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[Sharpe to Calvert.]
Bladensburg Iuly 23d 1755. transmitted by Capt a
Duplicate was sent to his Ldp at the same time by a
Ship to Bristol.
Sir
I am sorry to have such an Occasion to write but as we have
a Ship just about to sail I embrace the Opportunity to acquaint
you that I have this Instant received a Letter from Capt Orme
(who is at Fort Cumberland ill of his wounds) in which he
gives me a brief Account of the unfortunate Engagement
between the Troops commanded by General Braddock & the
French from Fort Du Quesne on the 9th Inst. In the morning of
that Day the General crossed the Monongahela twice the last
time at about 7 Miles from the French Fort: A Party of 500
Men having passed the River advanced toward the Fort &
was immediately followed by another of 200, the General with
the Column of Artillery Baggage & the main Body of the
Army got over about one o Clock when they heard a very
heavy & quick Fire in the Front, the General & the main
Body immediately advanced in Order to sustain them but the
two advanced Detachments giving way & falling back on the
main Body caused great Confusion & the Men were struck
with such a Pannick that afterwards no military Expedient
which could be used had any Effect they were deaf to the
Exhortations of the General & the Officers who advancing
sometimes in Bodies & sometimes seperately were sacrificed
by the Soldiers declining to follow them. The General had 5
Horses shot under him before he received a wound thro his
right Arm into his Lungs of which he died the fourth Day after
Sr Peter Halkett & the Generals Secretary were killed on the
Spot Sr Iohn St Clair is wounded but there is room to hope
he will recover the inclosed is a particular Account of the
Officers that fell & of those that survived the Action. The
Number of private Centinels killed & wounded is about
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