this grant,
steps were directly taken to effect those objects, by establishing
trading houses among the Indians near the Ohio, and by engaging
persons to make such a survey of the country, as would enable the
grantees to effect a location of the quantity allowed them, out of the
most valuable lands. The company endeavored to complete their survey
with all possible secrecy, and by inducing the Indians to believe
their object to be purely commercial, to allay any apprehensions,
which might otherwise arise, of an attempt to gain possession of the
country.

The attempt to accomplish their purpose of territorial aggrandizement,
with secrecy, was fruitless and unavailing.--The Pennsylvania traders,
fearful that they would lose the profitable commerce carried on with
the Indians, excited their jealousy by acquainting them with the real
motive of the company; while the French actually seized, and made
prisoners, of their traders, and opened and secured, by detachments of
troops stationed at convenient situations, a communication from Presq'
Isle to the Ohio river.

The Ohio company sent a party of men to erect a stockade fort at the
confluence of the Monongahela and Alleghany rivers, which had been
recommended by General Washington as a suitable position for the
erection of fortifications.[2] This party of men was accompanied by a
detachment of militia, which had been ordered out by the governor; but
before they could effect their object, they were driven off by the
French, [53] who immediately took possession of the place, and erected
thereon Fort du Quesne. These transactions were immediately succeeded
by the war, usually called Braddock's war, which put an end to the
contemplated settlement, and the events of which are, for the most
part, matter of general history. It may not however be amiss to relate
some incidents connected with this war, which though of minor
importance, may yet be interesting to some; and which have escaped the
pen of the historian.

In Braddock's army there were two regiments of volunteer militia from
Virginia.[3] One of these was commanded by Col. Russel of Fairfax;
the other by Col. Fry, and was from Shenandoah and James rivers. In
this latter regiment there was a company from Culpepper, commanded by
Capt. Grant, (afterwards known as a considerable land holder in
Kentucky) and of which John Field (who was killed in the battle at
Point Pleasant) was a lieutenant. There was likewise in this regime