the fatal ford of the Monongahela on July 9th, 1755, at the hands of Captain de Beaujeu. Disregarding the advice of the despised provincials, he fought this fight as he had fought at Dettingen and Fontenoy, and led his men into an ambuscade and kept them there until his entire force was dissipated.
But the English have dogged tenacity of purpose; they have ability; they have wealth; and now the most brilliant genius of centuries was conducting their political and military affairs; and when the memorable year of 1758 arrived, they were prepared as they never had been prepared before. The months preceding had been months of preparation. The three expeditions planned by Pitt for this year were all better organized and better equipped, and had heartier provincial support, than had any expedition ever sent out by the crown before. Louisburg fell easily before the fire of Boscawen's ships and the intrepidity of Amherst's men. The storming of Ticonderoga failed only through the inefficiency of Abercrombie, the commander, who Pitt had been obliged to accept against his better judgment. The last expedition to be set in motion was that destined to be sent against Fort Duquesne. This time the campaign was to be conducted, not from Virginia, where supplies were difficult to procure, but from Pennsylvania, where everything except arms, that an army required, could be readily obtained. Pennsylvania was displaying unbounded military zeal. From the time of Braddock's disaster, the western frontier of the whole country, from New England to the Carolinas, had been defenceless. Pennsylvania suffered more than any other colony. Not only were the French to be feared, but the Indians were everywhere attacking and murdering settlers who had penetrated too far beyond the line of civilization. A long thin line of smoke floated toward the heavens above the blazing cabins.
Pennsylvania was anxious to do her share in relieving the situation. Then, too, Pitt's genius had made it easier for her to raise an army. By his orders the provincial officers took equal rank with the officers of the regular army according to grade. In former campaigns, the provincial officers either had no rank when serving with regulars, or were inferior to them in rank. Another reason why it was easier to raise troops was, that the royal government provided the artillery, arms, ammunition, tents, transport and food; the only charge to the colonies was that of levying clothing and paying their own men.
In April, Forbes began organizing his army. He was
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