deven367/babylm-100M-gutenberg · Datasets at Hugging Face

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wilderness, watching the French, and battling with the frozen rivers! Ah,
George! learning may be a very good thing, but I wish my elder son were
doing something in the service of his country!"
Mr. Washington on his return home began at once raising such a regiment
as, with the scanty pay and patronage of the Virginian government, he
could get together, and proposed with the help of these men-of-war to put
a more peremptory veto upon the French invaders than the solitary
ambassador had been enabled to lay. A small force under another officer,
Colonel Trent, had already been despatched to the west, with orders to
fortify themselves so as to be able to resist any attack of the enemy.
The French troops greatly outnumbering ours, came up with the English
outposts, who were fortifying themselves at a place on the confines of
Pennsylvania where the great city of Pittsburg now stands. A Virginian
officer with but forty men was in no condition to resist twenty times
that number of Canadians who appeared before his incomplete works. He was
suffered to draw back without molestation; and the French, taking
possession of his fort, strengthened it and christened it by the name of
the Canadian governor, Du Quesne. Up to this time no actual blow of war
had been struck. It was strange that in a savage forest of Pennsylvania a
young Virginian officer should fire a shot and waken up a war which was
to last for sixty years, which was to cover his own country and pass into
Europe, to cost France her American colonies, to sever ours from us, and
create the great Western Republic; to rage over the old world when
extinguished in the new; and of all the myriads engaged in the vast
contest, to leave the prize of the greatest fame with him who struck the
first blow!
He little knew of the fate in store for him. A simple gentleman, anxious
to serve his king and do his duty, he volunteered for the first service,
and executed it with admirable fidelity. In the ensuing year he took the
command of the small body of provincial troops with which he marched to
repel the Frenchmen. He came up with their advanced guard and fired upon
them, killing their leader. After this he had himself to fall back with
his troops, and was compelled to capitulate to the superior French
force. On the 4th of July, 1754, the Colonel marched out with his troops
from the little fort where he had hastily entrenched himself, and which
they called Fort Necessity, gave up the place to the conqueror, and took
his way home.
His command was over, his regiment disbanded after the fruitless,
inglorious march and defeat. Saddened and humbled in spirit, the young
officer presented himself after a while to his old friends at Castlewood.
But surely no man can have better claims to sympathy than bravery, youth,
good looks, and misfortune. Mr. Washington's room at Castlewood was more
than ever Mr. Washington's room now. Madame Esmond raved about him and
praised him in all her companies. She more than ever pointed out his
excellences to her sons, contrasting his sterling qualities with Harry's
love of pleasure and George's listless musing over his books. George was
not disposed to like Mr. Washington any better for his mother's
extravagant praises. He coaxed the jealous demon within him until he must
have become a perfect pest to himself and all his friends round about
him. He uttered jokes so deep that his simple mother did not know their
meaning, but sat bewildered at his sarcasms.
Meanwhile the quarrel between the French and English North Americans,
from being a provincial, had grown to be a national quarrel.
Reinforcements from France had already arrived in Canada, and English
troops were expected in Virginia. It was resolved to wrest from the
French all the conquests they had made upon British dominion. A couple of
regiments were raised and paid by the king in America, and a fleet with a
couple more was despatched from home under an experienced commander. In
February, 1755, Commodore Keppel, in the famous ship "Centurion,"
anchored in Hampton Roads with two ships of war under his command, and
having on board General Braddock, his staff, and a part of his troops.
Mr. Braddock was appointed by the Duke. A fleet of transports speedily
followed him bringing stores, and men and money in plenty.
The arrival of the General and his little army caused a mighty excitement
all through the provinces, and nowhere greater than at Castlewood. Harry
was off forthwith to see the troops under canvas at Alexandria. The sight
of their lines delighted him, and the inspiring music of their fifes and
drums. He speedily made acquaintance with the officers of both regiments;
he longed to join in the expedition upon which they were bound, and was
a welcome guest at their mess.
We may be sure that the arrival of the army and the approaching campaign
formed the subject of continued conversation in the Castlewood family. To
make the campaign was the dearest wish of Harry's life. He dreamed only
of war and battle; he was forever with the officers at Williamsburg; he
scoured and cleaned and polished all the guns and swords in the house; he
renewed the amusements of his childhood and had the negroes under arms,
but eager as he was to be a soldier, he scarcely dared touch on the
subject with George, for he saw to his infinite terror how George, too,
was occupied with military matters, and having a feudal attachment for
his elder brother, and worshipping him with an extravagant regard, he
gave way in all things to him as the chief, and felt that should George
wish to make the campaign he would submit. He took note that George had
all the military books of his grandfather brought down from his
book-shelves, and that he and Dempster were practising with the foils
again; and he soon found that his fears were true. Mr. Franklin of
Philadelphia, having heard that Madame Esmond had beeves and horses and
stores in plenty, which might be useful to General Braddock, recommended
the General to conciliate her by inviting her sons to dinner, which he at
once did. The General and the gentlemen of his family made much of them,
and they returned home delighted with their entertainment; and so pleased
was their mother at the civility shown them that she at once penned a
billet thanking his Excellency for his politeness, and begging him to fix
the time when she might have the honour of receiving him at Castlewood.
Madame Esmond made her boys bearers of the letter in reply to his
Excellency's message, accompanying her note with handsome presents for
the General's staff and officers, which they were delighted to accept.
"Would not one of the young gentlemen like to see the campaign?" the
General asked. "A friend of theirs, who often spoke of them--Mr.
Washington, who had been unlucky in the affair of last year--had already
promised to join him as aide-de-camp, and his Excellency would gladly

wilderness, watching the French, and battling with the frozen rivers! Ah,

George! learning may be a very good thing, but I wish my elder son were

doing something in the service of his country!"

Mr. Washington on his return home began at once raising such a regiment

as, with the scanty pay and patronage of the Virginian government, he

could get together, and proposed with the help of these men-of-war to put

a more peremptory veto upon the French invaders than the solitary

ambassador had been enabled to lay. A small force under another officer,

Colonel Trent, had already been despatched to the west, with orders to

fortify themselves so as to be able to resist any attack of the enemy.

The French troops greatly outnumbering ours, came up with the English

outposts, who were fortifying themselves at a place on the confines of

Pennsylvania where the great city of Pittsburg now stands. A Virginian

officer with but forty men was in no condition to resist twenty times

that number of Canadians who appeared before his incomplete works. He was

suffered to draw back without molestation; and the French, taking

possession of his fort, strengthened it and christened it by the name of

the Canadian governor, Du Quesne. Up to this time no actual blow of war

had been struck. It was strange that in a savage forest of Pennsylvania a

young Virginian officer should fire a shot and waken up a war which was

to last for sixty years, which was to cover his own country and pass into

Europe, to cost France her American colonies, to sever ours from us, and

create the great Western Republic; to rage over the old world when

extinguished in the new; and of all the myriads engaged in the vast

contest, to leave the prize of the greatest fame with him who struck the

first blow!

He little knew of the fate in store for him. A simple gentleman, anxious

to serve his king and do his duty, he volunteered for the first service,

and executed it with admirable fidelity. In the ensuing year he took the

command of the small body of provincial troops with which he marched to

repel the Frenchmen. He came up with their advanced guard and fired upon

them, killing their leader. After this he had himself to fall back with

his troops, and was compelled to capitulate to the superior French

force. On the 4th of July, 1754, the Colonel marched out with his troops

from the little fort where he had hastily entrenched himself, and which

they called Fort Necessity, gave up the place to the conqueror, and took

his way home.

His command was over, his regiment disbanded after the fruitless,

inglorious march and defeat. Saddened and humbled in spirit, the young

officer presented himself after a while to his old friends at Castlewood.

But surely no man can have better claims to sympathy than bravery, youth,

good looks, and misfortune. Mr. Washington's room at Castlewood was more

than ever Mr. Washington's room now. Madame Esmond raved about him and

praised him in all her companies. She more than ever pointed out his

excellences to her sons, contrasting his sterling qualities with Harry's

love of pleasure and George's listless musing over his books. George was

not disposed to like Mr. Washington any better for his mother's

extravagant praises. He coaxed the jealous demon within him until he must

have become a perfect pest to himself and all his friends round about

him. He uttered jokes so deep that his simple mother did not know their

meaning, but sat bewildered at his sarcasms.

Meanwhile the quarrel between the French and English North Americans,

from being a provincial, had grown to be a national quarrel.

Reinforcements from France had already arrived in Canada, and English

troops were expected in Virginia. It was resolved to wrest from the

French all the conquests they had made upon British dominion. A couple of

regiments were raised and paid by the king in America, and a fleet with a

couple more was despatched from home under an experienced commander. In

February, 1755, Commodore Keppel, in the famous ship "Centurion,"

anchored in Hampton Roads with two ships of war under his command, and

having on board General Braddock, his staff, and a part of his troops.

Mr. Braddock was appointed by the Duke. A fleet of transports speedily

followed him bringing stores, and men and money in plenty.

The arrival of the General and his little army caused a mighty excitement

all through the provinces, and nowhere greater than at Castlewood. Harry

was off forthwith to see the troops under canvas at Alexandria. The sight

of their lines delighted him, and the inspiring music of their fifes and

drums. He speedily made acquaintance with the officers of both regiments;

he longed to join in the expedition upon which they were bound, and was

a welcome guest at their mess.

We may be sure that the arrival of the army and the approaching campaign

formed the subject of continued conversation in the Castlewood family. To

make the campaign was the dearest wish of Harry's life. He dreamed only

of war and battle; he was forever with the officers at Williamsburg; he

scoured and cleaned and polished all the guns and swords in the house; he

renewed the amusements of his childhood and had the negroes under arms,

but eager as he was to be a soldier, he scarcely dared touch on the

subject with George, for he saw to his infinite terror how George, too,

was occupied with military matters, and having a feudal attachment for

his elder brother, and worshipping him with an extravagant regard, he

gave way in all things to him as the chief, and felt that should George

wish to make the campaign he would submit. He took note that George had

all the military books of his grandfather brought down from his

book-shelves, and that he and Dempster were practising with the foils

again; and he soon found that his fears were true. Mr. Franklin of

Philadelphia, having heard that Madame Esmond had beeves and horses and

stores in plenty, which might be useful to General Braddock, recommended

the General to conciliate her by inviting her sons to dinner, which he at

once did. The General and the gentlemen of his family made much of them,

and they returned home delighted with their entertainment; and so pleased

was their mother at the civility shown them that she at once penned a

billet thanking his Excellency for his politeness, and begging him to fix

the time when she might have the honour of receiving him at Castlewood.

Madame Esmond made her boys bearers of the letter in reply to his

Excellency's message, accompanying her note with handsome presents for

the General's staff and officers, which they were delighted to accept.

"Would not one of the young gentlemen like to see the campaign?" the

General asked. "A friend of theirs, who often spoke of them--Mr.

Washington, who had been unlucky in the affair of last year--had already

promised to join him as aide-de-camp, and his Excellency would gladly