. Washington, the man of action . success of the im-portant duty with which he wascharged. Indeed had he neglectedthose details he might as well haveremained at home, for snow wassoon encountered and the Indiansproved very punctilious in regardto every diplomatic ceremony. Infact, it was only by observing theutmost tact with the redskins thathe was enabled to persuade the mostimportant of their chiefs to stand bythe English in the coming conflict, 43 WASHINGTON and all his woodcraft was requiredbefore he reached the French fort insafety. Once there he made the best useof his ears and eyes, del
. Washington, the man of action . success of the im-portant duty with which he wascharged. Indeed had he neglectedthose details he might as well haveremained at home, for snow wassoon encountered and the Indiansproved very punctilious in regardto every diplomatic ceremony. Infact, it was only by observing theutmost tact with the redskins thathe was enabled to persuade the mostimportant of their chiefs to stand bythe English in the coming conflict, 43 WASHINGTON and all his woodcraft was requiredbefore he reached the French fort insafety. Once there he made the best useof his ears and eyes, delivered hisdispatch to the commanding officer,received a very polite but defiantresponse, and made careful prepara-tions for his return trip, which heforesaw would be fraught with nolittle danger. But even with allhis precautions he barely escapeddisaster, for soon after he turnedhis face southward he was almostdrawn into an ambush by a treach-erous Indian guide who attempted 44 The Battle of Monongahela(July 9, 1755) 2*M zi^^mmm. •}- WASHINGTON to shoot him when he found he couldnot lure him off the trail. Fromthat time onward the home journeywas practically a race for life, butafter much suffering and privationhe reached the city of Williams-burg in safety, and his writtenreport was promptly delivered tothe Governor in person. That document was a remarkableproduction for a young man oftwenty-two, for it was a full, accu-rate and clear exposition of theentire situation, both from a mili-tary and a political point of it was regarded as so impor- 49 WASHINGTON tant that it was printed and pub-lished as a governmental record, andits author was promptly rewardedwith a lieutenant-colonelcy in thecolonial army. CHAPTER IV A CALL TO ARMS FROM the moment the FrenchCommandants defiant replyto Governor Dinwiddies messagehad been received war was inevi-table, and Colonel Washington wasspeedily ordered to march at thehead of about a hundred and fiftyraw recruits to the relief
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