in； French and Indians rather harassing his rear。 In…trenches himself； 1st July； at what he calls 〃Fort Necessity；〃 some way down； and the second day after； 3d July； 1754； is attacked in vigorous military manner。 Defends himself； what he can； through nine hours of heavy rain； has lost thirty； the French only three；and is obliged to capitulate： 〃Free Withdrawal〃 the terms given。 This is the last I heard of the Ohio Company； not the last of Washington； by any means。 Ohio Company；its judicious Nest…egg squelched in this manner； nay become a fiery Cockatrice or 〃FORT DUQUESNE：〃need not be mentioned farther。
By this time； surely high time now； serious military preparations were on foot； especially in the various Colonies most exposed。 But； as usual； it is a thing of most admired disorder； every Governor his own King or Vice…King； horses are pulling different ways： small hope there； unless the Home Government （where too I have known the horses a little discrepant； unskilful in harness！） will seriously take it in hand。 The Home Government is taking it in hand； horses willing； if a thought unskilful。 Royal Highness of Cumberland has selected General Braddock； and Two Regiments of the Line （the two that ran away at Prestonpans；ABSIT OMEN）。 Royal Highness consults； concocts； industriously prepares； completes； modestly certain that here now is the effectual remedy。
About New…year's day； 1755； Braddock； with his Two Regiments and completed apparatus； got to sea。 Arrived； 20th February； at Williamsburg in Virginia （〃at Hampden； near there；〃 if anybody is particular）； found now that this was not the place to arrive at； that he would lose six weeks of marching； by not having landed in Pennsylvania instead。 Found that his Stores had been mispacked at Cork；that this had happened； and also that；and； in short； that Chaos had been very considerably prevalent in this Adventure of his； and did still； in all that now lay round it； much prevail。 Poor man： very brave； they say； but without knowledge； except of field…drill； a heart of iron； but brain mostly of pipe…clay quality。 A man severe and rigorous in regimental points； contemptuous of the Colonial Militias； that gathered to help him； thrice…contemptuous of the Indians； who were a vital point in the Enterprise ahead。 Chaos is very strong；especially if within oneself as well！ Poor Braddock took the Colonial Militia Regiments； Colonel Washington as Aide…de…Camp； took the Indians and Appendages； Colonial Chaos much presiding： and after infinite delays and confused hagglings； got on march；2；000 regular； and of all sorts say 4；000 strong。
Got on march； sprawled and haggled up the Alleghanies；such a Commissariat； such a wagon…service； as was seldom seen before。 Poor General and Army； he was like to be starved outright； at one time； had not a certain Mr。 Franklin come to him； with charitable oxen； with 500 pounds…worth provisions live and dead； subscribed for at Philadelphia；Mr Benjamin Franklin； since celebrated over all the world； who did not much admire this iron…tempered General with the pipe…clay brain。 ＇Franklin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY； Gentleman's Magazine； xxv。 378。＇ Thereupon； however； Braddock took the road again； sprawled and staggered； at the long last； to the top； 〃at the top of the Alleghanies； 15th June；〃and forward down upon FORT DUQUESNE； 〃roads nearly perpendicular in some places；〃 at the rate of 〃four miles〃 and even of 〃one mile per day。〃 Much wood all about；and the 400 Indians to rear； in a despised and disgusted condition； instead of being vanward keeping their brightest outlook。
July 8th； Braddock crossed the Monongahela without hindrance。 July 9th； was within ten miles of FORT DUQUESNE； plodding along； marching through a wood； when；Ambuscade of French and Indians burst out on him； French with defences in front and store of squatted Indians on each flank；who at once blew him to destruction； him and his Enterprise both。 His men behaved very ill； sensible perhaps that they were not led very well。 Wednesday； 9th July； 1755； about three in the afternoon。 His two regiments gave one volley and no more； utterly terror…struck by the novelty； by the misguidance； as at Prestonpans before； shot； it was whispered； several of their own Officers； who were furiously rallying them with word and sword： of the sixty Officers； only five were not killed or wounded。 Brave men clad in soldier's uniform； victims of military Chaos； and miraculous Nescience； in themselves and in others： can there be a more distressing spectacle？ Imaginary workers are all tragical； in this world； and come to a bad end； sooner or later； they or their representatives here： but the Imaginary Soldierhe is paid his wages （he and his poor Nation are） on the very nail！
Braddock； refusing to fall back as advised； had five horses shot under him； was himself shot； in the arm； in the breast； was carried off the field in a death…stupor；forward all that night； next day and next （to Fort Cumberland； seventy miles to rear）；and on the fourth day died。 The Colonial Militias had stood their ground； Colonel Washington now of some use again；who were ranked well to rearward； and able to receive the ambuscade as an open fight。 Stood striving； for about three hours。 And would have saved the retreat； had there been a retreat； instead of a panic rout； to save。 The poor Generalebbing homewards； he and his Enterprise； hour after hourroused himself twice only； for a moment； from his death…stupor： once； the first night； to ejaculate mournfully； 〃Who would have thought it！〃 And again once； he was heard to say； days after； in a tone of hope； 〃Another time we will do better！〃 which were his last words； 〃death following in a few minutes。〃 Weary； heavy…laden soul； deep Sleep now descending on it；soft sweet cataracts of Sleep and Rest； suggesting hope； and triumph over sorrow； after all：〃Another time we will do better；〃 and in few minutes was dead！ ＇Manuscript JOURNAL OF GENERAL BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION IN 1755 （British Museum： King's Library； 271 e； King's Mss。 212）： raw…material； this； of the Official Account （ London Gazette； August 26th； 1755）； where it is faithfully enough abridged。 Will perhaps be printed by some inquiring PITTSBURGHER； one day； after good study on the ground itself？ It was not till 1758 that the bones of the slain were got buried； and the infant Pittsburg （now so busy and smoky） rose from the ashes of FORT DUQUESNE。＇
The Colonial Populations； who had been thinking of Triumphal Arches for Braddock's return； are struck to the nadir by this news。 French and Indians break over the Mountains； harrying； burning； scalping； the Black Settlers fly inward； with horror and despair： 〃And the Home Government； too； can prove a broken reed？ What is to become of us； whose is America to be？〃And in fact； under such guidance from Home Governments and Colonial； there is no saying how the matter might have gone。 To men of good judgment； and watching on the spot； it was； for years coming； an ominous dubiety；the chances rather for the French； 〃who understand war； and are all under one head。〃 ＇Governor Pownal's Memorial （of which INFRA）； in Thackeray's Life of Chatham。 ＇ But there happens to be in England a Mr。 Pitt； with royal eyes more and more indignantly set on this Business； and in the womb of Time there lie combinations and conjunctures。 If the Heavens have so decreed！
The English had； before this； despatched their Admiral Boscawen； to watch certain War…ships； which they had heard the French were fitting out for America； and to intercept the same； by capture if not otherwise。 Boscawen is on the outlook； accordingly； descries a French fleet； Coast of Newfoundland； first days of June； loses it again in the fogs of the Gulf…Stream； but has； June 9th （a month before that of Braddock）； come up with Two Frigates of it； and； after short broadsiding； made prizes of them。 And now； on this Braddock Disaster； orders went； 〃To seize and detain all French Ships whatsoever； till satisfaction were had。〃 And； before the end of this Year； about 〃800 French ships （value； say； 700；000 pounds）〃 were seized accordingly； where seizable on their watery ways。 Which the French （〃our own conduct in America being so undeniably proper〃） characterized as utter piracy and robbery；and getting no redress upon it； by demand in that style； had to take it as no better than meaning Open War Declared。 ＇Paris； December 21st； 1755； Minister Rouille's Remonstrance； with menace 〃UNLESS：〃 London； January 13th； 1756； Secretary Fox's reply； 〃WELL THEN； NO！〃 Due official 〃Declaration of War〃 followed： on the English part； 〃17th May； 1756；〃 〃9th June；〃 on the French part。＇
Chapter XV。
ANTI…PRUSSIAN WAR…SYMPTOMS： FRIEDRICH VISIBLE FOR A MOMENT。
The Burning of AKAKIA； and those foolish Maupertuis…Voltaire Duellings （by syringe and pistol） had by no means been Friedrich's one concern； at the time Voltaire went off。 Precisely in those same months； Carnival 1752…1753； King Friedrich had； in a profoundly private manner； come upon certain extensive Anti…Prussian Symptoms； Austrian； Russian； Saxon； of a most dangerous； abstruse； but at length indubitable sort； and is； ever since； prosecuting his investigation of them； as a thing of life and death to him！ Symptoms that there may well be a THIRD Silesian War ripening forward； inevitable； and of weightier and fiercer quality than ever。 So the Symptoms indicate to Friedrich； with a fatally increasing clearness。 And； of late； he has to reflect withal： 〃If these French…English troubles bring War； our Symptoms will be ripe！〃 As； in fact； they proved to be。
King Friedrich's investigations and decisions on this matter will be touched upon； farther on： but readers can take； in the mean time； the following small Documentary Piece as Note of Preparation。 The facts shadowed forth are of these Years now current （1752…1755）； though this judicial Deposition to the Facts is of ulterior date （1757）。
In the course of 1756； as will well appear farther on； it became manifest to the Saxon Court and to all the world that somebody had been playing traitor in the Dresden Archives。 Somebody； especially in the Foreign Department； copying furtively；