Source:Fleming-occupation/content
THE mission of Maj. George Washington and his retinue to the French forts in Northwestern Pennsylvania was a historic event that has given us some street names in commemoration of Washington's companions and the French officers with whom he came in contact and some with whom he was later engaged in actual warfare. Of Washington's companions, we have commemorated Gist, previously written of in these articles; Capt. Jacob Van Braam, Washington's French interpreter, a Dutchman by the way, and Gov. Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia, who commissioned Washington.
Dr. Cyrus Townsend Brady in his histories speaks of the latter always as Dunwoodie. Perhaps this is better Scotch, but Dinwiddie's signature is of frequent record as we are used to it in the name of a well known street.
In addition to Gist, Washington took along another sturdy frontiersman as an Indian interpreter, John Davidson; four other men "as servitors," Barnaby Currin (better spelling, Curran), John McQuire (probably Maguire), these two traders; Henry Steward and William Jenkins and several Indians.
Skilled Woodmen.
All these men, including Washington, were exceedingly well versed in woodcraft. Washington fell in with Van Braam at Fredericksburg, Va., and proceeded with him to Alexandria, where they got their necessaries for the journey, then proceedd [sic] to Manchster [sic], where they procured baggage horses.
They arrived at Wills Creek on the Potomac, now the site of Cumberland, Md., November 14, 1753. Here Washington engaged the others of his companies.
It was already winter. November 22, the small party, after their trip over the mountains arrived at the cabin of John Frazer at the mouth of Turtle Creek, on the Monongahela, opposite the site of the village of Port Perry. Here they learned of the French designs and the fact that their forces had gone into winter quarters at their northern forts.
There had been much rain and snow. Streams were swollen. Washington could not cross the streams without swimming the horses. Borrowing a canoe from Frazer, he started Curran and Stewart down the Monongahela with the baggage to meet the others at the forks of the Ohio, about 10 miles below, Washington estimated, there to cross the Allegheny. The distance is over 12 miles.
Washington arriving before the canoe men got his first view of the site of Pittsburgh and records in his journal:
"As I got down before the canoe I spent some time in viewing the rivers and the land in the fork, which I think extremely well situated for a fort as it has the absolute command of both rivers. The land at the Point is 25 feet above the common surface of the water; and a considerable bottom of flat well-timbered land all around it, very convenient for building."
Report on Rivers.
The rivers are each a quarter of a mile or more across and run here nearly at right angles; Allegheny bearing northeast, and Monongahela southeast.
"The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running water, the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall."
Washington proceeds to note in his journal that:
"About two miles from this (the Point) on the southeast side of the river, at a point where the Ohio Company intended to erect a fort, lives Shingiss, king of the Delawares. We called on him to invite him to a council at Logstown."
After commenting on the fact that a more defensible fort could be erected at the "Fork" than at the site of Shingiss' habitation at the mouth of Chartiers Creek, now McKees Rocks, Washington records that Shingiss did "attend us to Logstown where we arrived between sunsetting and dark, the twenty-fifth day after I left Williamsburg. We travelled over some exceedingly good and bad land to get to this place."
Washington remained six days at Logstown and met there Monacatootha, the Iroquois overlord. This celebrated chief is better known by his Delaware name, Scarrooyada. Messengers were sent for the half king, Tanacharison, who was on a hunting expedition, and Washington tarried until the chief could be brought in.
Indians and French.
When he came he told Washington of his recent journey to the French commander at Venango, and the stern manner in which that officer had received him. The chief recited the speeches of the officer and his own in reply, and advised Washington fully as to the best route to pursue on account of the inclemency of the season.
On November 28 Washington entertained Monacatootha and the Half King and two other sachems in his tent. Here Monacatootha informed them that an Indian had come in from Venango a few days before and that the French had called all the Mingoes, Delawares and other Indians together at that place, and told them that they had intended to have been down the river that fall, but the waters were growing cold and the winter advancing, which called them to go into quarters; but that they might assuredly expect them in the spring with a far greater number, and desired that they (the Indians) might be quite passive and not intermeddle unless they had a mind to draw all their force upon them; that they expected to fight the English three years (as they supposed there would be some attempts made to stop them), in which time they should conquer. But that if they (the Indians) should prove equally strong, they and the English would join to cut them off, and divide the land between them, that although they had lost their general, and some few of their soldiers, yet there were men enough to reinforce them, and make them masters of the Ohio.
This speech, the Indian runner told Monacatootha, had been delivered to the Indians present by one Capt. Joncaire, their interpreter-in-chief, and a man of note in the French army.
Old Fort Venango.
It is well to remember that Venango was the fort at the mouth of French, Creek, now Franklin, Pa. This creek the French called the Riviera au Boeffs [sic], the River of Beef, sometimes referred to as the Buffalo River, that animal frequenting the region for those years.
Only four Indians went with Washington's party to Venango. The half king was one, another called the Hunter was afterwards the celebrated Guyasuta. These few were considered sufficient—a greater number might arouse suspicion of evil designs and cause ill-treatment by the French. The party arrived at the fort in four days.
The weather continued bad. The distance traveled was about 60 miles.
Washington repaired to the house of John Frazier, an English subject—a blacksmith and gunsmith. Washington asked for the commander's residence. There were three officers present, one of them Joncaire, who so informed Washington. There was a general officer at the next fort, Le Boeff [sic], to whom Washington would have to go for an answer.
Joncaire was very complaisant. He invited Washington's party to supper and wine flowed freely. Washington records that this imbibing banished the restraint which at first appeared in their conversation and gave a license to their tongues to reveal their sentiments more freely.
Joncaire swore it was their absolute design to take possession of the Ohio; that although they were sensible the English could raise three men to their one, yet they knew their motions were too slow to prevent any undertaking of theirs.
"They pretend," wrote Washington, "that they have an undoubted right to the river from a discovery made by one La Salle, 60 years ago."
Purpose of Expedition.
The rise of the contemplated expedition, Joncaire asserted, was to prevent the English settling upon the river—the French had heard of some families "moving out" with that intent.
Joncaire had lived many years among the Indians and knew their customs and languages. His other name was Chabert. He kept the Indians well intoxicated and endeavored to draw them away from Washington.
The half king remained true, even if he partook of the free liquor. It took delicate handling to get the Indians away from Joncaire. As it was M. La Force, commissary of the French forces, with three soldiers, accompanied Washington's party to Fort Le Boeff [sic].
Washington here met the commander, whose name was Legardeur de St. Pierre, "a knight of the military order of St. Louis, an elderly gentleman, with much the air of a soldier." He had taken command but a week previous.
Washington was requested to await the arrival of Capt. Reparti, who commanded at the next fort, Presque Isle, on Lake Erie, who had been sent for. He came in a few days and Washington delivered his letters.
How unavailing was this mission is old history. Boiled down, the French reply was: "Here we are and here we stay."
Indian Remains True.
The half king remained true to the English. He died at Harris Ferry, now Harrisburg, the succeeding October. He was present with Ensign Edward Ward at the building of the first English fort at the Forks by direction of Capt Trent, when M. Contracoer [sic], with his great force of French and Indians, surprised the small band of English builders—33 soldiers and eight others, April 16, 1754.
Then arose Fort Duquesne. The French had only to build to their own plans, using the material furnished by their enemy.
The half king was also present in the skirmish when Jumonville was killed.
The loss of this Indian, right name Tanacharison, was a severe blow to the English. He has no commemorating name here. Nor has Monacatootha, likewise the friend of the English, one of the eight Indians who remained with Braddock; another, his son, whom Monacatootha saw slain at his side.
In the Oneida tongue this chief's name signifies "The Flaming Arrow." It is equally mellifluous with Allequippa or Winnebago. It is a trifle longer but not more so than Monongahela.
We have the name Aliquippa, however, in our street nomenclature, situated on the hill overlooking the Schenley Farms district and we have Joncaire in Junction Hollow. We had St. Pierre by the side of the Schenley Hotel, since changed into the Boulevard. We have De Villiers from M. Coulon De Villiers, half brother of the slain Jumonville, to whom Washington was compelled to surrender at Fort Necessity, and who characterized Washington as a murderer—and he was so published—on account of the writing in of the terms of capitulation the French phrase, "Dans l'assasinat du Sieur de Jumonville." Van Braam, a poor French scholar, either mistranslated or designedly withheld from Washington, who knew no French, the true meaning of the words.
Stirring Adventures.
Capts. Van Braam and Stobo, serving under Washington at Fort Necessity, were retained by the French as hostages. They were later made prisoners and each had a variety of startling adventures. Van Braam did not get his liberty for six years, and Stobo was kept nearly as long.
These stories are too long for this article.
We have Stobo street on the North Side. The name was once applied to that part of Moultrie street north of Fifth avenue, then a mere dump with a collection of ramshackle shanties inhabited by foreigners.
Van Braam street dates back to 1846, or perhaps earlier. It runs from Fifth avenue to the Bluff.
In the French names retained we have commemorated the then bitter enemies of the English people—our forefathers. Our friends Monacatootha and Tanacharison, have been passed by.
The subsequently bloody Shingiss has been well remembered in Shingiss street, now a one-sided thoroughfare opposite the end of Sixth avenue at Forbes street.
Aliquippa was visited by Washington at her home at the forks of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers.
While at Frazer's Washington recorded:
"As we intended to take horses here I went about three miles to the mouth of the Youghiogheny to visit Queen Aliquippa, who had expressed great concern that we had passed her in going to the fort. I made her a present of a match coat, and a bottle of rum, which later [sic] she thought much the better present of the two."
When you think of Aliquippa street just remember the good queen was not a teetotaler.
Serving under the French while Washington was at the French forts was an English soldier of fortune, one Thomas Forbes. He was only a private, but an observing one, and he has handed down a journal descriptive of these forts. He dates his journal January, 1755, and begins with the statement that he, with three officers and 120 private soldiers, had left old France a year and a half previously.
He served at "Quebeck," Montreal and Niagara, and went with Contracoer [sic] from the "little fort" at Niagara to Presque Isle, voyaging by canoes and keeping along the eastern coast of the lake to Presque Isle, which he apprehended was about 50 leagues from Niagara.
Forbes says of this and the other forts and the events in which he participated:
This Fort is situated on a little rising Ground at a very small Distance from the water of Lake Erie, it is rather larger than that at Niagara but has likewise no Bastions or Out-Works of any sort. It is a square arena inclosed with Logs about 12 feet high, the Logs being square and laid on each other and not more than sixteen or eighteen inches thick. Captain Darpontine was Commandant in this Fort and his Garison was 30 private Men.
We were eight days employed in unloading our Canoes here, and carrying the Provisions to Fort Boeuff which is built about six Leagues from Fort Presque Isle at the head of Buffaloe River. This Fort was composed of four Houses built by way of Bastions and the intermediate Space stockaded. Lieut St Blein was posted here with 20 men.
Down "Buffalo" River.
Here we found three large Batteans and between two or 300 Canoes which we freighted with provisions and proceeded down the Buffaloe river which flows into the Ohio at about twenty leagues (as I conceived) distance from Fort au Boeuff, this river was small and at some places very shallow so that we towed the canoes, sometimes wading and sometimes taking ropes to the shore a great part of the way.
When we came into the Ohio we had a fine deep water and a stream in our favour so that we rowed down that river from the mouth of the Buffaloe to Du Quesne Fort on Monongahela, which I take to be 70 leagues distant, is four days and a half.
At our arrival at Fort Du Quesne we found the Garison busily employed in compleating that Fort and Stockading it round at some distance for the security of the Soldiers Barracks (against any surprise) which are built between Stockados and the Glacis of the Fort.
Fort Du Quesne is built of square logs transversly placed as is frequent in mill dams, and the interstices filled up with Earth; the length of these Logs is about sixteen feet which is the thickness of the Rampart. There is a Parapet raised on the Rampart of Logs, and the length of the Curtains is about 30 feet, and the Demigorge of the Bastions about eighty. The Fort is surrounded on the two sides that do not front the Water with a Ditch about 12 feet wide and very deep, because there being no covert way the Musqutteers fire from thence having a Glacis before them.
News of Defeat.
When the News of Ensign Jumonville's Defeat reached us our company consisted of about 1400, Seven hundred of whom were ordered out under the command of Captain Mercier to attack Mr. Washington, afetr [sic] our return from the Meadows, a great number of the Soldiers who had been labouring at the Fort all the Spring were sent off in Divisions to the several Forts between that and Canada, and some of those that came down last were sent away to build a Fort somewhere on the Head of the Ohio, so that in October the Garison at Du Quesene [sic] was reduced to 400 Men, who had Provisions enough at the Fort to last two years, notwithstanding a good deal of the Flour we brought down in the Spring proved to be damaged, and some of it spoiled by the rains that fell at that Time. In October last I had an opportunity of relieving myself and retiring, there were not then any Indians with the French but a considerable number were expected and said to be on thier [sic] March thither.
Remember, the French and Indians regarded the Allegheny and Ohio as the same river.
The affair in which Jumonville lost his life was fought at daybreak May 28, 1754. It was the first engagement in which Washington ever took part. It was the initial battle which lost to Franse [sic] so much of her possessions in America.
Short and Decisive.
The engagement was short and decisive. Jumonville fell at the first fire, shot through the head. He was a native of Picardy, one of the old provinces bordering on the English Channel. His name was Coulon de Jumonville and he was 29 years old at his death.
Among the captured was the redoubtable La Force, whom Washington considered an arch enemy. He was held until July 4.
A pile of stones and a rude cross marked the grave of Jumonville, burned where he fell, when a tablet was eretced [sic] with a brief description of the event in which he lost his life. This engagement took place in the present Fayette county.
We have streets named for each in Pittsburgh—for Jumonville one running from Colwell to the bluff between Gist and Seneca, but not laid out north of Fifth avenue; one for Capt. M. Coulon de Villiers running from Reed street to Bedford avenue.
Coulon De Villiers became a prisoner of the English at the capture of Fort Niagara in 1779.
The map of portions of Western Pennsylvania and Virginia was made in 1753. The scale is 25 miles to the inch. It was copied from the original in the British Museum for the late William M. Darlington in 1882.
A scroll in the script alongside of the map recites that
The French are now coming from their Forts on and near Lake Erie to Venango to erect another Fort and from thence to the Forts of the Monongahela and to the Logs Town and so to continue down the River Building at the most conveniet [sic] places in order to prevent our settlements, etc.
A little below Shanopin Town in the Forks is the place where we are going immediately to Build a Fort as it Commanded the Ohio and Monongahela.
This "Fort" was built. It made history.
