JANUARY 1st
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"I now exist and appear in the land of the living by the miraculous care of Providence, that protected me beyond all human expectation; I had 4 Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me, and yet escaped unhurt."
To John Augustine Washington*
Fort Cumberland, 18 July 1755
Dear Jack
As I have heard since my arriv’l at this place, a circumstantial acct. of my death and dying speech, I take this early oppertunity of contradicting both, and of assuring you that I now exist and appear in the land of the living by the miraculous care of Providence, that protected me beyond all human expectation; I had 4 Bullets through my Coat, and two Horses shot under me, and yet escaped unhurt.**
Life of George Washington. Battle of the Monongahela
Artist: Claude Regnier. Library of Congress
We have been most scandalously beaten by a trifling body of men; but fatigue and want of time prevents me from giving any of the details till I have the happiness of seeing you at home; which I now most ardently wish for, since we are drove in thus far. A Weak and Feeble state of Health, obliges me to halt here for 2 or 3 days, to recover a little strength, that I may thereby be enabled to proceed homewards with more ease; You may expect to see me there on Saturday or Sunday night, which is as soon as I can well be down as I shall take my Bull skin Plantation’s in my way. Pray give my Compl’ts to all my F’ds. I am Dr. Jack, y’r most Affect. Broth’r***
G:o Washington
* George Washington’s brother
** Battle of the Monongahela (British General Braddock was wounded and would later die; as aid-de-camp, Washington carried out Braddock’s orders). Washington made changes to this part of the letter in 1784-85; however, the letter provided reflects the original wording. —Fitzpatrick, et al., WGW
*** Years later, during the lead-up to the Battle of Long Island during the Revolutionary War, Washington wrote Colonel Adam Stephen concerning the Battle of Fort Necessity, and the Battle of the Monongahela: “I did not let the Anniversary of the 3d or 9th… pass… without a grateful remembrance of the escape we had at the Meadows and on the Banks of Monongahela. the same Provedence that protected us upon those occasions will, I hope, continue his Mercies, and make us happy Instruments in restoring Peace & liberty to this once favour’d, but now distressed Country.” —FO
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