You Did What__ Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters - Bill Fawcett [20]
Walking freely about the walled camp, he eyed the fortification’s strong wall, able complement of men, ample supplies and weaponry. As he noted the facts and figures for his pending report to Dinwiddie, George Washington felt a sinking feeling. The French, he thought, had allowed this self-guided tour as a gesture of military superiority and contempt for their English neighbors. Major Washington’s suspicions reached self-validation when he returned to the French commander’s office and read St. Pierre’s refutation of the Virginian ultimatum, claiming he would convey the message to his superiors in France, but “…As to the summons you send me to retire, I do not think myself obliged to obey it.” To the young Virginian’s eyes, the French were preparing for war.
Propelled by his fears, Major Washington promptly departed the French fortification. His attempt to return to Virginia as quickly as possible was, however, hampered by the almost constant downpour, which had now turned entirely to snow. With streams freezing and travel via canoe now useless, the party turned to travel on horseback. The going slower than he would have liked, Major Washington gave himself once more to impetuousness and, dressing in a Native American matchcoat, broke ranks with his Virginian guide.
Proceeding on foot with the backwoodsman Christopher Gist as his sole companion, Major Washington risked his life and the little knowledge he had gained on the merciless Ohio Valley winter. Making better time than their now distant party, the two men soon came upon two natives. Hoping to obtain swift yet safe passage, Major Washington asked if they might see himself and Gist through into Virginia proper. The natives readily agreed, but a short time later, the two colonials suddenly found themselves being led into an open field.
According to later accounts, the lead native then pulled free his rifle, spun around, leveled it, and discharged his round at the two Virginians. Miraculously, the two travelers remained unharmed as the shot went wide. Christopher Gist grabbed the native and was about to reciprocate the man’s intention when Major Washington ordered him to desist. Apparently against his better judgment (and the realization of possibly being hunted by others nearby), Gist turned the would-be assassin loose. The two shaken colonials then fled the scene with deliberate speed.
Arriving in Williamsburg on January 16, 1754, George Washington offered his report as well as his diary detailing the journey’s daily events via messenger to Governor Robert Dinwiddie. Washington realized that the more powerful the French appeared, the less embarrassing his failure to send them off would be. Greatly alarmed by the somewhat exaggerated picture George Washington had painted, Dinwiddie shared the discovery with others and ordered Washington to publish his diary as evidence of the perceived impending French aggression.
Returning home, George Washington was lauded as a hero. He reported to Governor Dinwiddie of his hazardous journey, his contact with the Half-King, his meeting with the French and their seemingly resilient Ohio Valley force of occupation. Washington also told of his belief that the French were certainly preparing to advance their American holdings by force, if necessary. With Washington’s thoughts and deeds, Governor Dinwiddie rallied the General Assembly. The French, he charged, could be marching into Virginià proper and there would be little they could do to hold the British line. In response, the Virginian government hastily organized a military force and sent them to erect their own forward post in the wilderness.
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