Of Boone's part in Braddock's campaign nothing more is recorded save that on the march he made friends with John Findlay, the trader, his future guide into Kentucky; and that, on the day of the defeat, when his wagons were surrounded, he escaped by slashing the harness, leaping on the back of one of his horses, and dashing into the forest.
Meanwhile the southern tribes along the border were comparatively quiet.
That they well knew a colossal struggle between the two white races was pending and were predisposed to ally themselves with the stronger is not to be doubted.

French influence had long been sifting through the formidable Cherokee nation, which still, however, held true in the main to its treaties with the English.

It was the policy of the Governors of Virginia and North Carolina to induce the Cherokees to enter strongly into the war as allies of the English.

Their efforts came to nothing chiefly because of the purely local and suicidal Indian policy of Governor Glen of South Carolina.

There had been some dispute between Glen and Dinwiddie as to the right of Virginia to trade with the Cherokees; and Glen had sent to the tribes letters calculated to sow distrust of all other aspirants for Indian favor, even promising that certain settlers in the Back Country of North Carolina should be removed and their holdings restored to the Indians.