"If you are really, as I believe you are, good and loyal subjects to his majesty, you may now do a most acceptable service, and make it easy to yourselves; for three or four of such as can not separately spare from the business of their plantations a waggon and four horses and a driver, may do it together, one furnishing the waggon, another one or two horses, and another the driver, and divide the pay proportionately between you; but if you do not this service to your king and country voluntarily, when such good pay and reasonable terms are offered to you, your loyalty will be strongly suspected.The king's business must be done; so many brave troops, come so far for your defense, must not stand idle through your backwardness to do what may be reasonably expected from you; waggons and horses must be had; violent measures will probably be used, and you will be left to seek for a recompense where you can find it, and your case, perhaps, be little pitied or regarded.
"I have no particular interest in this affair, as, except the satisfaction ofendeavoring to do good, I shall have only my labour for my pains.If this method of obtaining the waggons and horses is not likely to succeed, I am obliged to send word to the general in fourteen days; and I suppose Sir John St.Clair, the hussar, with a body of soldiers, will immediately enter the province for the purpose, which I shall be sorry to hear, because I am very sincerely and truly your friend and well-wisher, B.FRANKLIN."I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to be disbursed in advance-money to the waggon owners, etc.; but, that sum being insufficient, I advanc'd upward of two hundred pounds more, and in two weeks the one hundred and fifty waggons, with two hundred and fifty-nine carrying horses, were on their march for the camp.The advertisement promised payment according to the valuation, in case any waggon or horse should be lost.The owners, however, alleging they did not know General Braddock, or what dependence might be had on his promise, insisted on my bond for the performance, which I accordingly gave them.
While I was at the camp, supping one evening with the officers of Colonel Dunbar's regiment, he represented to me his concern for the subalterns, who, he said, were generally not in affluence, and could ill afford, in this dear country, to lay in the stores that might be necessary in so long a march, thro' a wilderness, where nothing was to be purchas'd.I commiserated their case, and resolved to endeavor procuring them some relief.I said nothing, however, to him of my intention, but wrote the next morning to the committee of the Assembly, who had the disposition of some public money, warmly recommending the case of these officers to their consideration, and proposing that a present should be sent them of necessaries and refreshments.My son, who had some experience of a camp life, and of its wants, drew up a list for me, which I enclos'd in my letter.The committee approv'd, and used such diligence that, conducted by my son, the stores arrived at the camp as soon as the waggons.They consisted of twenty parcels, each containing6 lbs.loaf sugar.1 Gloucester cheese.6 lbs.good Muscovado do.1 kegg containing 20 lbs.good 1 lb.good green tea.butter.1 lb.good bohea do.2 doz.old Madeira wine.6 lbs.good ground coffee.2 gallons Jamaica spirits.6 lbs.chocolate.1 bottle flour of mustard.1-2 cwt.best whitebiscuit.2 well-cur'd hams.1-2 lb.pepper.1-2 dozen dry'd tongues.1 quart best white wine vinegar 6 lbs.rice.6 lbs.raisins.
These twenty parcels, well pack'd, were placed on as many horses, each parcel, with the horse, being intended as a present for one officer.They were very thankfully receiv'd, and the kindness acknowledg'd by letters to me from the colonels of both regiments, in the most grateful terms.The general, too, was highly satisfied with my conduct in procuring him the waggons, etc., and readily paid my account of disbursements, thanking me repeatedly, and requesting my farther assistance in sending provisions after him.I undertook this also, and was busily employ'd in it till we heard of his defeat, advancing for the service of my own money, upwards of one thousand pounds sterling, of which I sent him an account.It came to his hands, luckily for me, a few days before the battle, and he return'd me immediately an order on the paymaster for the round sum of one thousand pounds, leaving the remainder to the next account.I consider this payment as good luck, having never been able to obtain that remainder, of which more hereafter.
This general was, I think, a brave man, and might probably have made a figure as a good officer in some European war.But he had too much self-confidence, too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops, and too mean a one of both Americans and Indians.George Croghan, our Indian interpreter, join'd him on his march with one hundred of those people, who might have been of great use to his army as guides, scouts, etc., if he had treated them kindly; but he slighted and neglected them, and they gradually left him.
