STEEL ENGRAVING – “BRADDOCK’S RETREAT”, from the painting by Alonzo Chappel, copyright 1866 by Johnson, Fry & Company.  This engraving is in very good condition, with the exception of some light foxing and marks in the margins, but this does not affect the engraving.  The engraving measures 5 ¼” x 7 1/2”, and is matted to 11” x 14” for easy framing.

            During the French and Indian War, General Braddock requested Washington to serve as his aid. As the summer was passing, the general was disturbed by the advance of his troops at a snails pace.  Washington urged him to push forward with a light-armed division, leaving the rest of the forces to follow under Colonel Dunbar.  In July 1755 Braddock, having consumed a month in marching about one hundred miles, was now within fifteen miles of Fort Duquesne.  With the attack of the Fort planned for the next day, Washington begged Braddock to be allowed to send out the Virginia rangers to examine the dangerous passes yet to be gone through, but Braddock refused his advice.  The next day the small troop left the encampment with all the pomp and circumstance of a parade, with bayonets fixed, colors flying, and drums and fifes beating and playing.

            As the troops marched down the road, Washington’s fears of an ambush of the French and Indians had proved too true.  The road, which they traveled on was flanked by two ravines, concealed by trees and thickets, and the enemy troops took full advantage of this cover. General Braddock’s troops fought bravely for three hours shooting into the forest at random against an enemy that could not be seen.  General Braddock was shot in the lung, and though anxious to be left to die upon the scene of his discomfiture, was carried off into the rear. 

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

Antique prints, engravings, and lithographs are printing processes, which use steel, copper, stone or wood blocks or plates to produce a picture on paper.

Most antique prints and engravings, which are seen on the internet today, are bookplates.  Because they are pages from a book, there are multiple copies in existence.  This does not, however, mean that they are "reproductions" that have been printed recently.  Because they were, at some point, part of books, some have been preserved in excellent condition, while others show signs of age, as yellow spots or darkness on the edge of the page from being handled.

Engravings, and lithographs are high quality pieces of art, as it took a highly trained artist many hours of work to produce one.  Although there may be multiple copies still in existence, the date of the item should be stated, thus giving the buyer an idea of its age.

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