From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 115
"Is it possible?" said General Forbes, doubting the statement.
"It is possible," answered Washington. "It is an easy matter to find out, however."
"We are not exactly prepared for such a movement now," replied the general.
"I am at your service, general, with my rangers," answered Washington, in a tone which showed that he
coveted the business. We strongly suspect that Washington was thinking of his promised bride, and desired to
close the campaign against Duquesne that he might claim her. To go into winter quarters, and leave the fort to
be captured another season, would put off his wedding-day far beyond his wishes. The understanding was,
that he would not be married until after the fall of Duquesne.
"Your brave and generous offer is accepted, without conditions," General Forbes immediately replied, only
too glad now to impose the labor and risk upon provincial troops.
"I will be ready to move to-morrow," added Washington with his usual promptness.
"As soon as you please, and in what manner you please. The whole thing is in your hands."
"Very well, sir; we march to-morrow," added Washington as he hurried away.
On the next day he took up the line of march towards Duquesne, proceeding with extreme caution as he
approached the vicinity of the fort. The locality of the recent battle was marked by the dead bodies of their
fallen brothers, a sickening spectacle to behold. Around them, too, were scattered the bones of comrades who
fell in the first battle, three years before, a melancholy reminder of the defeat and death which followed the
blundering of conceited officers.
No sign of the enemy appeared. Silence reigned supreme. Scouts reported no trace of the foe. Still the
"rangers" moved forward with the utmost caution. Indians could not surprise them now.
Coming in sight of the fort, they saw that it was deserted. No flag floated over its walls. On the double-quick,
Washington led his troops into it, and not a Frenchman or Indian was found. The wooden buildings were
burned to ashes, together with such baggage and other material as the occupants could not carry away in
boats. Not a cannon, gun, or cartridge remained. Washington planted the English flag upon the walls of the
fort with his own hand, on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1758.
It was learned, subsequently, that on account of the signal victories of the British army in Canada, no
reinforcements or provisions were received at Duquesne. As the French garrison was in urgent need of both,
the commander concluded, on the approach of Washington's command, that the better part of valor would be
to abandon it; hence its evacuation.
Washington adopted immediate and vigorous measures to rebuild the fort, to which he gave the name of Fort
Pitt, in honor of the great English statesman, through whose influence the British Government finally ordered
the capture of the fort. Leaving a sufficient number of troops to garrison it, he returned to Laurel Hill, whence
he wrote to the Governor of Virginia, in behalf of his needy soldiers at Duquesne, as follows:
"Considering their present circumstances," he writes: "I would by no means have consented to leave any part
of them there, had not the general given me express orders.... By their present nakedness, the advanced
season, and the inconceivable fatigues of an uncommonly long and laborious campaign, they are rendered
totally incapable of any sort of service; and sickness, death, and desertion must, if they are not speedily
supplied, greatly reduce their numbers. To replace them with equally good men will, perhaps, be found
impossible."