From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 92
place where the troops were, the half-king sent two Indians to follow the tracks and discover their lodgment,
which they did, at a very obscure place, surrounded with rocks. I, thereupon, in conjunction with the half-king
and Monacawacha, formed a disposition to attack them on all sides, which we accordingly did; and, after an
engagement of fifteen minutes, we killed ten, wounded one, and took twenty-one prisoners. Amongst those
killed was Monsieur Jumonville, the commander. The principal officers taken are Monsieur Drouillon, and
Monsieur La Force, of whom your Honor has often heard me speak as a bold, enterprising man, and a person
of great subtlety and cunning. These officers pretend that they were coming on an embassy; but the absurdity
of this pretext is too glaring, as you will see by the instructions and summons enclosed. Their instructions
were to reconnoiter the country, roads, creeks, and the like, as far as the Potomac, which they were about to
do. These enterprising men were purposely chosen out to procure intelligence, which they were to send back
by some brisk despatches, with the mention of the day that they were to serve the summons, which could be
with no other view than to get reinforcements to fall upon us immediately after."
Governor Dinwiddie wrote to Lord Albemarle as follows:
"The prisoners said they were come as an embassy from the fort: but your lordship knows that ambassadors
do not come with such an armed force without a trumpet or any other sign of friendship; nor can it be thought
that they were on an embassy, by their staying so long reconnoitering our small camp, but more probably that
they expected a reinforcement to cut us off."
XII.
ON GENERAL BRADDOCK'S STAFF.
With the quite liberal provisions now made for the public service, Governor Dinwiddie resolved to increase
the army to ten companies of one hundred men each, and capture Fort Duquesne at once. He sent for
Washington, now twenty-two years of age, and laid his plan before him.
"It will prove disastrous," was Washington's prompt answer, to the surprise of the governor.
"You surprise me!" rejoined the governor. "With a thousand men I thought the fort could easily be captured."
"But you do not take into account the time required to drill the army and march to the fort," answered
Washington. "Winter will be upon us before we are ready to besiege the fort."
"I hardly see the need of consuming as much time as you indicate in preparation," suggested the governor.
"You would understand it if you had had the experience with a half-drilled army through one campaign, as I
have had," replied Washington.
"But your force was a very small one," suggested Governor Dinwiddie. "With two or three times as many men
you will be able to reduce the fort without the drill."
"My experience rather teaches me that the larger the army the more necessary the drill, in order to handle it
efficiently," Washington replied.
"Then you are opposed to such a campaign now, under any circumstances, if I understand you," continued the
governor.
"My judgment decides against the practicability of such an expedition; nevertheless, I am at your service. My
duty is to obey." This was Washington's sincere reply.