THE CONSEQUENCE OF ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE
I. ANNOYANCES AND ANTAGONISMS
Heroism appears often to be a thankless task. Patience had about
vanished when, most opportunely, Adjutant Muse, Washington’s
instructor in military tactics, arrived with much needed supplies, and
also suitable presents for the Indians. A grand ceremonial of
presentation took place. The pompous ceremonial seemed to be very dear
to the heart of those so-called simple children of the forests. The
chiefs were decorated in all their barbaric finery. Washington wore a
big medal sent him by the Governor, intended to be impressively used
on such occasions. Washington gave the presents and decorated the
chiefs and warriors with the medals, which they were to wear in memory
of their brethren, the English, and their father, the King of
England.
One of the warriors, the son of Queen Aliquippa, wanted the honor of
having an English name, so, in elaborate ceremonial, Washington
bestowed upon him the name Fairfax. The principal chief of the tribes
desiring a like honor was given the name of the governor, Dinwiddie.
William Fairfax had, about this time, written a letter to Washington
advising that he hold religious services in camp, especially for the
benefit of the Indians. This was done, and the imagination can picture
the motley assembly being so solemnly presided over in that
picturesque wilderness by the boyish commander of a no less motley
army.
In reading about big wars, in which there are millions striving for
the bloody mastery, with monster machines of modern destruction, it
may sound trivial to read of the fear with which Washington’s
wilderness army heard of the approach of ninety Frenchmen. But, in
truth, this handful of men were at the beginning of the greatest human
interests, and were giving direction to human affairs hardly less
consequential than the European War.
Washington, with the buoyant fervor of youth, sallied forth from the
fort, hoping to have the honor of presenting Governor Dinwiddie with a
choice lot of French prisoners. The scouts had certainly been well
scared. The ninety French warriors were found to be nine deserters
anxious to be captured. But they gave valuable information regarding
Fort Duquesne, which was put to good use by Washington.
Now began one of those little annoyances which marked the feeling of
British officers toward Colonial officers, and showed the state of
mind which was at last to be an intolerable antagonism between England
and America.
Captain Mackay arrived with an independent company of North
Carolinians. Captain Mackay held a commission direct from the King,
Washington held his by Colonial authority; therefore, Captain Mackay
believed himself and his company to have far superior standing to that
of Washington and his provincial men.
The result was that he would not associate himself in any way with
Washington nor allow his men to have anything in common with
Washington’s men. No matter what Washington urged as to their common
danger and their common cause, he very haughtily flouted every attempt
made to have the two commanders work together.
The experience Washington had in managing this delicate and foolish
situation was doubtless very valuable in handling even more delicate
and foolish situations of vastly more consequence in the coming
revolutionary war.
II. DISHONORS AND DISASTERS
Finding that co-operation with the North Carolina troops was
impossible, Washington left Fort Necessity in their charge, and toiled
forward through the forest, making a military road toward Fort
Duquesne, which was at the point where Pittsburg now is, and which was
in the very heart of the region claimed by the English colonies.
Washington reached the station kept by Christopher Gist. This was the
heroic woodsman who had been his companion through the most perilous
part of his romantic journey when he carried the history-making
message from the Governor of Virginia to the Commander of the French.
Here he learned that a large force from Fort Duquesne was coming
against him. He hastily threw up fortifications and called in all his
forces, including several companies of Indians. A messenger was
hastily despatched to Captain Mackay at Fort Necessity, thirteen miles
away, and he came on with the swivel guns of the fort. A council of
war soon decided that they could not hold their own at this place, and
must retreat to more favorable grounds for a stand against the enemy.
In the retreat that followed, the Virginians were greatly exasperated
by the North Carolinians. Mackay’s men were “King’s soldiers” and so
would not belittle themselves with the labors of the retreat. At Great
Meadows, in the center of which was Fort Necessity, the Virginians,
exhausted and resentful, refused to go any farther, and Washington
decided to make his stand there.
They had left Gist’s station none too soon. At dawn on the morning
following the retreat, Captain de Villiers with five hundred Frenchmen
and several hundred Indians surrounded the place. Finding that the
English had escaped, they were about to return to Fort Duquesne, when
a deserter from Washington’s camp arrived. He told them that he had
escaped to keep from starving to death, and that the troops under
Washington were in mutiny over their desperate situation.
De Villiers set out at once to capture Fort Necessity.
Meanwhile, Washington set the Virginians at work strengthening the
defences of the fort. The Indians seeing such inferior equipment for
defense, and the discord among the troops, became afraid and deserted.
On the morning of July 3, 1754, the French arrived at the edge of
Great Meadows and began firing from behind trees, at whatever they
could see. All day Washington kept his men close sheltered in the
trenches, keeping the enemy at rifle’s distance in the edge of the
woods. At night a steady downpour of rain began, half drowning the men
in the trenches and ruining their ammunition.
At eight o’clock the French demanded a parley looking to the surrender
of Fort Necessity. Washington at first refused, but their condition
was hopeless. The only person with them who understood any French was
Jacob Van Braam, the swordsmanship teacher of Washington at Mount
Vernon.
Van Braam went back and forth in the drenching storm of the black
night, between the lines, with the negotiations. At last the French
sent in their ultimatum. Van Braam tried to translate it by the light
of a candle, under cover of a rude tent, through which the rain was
pouring upon candle, paper and persons. The terms of the surrender
were very humiliating and reflected severely on Washington’s honor,
but according to Van Braam’s translation the terms, though hard, were
acceptable.
Washington signed the document and the next morning the bedraggled and
disheartened men marched out with the honors of war, though the
document of surrender, as afterward correctly translated, did not
leave a shred of honor for the defeated colonists. It was then
believed that Van Braam had purposely mistranslated it in the service
of the French, with whom he and Captain Stobo had to remain as
hostages. But subsequent information from the French exonerated Van
Braam from this charge, deciding that the mistranslation was from
ignorance and not intentional.
The soldiers were put into quarters at Will’s creek, and Washington
went on to make his report to the Governor.
The Virginia legislature took up an investigation of the charges as to
Van Braam’s treason and Captain Stobo’s cowardice, as well as the
conduct of Washington, and the questions of the surrender. Thanks and
rewards were freely voted to the troops, but it was some time later
before evidence came in, establishing the patriotic character of Van
Braam and Stobo.
III. WASHINGTON ENTERING THE SCHOOL OF WAR
The French were so elated with their victory, and the belief that the
English had been permanently expelled, that they withdrew most of
their troops from Fort Duquesne and abandoned all precautions against
surprise and attack. Before the end of a month Captain Stobo, who was
being held by them as hostage, smuggled a letter out by a friendly
Indian describing all the conditions and laying out a plan by which
the fort could easily be surprised and taken. He mentioned the boasts
of the French and said it was worse than death to hear them. He said
that he and his fellow prisoner, Van Braam, were ready at any time to
lay down their lives for their country. This letter, after much
wandering, reached the Governor of Pennsylvania and was by him sent to
the Governor of Virginia.
Captain Stobo’s plan was practical. As all kinds of Indians were being
allowed without question to come and go as they pleased at Fort
Duquesne, he advised that the fort be first occupied by friendly
Indians, who would hold it till it could be turned over to the
Colonial troops.
Governor Dinwiddie wanted the honor himself and he planned several
ways of his own to capture the fort. These were rejected by
Washington.
Now began unceasingly the wrangle and turmoil between the arrogance of
King’s authority and the native independence of the colonist’s ideals
and character. The colonists were not allowed to have any officer
above the rank of Captain, and Washington quit the service.
Governor Sharpe, of Maryland, was appointed by the King as Commander
of all the forces used to recover the King’s territory from the
French, and he wrote a letter to Washington, trying to enlist his
services.
Washington’s reply gives some insight into his independence and
maturity of mind at this time.
“You make mention,” he replied, “of my continuing in the service and
retaining my colonel’s commission. The idea has filled me with
surprise; for, if you think me capable of holding a commission that
has neither rank nor emolument annexed to it, you must maintain a very
contemptible opinion of my weakness, and believe me more empty than
the commission itself.”
He added that it was no desire to quit the service which caused him to
reject the offer, but the call of honor and the advice of friends,
because his feelings were strong for the military life.
Washington now returned to Mount Vernon, where he took up a quiet
agricultural life, though constantly in association and council with
his countrymen over the rapidly developing questions of war between
the colonies and the French.
France was secretly pouring troops and means into Canada, and England
was as busy making ready in the equipment of the colonies, though the
two home governments were professing to be profoundly at peace.
Alexandria, near by, merely a pleasurable horseback ride from Mount
Vernon, was the scene of gathering forces, now under command of an
experienced English General named Braddock. Ships of war and
transports were constantly passing up the Potomac past Mount Vernon.
What a glorious array over Washington’s ragged forces of the year
before! His military ardor was again kindled. The boom of cannon
outranked the moo of cattle in his meadows. The youth of twenty-three,
who had already tasted the glory as well as the defeat of battle,
could no longer endure the peaceful shades of Mount Vernon. He let it
be known that he would like to be attached as an independent volunteer
to General Braddock’s staff. The offer was very decorously given and
accepted. He had neither “rank nor emolument” in this position, but it
was also neither subservient nor responsible. He was merely an
attache, a visitor as it were, in General Braddock’s family of
advisers.
His mother, hearing of this move to return to the army, hurried to
Mount Vernon to dissuade him. She wanted him to remain a country
gentleman attending to their property interests, which were hard for
her to manage. But the spirit of Washington seemed to feel a greater
destiny. His mind was made up and he joined the General whose name is
so familiar in the history classes of the public schools in the
United States.
This conflict, so important in preparing the colonies for the struggle
toward independence and for the causes that made them seek
independence, became known in American history as the French and
Indian war.
The story of it can nowhere be better told, nor more understandingly
read, for its significance to American independence, than in the
school histories.