The one thing happened which Washington had felt anxious about--a surprise by the Indians.

He had more than once warned Braddock of this danger, and Benjamin Franklin had warned him too before the expedition started, but Braddock, with perfect British contempt, had replied that though savages might be formidable to raw Colonials, they could make no impression on disciplined troops.

The surprise came and thus Washington reports it: When we came to this place, we were attacked (very unexpectedly) by about three hundred French and Indians.

Our numbers consisted of about thirteen hundred well armed men, chiefly Regulars, who were immediately struck with such an inconceivable panick, that nothing but confusion and disobedience of orders prevailed among them.

The officers, in general, behaved with incomparable bravery, for which they greatly suffered, there being near 60 killed and wounded--a large proportion, out of the number we had! The Virginia companies behaved like men and died like soldiers; for I believe out of three companies that were on the ground that day scarce thirty were left alive.Capt.Peyroney and all his officers, down to a corporal, were killed; Capt.