is due to a gentleman will, I am assured, revolt at the want of parity in pay and at other claims to outrank gentlemen of the colonies serving in the militia. As to this I counsel moderation and endurance. Your first duty must be to the crown.
F.
It was raining heavily as I sat that night
and considered what I should do. To fall
back I had no mind. I had been set to the
slow work of preparing roads, and had
made them up to the west branch of the
Youghiogheny, about four miles a day, and
here meant to make a bridge. As I sat in
the log cabin alone, deciding what next to
do, came in Van Braam with a warning
from the Half-King, and, just after, a
trader who had been driven out by the
French and who told me that a force sent
from Duquesne was at least eight hundred
in number. This I was sure could not be
the case, and until I knew more I could not
decide what to do. I asked to be alone, and
with a candle and a rude map considered
the situation. I concluded that the French
would make no considerable move forward
until they had made secure the excellent
position they had taken from Trent. I was
of opinion they would meanwhile send out
small parties to scout.
