the average colonist; can, in fact, teach that person
"how to suck eggs." The colonist, of course, on his part--and in the
majority of cases with justice--regards the "new chum," or "tender
foot," as a somewhat helpless creature. But the Britisher despises, or
at least he used to despise, the mere colonist. Hence have arisen not a
few disasters. The little--travelled Britisher does not readily learn
that local conditions in all countries are not the same, that
dispositions and customs which suit one are totally out of place and
useless in another. That was how General Braddock made so terrible and
absolute a fiasco of his expedition; it was the custom of the British
army to fight standing in line--(and, in truth, many a notable victory
had they won before, and many have they won since, in that
formation)--therefore fight thus in line they must, no matter what the
nature of the country in which they fought. Hence, in dense forest,
surrounded by yelling savages, our men stood up to be shot by a foe whom
they never saw till it was too late, and panic had set in amongst the
few survivors. Had our troops been taught to adapt themselves to
circumstances and to fight as the colonists fought, as the French in
Canada had learned to fight, as the Red Indians fought, taking every
advantage of cover, Braddock need not thus unnecessarily have lost
nearly seventy per cent, of his force. In matters appertaining to war
or to fighting, it was beneath the dignity, most unhappily it was
beneath the dignity, of a British general to regard as of possible value
the opinion of a mere colonial, no matter how experienced in Indian
fighting the latter might be, or how great his knowledge of the country.
It was that, no doubt, which induced Braddock to disregard the opinion,
and to pooh-pooh the knowledge of his then A.D.C. George Washington. Yet
it was nothing but Washington's knowledge that saved the van of
Braddock's defeated force.

In like manner, had this little exploring expedition been accompanied by
colonists experienced in Indian ways, or had they chosen to make use of
Indian scouts, disaster might have been averted. As it was, almost on
the threshold of their journey they were ambushed, and cut off by the
Redskins. Robson, Davers, and two of the men were speedily picked off by
the concealed enemy, or were killed in the final rush of the painted,
yelling savages. The little force was scattered to the winds. One or
two, taking to the wa