five o'clock
The general still persisted in the exercise of his duties , despite his suffering , and he at once detailed a party to proceed toward the Monongahela with a supply of food , for the succor of the stragglers and the wounded who had been left behind , -- a duty which was ill fulfilled because of the cowardice of those to whom it was intrusted . Meanwhile we pushed on , and reached Dunbar 's camp that night . We found it in the utmost confusion . At five o'clock on the morning after the battle , a teamster , who had cut loose his horse and fled at the first onset , had ridden madly into the camp crying that the whole army was destroyed and he alone survived . At his heels came other teamsters , for with an appalling cowardice , which makes me blush for my countrymen , they had one and all cut loose their teams at the first fire , and selecting the best horse , had fled precipitately from the field . Toward noon , Colonel Washington had arrived , bringing the first accurate news of the disaster , and at once setting on foot the relief expedition . After him came troops of haggard , toil-worn , famished men , without arms , bewildered with terror , fearing a second ambuscade at every step , and with the yells of the Indians still ringing in their ears .