Page:History of Cumberland, Maryland 2.djvu/107

and was the scene of important military preparations. It had been chosen as the rallying point for all the troops in the operations against the French on the Ohio River, its location being naturally advantageous for this purpose, although as a post of defense for the frontier settlers further East it was practically of little value. Situated, as it was, upoii the very outskirts of civilization; surrounded by only a few hardy pioneers, and trappers, it was a favorite place of resort for those friendly Indians who had peltries to barter for the baubks, cloths, ammunition, &c., which they found at the Ohio Company's new store- house, and was at the same time well adapted as a place of rendezvous for such forces as might be designed for operations further west. It was located in the very heart of the wilderness, with virgin forests all about it, and roads of the most inferior character reaching back to the settlements, nearly eighty miles away, while the single road leading to the West was scarcely worthy being called such. In the organization of Braddock's forces, the supplying of his men and animals, and the events that followed until the close of the contest with the French, the scenes and incidents that transpired here rendered historic every foot of ground about the place, and invested it with an interest which should lead to their careful preservation for the information and pleasure of future generations. Here the Father of our Country, the great Washington, obtained his earliest lessons in the art of war, and for the first time beheld a body of regular troops systematically encamped; here he spent many weeks in the