly； and requesting my farther assistance in sending
provisions after him。 I undertook this also； and was busily employ'd in it
till we heard of his defeat； advancing for the service of my own money；
upwards of one thousand pounds sterling； of which I sent him an account。
It came to his hands； luckily for me； a few days before the battle； and he
return'd me immediately an order on the paymaster for the round sum of
one thousand pounds； leaving the remainder to the next account。 I consider
this payment as good luck； having never been able to obtain that
remainder； of which more hereafter。
This general was； I think； a brave man； and might probably have made
a figure as a good officer in some European war。 But he had too much
self…confidence； too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops； and
too mean a one of both Americans and Indians。 George Croghan； our
Indian interpreter； join'd him on his march with one hundred of those
people； who might have been of great use to his army as guides； scouts；
etc。； if he had treated them kindly； but he slighted and neglected them； and
they gradually left him。
In conversation with him one day； he was giving me some account of
his intended progress。 〃After taking Fort Duquesne；〃 says he； 〃I am to
proceed to Niagara； and； having taken that； to Frontenac； if the season will
allow time； and I suppose it will； for Duquesne can hardly detain me
above three or four days； and then I see nothing that can obstruct my
march to Niagara。〃 Having before revolv'd in my mind the long line his
army must make in their march by a very narrow road； to be cut for them
thro' the woods and bushes； and also what I had read of a former defeat of
fifteen hundred French； who invaded the Iroquois country； I had conceiv'd
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some doubts and some fears for the event of the campaign。 But I ventur'd
only to say； 〃To be sure； sir； if you arrive well before Duquesne； with these
fine troops； so well provided with artillery； that place not yet compleatly
fortified； and as we hear with no very strong garrison； can probably make
but a short resistance。 The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your
march is from ambuscades of Indians； who； by constant practice； are
dexterous in laying and executing them； and the slender line； near four
miles long； which your army must make； may expose it to be attack'd by
surprise in its flanks； and to be cut like a thread into several pieces； which；
from their distance； can not come up in time to support each other。〃
He smil'd at my ignorance； and reply'd； 〃These savages may； indeed；
be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia； but upon the king's
regular and disciplin'd 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 enemy；
however； did not take the advantage of his army which I apprehended its
long line of march expos'd it to； but let it advance without interruption till
within nine miles of the place； and then； when more in a body （for it had
just passed a river； where the front had halted till all were come over）； and
in a more open part of the woods than any it had pass'd； attack'd its
advanced guard by a heavy fire from behind trees and bushes； which was
the first intelligence the general had of an enemy's being near him。 This
guard being disordered； the general hurried the troops up to their
assistance； which was done in great confusion； thro' waggons； baggage；
and cattle； and presently the fire came upon their flank： the officers； being
on horseback； were more easily distinguish'd； pick'd out as marks； and fell
very fast； and the soldiers were crowded together in a huddle； having or
hearing no orders； and standing to be shot at till two…thirds of them were
killed； and then； being seiz'd with a panick； the whole fled with
precipitation。
The waggoners took each a horse out of his team and scamper'd； their
example was immediately followed by others； so that all the waggons；
provisions； artillery； and stores were left to the enemy。 The general； being
wounded； was brought off with difficulty； his secretary； Mr。 Shirley； was
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killed by his side； and out of eighty…six officers； sixty…three were killed or
wounded； and seven hundred and fourteen men killed out of eleven
hundred。 These eleven hundred had been picked men from the whole army；
the rest had been left behind with Colonel Dunbar； who was to follow with
the heavier part of the stores； provisions； and baggage。 The flyers； not
being pursu'd； arriv'd at Dunbar's camp； and the panick they brought with
them instantly seiz'd him and all his people； and； tho' he had now above
one thousand men； and the enemy who bad beaten Braddock did not at
most exceed four hundred Indians and French together； instead of
proceeding； and endeavoring to recover some of the lost honour； he
ordered all the stores； ammunition； etc。； t