noon
The truth of the matter is , that they were only too eager for some pretext upon which to base the assertion that it was the English who began hostilities , and this flimsy excuse was the best they could invent . But that little brush under the trees on that windy May morning was to have momentous consequences , for it was the beginning of the struggle which drenched the continent in blood . We marched back to the camp at Great Meadows with our prisoners , -- some twenty in all , -- much elated at our success , but near dead with fatigue . Lieutenant Spiltdorph was selected to escort them to Virginia , and set off with them toward noon , together with twenty men , cursing the ill-luck which deprived him of the opportunity to make the remainder of the campaign with us . For that the French would march against us in force was well-nigh certain , once they learned of Jumonville 's defeat , of which the Indians would soon inform them , and that we should be outnumbered three or four to one seemed inevitable . But no one thought of retreat , our commander , I am sure , least of all . He seemed everywhere at once , heartening the men , inspecting equipment , overseeing the preparations for defense .