Governor Dinwiddie's Proposition--Washington dissents--Dinwiddie insists--Washington's Letter--His Rank reduced from Colonel to Captain--He resigns, and retires to Mount Vernon--The Enterprise abandoned--A Convention of the Colonies--The King sends General Braddock with Army--He demands the Services of Washington--Their Correspondence and Interview--Washington's Motive--On the Staff--Meeting with his Mother--The March begins--Grand Spectacle--Braddock's Talk with Dr. Franklin--Underrating Indian Tactics--Washington disabled by Sickness--Talk with Braddock about Indians--Army Wagons Useless--Braddock's Temper and Love of Drink--Good Disciplinarian--Washington's Advice rejected--Indian Allies--How deserted--What Scarvoyadi said--Surprised by Indians--Terrible Battle--Washington's Bravery--Dr. Craik's Word--An Eye-witness--How British fought--Braddock mortally wounded--Whole Command on Washington--Retreat--Braddock's Confession--Dies at Fort Necessity--Burial--Horrible Scenes at Duquesne--Testimony of a Prisoner--Words of Washington--Letter to his Mother--Letter to his Brother 211 XIII. ON THE FRONTIER. General Dunbar a Coward--Goes into Winter Quarters in Philadelphia--Assembly meets--Washington's Advice to the Governor--The Assembly Timid--Washington appointed Commander-in-chief of Virginia Forces--Failure of the Other Expeditions--Conference with Fairfax--Headquarters at Winchester--A Great Scare--Its Funny Termination--Washington's Appeal to Dinwiddie--Trouble with Captain Dagworthy--Goes to Boston on Horseback--Meets Miss Phillips in New York--Honors--His Return--Love in New York--Sudden Alarm calls him to Winchester--Hurried Steps at Defence--Letter to Loudoun describing the Condition of Frontier--Appeal to Dinwiddie for the Terrified People--Indian Atrocities--Dreadful Scenes described by Washington--Washington Sick Four Months--Changes 232 XIV. A RIFT IN THE CLOUD.