One Foot of Snow Falls on Braddock's men
The day before was hot. The dusty road was choking the men. Lightning Storm at night. Then they wake up to what? One Foot of Snow? And this is April 15, 1755 !!!
What is this odd continent on the other side of the Atlantic?
Just like today on April 18, 2022, it is snowing now in the Winchester VA area. And I just planted sweet basil, tomato plants and strawberries. That's the penalty for not waiting until after Mother's Day to plant.
But enough of that. What's going on with Braddock and his men?
While the leaders were holding their "Grand Congress" in comfort at Carlyle's House, Braddock's army split in two.
One group went on the Maryland side. That was Thomas Dunbar's 48th.
One group went on the Virginia side. That was Peter Halkett's 44th.
Splitting them up, lessened the burden on the countryside, because an Army has needs. The men may have foraged for food or taken livestock along the way.
The snow report came from the Maryland side. See map links in link below.
Let David Preston in his Braddock's Defeat tell you in more detail:
Dunbar’s March
through Maryland offered only a few variations on Halkett’s march through Virginia. With Spendelow’s Royal Navy detachment leading the way, the men endured a fifteen mile march on April 14,1755.” .
See this spot on the map.
The dusty road choked the men and sullied uniforms by the time they encamped at Owen’s Ordinary.
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See this spot on the map.
The next day brought a sweltering sixteen mile march to another ordinary – very modest in proportions – that settler Michael Dowden had opened in 1754. . America’s volatile weather was fully displayed to Dunbar’s men on the night of April 15 at Dowden’s Ordinary.
[Source of Picture of Dowden's Ordinary]
SNOW APRIL 15, 1755
“That oppressively hot day had given way to powerful thunderstorms and falling temperatures throughout the night; the next morning the soldiers awoke to blizzard-like conditions and more than a foot of snow. . Cholmley’s servant remembered that the snow was “so Vialent” that they had to clean off the tents sagging under the heavy weight. . The local weather added to the the sense of strangeness with which British regulars perceived the land. . One British officer noted that the “thunder and lightning storms were so severe that “all the Elements seem on Fire.” . The storm halted the advance for an entire day. . As the men struggled to find shelter and fodder for the horse. .
. FLOODED MONOCACY When Dunbar’s column resumed its march to the Monocacy River on April 17, the men found it flooded from the recent rains and were forced to cross over on a float. .
. FREDERICK MD That evening the British made camp at Frederick, a small town founded only ten years earlier. Whose largely German inhabitants were described as industrious people by Midshipman Gill. Footnote 46.”
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Source Page 90 Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution By David Lee Preston.
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That's it.
That's our lead story.
Compiled and authored by Jim Moyer 2017, updated 4/15/2019, 4/11/2020, 4/18/2022, 4/19/2022
For some more detail see below.
The Grand Congress Plan
The “Grand Congress” of the colonial Governors met at the Carlyle House.
These Governors were: Horatio Sharpe of Maryland, Robert Hunter Morris of Pennsylvania, William Shirley of Massachusetts and James De Lancey of New York and Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie who was for all purposes the Governor.
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To simplify:
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Braddock would reduce Fort DuQuesne.
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MORE LINKS:
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William and Mary Quarterly from 1910 on the Carlyle House and the Grand Congress.
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Dowden’s Ordinary Archaeological Site, MN-CPPC of Montgomery County, Maryland
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Picture and detail on Dowden's Ordinary
Virginia's Little Ice Age:
RESEARCH NOTES
Notes on an original post on the French and Indian War Foundation Website
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Compiled by Jim Moyer 2017, updated 4/15/2019, 4/11/2020
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Braddock Expedition
SNOW falls on Dunbar’s 48th
Dowden’s Ordinary
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BIG SNOW hit Braddock’s men on 15 April, 1755.
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Forecasts threatened snow 7 April 2018.
It never came about.
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Neither did the goals discussed at Carlyle House come about.
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The Grand Congress Plan
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The “Grand Congress” of the colonial Governors met at the Carlyle House.
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These Governors were: Horatio Sharpe of Maryland, Robert Hunter Morris of Pennsylvania, William Shirley of Massachusetts and James De Lancey of New York and Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie who was for all purposes the Governor.
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To simplify:
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Braddock would reduce Fort DuQuesne.
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But back to the Braddock’s men on their march
before the Big Snow
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15 April 1755 —
Braddock’s men under Dunbar’s 48th Regiment were marching through Maryland while the Governors and Braddock were enjoying fine food and wine discussing the demise of New France.
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Here’s where the blizzard happened.
Right here. Dowdens Ordinary.
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See location of Dowden’s Ordinary on this map.
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OVERVIEW
After leaving Alexandria-Rock Creek area, the Braddock Expedition split up.
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Peter Halkett’s 44th went on the VA side.
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Dunbar’s 48th marched on the MD side.
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This split up the foraging and burden on the countryside.
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Photo from Allen Browne’s Blog
Dunbar’s 48th Regiment arrives and stays for a day. Norman Baker’s Braddock’s Road page 27.
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Quote below is from David Preston
Page 90, of Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution By David Lee Preston.
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“Dunbar’s March
through Maryland offered only a few variations on Halkett’s march through Virginia. With Spendelow’s Royal Navy detachment leading the way, the men endured a fifteen mile march on April 14,1755.” .
. OWEN’S ORDINARY The dusty road choked the men and sullied uniforms by the time they encamped at Owen’s Ordinary.
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From Sweltering to Cold
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PHOTO of a reconstructed Downden’s Ordinary from DAR, Daughters of American Revolution
. The next day brought a sweltering sixteen mile march to another ordinary – very modest in proportions – that settler Michael Dowden had opened in 1754. . America’s volatile weather was fully displayed to Dunbar’s men on the night of April 15 at Dowden’s Ordinary.
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( Photo from DAR is in this link )
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SNOW
APRIL 15, 1755
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“That oppressively hot day had given way to powerful thunderstorms and falling temperatures throughout the night; the next morning the soldiers awoke to blizzard-like conditions and more than a foot of snow. . Cholmley’s servant remembered that the snow was “so Vialent” that they had to clean off the tents sagging under the heavy weight. . The local weather added to the the sense of strangeness with which British regulars perceived the land. . One British officer noted that the “thunder and lightning storms were so severe that “all the Elements seem on Fire.” . The storm halted the advance for an entire day. . As the men struggled to find shelter and fodder for the horse. .
. FLOODED MONOCACY When Dunbar’s column resumed its march to the Monocacy River on April 17, the men found it flooded from the recent rains and were forced to cross over on a float. .
. FREDERICK MD That evening the British made camp at Frederick, a small town founded only ten years earlier. Whose largely German inhabitants were described as industrious people by Midshipman Gill. Footnote 46.”
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Source Page 90 Braddock’s Defeat: The Battle of the Monongahela and the Road to Revolution By David Lee Preston.
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MORE LINKS:
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William and Mary Quarterly from 1910 on the Carlyle House and the Grand Congress.
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Dowden’s Ordinary Archaeological Site, MN-CPPC of Montgomery County, Maryland
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NOTES
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posted ON FB 4/8/2018 … 845am 175,306 Frontier Forts Google Maps 39124 French and Indian War Foundation
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Photo of Dowden’s Ordinary in this link.
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