342 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



conduct, in the embas^ to the French eoni' 

 mander, had proved highly satisfactory to the 

 governor and council ; and he was now ap- 

 pointed lieutenant colonel, aod the command of 

 the troops was assigned to him. In addition to 

 the men raised in Virginia, two independent 

 companies of foot were ordered by the king to 

 march from New- York to the frontiers of Vir- 

 ginia and Pennsylvania. 



On iVpril the third, Washington set out frorai 

 Alexandria at the head of a little army of one 

 hundred and sixty seven men. On May the 

 twenty eighth, they had a skirmish with an ad- 

 vanced party of the French ; of which nine 

 were" killed, with M. de Jumonville their com- 

 mander, and twenty one were taken prisoners- 

 A reverse of fortune soon took place : While 

 Washington was waiting with about three hun- 

 dred men for a reinforcement, he received intel- 

 ligence that the French were advancing with a 

 body of nine hundred m«n, and two hundred 

 Indians. On July the third he was attacked 

 by a force greatly superior to his own, under 

 the command of De Villier ; and after a resist- 

 ance of three hours, found it necessary to sub- 

 mit to the superior force of the enemy. The 

 terms that were offered to him were of an hu- 

 miliating nature, but he was no longer in a situ- 

 ation to refuso the demands of the enemy, and 

 was obliged to capitulate. In this engagement 

 the English had thirty killed, and fifty wounded. 

 De Villier reported his loss to be but two 

 Frenchmen, and one Indian killed, and seven- 

 teen wounded ; and boasted tliat by making 

 ^ese of the Frendi language, the terms of the 



