AS on Fort Necessity (as appeared in the "Maryland Gazette" August 29, 1754 "June 29, we received certain Intelligence, that the French were reinforced with 300 White Men, and the same Number of Indians, and that they intend to march immediately to attck us, Whereupon Col. Washington call'd a Council of War, wherein it was resolved to send an Express to hasten the Independents to join us, and that in the mean Time we should set about fortifying ourselves, as well as the Time would permit, and there wait the arrival of Cap. Lewis, and Mr. Polson, who were out on Detachments, and to whom orders were sent to join us with the utmost Expedition.

Captain Maccay arrived at our Camp at Gist's House, in the Night and we were joined by our Detachment next Forenoon: when a Council of War was again called, wherein it was unanimously resolved to retreat immediately, carrying all public Stores with us; and as we had but two very indifferent teams, and few Horses, the Officers loaded their own Horses with Ammunition, and left part of their Baggage behind; Col. Washington setting them an Example, by ordering his Horse to be loaded first, and giving four Pistoles to some Soldiers to carry his necessary Baggage.

We had nine Swivels, which were drawn by the Soldiers of the Virginia Regiment twelve Miles, of the roughest and most hilly Road of any on the Alleghany Mountains.

The Independents refused to lend a Hand to draw the Guns, or help off with the Ammunition, nor would they do Duty as Pioneers, which had an unhappy Effect on our men, who no sooner learned that it was not the proper Duty of Soldiers to perform these Services, than they became as backward as the Independents. This was one great Reason why we had not compleated (sic) our Works before the Attack.

"July 1st, we arrived very much fatigued at the Meadows, and had continued our Retreat, but for want of Horses and Conveniences to carry our Ammunition. Our Men had been eight Days without Bread, and instead of a large Convoy, which we had long expected, there arrived only a few Bags of Flour:

They were so harassed with working on the Fortification at Gist's, and with marching, that they were not able to draw the Swivels. This being the Case, and having certain Intelligence that the Yorkers had arrived at Alexandria about twenty Days before, a fatal Stay!

And a flying Report, that they had got to Will's Creek on their March to join us, it was tough most advisable to fortify ourselves in the best Manner possible and wait our Convoys and Reinforcements, which we daily expected. "In the mean Time as Express was sent to inform them of our Station, and hasten them to our Assistance. We set about clearing the Woods nearest to us, and carrying in the Logs, to raise a Breastwork, and enlarge the Fort, July 3rd, by Break of Day, we were alarmed by one of our Centries, who was shot in the Leg by the Enemy, and about nine, we received Intelligence, by some of our advanced parties, that the Enemy were within four Miles of us, that they were a heavy numerous Body, and all naked.

We continued to fortify, and prepare ourselves for their Reception. They came up with us before eleven o'clock, and by their furious Attacks and superior Numbers, we expected that they would have attempted to storm us directly, and therefore answered them only with Musket Shot now and then, as we could make sure of an active Fellow.

The keeping up our Fire made the Enemy more secure, and expose themselves the more, which was a principal Reason of their losing so many Men on that Occasion. At Night, they called to Parly, and we suspecting Deceit took but little Notice of it, until they repeated the same frequently, and then Mr. Van Braam was sent to speak with them, who soon returned to assure us that they were in earnest. This was no disagreeable News to us, who had received no Intelligence of the approach of our Convoys or Reinforcements, and who had only a Couple Bags of Flours and a little Bacon left for the Support of 300 Men.

We had intended to have killed the Milch Cows which were our greatest Dependence before the Engagement, but had no Salt to preserve them, and they soon became the property of a superior Enemy. By the continued Rains, and Water in the Trenches, the most of our Arms were out of Order, and we had only a Couple of Screws in the whole Regiment to clean them.

But what was still worse, it was no sooner dark, than one-half of our Men got drunk. Under these disadvantageous Circumstances, we agreed to the Articles of Capitulation, which no Doubt you have seen, with the Different which I shall remark, and which I think very Material. Mr. Peyronie was dangerously wounded, and we much regretted to the Loss of his Services on this Occasion.

"When Mr. Van Braam returned with the French Proposals, we were obliged to take the Sense of them by word of Mouth. It rained so heavily that he could not give us a written Translation of them; we could scarcely keep the Candle light to read them; they were wrote in a bad Hand, on wet and blotted Paper so that no Person could read them but van Braam who had heard them from the mouth of the French Officer.

Every Officer then present, is willing to declare, that there was no such word of Assassination mentioned; the Terms expressed to us were 'the Death of Jumonville.' If it had been mentioned, we could have got it altered, as the French seemed very condescending, and willing to bring Things to a Conclusion; during the whole course of the Interview:

Upon our insisting on it they altered what was more material to them, the Article relating to Ammunition, which they wanted to detain; and that of the Cannon, which they agreed to have destroyed, instead of reserved for the Use. Another Article, which appears to our Disadvantage, is that whereby we obliged ourselves not to attempt an Establishment beyond the Mountains: This was translated to us, "Not to attempt Buildings or Improvements, on the Lands of his Most Christian Majesty." This we never intended, but denied that he had any Lands there, and therefore thought it needless to dispute that Point.

"The Article, which related to the Hostages, is quite different from the Translation of it given to us; they are mentioned for the Security of the Performances of the Treaty, as well as for the Return of the Prisoners: There was never such intention on our Side, nor mention of it made on theirs by our Interpreter. Thus by the evil Intention or Negligence of Van Braam, our Conduct is blamed by a busy World, fond of finding Fault without considering Circumstances, or giving just Attention to Reasons which might be offered to obviate their Clamours. Let any of these brave Gentlemen, who fight so many successful Engagements over a Bottle, imagine himself at the head of 300 Men, and laboring under all the Disadvantages above-mentioned, and would not accept of worse Terms than Col. Washington agreed to?

Which were, all the Honours of War, without the mention of 'Assassination' or any other Expression objected to in the above mentioned Articles. It appears to me, that if he did not, he might justly be said to be Accessary to the Destruction of so many Men, which would have been the inevitable Consequence of his mistaken Courage, or Obstinacy.

You have no Reason to doubt but the whole Affair was well conducted, when the French, who had first orders to give no Quarter, and to pay the Indians with our Scalps and Spoils, were the first who discovered an Inclination to Treat. That they had such Orders and intended no Quarter, is certain, from the Mouth of one of their own Officers.