1755.] BKADDOCKS DEFEAT. Ill 



tangled undergrowth and rank grasses, lay the two 

 fatal ravmes. Suddenly, Gordon, an engineer in 

 advance, saw the French and Indians bounding 

 forward through the forest and along the narrow 

 track, Beaujeau leading them on, dressed in a fringed 

 hunting-sliirt, and wearing a silver gorget on his 

 breast. He stopped, turned, and waved his hat, 

 and his French followers, crowding across the road, 

 opened a murderous fire upon the head of the 

 British column, while, screeching their war-cries, 

 the Indians thronged into the ravines, or crouched 

 behind rocks and trees on both flanks of the advan- 

 cing troops. The astonished grenadiers returned 

 the fire, and returned it with good efi'ect ; for a 

 random shot struck down the brave Beaujeau, and 

 the courage of the assailants was staggered by his 

 fall. Dumas, second in command, rallied them to 

 the attack ; and while he, with the French and 

 Canadians, made good the pass in front, the Indians 

 from their lurking places opened a deadly fire on 

 the right and left. In a few moments, all was 

 confusion. The advance guard fell back on the 

 main body, and every trace of subordination van- 

 ished. The fire soon extended along the whole 

 length of the army, from front to rear. Scarce 

 an enemy could be seen, though the forest re- 

 sounded with their yells ; though every bush and 

 tree was alive with incessant flashes ; though the 

 lead flew like a hailstorm, and the men went down 

 by scores. The regular troops seemed bereft of 

 their senses. They huddled together in the road 

 like flocks of sheep ; and happy did he think him- 



