nt,
a company of riflemen, from Augusta, commanded by Capt. Samuel Lewis,
(the eldest son of John Lewis, who, with Mackey and Salling, had been
foremost in settling that country) who was afterwards known as Col.
Samuel Lewis of Rockingham.[4] In this company was also contained the
five brothers of Capt. Lewis. Andrew, afterwards Gen. Lewis of
Botetourt--Charles, afterwards Col. Lewis, who was likewise killed at
Point Pleasant--William, John and Thomas. Among their compatriots in
arms, were the five sons of Capt. John Matthews, (who had accompanied
Burden to Virginia) Elihu Barkley, John McDowell,[5] Paul Whitly,
James Bell, Patrick Lockard, and a number of others of the first
settlers of Augusta, Rockbridge and Rockingham.

From the time the army crossed the Alleghany mountain, its movements
were constantly watched by Indian spies, from Fort du Quesne; and as
it approached nearer the point of destination, runners were regularly
despatched, to acquaint the garrison with its progress, and manner of
marching.--When intelligence was received that Braddock still moved in
close order, the Indians laid the plan for surprising him, and carried
it into most effectual execution with but little assistance from the
French.[6]

[54] At the place where the English crossed the Monongahela river,
there are about two acres of bottom land, bounded by the river on the
east, and by a ledge of high cliffs on the west. Through these cliffs
there is a considerable ravine, formed by the flowing of a small
rivulet--On the summit, a wide prospect opens to the west, of a
country whose base is level, but surface uneven. On this summit lay
the French and Indians concealed by the prairie grass and timber, and
from this situation, in almost perfect security, they fired down upon
Braddock's men. The only exposure of the French and Indians, resulted
from the circumstance of their having to raise their heads to peep
over the verge of the cliff, in order to shoot with more deadly
precision. In consequence, all of them who were killed in the early
part of the action, were shot through the head.[7]

The companies, commanded by Capt. Grant and Lewis,[8] were the first
to cross the river. As fast as they landed they formed, and proceeding
up the ravine, arrived at the plain on the head of the rivulet,
without having discovered the concealed enemy which they had just
passed. So soon as the rear of Braddock's army had crossed the river,
the enemy raised a