history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第62章
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rection but from wampums and wigwams: Mr。 George got to Ohio Head (two big Rivers; Monongahela from South; Alleghany from North; coalescing to form a double…big Ohio for the Far West); and thought to himself; 〃What an admirable three…legged place: might be Chief Post of those regions;nest…egg of a diligent Ohio Company。!〃 Mr。 George; some way down the Ohio River; found a strongish French Fort; log…barracks; 〃200 river…boats; with more building;〃 and a French Commandant; who cannot enter into questions of a diplomatic nature about Peace and War: 〃My orders are; To keep this Fort and Territory against all comers; one must do one's orders; Monsieur: Adieu!〃 And the steadfast Washington had to return; without result;except that of the admirable Three…legged Place for dropping your Nest…egg; in a commanding and defenceful way!
Ohio Company; painfully restrained so long in that operation; took the hint at once。 Despatched; early in 1754; a Party of some Forty or Thirty…three stout fellows; with arms about them; as well as tools; 〃Go build us; straightway; a Stockade in the place indicated; you are warranted to smite down; by shot or otherwise; any gainsayer!〃 And furthermore; directly got on foot; and on the road thither; a 〃regiment of 150 men;〃 Washington as Colonel to it; For perfecting said Stockade; and maintaining it against all comers。
Washington and his Hundred…and…fiftywagonage; provender and a piece or two of cannon; all well attended tovigorously climbed the Mountains; got to the top 27th May; 1754; and there MET the Thirty…three in retreat homewards! Stockade had been torn out; six weeks ago (17th April last); by overwhelming French Force; from the Gentleman who said ADIEU; and had the river…boats; last Fall。 And; instead of our Stockade; they are now building a regular French Fort;FORT DUQUESNE; they call it; in honor of their Governor Duquesne:against which; Washington and his regiment; what are they? Washington; strictly surveying; girds himself up for the retreat; descends diligently homewards again; French and Indians rather harassing his rear。 In…trenches himself; 1st July; at what he calls 〃Fort Necessity;〃 some way down; and the second day after; 3d July; 1754; is attacked in vigorous military manner。 Defends himself; what he can; through nine hours of heavy rain; has lost thirty; the French only three;and is obliged to capitulate: 〃Free Withdrawal〃 the terms given。 This is the last I heard of the Ohio Company; not the last of Washington; by any means。 Ohio Company;its judicious Nest…egg squelched in this manner; nay become a fiery Cockatrice or 〃FORT DUQUESNE:〃need not be mentioned farther。
By this time; surely high time now; serious military preparations were on foot; especially in the various Colonies most exposed。 But; as usual; it is a thing of most admired disorder; every Governor his own King or Vice…King; horses are pulling different ways: small hope there; unless the Home Government (where too I have known the horses a little discrepant; unskilful in harness!) will seriously take it in hand。 The Home Government is taking it in hand; horses willing; if a thought unskilful。 Royal Highness of Cumberland has selected General Braddock; and Two Regiments of the Line (the two that ran away at Prestonpans;ABSIT OMEN)。 Royal Highness consults; concocts; industriously prepares; completes; modestly certain that here now is the effectual remedy。
About New…year's day; 1755; Braddock; with his Two Regiments and completed apparatus; got to sea。 Arrived; 20th February; at Williamsburg in Virginia (〃at Hampden; near there;〃 if anybody is particular); found now that this was not the place to arrive at; that he would lose six weeks of marching; by not having landed in Pennsylvania instead。 Found that his Stores had been mispacked at Cork;that this had happened; and also that;and; in short; that Chaos had been very considerably prevalent in this Adventure of his; and did still; in all that now lay round it; much prevail。 Poor man: very brave; they say; but without knowledge; except of field…drill; a heart of iron; but brain mostly of pipe…clay quality。 A man severe and rigorous in regimental points; contemptuous of the Colonial Militias; that gathered to help him; thrice…contemptuous of the Indians; who were a vital point in the Enterprise ahead。 Chaos is very strong;especially if within oneself as well! Poor Braddock took the Colonial Militia Regiments; Colonel Washington as Aide…de…Camp; took the Indians and Appendages; Colonial Chaos much presiding: and after infinite delays and confused hagglings; got on march;2;000 regular; and of all sorts say 4;000 strong。
Got on march; sprawled and haggled up the Alleghanies;such a Commissariat; such a wagon…service; as was seldom seen before。 Poor General and Army; he was like to be starved outright; at one time; had not a certain Mr。 Franklin come to him; with charitable oxen; with 500 pounds…worth provisions live and dead; subscribed for at Philadelphia;Mr Benjamin Franklin; since celebrated over all the world; who did not much admire this iron…tempered General with the pipe…clay brain。 'Franklin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY; Gentleman's Magazine; xxv。 378。' Thereupon; however; Braddock took the road again; sprawled and staggered; at the long last; to the top; 〃at the top of the Alleghanies; 15th June;〃and forward down upon FORT DUQUESNE; 〃roads nearly perpendicular in some places;〃 at the rate of 〃four miles〃 and even of 〃one mile per day。〃 Much wood all about;and the 400 Indians to rear; in a despised and disgusted condition; instead of being vanward keeping their brightest outlook。
July 8th; Braddock crossed the Monongahela without hindrance。 July 9th; was within ten miles of FORT DUQUESNE; plodding along; marching through a wood; when;Ambuscade of French and Indians burst out on him; French with defences in front and store of squatted Indians on each flank;who at once blew him to destruction; him and his Enterprise both。 His men behaved very ill; sensible perhaps that they were not led very well。 Wednesday; 9th July; 1755; about three in the afternoon。 His two regiments gave one volley and no more; utterly terror…struck by the novelty; by the misguidance; as at Prestonpans before; shot; it was whispered; several of their own Officers; who were furiously rallying them with word and sword: of the sixty Officers; only five were not killed or wounded。 Brave men clad in soldier's uniform; victims of military Chaos; and miraculous Nescience; in themselves and in others: can there be a more distressing spectacle? Imaginary workers are all tragical; in this world; and come to a bad end; sooner or later; they or their representatives here: but the Imaginary Soldierhe is paid his wages (he and his poor Nation are) on the very nail!
Braddock; refusing to fall back as advised; had five horses shot under him; was himself shot; in the arm; in the breast; was carried off the field in a death…stupor;forward all that night; next day and next (to Fort Cumberland; seventy miles to rear);and on the fourth day died。 The Colonial Militias had stood their ground; Colonel Washington now of some use again;who were ranked well to rearward; and able to receive the ambuscade as an open fight。 Stood striving; for about three hours。 And would have saved the retreat; had there been a retreat; instead of a panic rout; to save。 The poor Generalebbing homewards; he and his Enterprise; hour after hourroused himself twice only; for a moment; from his death…stupor: once; the first night; to ejaculate mournfully; 〃Who would have thought it!〃 And again once; he was heard to say; days after; in a tone of hope; 〃Another time we will do better!〃 which were his last words; 〃death following in a few minutes。〃 Weary; heavy…laden soul; deep Sleep now descending on it;soft sweet cataracts of Sleep and Rest; suggesting hope; and triumph over sorrow; after all:〃Another time we will do better;〃 and in few minutes was dead! 'Manuscript JOURNAL OF GENERAL BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION IN 1755 (British Museum: King's Library; 271 e; King's Mss。 212): raw…material; this; of the Official Account ( London Gazette; August 26th; 1755); where it is faithfully enough abridged。 Will perhaps be printed