Jumonville Glen (Report)

Pennsylvania Gazette/June 27, 1754

June 13. We have a certain Account from the Westward, of an engagement between a Party of English and French, on the 27^th of May past, beyond the Allegheny Mountains, in a Place called The Flats, about 80 Miles from our back Settlements, about 240 Miles near N.W. of this Place, and some Miles to the eastward of the new Fort on the Ohio, which was surrendered to the French by Capt. Trent. Some of the Particulars are as follows: Major Washington had Intelligence, from our Friend the Half King, that a Party of French were encamped on this Side the Fork, on which he immediately marched at the Head of a Company of about 40 Men, but during their March the Rains fell so heavy that they could scarce keep their Ammunition dry; the French observed them before they came up, and speedily put themselves in Order of Battle, being under the Command of Monsieur Le Force. When the two Parties approached nigh, the French (who were about 36 in Number) gave the first Fire, by which one of Major Washington’s Men was killed, and another knock’d down. The English returned the Fire, and killed 7 or 8 of the French, on which the Rest took to their Heels; but the Half King, and his Indians, who lay in Ambush to cut them off in their Retreat, fell upon them, and soon killed and scalped Five of them. Monsieur Le Force, finding that they were all likely to lose their Lives under the Hands of the Savages, called to his Men, and advised them to surrender to the English; they immediately, with great Precipitation, ran towards the English, flung down their Arms, and begg’d for Quarter. Major Washington interposed between them and the Half King, and it was with great Difficulty that he prevented the Indians from doing them further Mischief, the Half King insisting on Scalping them all, as it was their Way of Fighting, and he alleged that those People had killed, boiled, and ate his Father, and that the Indians would not be satisfied without all their Scalps; however, Major Washington at Length persuaded him to be content with what Scalps he had already got. One of those Five which were killed and scalped by the Indians, was Monsieur Jumonville, an Ensign, whom the Half King himself dispatched with his Tomahawk. Monsieur Le Force, and Twenty more Frenchmen, who were taken prisoners, are carried down to Williamsburgh. One or Two, it is said, got away before the Rest surrendered, and it is not known what is become of them. Le Force has the Character of an expert Officer, and the Half King reckoned that the English had gained a great Advantage in taking him, telling Major Washington, that That Man (Le Force) was a Thousand.