hat a party of Indians was within twelve miles of the town, pillaging,
burning and murdering in the most terrible manner. The report filled the
inhabitants with consternation, and women and children were half crazed
with fear.

Washington ordered a company of soldiers to follow him in driving back
the foe, but not one of them would respond. Their fears were greater
than their patriotism. Suspecting that the report might be exaggerated,
he sent out scouts to learn something more definite. The scouts returned
in one hour with the startling intelligence, "The Indians are less than
four miles away, destroying everything in their track."

On being questioned by Washington as to the facts in the case, the
scouts said, "We heard their yells and guns distinctly, and there is not
a shadow of doubt but that they will fall upon Winchester within an
hour."

Washington appealed to the soldiers again, and supplemented his appeal
by authority and threats.

About forty volunteered to accompany him to meet the savage foe. Moving
with extreme caution and circumspection, they reached the spot where the
scouts heard the yells of Indian warriors. Sure enough, they heard a
kind of yell and the discharge of a musket, but nothing that indicated
the presence of savages to Washington's experienced ear. Pressing on a
few rods farther, a turn of the road disclosed to Washington two drunken
soldiers, cursing, yelling and carousing, and occasionally firing off a
pistol into the air. He made prisoners of the two worthless fellows, who
had proved the scouts to be cowards, conveyed them to Winchester, and
locked them up.

This incident shows that there was little discipline among the soldiers,
and little self-possession among the people. In his discouragement,
Washington wrote to Governor Dinwiddie:

"In all things I meet with the greatest opposition. No orders are obeyed
but such as a party of soldiers, or my own drawn sword, enforces.
Without this, not a single horse, for the most earnest occasion, can be
had, to such a pitch has the insolence of these people arrived by having
every point hitherto submitted to them. However, I have given up none
where his majesty's service requires the contrary, and when my
proceedings are justified by my instructions; nor will I, unless they
execute what they threaten, that is, 'blow out our brains.'... I would
again hint the necessity of putting the militia under a better
regulation, had I not mentioned it t