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Samuel Jenkins was an African American. In 1754 he was Captain Charles Broadwater's slave. They lived in Springfield, Virginia, where Broadwater was a member of the Virginia militia. The next year when Captain Broadwater and the Virginia soldiers joined General Braddock's army. Samuel Jenkins went too. Jenkins was not a member of the army. He was paid to help the army as a driver of a provision wagon. General Braddock paid 15 Schillings per day for each wagon with 4 good horses and driver. Jenkins was one of over 200 wagoners on the Braddock Campaign. A young Daniel Boone was also on this list as a wagoner. Jenkins's job as wagoner was to keep his horses in good health and keep his wagon in good operating condition. He kept his team of horses under control on steep mountain climbs and dangerous descents without brakes. Braddock's army built a road 6 feet wide through dense forests. It was very difficult as there were rivers and streams, swamps, rocks, stumps and boulders that all got in the way. Jenkins braved insects, snakes, rainstorms and heat during his long journey. Jenkins drove a wagon loaded with 2000 pounds of supplies or food. A lot of food was needed for Braddock's huge army. Wagons would have carried cheese, Indian corn, rum, flour, rice, peas, salt, flour, bacon, salted beef and pork. Oats and forage for the 2500 horses was also hauled in wagons like Jenkins's. There was little for them to eat in the forest. The supply wagons were not with General Braddock when he was defeated. Braddock had split his army. The supply wagons were so slow that about half the army went ahead without them. After the battle, as the retreating soldiers caught up with the supply wagons and the rest of the troops, there was panic and fear. The wagons were needed to carry wounded and injured soldiers back to Fort Cumberland where a hospital was set-up for their care. They needed to get rid of the provisions that Jenkins had so carefully transported. They did not want the French to get the food, muskets, gunpowder or any of the other supplies, so the supplies were burned. It was claimed that Samuel Jenkins went on to live until he was 115 years old. The Membership also includes the following; - THE 2011 COLLECTORS CLUB ANNUAL.
- THE 2012 CALENDAR
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