The militia were routed, with eight men killed, and several wounded. Before Lieutenant-Colonel Smith proceeded to Concord, he detached six companies of light infantry to occupy two bridges, which it would be necessary to secure. Some minute-men and militia, who had been cautioned not to give the first fire, attempted to pass them, as common travellers. The enemy (for we must, hereafter, use that name) fired, and killed two men. A skirmish ensued; and the regulars were worsted. The militia now poured in, from every quarter. The British, finding themselves attacked on all sides, commenced a retreat, and were driven back, by inches, into Lexington. Foreboding some such event, Governor Gage had despatched Lord Percy, in the morning, with sixteen companies of foot, a body of marines, and two pieces of artillery. They arrived in time to give the regulars a short respite; but they soon renewed the retreat; and the militia continued to hang on their rear and flanks, and to gall them from trees and stone-fences, until they arrived, about sunset, at Charlestown. colonists had now taken their choice; and ratified it by the most sacred of all symbols. The very first 'drop of blood, which is shed in America,' said Chatham, 'will cause a wound, that never can be healed,** * See Note (Q). The CHAPTER VIII. Birth and Early Life of Washington-Mission to the French, on the Frontiers-Appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel, in the Virginia Regiment-Defeat at Fort Necessity-Resignation-Volunteers as Aid to General Braddock-Made Commander-in-chief of the Virginia Forces-Exertions for the Defence of the Frontiers-Abused by Governor Dinwiddie-Defamed by his Enemies-Expedition, under General Forbes, against Fort Du Quesne-Second Resignation, and Marriage. WE have hitherto abstained from giving any notices of the chief actor in our revolution, because we supposed, the importance of his part would entitle him to a distinct chapter, in our early history. It is, even now, too general an opinion, that Washington had seen little military service, before the eruption of the colonial war; but, if, as it has been remarked, his subsequent life may be considered as the history of America, his life previous to that event may be called the history of Virginia. He underwent a severe apprenticeship to the trade of war, under its most horrible aspects; and, if we can extend the knowledge of the school, in which so glorious a character was formed, we shall account ourselves sufficiently excused for an episode in our story. George Washington, the third son of Augustine Washington, the grandson of John Washington, who emigrated from England, in 1657, was born at Bridges Creek, in the county of Westmoreland, in Virginia, on the 22d of February, 1732. He lost his father at ten years of age. His education was scanty; his patrimony inconsiderable; and he spent the early part of his life in the profession of a surveyor. At the age of fifteen, his urgent solicitations for a post in the British navy, procured for him the warrant of a midshipman; but the affectionate interposition of a timid mother reserved him for a more glorious career. Nothing, however, can be a stronger evidence of his early proficiency in military science, than, that, at the age of nineteen, he was appointed an adjutant-general of Virginia; and, two years afterwards, selected for the perilous and difficult enterprise of carrying Mr. Dinwiddie's letter to the French commander, on the western posts. Nor does his own account of the manner, in which he executed the trust, tend at all to diminish our opinion of his capacity for observation, and of his patience under fatigue, hardship, hunger, and cold.* * His Journal is published, at length, in the appendix to Judge Marshall's second volume. He set out from Williamsburg, on the 31st of October, 1753; and, passing through Fredericksburg, Alexandria, and Winchester, arrived at Wills' Creek, the westernmost English settlement, on the 14th of November. A guide and four servitors were procured: but, so excessive had been the fall of rain and snow, that it was as late as the 23d, before our adventurer reached the forks of the Ohio, a distance of about fifty miles. 'I spent some time (says he) 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 twenty or twenty-five feet above the common surface of the water; and a considerable bottom of flat, well timbered land all around it, very convenient for building. The rivers are each a quarter of a mile, or more, across, and run here very nearly at right angles; Alleghany, bearing north-east; and Monongahela, south-east. The former of these two is a very rapid and swift running water; the other deep and still, without any perceptible fall.' Shingess, the king of the Delawares, accompanied the party to Loggstown, a settlement, about eighteen miles from the forks; where they arrived between sunset and dark, on the 24th; and where it was intended to disclose the object of the expedition, in a council of the Six Nations. As the Half-King was absent at his hunting-cabin, Mr. Washington went to Monakatoocha; gave him a string of wampum and a 'twist of tobacco;' and, after obtaining a promise, that all the sachems should be sent for, in the morning, invited him and the other great men to his tent. The Half-King arrived the next day; and Mr. Washington did not omit to interrogate him, particularly, respecting his visit to the French commander. The chief recited the whole of the speech, which he made on the occasion; and which concluded in these words: 'Fathers, both you and the English are white; we live in a country between; therefore, the land belongs to neither the one nor the other. But the great Being above allowed it to be a place of residence for us: so, fathers, I desire you to withdraw, as I have done our brothers, the English; for I will keep you at arms' length. I lay this down as a trial for both, to see which will have the greatest regard to it; and that side we will stand by, and make equal sharers with us. Our brothers, the English, have heard this; and I come now to tell it to you; for I am not afraid to discharge you off this land;' delivering up the French wampum, as a token of disagreement. The general, he said, answered him, in a contemptuous speech, beginning with Now, my child;' called all the Indians 'flies and mosquitoes;' 'slung' back the wampum; told the Half-King, he talked foolish;' and |