Honored Madam:
As I doubt not but you have heard of our defeat, and perhaps have it
represented in a worse light (if possible) than it deserves; I have
taken this earliest opportunity to give you some account of the
engagement, as it happened within seven miles of the French fort, on
Wednesday the ninth.
We marched on to that place without any considerable loss, having only
now and then a straggler picked up by the French scouting Indians.
When we came here, we were attacked by a body of French and Indians
whose number (I am certain) did not exceed 300 men; ours consisted of
about 1,300 well-armed troops, chiefly of the English soldiers who
were struck with such a panic that they behaved with more cowardice
than it is possible to conceive. The officers behaved gallantly in
order to encourage their men, for which they suffered greatly, there
being nearly 60 killed and wounded, a large proportion out of the
number we had! The Virginia troops showed a good deal of bravery and
were near all killed, for I believe out of three companies that were
there, there is scarce 30 men left alive. Capt. Peyrouny and all his
officers down to a corporal was killed. Capt. Polson shared near as
hard a fate, for only one of his was left. In short the dastardly
behavior of those they call regulars exposed all others that were
inclined to do their duty to almost certain death, and at last, in
despite of all the efforts of the officers to the contrary, they broke
and run as sheep pursued by dogs, and it was impossible to rally them.
The general was wounded, of which he died three days after. Sir Peter
Halket was killed in the field where died many other brave officers. I
luckily escaped without a wound, though I had four bullets through my
coat and two horses shot under me. Captains Orme and Morris, two of
the general’s aides de camp, were wounded early in the engagement,
which rendered the duty hard upon me, as I was the only person then
left to distribute the general’s orders, which I was scarcely able to
do, as I was not half recovered from a violent illness that confined
me to my bed and a wagon for above ten days. I am still in a weak and
feeble condition, which induces me to halt here two or three days in
hopes of recovering a little strength to enable me to proceed
homewards, from whence, I fear, I shall not be able to stir till
towards September, so that I shall not have the pleasure of seeing you
till then, unless it be in Fairfax. Please give my love to Mr. Lewis
[_his brother-in-law_] and my sister and compliments to Mr. Jackson
and all other friends that inquire after me. I am, Honored Madam, your
most dutiful son.