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
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1755.]
FORT CUMBERLAND.
93