of seven miles. This encampment is known as the "Old Orchard" camp, and was reached late in the day. There may have been some superstitious belief which caused Braddock to pass the Great Meadows without a halt. Nothing was further from the proud commander's mind while encamped at this place than the thought that within a little more than a fortnight the same should witness the disordered retreat of the remnant of his defeated army, should hear his dying moans and be his sepulcher, but such it proved to be. The following day (26th) Braddock offered a bounty of five pounds for every scalp that his Indians and soldiers should take. On account of the roughness of the road the march was a distance of four miles only. This encampment was known as "Rock Fort" or "Great Rock," and was near a fine spring, now known as Washington's Spring. The rock was situated on the crest of Laurel Hill, and near the same as occupied by Half-King the year before, when he notified Washington of the approach of Jumonville's party. Here they found another Indian camp, which had just been deserted. The fire was still burning, and a commission was found indicating that the party was under the command of Sieur Normanville. From "Rock Fort" the army marched on the 27th northward along the crest of Laurel Hill, passing within a few hundred feet of the scene of Jumonville's defeat, and to the eastward of the prominence, at the western foot of which was lately located the Jumnoville Orphan school, and encamped at Gist's plantation, where Washington had commenced a stockade the year before, a distance of some eight miles from "Rock Fort." On the 28th the army marched to the Youghiogheny and encamped at Stewart's crossing, a short distance below where the town of Connellsville now stands. The crossing was effected on the 30th, and the army pursued a northeasterly course and passed about a mile and a half below where the town of Mount Pleasant now stands, and west of Greensburg to Bush fork of Turtle Creek. Here Braddock left the Nemacolin trail and turning to the westward encamped about two miles distant from the Monongahela river. Here Washing ton joined him on the evening of July 8th, he having come forward with a detachment of 100 men with packhorses and provisions on July 3d, and was hauled to this place in a covered wagon. At 3 o'clock on the morning of July 9th Col. Thomas Gage led the advance and crossed to the west bank of the Monongahela by 8 o'clock, with a body of 300 men. He was immediately followed by another body of 200 men. Next came the general with the column of artillery, the main body of the army and the baggage. This crossing was near the site of the present town of McKeesport. The army then marched down three miles and halted to take dinner. Washington describes the march and manoeuvers of the army at this place to be the grandest sight he had ever beheld. The recrossing was effected just below the mouth of Turtle Creek, and by 1 o'clock the whole had recrossed the river. The Assault. Almost at this moment a sharp fire was heard upon the advance party, under Col. Gage, who was now ascending the |