service, cause me to lament
the hour that gave me a commission: and would induce me, at any other
time than this of imminent danger, to resign, without one hesitating
moment, a command from which I never expect to reap either honor or
benefit; but, on the contrary, have almost an absolute certainty of
incurring displeasure below, while the murder of helpless families may
be laid to my account here. The supplicating tears of the women and
moving petitions of the men melt me into such deadly sorrow that I
solemnly declare, if I know my own mind, I could offer myself a willing
sacrifice to the butchering enemy, provided that would contribute to the
people's ease."

Two days afterwards, he addressed another letter to the governor, in
which he said:

"Not an hour, nay, scarcely a minute, passes, that does not produce
fresh alarms and melancholy accounts. Nor is it possible to give the
people the necessary assistance for their defence, on account of the
small number of men we have, or that are likely to be here for some
time. The inhabitants are removing daily, and in a short time will leave
this country as desolate as Hampshire, where scarce a family lives."

"Three families were murdered night before last, at the distance of less
than twelve miles from this place; and every day we have accounts of
such cruelties and barbarities as are shocking to human nature. It is
not possible to conceive the situation and danger of this miserable
country. Such numbers of French and Indians are all round that no road
is safe; and here we know not the hour we may be attacked."

For nearly two years Washington vainly attempted the defence of the
frontier, the French and Indians all the while plundering and murdering
the inhabitants in one locality while he was defending another,
multiplying scenes of barbarity as only savages could. The following
description of a single scene is by Washington himself:

"One day as we drew near, through the woods, to a dwelling, suddenly we
heard the discharge of a gun. Whereupon, quickening our pace, and
creeping up through the thick bushes to a fence, we saw what we had
dreaded--a party of Indians, loaded with plunder, coming out of a house,
which, by the smoke, appeared as if it were just set on fire. In a
moment we gave the savages a shower of rifle balls, which killed every
man of them but one, who attempted to run off, but in vain; for some of
our swift-footed hunters gave chase, and soon overtook