Within a very short time after the commence ment of the fight, from the advantageous position and deadly fire of the French, the whole duty of transmitting the general's orders devolved upon Washington, who was the only aid-de-camp alive and unwounded. Trying occasions, however, were those in which his remarkable qualities were best developed; and it was in the midst of the carnage and horrors of " Braddock's defeat," that men first began to prophesy the glorious career pre pared for him in the wisdom of an all-seeing Pro vidence. Two horses were shot under him, and his coat pierced by four balls, but he escaped with out a wound. Five horses were also killed under General Braddock, and when at last that gallant but unfortunate commander fell mortally wounded, the whole British force fled outright, leaving the care of their general to Washington and two other individuals. The provincial troops bore the whole brunt of the day, and suffered dreadfully: in two companies, every officer but one was killed, in cluding the very corporals. The regulars saved their lives by their disgraceful panic, but they never regained in the provinces that renown for military invincibility, which formed one of the strongest bands of colonial dependence.
The reputation of Washington, both for conduct and courage, was greatly increased by the cam paign of the Monongahela: it was generally known among the troops, that his advice would have saved the army from defeat, and perhaps con duced to ultimate success, while his coolness in battle was the theme of universal panegyric. The legislature of Virginia, at this period of public dis tress, ordered a regiment of sixteen companies to be formed, and the command was immediately be stowed upon Colonel Washington, with the addi tional title of " commander in chief of all the forces raised or to be raised in the colony of Virginia." The power annexed of selecting all field officers, was an extraordinary exhibition of the confidence and respect with which he had already impressed his countrymen.
The duties of Washington's new station were ar duous and responsible, without any of the corres ponding gratifications. He was called upon to protect an extensive and exposed frontier, against the predatory incursions of an enemy subdivided into small parties, and formidable from their ac tivity and skill in the warfare of the wilderness; while the forces of Virginia where wholly in adequate to the results expected from their harassed commander. It is needless to enter into the details of his history at this period, for they present little more than a series of laborious exertions for the welfare and discipline of his soldiers, mixed with constant remonstrances to the government of Vir ginia, which was not always well advised in its re solutions: In the way of active hostilities, the pro vincial troops had frequent skirmishes with the enemy, in all of which they exhibited the fruits of their strict training; but no conflict occurred of sufficient consequence to deserve special comme moration. At length, in 1758, Fort Du Quesne was captured without resistance by the advanced guard of General Forbes's expedition, commanded by Colonel Washington: and thenceforward the middle colonies were freed from the terrors of French and Indian hostility. Our hero (and surely no man was ever better entitled to the appellation), now felt himself at liberty to return to that enjoy ment of private happiness, which had for some time been the object of his warmest aspirations; and he laid down his commission amid the general regret of his countrymen, who treated the resig nation as a public loss. He shortly after was mar ried to Mrs. Custis, a lady possessing personal merits more than equal to her extensive estates, and who contributed largely during the whole of her husband's after life, to his domestic quiet and felicity. He was not, however, entirely withdrawn from public duties, for about this period he took his seat in the General Assembly of Virginia, as a member for the county of Frederick.
• The life of Washington is wholly identified with the service of his country—always tranquil while she remained at peace, and active only when her rights or territory were threatened with invasion.
We find no remarkable event in his history, until the commencement of the colonial difficulties with the mother empire, when he was among the first in the Virginia legislature to offer a firm resistance to the unconstitutional pretensions set up by par liament. When measures of defence were con sidered requisite, he was chosen to command the independent companies raised by his native pro vince; and he was afterwards elected, in the year 1774, one of her representatives in the continental congress. He was appointed in this body, upon all committees relating to military preparations: but a moment soon approached pregnant with the most important consequences to 'Washington and to the world.
Bloody conflicts had taken place in the north, which in their results had excited the provincials to enthusiasm and revenge, while they inspired them with new confidence in their military effi ciency. The spirit of insurrection spread through all the land, and the British, notwithstanding their sanguinary success at Bunker's Hill, were closely besieged in Boston by an overwhelming American force under General Ward. It now became impe riously necessary for Congress to settle some defi nite organization of their army, calculated to fix the floating confidence of the country at large; and the question of the selection of a proper com mander was therefore one of engrossing interest to the assembled patriots. It was felt sensibly by the New England delegation, that in point of direct interest and aggression, the cause of the provincial hostilities had been hitherto entirely local. Their natural sagacity taught them that it was of material consequence to adopt some measure tending to strengthen the ties of union with the southern colonies: and they were disposed to acquiesce in any nomination of a general, which might con tribute to render resistance universal. Then it was that a few words from John Adams determined the fate of America, and advanced the cause of liberty throughout the world. In an able and eloquent speech, he set forth the numerous and pe culiar difficulties of the country and the army; and when all his hearers were deeply engrossed in the subject, and anxiously awaiting the remedy to be suggested, he nominated as commander of the forces, " a member of the house, George Wash ington of Virginia." On the 14th of June 1775, by an unanimous vote of the delegates of the pro vinces, the motion was adopted, and Washington was appointed " General and Commander-in-chief of the army of the United Colonies, and of all the forces now raised or to be raised by them, and of all others who shall voluntarily offer their service." When this election was announced to the new generalissimo by the president of congress, lie exhibited the modesty, patriotism, and disinterest edness which were ever the prominent character istics of his life. He expressed the distress he felt from a diffidence in his abilities and military expe rience, but at the same time a firm determination was declared to exert every power for his country's service, and the success of her glorious cause. He declined any pecuniary reward for the duties to be rendered in his station; he expected no more than a mere indemnity for expenses actually incurred, of which his intention was to keep a regular and exact account. It was unanimously resolved, that " Congress would maintain, assist and adhere to him as the general and commander-in-chief of the forces raised for the maintenance and preservation of American liberty, with their lives and fortunes." Washington prepared at once for the execution of his high duties; and amid the general acclamations of all classes and sections of the country, he as sumed the supreme command of the army then en gaged in the siege of Boston.