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From: Pete & Lois Wilson <>
Subject: [PACRAWFO-L] Indian Paths--Nemacolin's Path
Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2000 09:26:52 -0500


To help you understand the discussion in this message, you should have a
road map of Pennsylvania plus the two maps (east and west) if the Indian
paths in Pennsylvania. Copy the latter from
http://petelois.home.mindspring.com/.

No. 71--Nemacolin's Path (aka, Braddock's Road) (bottom of west map)

Nemacolin's Path was named for an Indian who was hired in 1752 by the
Ohio Company to find a direct route from Cumberland, Maryland, to the
mouth of the Redstone Creek on the Monongahela River where Brownsville
stands today. In 1754 George Washington led a group of Virginians to
defend territory that Virginia claimed in present-day Pennsylvania. They
were headed to the Forks of the Ohio where Pittsburgh now stands when
they learned that the French had built Fort Duquense there. Washington
and his men quickly built Fort Necessity which the French easily
defeated, causing Washington and his troops to retreat to Williamsburg.

A year later General Edward Braddock, commander-in-chief of all British
forces in North America, personally lead the expedition of 2,400 men
that included George Washington against Fort Duquesne. Braddock decided
to follow this path and extend it to Pittsburgh. The path was inadequate
for the army's large wagons and artillery, so as he moved along, the
General had this path, only wide enough for the passage of an
individual, widened to 12 feet. Trees were cut and the ground was graded
and leveled with back breaking effort. When the path approached wet
lands either fill was added or the path was redirected. It was this
construction that caused Braddock's army to move at a snail's pace.
Beyond the point where Washington had reached, the worked slowed even
more as two fords of the Monongahela River were necessary. Finally, in
frustration, Braddock split the army in two, with Braddock moving ahead
with the bulk of the men and a few pieces of artillery. They met the
French and in a few hours were defeated. Braddock was killed. He was
buried across U.S. 40 from when the Park Service has a replica of Fort
Necessity. (For more information on Fort Necessity, see
http://www4.atevo.com/guides/usparks/Park/0,1206,71,00.html. If you plan
to visit, note that two of Wright's homes, including Falling Waters, are
close by.

Pete Wilson
--
Peter M. Wilson of Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA
Volunteer, Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnraogk/index.ht

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