Braddock had heard something of the Virginia colonel even before
leaving England; and was not so much honoring this colonial officer, as
immeasurably strengthening his own good right arm--if he had only had
the discernment to know it. As results showed, Braddock did not need
his heavy cannon nearly so much as he needed an insight into wilderness
ways.
Just before Braddock started west on his ill-fated expedition, he
conferred at Fredericktown, Maryland, with the Postmaster General of
Pennsylvania, a strong, practical man, who was to obtain some
greatly-needed horses and wagons for his artillery and supplies. This
man, a middle-aged and rather plain sort of fellow--and the youthful
Virginia colonel whom he may have met then for the first time--possibly
attracted very little attention in the gaudy military array. But
American history could ill have spared either Benjamin Franklin or
George Washington.
We will not narrate again in detail here the oft-told story of
Braddock's Defeat--how he insisted on marching across the mountains and
valleys of Pennsylvania, as though on parade--with banners flying,
fifes shrilling, and drums beating. It was a brave display, and such
as the old General was accustomed to, in Europe. It would undoubtedly
put the French and their skulking allies to instant flight!
Against such a method of warfare Washington raised his voice of
counsel, but in vain.
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