which "the officers are desired, if they hear any man swear, or make use of any oath or execration, to order the offender twenty-five lashes immediately, without a courtmartial. For the second offense he will be more severely punished." To a captain who had taken advantage of his years to write somewhat haughtily to his young colonel, he replied that he had heard bad reports of him, and concluded by saying, "If I hear any just complaints against you, you may expect to answer them." To another captain, whose lieutenant was refractory, he wrote, "Tell Mr. L- he is not to stir from his post at his peril until he has leave; if he does, I will arrest him for his disobedience of orders, and try him as soon as he arrives here."

Earl Loudon had succeeded Governor Shirley in the chief command in the colonies, and was now on his way to this country. He was expected to land in Virginia, and Washington, in anticipation of his arrival, drew up a lucid paper, containing a narrative of events since the beginning of hostilities, pointed out the errors that had been made, and suggested the course that should be adopted in future. Loudon, however, did not go to Virginia, but called a meeting [March, 1757,] of the different governors and chief officers at Philadelphia. Washington was among the number, and was received by the commander-in-chief with marked attention. In that convention it was decided that, in prosecuting the war which had now been openly declared by England against France, the whole force of the army should be directed against the Canada borders. Virginia was to be left to carry out her defensive operations, which doomed Washington to the perplexing, harassing life of the past year. He returned to Winchester, recalled the troops from Fort Cumberland, by order of Loudon, and employed himself in resisting the encroachments of the Indians.

During the summer [1757] he was subject to the orders of Colonel Stanwix, stationed in Pennsylvania, whom Lou

don had placed over the middle and southern provinces. In the mean time he urged an expedition against Fort Du Quesne, declaring that the mustering of forces in the north had so exhausted the French garrisons along the Ohio that they would fall an easy conquest. The governor coincided with him in his views, but he was not allowed to carry them out, and the summer wore away in struggling with the old difficulties, and in skirmishes with the Indians, whose presence near the fort was always announced by the murder of white men.

But in the autumn Washington began to decline in health. His magnificent constitution was evidently sinking, and, though he endeavored for a while to bear up against the pressure of disease, he at length yielded before it, and retired to Mount Vernon and took to his bed. Although his physical labors had been of the most exhausting kind, it was not so much these as the harassed and perplexed state of mind he was kept in by others, that finally broke him down. A slow fever settled upon him, and for four months he was kept at home an invalid.

In January, Governor Dinwiddie sailed for England, leaving few regrets behind him. Although zealous and active in the service of the colonies, he was petulant, meddlesome, and a constant marplot to most of the military operations of Washington. In the latter part of his career he seemed to delight in thwarting the plans of the young officer whom he had at first befriended. For defeating one of them he ought to be held in grateful remembrance. It was the earnest desire of Washington to enter the regular army, and he set on foot measures to secure his transfer, and would have succeeded but for the interference of the goverWhat effect on his future career his duty and honor as a British officer would have had, it is impossible to determine, but probably quite enough to prevent his becoming commander-in-chief of the rebel forces.

nor.

The great interest of the colonies now gathered round the northern border, where two strong armies were assem bling to decide the fate of a continent. But both Loudon and Abercrombie seemed in no haste to precipitate a crisis, and let the months wear away in idleness. All this time the small, rapid, irritable, yet clear-headed Field-Marshal Montcalm was improving every hour. Loading the Indians with presents, but refusing them rum, singing with the different tribes their war-songs, he aroused their enthusiasm and bound them to him by strong affection. Their activity in his service soon drenched the frontier in blood.

About two months before Washington retired to Mount Vernon sick, the capture and massacre of Fort William Henry took place-the Braddock defeat of the north. Every movement of the regular troops proved disastrous, and the provincials effected all that was done. The English had not now a foothold in the basin of the Ohio; they had been driven away from the St. Lawrence, both sides of which the French held possession. The northern lakes, too, had fallen into the hands of the latter, and their armies, swelled by vast hordes of Indians, threatened to sweep downward to Albany. The British arms and the provinces were disgraced. All this Washington saw and felt, as he lay and tossed on his feverish bed. But Pitt once more stood at the head of the government, and it was expected that under his energetic administration, affairs would soon assume a different aspect. As a relief to the inertness and imbecility of these distinguished commanders came the war-shout of Frederic of Prussia, from the heights of Rossbach, as with twenty thousand men he chased sixty thousand before him-and the loud chorus of his troops as they stormed over the batteries of Leuthen. Standing up in central Europe, this strong-hearted hero "determined to save his country or perish." With Russia, Sweden, Austria and France closing steadily upon him with their powerful

armies, his brave spirit only rose with the increasing danger. "To save the state," said he, "I dare the impossible." "The number and position of the enemy are not questions to be thought of. We must beat them, or all of us find our graves before their batteries." About going into battle, he said "The regiment of cavalry that shall not instantly charge when ordered, shall be dismounted and sent into garrison-the battalion of infantry that shall but falter, shall lose its colors and its swords. Now farewell, friends; soon we shall have vanquished, or see each other no more." With these brave words, though outnumbered three to one. he turned on his powerful adversaries in succession, and with blow after blow, that astounded the civilized world, overwhelmed their pride and redeemed his country. Such tidings ever and anon came to Washington's ears, as he lay an invalid, showing that his views of a true hero were not ideal. Frederic became one of his favorite characters; he watched his struggle with the deepest sympathy, and was no doubt influenced much in after life by his conduct and character. He was the only living man of whom Washington had a bust in his house at Mount Vernon.

As spring opened Washington slowly improved; but he considered his constitution so thoroughly broken down that it would require great care and a long time to recruit, and he seriously contemplated resigning his command and all prospects of preferment. He, however, changed his purpose, and in March set out to join the army. The effort of travel brought on a return of his disease, but he rallied again, and soon after resumed his command at Fort Loudon.

In the mean time Pitt had made some changes in colo nial matters. Francis Fauquier was appointed to take the place of Dinwiddie, and Forbes of Stanwix. Loudon had been superseded by Jeffrey Amherst, who was seconded by the gallant Wolf, while-though Abercrombie retained hi

command-Lord Howe had been appointed as the real leader of the enterprise intrusted to him. Three expeditions were planned-one under Amherst and Admiral Boscawan against Louisburg-a second under Abercrombie against Ticonderoga, and the third under Forbes to effect the conquest of the Ohio valley. To insure the cheerful cooperation of the colonists, Pitt wrote them a circular letter, calculated to inspire all with new spirit. Arms, ammunition, tents and provisions would thereafter be supplied by the king, while the provincial officers were to hold equal rank with those of the regular army. The Virginia assembly immediately met and voted to increase the army to two thousand men. These, divided into two regiments, and acting in concert with his majesty's troops, were designated to march against Fort Du Quesne.

The

It was about this time, while on his way to Williamsburg, that Washington was first made acquainted with the young widow who was destined to become his wife. young colonel, in military undress, mounted on a splendid charger and attended by a single tall body servant, both the gift of the dying Braddock as he fled from the fatal field of Monongahela, had just crossed Williams's Ferry, over the Pamunkey, a branch of York river, when he was met by Mr. Chamberlayne, a Virginia gentleman of the old school, who invited him to his house. Washington excused himself, on the ground of urgent business with the governor. But the hospitable planter would take no denial, and at last succeeded in turning the scale by promising to introduce him to a young and beautiful widow. The colonel finally consented to stop and dine—nothing more. A short delay could be made up by hard riding and pressing further into the night. In dismounting he gave his horse into the charge of his servant Bishop, with explicit instructions to have him at the door at a certain hour. Giving his arm to his guest, the hospitable planter entered the house and