From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 96
in the grand military display, every soldier well clad and equipped, instead of being ragged and poorly armed,
he said, "This is the grandest spectacle I ever beheld."
As another has said, "Not the shabby, discouraging, inglorious war of men without hats and shoes, kettles and
bayonets, but the military array of a young officer's brightest dreams: a host in gallant uniforms, with nodding
plumes, the clang of inspiring music, and the dazzling splendor of banners flaunting in the sun. Victory was a
thing of course. The want of proper equipment had occasioned defeat and mortification. The presence of
everything that a soldier's heart could wish or his fancy devise was sure to bring triumph that would
extinguish all memory of former failure."
General Braddock was an experienced officer, but he knew nothing of Indian warfare. Evidently he regarded
the French as his chief antagonists, and supposed that an easy victory could be won. His conversation with
Benjamin Franklin, who visited him, as postmaster-general, to make arrangements for the transmission of the
mails to and from the army, reveals much of the general's character.
"Not a long campaign, I think," he remarked to Franklin.
"Nevertheless a hard one," answered Franklin. "In such a country as this, campaigning is attended with serious
difficulties."
"But difficulties lessen before experienced officers and soldiers," responded Braddock.
"Can you give me any idea of your intended progress?" inquired Franklin, for the purpose of drawing him out,
and learning what were his real ideas of the country.
"After taking Fort Duquesne," Braddock replied, "I am to proceed to Niagara; and, having taken that, to
Frontenac, if the season will allow, and I suppose it will, for Duquesne can hardly detain me above three or
four days; and then I can see nothing to obstruct my march to Niagara."
"I supposed that it would require a longer time than that to reduce Fort Duquesne," said Washington. "The
French have had ample time to strengthen their fortification."
"That may be, but I do not apprehend much difficulty in accomplishing my object there," was the general's
confident reply.
"To be sure, sir," continued Franklin, "if you arrive well before Duquesne with these fine troops, so well
provided with artillery, the fort, though completely fortified and assisted with a very strong garrison, can
probably make but a short resistance. The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your march is from the
ambuscades of the Indians, who, by constant practice, are dexterous in laying and executing them; and your
slender line of troops, nearly four miles long, which your army must make, may expose it to be attacked by
surprise on its flanks, and to be cut like thread into several pieces, which, from their distance, cannot come up
in time to support one another."
General Braddock smiled at what he thought was Franklin's ignorance, and answered in a self-assuring
manner:
"These savages may, indeed, be a formidable enemy to raw American militia; but upon the king's regular and
disciplined troops, sir, it is impossible they should make an impression."
In describing this interview afterwards, Franklin said sarcastically:
"I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with a military man in matters of his profession and said