the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第34章
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terms。 The general； too； was highly satisfied with my conduct in procuring
him the waggons； etc。； and readily paid my account of disbursements；
thanking me repeatedly； and requesting my farther assistance in sending
provisions after him。 I undertook this also； and was busily employ'd in it
till we heard of his defeat； advancing for the service of my own money；
upwards of one thousand pounds sterling； of which I sent him an account。
It came to his hands； luckily for me； a few days before the battle； and he
return'd me immediately an order on the paymaster for the round sum of
one thousand pounds； leaving the remainder to the next account。 I consider
this payment as good luck； having never been able to obtain that
remainder； of which more hereafter。
This general was； I think； a brave man； and might probably have made
a figure as a good officer in some European war。 But he had too much
self…confidence； too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops； and
too mean a one of both Americans and Indians。 George Croghan； our
Indian interpreter； join'd him on his march with one hundred of those
people； who might have been of great use to his army as guides； scouts；
etc。； if he had treated them kindly； but he slighted and neglected them； and
they gradually left him。
In conversation with him one day； he was giving me some account of
his intended progress。 〃After taking Fort Duquesne；〃 says he； 〃I am to
proceed to Niagara； and； having taken that； to Frontenac； if the season will
allow time； and I suppose it will； for Duquesne can hardly detain me
above three or four days； and then I see nothing that can obstruct my
march to Niagara。〃 Having before revolv'd in my mind the long line his
army must make in their march by a very narrow road； to be cut for them
thro' the woods and bushes； and also what I had read of a former defeat of
fifteen hundred French； who invaded the Iroquois country； I had conceiv'd
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some doubts and some fears for the event of the campaign。 But I ventur'd
only to say； 〃To be sure； sir； if you arrive well before Duquesne； with these
fine troops； so well provided with artillery； that place not yet compleatly
fortified； and as we hear with no very strong garrison； can probably make
but a short resistance。 The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your
march is from ambuscades of Indians； who； by constant practice； are
dexterous in laying and executing them； and the slender line； near four
miles long； which your army must make； may expose it to be attack'd by
surprise in its flanks； and to be cut like a thread into several pieces； which；
from their distance； can not come up in time to support each other。〃
He smil'd at my ignorance； and reply'd； 〃These savages may； indeed；
be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia； but upon the king's
regular and disciplin'd troops； sir； it is impossible they should make any
impression。〃 I was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing with a
military man in matters of his profession； and said no more。 The enemy；
however； did not take the advantage of his army which I apprehended its
long line of march expos'd it to； but let it advance without interruption till
within nine miles of the place； and then； when more in a body （for it had
just passed a river； where the front had halted till all were come over）； and
in a more open part of the woods than any it had pass'd； attack'd its
advanced guard by a heavy fire from behind trees and bushes； which was
the first intelligence the general had of an enemy's being near him。 This
guard being disordered； the general hurried the troops up to their
assistance； which was done in great confusion； thro' waggons； baggage；
and cattle； and presently the fire came upon their flank： the officers； being
on horseback； were more easily distinguish'd； pick'd out as marks； and fell
very fast； and the soldiers were crowded together in a huddle； having or
hearing no orders； and standing to be shot at till two…thirds of them were
killed； and then； being seiz'd with a panick； the whole fled with
precipitation。
The waggoners took each a horse out of his team and scamper'd； their
example was immediately followed by others； so that all the waggons；
provisions； artillery； and stores were left to the enemy。 The general； being
wounded； was brought off with difficulty； his secretary； Mr。 Shirley； was
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killed by his side； and out of eighty…six officers； sixty…three were killed or
wounded； and seven hundred and fourteen men killed out of eleven
hundred。 These eleven hundred had been picked men from the whole army；
the rest had been left behind with Colonel Dunbar； who was to follow with
the heavier part of the stores； provisions； and baggage。 The flyers； not
being pursu'd； arriv'd at Dunbar's camp； and the panick they brought with
them instantly seiz'd him and all his people； and； tho' he had now above
one thousand men； and the enemy who bad beaten Braddock did not at
most exceed four hundred Indians and French together； instead of
proceeding； and endeavoring to recover some of the lost honour； he
ordered all the stores； ammunition； etc。； to be destroy'd； that he might have
more horses to assist his flight towards the settlements； and less lumber to
remove。 He was there met with requests from the governors of Virginia；
Maryland； and Pennsylvania； that he would post his troops on the frontiers；
so as to afford some protection to the inhabitants； but he continu'd his
hasty march thro' all the country； not thinking himself safe till he arriv'd at
Philadelphia； where the inhabitants could protect him。 This whole
transaction gave us Americans the first suspicion that our exalted ideas of
the prowess of British regulars had not been well founded。
In their first march； too； from their landing till they got beyond the
settlements； they had plundered and stripped the inhabitants； totally
ruining some poor families； besides insulting； abusing； and confining the
people if they remonstrated。 This was enough to put us out of conceit of
such defenders； if we had really wanted any。 How different was the
conduct of our French friends in 1781； who； during a march thro' the most
inhabited part of our country from Rhode Island to Virginia； near seven
hundred miles； occasioned not the smallest complaint for the loss of a pig；
a chicken； or even an apple。
Captain Orme； who was one of the general's aids…de…camp； and； being
grievously wounded； was brought off with him； and continu'd with him to
his death； which happen'd in a few days； told me that he was totally silent
all the first day； and at night only said； 〃Who would have thought it？〃 That
he was silent again the following day； saying only at last； 〃We shall better
know how to deal with them another time；〃 and dy'd in a few minutes
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after。
The secretary's papers； with all the general's orders； instructions； and
correspondence； falling into the enemy's hands； they selected and
translated into French a number of the articles； which they printed； to
prove the hostile intentions of the British court before the declaration of
war。 Among these I saw some letters of the general to the ministry；
speaking highly of the great service I had rendered the army； and
recommending me to their notice。 David Hume； too； who was some years
after secretary to Lord Hertford； when minister in France； and afterward to
General Conway； when secretary of state； told me he had seen among the
papers in that office； letters from Braddock highly recommending me。 But；
the expedition having been unfortunate； my service； it seems； was not
thought of much value； for those recommendations were never of any use
to me。
As to rewards from himself； I ask'd only one； which was； that he
would give orders to his officers not to enlist any more of our bought
servants； and that he would discharge such as had been already enlisted。
This he readily granted； and several were accordingly return'd to their
masters； on my application。 Dunbar； when the command devolv'd on him；
was not so generous。 He being at Philadelphia； on his retreat； or rather
flight； I apply'd to him for the discharge of the servants of three poor
farmers of Lancaster county that he had enlisted； reminding him of the late
general's orders on that bead。 He promised me that； if the masters would
come to him at Trenton； where he should be in a few days on his march to
New York； he would there deliver their men to them。 They accordingly
were at the expense and trouble of going to Trenton； and there he refus'd to
perform his promise； to their great loss and disappointment。
As soon as the loss of the waggons and horses was generally known；
all the owners came upon me for the valuation which I had given bond to
pay。 Their demands gave me a great deal of trouble； my acquainting them
that the money was ready in the paymaster's hands； but that orders for
paying it must first be obtained from General Shirley； and my assuring
them that I had apply'd to that general by letter； but； he being at a distance；
an answer could not soon be receiv'd； and they must have patience； all this
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was not sufficient to satisfy； and some began to sue me。 General Shirley at
length relieved me from this terrible situat
