General Braddock's expedition

The events in America made Britain send some regular troops to its colonies. General Braddock, an experienced old officer (he was about sixty years old then) was appointed the commander-in-chief of the British troops in America. Neither Braddock, nor his British officers knew anything about backwoods fighting, where white men and Indians fired from behind trees and bushes. The British regulars were dressed in red uniforms, and could be easily seen even in the thick of the forest.

Braddock's first plan was to win back the fort captured by the French in 1754. His expedition set out in 1755. Two thousand men had to march to the fort through the wild forest. Braddock sent six hundred axe-men ahead of the army to chop down trees to clear a road for heavy artillery and supply wagons.

The march was extremely difficult. British soldiers had to drink bad swamp water, and the food was scanty. Men were tortured by clouds of mosquitoes. Besides, the British were not used to the heat of an American summer.

On July 9, 1755, Braddock's army was within a few miles of the fort. Suddenly it was fired by the French and Indians hidden in the bushes. Braddock ordered his soldiers to fire too, but they could see nothing to aim at, while their red uniform made them a perfect target. Even General Braddock was mortally wounded.

The English had to retreat. They lost sixty-three officers and four hundred and thirty soldiers in that first battle, while only twelve French soldiers and twenty-seven Indians were killed.

Notes:

the commander-in-chief — главнокомандующий

sent six hundred axmen ahead of the army to chop down trees to clear a road for heavy artillery and supply wagons — послал впереди войска шестьсот дровосеков рубить деревья, чтобы расчистить дорогу для тяжелой артиллерии и фурго­нов с провиантом

swamp water — болотная вода

to aim at something — целиться во что-то

was mortally wounded — был смертельно ранен

EXERCISES

1. Переведите на русский язык:

The events in America, some regular troops, neither Braddock, nor his British officers, to win back the fort, the wild forest, a few miles of the fort, in that first battle, only twelve French soldiers and twenty-seven Indians.

2. Выпишите из текста предложения, содержащие следующие словосочетания и переведите их на русский язык:

General Braddock, an experienced old officer, Braddock's first plan, Braddock sent, British soldiers, on July 9, 1755, Braddock's army.

3. Составьте предложения со следующими словами и словосочетаниями:

The events, regular troops, the commander-in-chief,dressed in red uniforms, a perfect target, the march, in the thick of the forest.

4. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why did Britain send regular troops to its American colonies?

2. Who was appointed the commander-in-chief of the British troops in America?

3. Was Braddock an experienced general?

4. What did Braddock plan to do?

5. What did the military campaign of 1755 result in?