Benjamin Franklin, since celebrated over all the
world; who did not much admire this iron-tempered General with the
pipe-clay brain. [Franklin's AUTOBIOGRAPHY;--Gentleman's Magazine,--xxv.
378.] Thereupon, however, Braddock took the road again; sprawled and
staggered, at the long last, to the top; "at the top of the Alleghanies,
15th June;"--and forward down upon FORT DUQUESNE, "roads nearly
perpendicular in some places," at the rate of "four miles" and even of
"one mile per day." Much wood all about,--and the 400 Indians to rear,
in a despised and disgusted condition, instead of being vanward keeping
their brightest outlook.

July 8th, Braddock crossed the Monongahela without hindrance. July 9th,
was within ten miles of FORT DUQUESNE; plodding along; marching through
a wood, when,--Ambuscade of French and Indians burst out on him, French
with defences in front and store of squatted Indians on each flank,--who
at once blew him to destruction, him and his Enterprise both. His men
behaved very ill; sensible perhaps that they were not led very well.
Wednesday, 9th July, 1755, about three in the afternoon. His two
regiments gave one volley and no more; utterly terror-struck by the
novelty, by the misguidance, as at Prestonpans before; shot, it was
whispered, several of their own Officers, who were furiously rallying
them with word and sword: of the sixty Officers, only five were not
killed or wounded. Brave men clad in soldier's uniform, victims of
military Chaos, and miraculous Nescience, in themselves and in others:
can there be a more distressing spectacle? Imaginary workers are all
tragical, in this world; and come to a bad end, sooner or later, they
or their representatives here: but the Imaginary Soldier--he is paid his
wages (he and his poor Nation are) on the very nail!

Braddock, refusing to fall back as advised, had five horses shot under
him; was himself shot, in the arm, in the breast; was carried off the
field in a death-stupor,--forward all that night, next day and next (to
Fort Cumberland, seventy miles to rear);--and on the fourth day died.
The Colonial Militias had stood their ground, Colonel Washington now of
some use again;--who were ranked well to rearward; and able to receive
the ambuscade as an open fight. Stood striving, for about three hours.
And would have saved the retreat; had there been a retreat, instead of
a panic rout, to save. The poor General--ebbing homewards, he and his
Enterprise, hour