Ill-starred General: Braddock of the Coldstream GuardsA rare combination of documented fact and good storytelling, Ill-Starred General is the biography of a much maligned man from one of history's most vital eras. The career of Edward Braddock began during the court intrigues of Queen Anne and George I, gained momentum in continental military campaigns in the early 1750s, and ended abruptly in the rout of his American army near present-day Pittsburgh in 1755. This highly acclaimed biography reveals the man--and the politics--behind his defeat, one of the major setbacks to British imperial power in the American colonies. |
Contents
1 | |
3 | |
31 | |
49 | |
COVENT GARDEN INTERLUDE 17321738 | 61 |
JENKINSS EAR AND THE FORTYFIVE 17381745 | 72 |
FLANDERS 17461753 | 97 |
GIBRALTAR 17531754 | 116 |
LOGISTICS April May 1755 | 164 |
FORT CUMBERLAND May 1029 1755 | 183 |
THE LONG MARCH May 30July 8 1755 | 209 |
INTO BATTLE July 812 1755 | 240 |
XIV REQUIEM | 266 |
NOTES | 273 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 315 |
INDEX | 329 |
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Common terms and phrases
advance America Anne arms army arrived Bath Braddock British brother called camp Captain carry Charles Clair Coldstream colonel colonial ColRec command Creek crossing Cumberland Dalton Dinwiddie Duke Dunbar's Edward England English expedition father fire followed foot force fort Fortescue four French General's George Governor guards Hamilton head horses hundred Ibid Indians James James's John King King's land later letter London looked Lord Luttrell MacKinnon Major Marlborough Maryland miles military morning Morris mountains named never night officers ordered Orme Pargellis party Pennsylvania Peter Prince Queen reached received regiment remain reported returned river road Royal Seamen sent Sharpe ships Shirley side soldiers supplies taken Thomas thought told took town trail transports troops turned Virginia wagons Washington woods wrote York young
Popular passages
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Page 111 - Here lies Fred, Who was alive, and is dead. Had it been his father, I had much rather. Had it been his brother, Still better than another. Had it been his sister, No one would have missed her. Had it been the whole generation, Still better for the nation. But since 'tis only Fred, Who was alive, and is dead, There's no more to be said.
Page 40 - Council, with numbers of other principal gentlemen of quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens of London, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim, that the high and mighty Prince, George Prince of Wales, is now, by the death of our...
Page 135 - Red, and Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Ships and Vessels employed and to be employed in the River St.
Page 132 - I give devise and bequeath unto my said wife Sarah. I "otly, I hereby appoint my said wife Sarah executrix and my sons Archibald and Samuel executives of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
Page 268 - Duke," writes Horace Walpole, "is much dissatisfied at the slowness of General Braddock, who does not march as if he was at all impatient to be scalped.
Page 31 - ... the magnifying end of a perspective, and in his manhood through the other, it would be impossible to spy any difference...
Page 149 - ... informed that you expressed some desire to make the campaign, but that you declined it upon some disagreeableness that you thought might arise from the regulations of command, has ordered me to acquaint you, that he will be very glad of your company in his family, by which all inconveniences of that kind will be obviated. » I shall think myself very happy to form an acquaintance with a person so universally esteemed, and shall use every opportunity of assuring you how much I am, Sir, your most...
Page 66 - He once had a duel with Colonel Gumley, Lady Bath's brother, who had been his great friend. As they were going to engage, Gumley, who had goodhumor and wit (Braddock had the latter), said, ' Braddock, you are a poor dog! Here, take my purse; if you kill me, you will be forced to run away, and then you will not have a shilling to support you.