rary, broke and ran as sheep before hounds, leaving
the artillery, ammunition, provisions, baggage, and, in short,
everything a prey to the enemy. And when we endeavored to rally them,
in hopes of regaining the ground and what we had left upon it, it was
with as little success as if we had attempted to have stopped the wild
bears of the mountains or rivulets with our feet; for they would break
by, in despite of every effort that could be made to prevent it.

"The General was wounded in the shoulder and breast, of which he died
three days after; his two aids-de-camp were both wounded, but are in a
fair way of recovery; Colo. Burton and Sr. John St. Clair are also
wounded and I hope will get over it; Sir Peter Halket, with many other
brave officers, were killed in the field. It is supposed that we had
three hundred or more killed; about that number we brought off wounded,
and it is conjectured (I believe with much truth) that two-thirds of
both received their shot from our own cowardly Regulars, who gathered
themselves into a body, contrary to orders, ten or twelve deep, would
then level, fire and shoot down the men before them.

"I tremble at the consequences that this defeat may have upon our back
settlers, who, I suppose, will all leave their habitations unless there
are proper measures taken for their security.

"Colo. Dunbar, who commands at present, intends, as soon as his men are
recruited at this place, to continue his march to Philadelphia for
winter quarters,[38] consequently there will be no men left here,
unless it is the shattered remains of the Virginia troops, who are
totally inadequate to the protection of the frontiers."

CAPTAIN DE CONTRECOEUR

Monsieur de Contrecoeur, captain of infantry commanding at Fort
Duquesne, having been informed that the English would march out from
Virginia to come to attack him, was warned a little time afterward that
they were on the road. He put spies through the country who would inform
him faithfully of their route. The 7th of this month (July) he was
warned that the army, composed of 3,000 men of the regular English
forces were only six leagues from his fort. The commander employed the
next day in making his arrangements, and on the 9th of the month he sent
Monsieur de Beaujeu against the enemy and gave him for second in command
Monsieurs Dumas and de Lignery, all three of