From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 111
"Because it will consume so much time that winter will be upon us before we can reach the fort. An early
movement on the old roads is far more desirable, in my judgment, than a late one on a new road."
"But you do not consider that the king's regulars are experienced in such work, and they will not require the
time which the provincial troops do to complete such a piece of work."
"Perhaps so," replied Washington in a doubtful tone, as if he recalled the old boast of the English generals
about the might of their regulars. He had seen enough of these boasted heroes in the former expedition against
Duquesne to cause him to decidedly prefer provincial troops.
"Besides," continued General Forbes, "the report of General Braddock to his government describes the old
road as fearful, in consequence of dense forests, huge rocks, deep morasses, and plunging torrents."
"None of these things caused his defeat," remarked Washington in rather a sarcastic vein.
"As I understand it," added General Forbes, "there are not so thick woods and huge rocks, nor so perilous
swamps and rivers by the proposed new route as there are by the old. Besides, the new road is fifty miles
nearer."
"The shortest way may prove longer than the longest way if you have the short way to build," was
Washington's significant reply.
The English officers were bound to have their own way, and they decided to make the new road, in view of
which Washington wrote to the Speaker of the Assembly: "If this conduct of our leaders does not flow from
superior orders, it must flow from a weakness too gross for me to name. Nothing now but a miracle can bring
this campaign to a happy issue."
A few days later he wrote:
"I believe that all is lost. Our enterprise is ruined, and we shall be stopped this winter at the Laurel Hills."
As the sequel will show, Washington proved himself to be a prophet.
While these warlike preparations were going forward, Washington was elected to a seat in the House of
Burgesses. It was not expected, however, that he would take his seat until the contemplated action against the
French at Duquesne was consummated.
It was in the month of May, 1758, that Washington went to Williamsburg and found his future wife, when
passing through Kent County. It was the 21st of September before the army was ready to strike their tents and
take up the march from Raystown, where the whole army had assembled. Much of this time was fooled away
by the English officers, who seemed to think that both French and Indians would take to their heels when they
saw them coming.
Washington was greatly annoyed by this unnecessary delay. To him it was ominous of evil. He was impatient
to plant the English flag on the walls of Duquesne, and to make the beautiful Mrs. Custis his bride. The sooner
the army accomplished the former, the sooner he would realize the latter.
To add to his annoyance, General Forbes proposed to repeat General Braddock's folly, and send his regulars
forward as a party of observation.
"Such an arrangement was the cause of General Braddock's defeat," he said to General Forbes.