Adam Stephen letter to John Hunter, 7/18/1755, re Braddock's Defeat at Fort Duquesne

Note: Stephen's letter was published in England and came to the attention of the Prime Minister, the earl of Newcastle. Braddock lost over 900 of his some 1700 men, a high percentage of whom were killed , based on doctors' examinations of the types of bullets taken from wounds, by "friendly fire" from British and American troops.

July the 9th: about two o'clock in the Afternoon. The first Division of our forces consisting of about 1300 effective chosen Men & Officers under the immediate Command of General Braddock was attacked by a Party of French and Indians near to the River Monongahela about 8 Miles from Fort Du Quesne.

The Private Men of the two Regiments were entirely at a loss in the Woods. The Savages and Canadians kept on their Bellies in the Bushes and behind the Trees, and took particular Aim at Our Men, and Officers especially, most of whom are killed or wounded: The British Troops were thunderstruck to feel the Effect of a heavy Fire, & see no Enemy; they threw away their Fire in a most indiscreet Manner, and shamefully turned their Backs on a few Savages and Canadians.

General Braddock strove most incessantly to rally them, and make the proper Dispositions, but all was in vain. They kept in a mere huddle in spire of the most ardent Endeavours of many brave officers, and tho' our Numbers were sufficient to have surrounded them, fought them in their own way, and pursued our March. Shame unto the infamous Dogs! Their Numbers only served to increase the Number of the killed. They were infatuated to such a pitch, that they would obey no Orders, killed one another & deserted their Colours; and after about 3 1/2 hours - (Shame! That it should be ever heard of) run from a small number of French and Savages, leaving them an easy Prey of a most valuable Train, a Stock of Ammunition, Provisions and Baggage.

In short, the Enemy obtained an easy and compleat Victory. The few independents and Virginians that were engaged behaved better and suffered much. There were but few of them engaged, as General Braddock had unhappily placed his confidence and whole Dependence on the Regiments. But his Excellency found to his woeful Experience, what had been frequently told him, that formal attacks & Platoon-firing never would answer against the Savages and Canadians. It ought to be laid down as a Maxim to attack them first, to fight them in their own way, and go against them light and naked. As they come against Us, creeping near and hunting Us as they would do a Herd of Buffaloes or Deer; whereas you might as well send a Cow in pursuit of a Hare as an English Soldier loaded in their way with a Coat, Jacket &c. &c. &c. after Canadeans in their Shirts, who can shoot and run well, or Naked Indians accustomed to the Woods. I escorted a Convoy of 100 Bullocks, the General's which was 50 Miles.

I had only 100 Men, and was dogged night and day by the Indians; but by Vigilance, which is the only thing can secure one against such an Enemy, joined the General four Days before the Engagement without the loss of a Man or Bullock. We beat them out of their Ambushes, & always had the first Fire on them. The British Gentlemen were confident they never would be attacked, and would have laid any Odds, that they never should, until they came before the Fort, yea, some went further, and were of opinion, that We should hear the Explosion of the French Fort blown up and deserted, before We approached it.

These Notions which were very ill-grounded, served to lull them into a fatal Security which contributed not a little to the fatal Event which has lately happened.

I always declared openly & at the time was not the better of for it, that they would be attacked before they arrived at the Fort. My Reasons were, that the French must lose the Use of their Indians, if they did not. They had collected a Body of them, and they would not be cooped up in the Fort; and the character of the People We had to deal with would not permit Us to think but the French would take all Advantages.

I had the Honour to receive the General's Thanks for my Services in the Field; and if he had lived a Week, I should have been provided for. Twelve Virginia Officers were engaged, six of whom were killed. I have two Bullet Holes in my Body at this instant. Lieutenant (Walter) Stewart is wounded. Sr. Peter Halket fell in the beginning of the Day. Secretary Shirley & thirteen Officers of the Regiment are killed. Almost all wounded.

Reprinted from Paul E. Kopperman's book, Braddock at the Monongahela, pp. 226-7. He comments on p. 228: "Stephen is our prime exponent of Indian-style tactics. . .However, because he was in the rear guard and absorbed in fighting his own style, it appears unlikely that he saw much of what was going on up ahead. . . But although his perspective and thoroughness may be questioned, his integrity ranks high, and in fact he does not make a single statement that can be successfully challenged on the strength of other evidence."