Their progress, quickened as it was, still seemed slow to Washington, but he was taken ill with a fever, and finally was compelled by Braddock to stop for rest at the ford of Youghiogany.

He made Braddock promise that he should be brought up before the army reached Fort Duquesne, and wrote to his friend Orme that he would not miss the impending battle for five hundred pounds.
As soon as his fever abated a little he left Colonel Dunbar, and, being unable to sit on a horse, was conveyed to the front in a wagon, coming up with the army on July 8.

He was just in time, for the next day the troops forded the Monongahela and marched to attack the fort.
The splendid appearance of the soldiers as they crossed the river roused Washington's enthusiasm; but he was not without misgivings.
Franklin had already warned Braddock against the danger of surprise, and had been told with a sneer that while these savages might be a formidable enemy to raw American militia, they could make no impression on disciplined troops.

Now at the last moment Washington warned the general again and was angrily rebuked.
The troops marched on in ordered ranks, glittering and beautiful.
Suddenly firing was heard in the front, and presently the van was flung back on the main body.

Yells and war-whoops resounded on every side, and an unseen enemy poured in a deadly fire.