From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 114
follows:
"They were checked for a time, but were again pressing forward in greater numbers, when Bullit and his men
held out the signal of capitulation, and advanced, as if to surrender. When within eight yards of the enemy,
they suddenly leveled their arms, poured a most effectual volley, and then charged with the bayonet. The
Indians fled in dismay, and Bullit took advantage of this check to retreat, with all speed, collecting the
wounded and scattered fugitives as he advanced."
The whole of the straggling army did not reach Fort Loyal Harman at Laurel Hills until the fifth day of
November. Many of the soldiers, especially the wounded, suffered terribly on the retreat.
Washington was at Raystown when the attack was made upon the advance. Why and for what he was there,
except by order of the commander, General Forbes, we know not. But he joined the beaten and demoralized
army at Fort Loyal Harman.
"Braddock's folly repeated must end in Braddock's defeat and shame," he remarked, on hearing of the disaster.
"The result is no worse than I feared."
"Your Virginians fought bravely," remarked General Forbes to Washington, evidently thinking that he had
underrated their valor and efficiency.
"I am not surprised to hear it," replied Washington. "I knew that they would prove themselves equal to the
occasion."
"Braver fellows never met a foe on the battlefield," continued General Forbes. "Our defeat would have been
more bloody and shameful but for them."
"And if they had formed the advance, they would not have been caught in an Indian ambuscade," remarked
Washington suggestively.
In this unfortunate battle the British lost twenty-one officers and two hundred and seventy-three privates in
killed and wounded, more than one-third of the advance under Grant.
"Well," continued General Forbes, "this snow and freezing weather will compel us to go into winter quarters
here. After this defeat we are not in a condition to attack the fort immediately."
"Our prospects are not very flattering, it must be confessed," remarked Washington, without expressing his
opinion of the unnecessary and foolish blunder that had brought them into this plight. Had he led his Virginia
rangers in advance, such a disgraceful record would not have been made.
Washington prophesied that, between building a new road and sending regulars in advance, defeat was
inevitable, and now General Forbes proposed to fulfil his prophecy.
"What is your advice, Colonel Washington, under the circumstances?" inquired General Forbes, evidently
designing to atone somewhat for his previous shabby treatment of the young Virginia hero. "Is it wise to
march against the fort at this late season and in this rough weather?"
Washington was not at all disposed to give advice after all his previous counsels had been treated with
contempt; therefore he prolonged the conversation without gratifying the commanding general with an
explicit statement of his opinions. In the midst of their interview two or three prisoners were brought in, and
they gave such an account of the weakness and destitution of the French garrison that Washington advised an
immediate advance upon the fort.