Braddock Road Chronicles, 1755 Compiled and annotated by Andrew J. Wahll In 1755 Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock was put in charge of constructing a road from the Potomac River at Wills Creek (Cumberland, MD), to Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh) at the forks of the Ohio River. His object was to take the fort and thereby launch the conquest of French-held North America. Although Braddock was killed not far from his goal in the grisly clash known today as Braddock's Defeat, the route that he opened ultimately became a highway for western emigration, and part of it was incorporated in the National Road. The making of the Braddock Road was an engineering marvel that tested the abilities and endurance of its builders. The remarkable detail contained in this compilation is too vast to mention here but includes descriptions of forts, personnel, food, Indians, clothing, lodging and more. Carpenters, artificers, shoemakers, tailors, wagonmasters, farriers, nurses, cooks: nothing less than a traveling city was required in the construction of the Braddock Road. Personal journals and official military reports and correspondence are gold mines for anyone who studies the people, events and daily life of the past. The material collected here is extracted from the records of British army regulars (including Braddock, St. Clair, Gage and others), colonial militia (Cresap, Croghan, Gist, Washington, etc.), camp followers, American colonists (Burd, Hamilton, Franklin, Dinwiddie, Delancy, etc.), French-Canadians (Contrecoeur, Dumas, Lotbinier, etc.) and newspapers. The ultimate battle is described firsthand. Short biographical sketches, a chronology and a list of sources round out this comprehensive study. These fascinating accounts are enhanced with informative annotations. Maps and illustrations are included. U.S.A. $42.00 W1205 From the Author Andrew J. Wahll Braddock Road Chronicles Having traveled the road between Philadelphia, PA and later Washington, DC to and from central Ohio, I have been interested in this trans-Appalachian corridor since the 1950s. This, my first book is about this historic route in the context of France and England and the final war for empire called French and Indian War, or Seven Years Wars in Europe (1752-1763). Braddock Road Chronicles 1755 is the narrative of the first action of the French and Indian War when England began the conquest of French held North America. In the 1700s only the most daring or desperate half-breed trappers and traders knew anything about the vast howling wilderness to the west. General Braddock with an army of English Grenadiers most of them from Irish units with wagons, cannon and colonial levies was ordered take Fort Duquesne at the forks of the Ohio River. Landing at the tidewater port of Georgetown, Maryland on the Potomac River, the force began marching across the coastal plain to the piedmont and climbed toward the distant Appalachian Mountains. After crossing the Eastern Continental Divide they entered the Ohio River water shed knowing the worst was behind them. This work is the most detailed and comprehensive account of this epic expedition begining with preparations in Ireland, the ocean crossing and ending with the aftermath of the defeat. I have been privileged to have the suggestions of Jim Sorensen and Heather Bouslog on the route through Maryland and at the site of Dowden's Ordinary. Dowden's Ordinary was the only structure to witness the troops march by and was torn down in the 1920s. Bob Bantz, a retired mechanical engineer from Cumberland, MD.allowed me to include his GPS technology plots that laid down the actual right-of-way in Maryland using his field observations and understanding of the land and the march. Carney Rigg of Fort Necessity National Battlefield enabled me to experience the land and events of this locale in George Washington's early life.   Writing this narrative gave me understanding of the research needed before an author can begin to keyboard a manuscript and the need to have a well thought out idea. This was my first book of historical geography writings about America. Used Book in Good Condition