History

Twenty-three-year-old Colonel George Washington offers some advice to his commanding officer, General Braddock, recently arrived from England. In his arrogance, Braddock discounts Washington, Franklin, and everyone else who warns him about about using British methods to fight Indians.

“The Indians,” said Braddock, “may frighten continental troops, but they can make no impression on the King's regulars!”

This book covers one battle of the French and Indian war – the battle on the Monongahela, on July 9th, 1755.

En-route to where they planned to fight, the British were ambushed by Indians who sided with the French. Braddock ordered his officers to remain on their horses, and for his men to maintain their formation and shoot from where they were. They were open targets for the Indians who shot from the woods. It was a slaughter that lasted two hours. Excepting Washington, Braddock was the last mounted officer to fall. When he fell, his regulars fled, abandoning everything. In letters home to his brother, Washington says,

...by the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!

Fifteen years after that battle, during an exploratory trip west, a band of Indians approach Washington's group. Their chief speaks through an interpreter:

I am a chief and ruler over my tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes and to the far blue mountains. I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest that I first beheld this chief. I called to my young men and said, mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe—he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do—himself is alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies. Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss--'twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you. Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased to fire at you. I am old and soon shall be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shades, but ere I go, there is something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his destinies—he will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”

The book is heavily illustrated with woodcuts, paintings and illustrations from over 150 years ago. Appendices include a map of the battle area, a time line of events, bibliography, and sources of illustrations.

This was a fascinating read, covering the events that led up to the French and Indian War and giving much detail of that particular battle. Although this is a juvenile/young adult book, there are many sources noted in the bibliography to get a more detailed read on the subject. It is interesting that this particular moment in history and Washington's response to it, was common knowledge for over one hundred and fifty years, until it was excised from American history books in the 1930s. ( )