the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第43节
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objections I could think of to such a militia； which was printed； and had；
as I thought； great effect。
This dialogue and the militia act are in the 〃Gentleman's
Magazine〃 for February and March； 1756。 ＇Marg。 note。＇
While the several companies in the city and country were forming and
learning their exercise； the governor prevail'd with me to take charge of
our North…western frontier； which was infested by the enemy； and provide
for the defense of the inhabitants by raising troops and building a line of
forts。 I undertook this military business； tho' I did not conceive myself
well qualified for it。 He gave me a commission with full powers； and a
parcel of blank commissions for officers； to be given to whom I thought fit。
I had but little difficulty in raising men； having soon five hundred and
sixty under my command。 My son； who had in the preceding war been an
officer in the army rais'd against Canada； was my aid…de…camp； and of
great use to me。 The Indians had burned Gnadenhut； a village settled by
the Moravians； and massacred the inhabitants； but the place was thought a
good situation for one of the forts。
In order to march thither； I assembled the companies at Bethlehem； the
chief establishment of those people。 I was surprised to find it in so good a
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posture of defense； the destruction of Gnadenhut had made them
apprehend danger。 The principal buildings were defended by a stockade；
they had purchased a quantity of arms and ammunition from New York；
and had even plac'd quantities of small paving stones between the
windows of their high stone houses； for their women to throw down upon
the heads of any Indians that should attempt to force into them。 The armed
brethren； too； kept watch； and reliev'd as methodically as in any garrison
town。 In conversation with the bishop； Spangenberg； I mention'd this my
surprise； for； knowing they had obtained an act of Parliament exempting
them from military duties in the colonies； I had suppos'd they were
conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms。 He answer'd me that it was
not one of their established principles； but that； at the time of their
obtaining that act； it was thought to be a principle with many of their
people。 On this occasion； however； they； to their surprise； found it adopted
by but a few。 It seems they were either deceiv'd in themselves； or deceiv'd
the Parliament； but common sense； aided by present danger； will
sometimes be too strong for whimsical opinions。
It was the beginning of January when we set out upon this business of
building forts。 I sent one detachment toward the Minisink； with
instructions to erect one for the security of that upper part of the country；
and another to the lower part； with similar instructions； and I concluded to
go myself with the rest of my force to Gnadenhut； where a fort was tho't
more immediately necessary。 The Moravians procur'd me five waggons for
our tools； stores； baggage； etc。
Just before we left Bethlehem； eleven farmers； who had been driven
from their plantations by the Indians； came to me requesting a supply of
firearms； that they might go back and fetch off their cattle。 I gave them
each a gun with suitable ammunition。 We had not march'd many miles
before it began to rain； and it continued raining all day； there were no
habitations on the road to shelter us； till we arriv'd near night at the house
of a German； where； and in his barn； we were all huddled together； as wet
as water could make us。 It was well we were not attack'd in our march； for
our arms were of the most ordinary sort； and our men could not keep their
gun locks dry。 The Indians are dextrous in contrivances for that purpose；
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which we had not。 They met that day the eleven poor farmers above
mentioned； and killed ten of them。 The one who escap'd inform'd that his
and his companions' guns would not go off； the priming being wet with the
rain。
The next day being fair； we continu'd our march； and arriv'd at the
desolated Gnadenhut。 There was a saw…mill near； round which were left
several piles of boards； with which we soon hutted ourselves； an operation
the more necessary at that inclement season； as we had no tents。 Our first
work was to bury more effectually the dead we found there； who had been
half interr'd by the country people。
The next morning our fort was plann'd and mark'd out； the
circumference measuring four hundred and fifty…five feet； which would
require as many palisades to be made of trees； one with another； of a foot
diameter each。 Our axes； of which we had seventy； were immediately set
to work to cut down trees； and； our men being dextrous in the use of them；
great despatch was made。 Seeing the trees fall so fast； I had the curiosity to
look at my watch when two men began to cut at a pine； in six minutes they
had it upon the ground； and I found it of fourteen inches diameter。 Each
pine made three palisades of eighteen feet long； pointed at one end。 While
these were preparing； our other men dug a trench all round； of three feet
deep； in which the palisades were to be planted； and； our waggons； the
bodys being taken off； and the fore and hind wheels separated by taking
out the pin which united the two parts of the perch； we had ten carriages；
with two horses each； to bring the palisades from the woods to the spot。
When they were set up； our carpenters built a stage of boards all round
within； about six feet high； for the men to stand on when to fire thro' the
loopholes。 We had one swivel gun； which we mounted on one of the
angles； and fir'd it as soon as fix'd； to let the Indians know； if any were
within hearing； that we had such pieces； and thus our fort； if such a
magnificent name may be given to so miserable a stockade； was finish'd in
a week； though it rain'd so hard every other day that the men could not
work。
This gave me occasion to observe； that； when men are employ'd； they
are best content'd； for on the days they worked they were good…natur'd and
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cheerful； and； with the consciousness of having done a good day's work；
they spent the evening jollily； but on our idle days they were mutinous and
quarrelsome； finding fault with their pork； the bread； etc。； and in continual
ill…humor； which put me in mind of a sea…captain； whose rule it was to
keep his men constantly at work； and； when his mate once told him that
they had done every thing； and there was nothing further to employ them
about； 〃Oh；〃 says he； 〃Make them scour the anchor。〃
This kind of fort； however contemptible； is a sufficient defense against
Indians； who have no cannon。 Finding ourselves now posted securely； and
having a place to retreat to on occasion； we ventur'd out in parties to scour
the adjacent country。 We met with no Indians； but we found the places on
the neighboring hills where they had lain to watch our proceedings。 There
was an art in their contrivance of those places； that seems worth mention。
It being winter； a fire was necessary for them； but a common fire on the
surface of the ground would by its light have discovered their position at a
distance。 They had therefore dug holes in the ground about three feet
diameter； and somewhat deeper； we saw where they had with their
hatchets cut off the charcoal from the sides of burnt logs lying in the
woods。 With these coals they had made small fires in the bottom of the
holes； and we observ'd among the weeds and grass the prints of their
bodies； made by their laying all round； with their legs hanging down in the
holes to keep their feet warm； which； with them； is an essential point。 This
kind of fire； so manag'd； could not discover them； either by its light； flame；
sparks； or
