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268 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. II.
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one to the other to keep the Communication between the
Inhabitants open & if Indian Parties venture to make Incursions
to give the Alarm & dispose themselves in such a manner as
to cut off their Retreat. The Expence hereof I shall be enabled
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p. 126
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to defray by the Subscripsion that has been made & out of the
same Fund I shall support the Maryland Company that was
with the General which is now at Fort Cumberland with the N
Carolina & the Remains of the Virga Forces. I found by Colo
Dunbar & the other Officers that I visited at the Fort that
there had been many unhappy Divisions in the Army that
General Braddock commanded, Himself & the two Colonels
were scarcely on speaking Terms & very few beside four or
five Favourites mention him with Regret. It has been hinted
to me that in case he had succeeded against the Fort the
several Companies that have been raised in & that are sup-
ported by these Provinces would have been regimented & given
to Lieutt Colo Burton of Dunbars, Capt Morris one of the Aid
de Camps was to have been Lieutt Colo & Capt Dobson Major
& Capt Orme the other Aid de Camp was to have succeeded
Burton as Lieutt Colonel in the Regiment that Dunbar com-
mands. This it is said the General requested by Letters that
were sent home before the Action but possibly the unhappy
Turn that Affairs have now taken may prevent the Ministry's
Compliance with the Request. Inclosed you have an Exact &
Regimental Return of the Officers & Men that fell in the
Action, of them that were wounded & those that escaped
unhurt. Some few have since died of their wounds at Fort
Cumberland where the Hospital yet remains. Sr I St Clair
was shot thro the Body under the Right Pap but is in a fair
way to recover & I expect him here in a fortnight or three
weeks. It was I think as extraordinary a Defeat as ever was
heard of, tis supposed that the Indians who that Day opposed
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p. 127
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General Braddock were not less than 1 500 or 2000 yet none
of the English that were engaged saw more than 100 & many
of the Officers as well as Men who were the whole time of its
Continuance in the Heat of the Action will not assert that they
saw an Enemy. When the Detachment of 300 commanded
by Lieutt Colo Gage was beyond the River about ^ of a Mile
they were fired on from an Eminence or small Hill which they
were about to ascend, upon which they returned the Fire &
halted till Sr I St Clair with the Detachment of ono rame up
the General immediately hurried on the main Body to sustain
them while the Enemy who consisted almost entirely of Indians
(or French in Indian dress) extended themselves all along the
Hill which was on the General's right Flank & posting them-
selves severally behind the large Trees that grew thereon fired
in Security & did great Execution. The novelty of such Fight-
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